Apologetics 2 – God does not believe in atheists

The aim of this devotional study is to consider a Biblical answer to atheism.

Scripture

Romans 1:17-20

17 …the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”  18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

19  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  20  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Observation and reflection

Lets’ start at the end of the paragraph and work our way back:

1. Paul concludes “so they are without excuse” (v20)
   1. Who are without excuse?
   2. Why are they without excuse?
2. Note Paul’s eloquent play with words “[God’s] invisible attributes… are clearly seen”
   1. Where are God’s attributes clearly seen?
   2. What is meant with God’ “eternal power”? And how is it made visible in creation?
   3. What is meant with God’ “divine nature”? And how is it made visible in creation?
3. How do the ungodly men “suppress the truth” of God?
4. Why would ungodly men “suppress the truth” of God?

Personal reflection and Prayer

1. Look at nature now (out a window or google a picture of stars/ trees/ ocean / clouds…).
   1. What can you learn of God’s power in what you see? (don’t rush over this – look and think deeply)
   2. What can you learn of God’s nature/ character in what you see? (don’t rush over this – look deeply)
   3. Imagine an atheist or agnostic were to stand next to you now, what would you preach about your revelation of God as seen in this image of nature? And how would you move towards sharing the gospel? Try it now.
   4. Consider your revelation of God’s power and nature as displayed in this image of nature and praise God for Who He is now.

Isaiah 42:5-6
“5 Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the the nations…”

Knowing God 3

The Aim of today’s devotional study is to look at the very first revelation of God in the Bible and evaluate our experience of God accordingly.

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-4

1  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  2  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4  And God saw that the light was good…

___________

Genesis 3:1-9

1  Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

2  And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3  but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'”

4  But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  5  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

6  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

8  And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9  But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Observations

1. Concerning the Genesis creation account, and then the fall of sin, write down everything you can see about God, in the sequence it is recorded here.
2. What do you note about this eternal creator-God’s relationship with his creatures?

Application

Reflect on (and write down) your feelings and thoughts about God according to the following attributes from the Creation and Fall texts above:

1. God exists.
2. God is eternal.
3. God is the creator of what is seen and unseen.
4. God is Spirit.
5. God speaks.
6. God gives commands / the law.
7. God is relational (walks with man).
8. God seeks sinners.

Prayer

Which of the above attributes of God have you not had experienced personally or received revelation from God?  For instance, you have read and heard about God speaking but you have not experienced it personally.

Take some time to pray about these and ask God to reveal himself to you.