Apologetics 8 – Who is God?
2 Peter 3 New International Version (NIV)
3 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Illustration – pics of Children’s church project
What a simple verse tells us about God….
JOHN 3:16
Character of God
LOVE – John 3:16
Generous – gave
Sacrificial – His only Son
Welcoming – whoever
Faith focused – believed
Merciful – not perish
Gracious – have eternal li
Short verse says SO MUCH!
What the Empty Tomb tells us about God…
Last week Jesus and empty tomb!
This is our Gos at work!
How was this accomplished?
THE MIRACULOUS – birth and resurrection of Jesus
Any involvement by God – supernatural intervention
WHAT IS A PARADIGM?
Let’s talk about world view / paradigms
EXAMPLES OF PARADIGMS –
Breakfast
Drive on which side of road
Acceptable foods
Paradigms – ways we filter information
Illustration – describe the picture….https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/instruct/natsci/science/brill/sci122/Programs/p3/p3.html
see section 10.3.2
What the Apostles Creed –
1st article tells us about God….
I believe in God the Father MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
2 Peter 3
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Genesis 1
God of Miracles
1. Did God make the earth VS. do we need some naturalistic, rationalistic explanation
It is a defining choice – EVERYONE comes down on one side or another
Revelation 6
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
WHAT PARADIGM DO YOU OPERATE FROM?
How do you filter information
What is acceptable and what is not?
2 Peter 3
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a]
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
What are you filters?
Who are you listening to?
What informs your behavior?