Defending the Faith PLANTING THE SEED OF TRUTH AND HOPE IN OTHERS WEEK 8

Can all religions be correct?  1. Logical consistency – the religious claims of the belief system must logically  Buddhism – one belief is to rid oneself of all desires  You must desire to rid oneself of all desires  2. Empirical adequacy –evidence to support the belief  Archeological evidence  Mormons believe that Jesus visited North America

Can all religions be correct?  3. Existential relevancy –address the big questions of life  1. Origin – where did we come from?  2. Ethics – how should we live?  3. Meaning – what is the purpose for life?  4. Destiny – where is mankind heading?

Questions to ask  Does absolute truth exist?  Do reason and religion mix?  Does God exist?  Can God be known?  Is Jesus God?

Law of Non-Contradiction Something cannot be both at the same time

Does this work?

Or this?

ChristianityIslam God vs AllahPersonal (can be known) Revealed Himself in Incarnation of Jesus Loving Concerned for individual Just Holy & Almighty Distant (unknowable) Does not reveal himself – reveals only his will Merciful (forgives at his will) Capricious (both “leads” and “misleads) Vengeful (honor restored only by “getting even”) Almighty ChristGod’s SonProphet Total denial of incarnation BibleRevealed by God Authoritative Word Revealed by God Changed and corrupted by unfaithful Jews and Christians TrinityFather, Son, and Holy SpiritGod, Mary and Jesus (Islam’s view of Christian trinity)

AuthorityChristianityIslam Sacred TextBible – OT (Jewish Bible) & NTQur’an (Koran) Inspiration of Text Views vary: Literal Word of God, inspired human accounts, or of human origin only Literal Word of God Bible ProphetsTrue prophetsTrue Prophets Status of Jewish Bible CanonicalNon-canonical but useful as a (corrupted) inspired text Jewish Apocrypha Canonical (Catholic); useful by Non- canonical (Protestant) Non-canonical Status of NTCanonicalNon-canonical but useful as a (corrupted) inspired text Summary of Doctrine Apostle’s Creed, Nicene CreedSix Article of Faith

Proof of God’s Existence - Scripture  Psalm 19:1-4 – Heavens declare His glory  Hebrews 3:4  Acts 1:3 “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”

Proof of God’s Existence  Creation – “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20  Conscience – “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2:15-16

Hebrew Words for Create H1254 bara‘ בָּרָא to shape, fashion, create (always with God as subject) of heaven and earth H3335 yatsar יָצַר to form, fashion, frame H6213 asah יעָשָׂה to do, fashion, accomplish, make

God’s Creation Fingerprints  In the beginning, God created (bara) the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1  So God created (bara) the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21  So God created (bara) man in his own image, in the image of God he created (bara) him; male and female he created (bara) them. Genesis 1:27  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation (bara). Genesis 2:3

God’s Creation Fingerprints “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created (bara) these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.” Isaiah 40:26

God’s Creation Fingerprints “Thus says God, the L ORD, who created (bara) the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:” Isaiah 42:5

God’s Creation Fingerprints “For thus says the L ORD, who created (bara) the heavens (he is God!), who formed (yatsar) the earth and made (asah) it (he established it; he did not create (bara) it empty, he formed (yatsar) it to be inhabited!): “I am the L ORD, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:18

Questions?

Attributes of God

Incommunicable Attributes of God  Holiness  Immutability  Infinite  Omnipotence  Omnipresence  Omniscience  Self-existence, Non-contingency

Incommunicable Attributes of God  Self-sufficiency  Sovereignty  Spirit  Transcendence  Uniqueness

Communicable Attributes of God  Goodness  Hate  Justice  Knowledge  Love  Rationality

Communicable Attributes of God  Mercy  Speech  Truthfulness  Wisdom  Jealousy

Questions?