Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Who is the first and greatest of beings?

God is the first and greatest of beings.

Should everyone believe there is a God?

Everyone should believe there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not.

The questions and answers of the catechism are interrelated and build off of one another.

Thus, there is bound to be some repetition and overlap in what we discuss as we survey this catechism.

This is especially true from what I stated last time and what I will say this time as we consider the third question.

That said, let’s consider the third question and answer.

Body

Questions and Answer

Q. 3. How may we know there is a God?

A. The light of nature in man and the works of God declare there is a God, but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and effectually for the salvation of sinners.

(Romans 1:19, 20; Psalm 19:1, 2, 3; Acts 17:24; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:15, 16)

1.

The light of nature in man declares there is a God.

A. Exposition

i.

Consider the image of God.

Humanity is made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7).

This results in humans having a rational soul by which they intuitively know God exists (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Psalm 14:1) and may glean his existence from the things He has made (Romans 1:18-32).

ii.

Consider the reason of man.

Reason is that faculty of the soul by which humans may gather evidence, draw conclusions, evaluate and make arguments, and come to understand themselves, others, nature, and what God requires them to know about God (Job 32:8; Proverbs 20:27).

Two common arguments will serve as examples of how we might demonstrate God’s existence with reason.

a. Observe the argument from being (Ontological Argument).

God is the being of which none greater can be thought.

It is better to exist than to not exist.

Therefore, God exists.

b.

Observe the argument from causation (Cosmological argument).

1) Horizontal argument

Everything that had a beginning has a cause.

The universe has a beginning.

Therefore, the universe has a cause.

This cause is God.

2) Vertical argument

Every part of the universe is dependent.

If every part is dependent, then the whole universe must also be dependent.

Therefore, the whole universe is dependent right now on some independent being beyond it for its initial and present existence.

This being is God.

Belief in God is consistent with reason, and denial of God’s existence is inconsistent with reason and sin.

iii.