Sermon Tone Analysis

Before we start this weekend I want you to know that I have been and am continuing to pray that you will be open and honest.

There is no such thing as a bad question.

Everyone one of us in this room agrees on one thing for certain - and that is that we will all die.

Our theme verse for this weekend is Philippians 2:9-11

Over the next couple of days we will be answering three questions: 1) who is God, 2) who is Jesus, and 3) who is the Holy Sprit?

As I get the opportunity to share this weekend I am coming to you with the presupposition that the Bible is truth, and that it is fully reliable - I want you to be honest with me - Do you believe that the Bible is true?

Interesting facts -

The Bible was written over a 1500 year span

40 different authors

40 different lifestyles

From three different continents

Three different languages (Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic)

No one has been able to prove that there is a contradiction in the Bible

It is the most printed book in the world - “The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, having sold around 5 billion copies to date”

Notice what the Scriptures say -

Who do you say that God is?

Let me ask you another question - How do think that our world was created?

1. God is Creator -

Genesis 2:7–8 (NASB95)

7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

Cosmological Argument -

Cosmological arguments attempt to prove God’s existence by observing the world around us (the cosmos).

They begin with what is most obvious in reality: things exist.

It is then argued that the cause of those things’ existence had to be a “God-type” thing.

These types of arguments go all the way back to Plato and have been used by notable philosophers and theologians ever since.

Science finally caught up with theologians in the twentieth century, when the fact that the universe had a beginning was confirmed.

So, today, the cosmological arguments are even powerful for non-philosophers.

The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:

(1.)

The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.

(2.)

The a posteriori argument, by which we proceed logically from the facts of experience to causes.

These arguments are,

(a) The cosmological, by which it is proved that there must be a First Cause of all things, for every effect must have a cause.

Easton, M. G. (1893).

In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (pp.

293–294).

Harper & Brothers.

General Revelation -

Special Revelation -

Teleological Argument -

The term teleology refers to explanations that appeal to design and purpose.

The teleological argument claims that the appearance of design and purpose in nature implies a designer.

Strictly speaking, this is only evidence of “a” designer, not necessarily any specific being.

In practice, teleological arguments are often paired with other ideas to imply the existence of a deity, such as the God of the Bible.

Teleology is a broad category that includes several narrower ideas, such as fine-tuning, intelligent design, and irreducible complexity.

Teleological arguments are suggestions that deliberate choices by God are the most reasonable explanations for certain observations.

(b) The teleological, or the argument from design.

We see everywhere the operations of an intelligent Cause in nature.

Easton, M. G. (1893).

In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (pp.

293–294).

Harper & Brothers.

Illustration - take a watch apart and throw it into the ocean - How long do you wait until a watch pops out of the water?

Moral Argument -

The moral argument begins with the fact that all people recognize some moral code (that some things are right, and some things are wrong).

Every time we argue over right and wrong, we appeal to a higher law that we assume everyone is aware of, holds to, and is not free to arbitrarily change.

Right and wrong imply a higher standard or law, and law requires a lawgiver.

Because the Moral Law transcends humanity, this universal law requires a universal lawgiver.

This, it is argued, is God.

(c) The moral argument, called also the anthropological argument, based on the moral consciousness and the history of mankind, which exhibits a moral order and purpose which can only be explained on the supposition of the existence of God.

Conscience and human history testify that “verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.”

Easton, M. G. (1893).

In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (pp.

293–294).

Harper & Brothers.

2. God is Sustainer -

3. God is Sovereign -

God is omnipotent -

God is omnipresent -

God is omniscient -

Names of God -

El-Shaddai “God of the Mountains” or “The Almighty God.”

This term is more closely associated with the patriarchal period and can be found most frequently in the books of Genesis and Job.

Exodus 6:3 underlines El-Shaddai as the name revealed to the patriarchs.

God used it to make His covenant with Abraham (Gen.

17:1–2).

El-Elyon “The Most High God” or “The Exalted One” (Num.

24:16; 2 Sam.

22:14; Ps. 18:13).

Melchizedek was a priest of El-Elyon and blessed Abraham in this name (Gen.

14:19–20), referring to El-Elyon as “Maker of heaven and earth.”

Canaanites at Ugarit also worshiped god as El-Elyon.

El-Elyon seems to have had close ties to Jerusalem.

El-Olam “God of Eternity” or “God the Everlasting One” (Gen.

21:33; Isa.

26:4; Ps. 90:2).

God’s sovereignty extends through the passing of time and beyond our ability to see or understand.

El-Berith “God of the Covenant” (Judg.

9:46) transforms the Canaanite Baal Berith (8:33) to show God alone makes and keeps covenant.

El-Roi “God who sees me” or “God of vision” (Gen.

16:13).

God sees needs of His people and responds.

Elohim Plural form for deity.

It is a frequently used term and the most comprehensive of the “El” combinations.

The plurality of this word is not a hint of polytheism.

It is a plural of majesty.

It is a revelation of the infinite nature of God.

In the creation narrative we read: “Then Elohim said, “Let us make man in our image” (Gen.

1:26).

This name suggests that there is a mystery to the Creator God which mankind cannot fully fathom.

God is absolute, infinite Lord over creation and history.

The Christian sees in this term a pointer to the Trinitarian reality of creation.

Yahweh-Jireh “The LORD will provide” (Gen.

22:14).

This was the name given to the location where God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in the place of Isaac.

This name is a testimony to God’s deliverance.

Yahweh-Nissi “The LORD is my banner” (Exod.