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“ Summary, Part 5 (final) ” 3. GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR EVERYTHING HE BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE [44:10]. REVELATION 4:11 - this life and everything in it has meaning and purpose. Why? Because God exists. The salvation of sinners is only possible because God exists. His chief end in His creation is that it glorify Him, as the very first question of the Catechism answers. God's existence is practical to us: it is the meaning behind our own existence. Do we live like it? Whatever commands our life reveals what we believe to be its meaning. If it is not God in all things, then what else is it? Does it bestow dignity the way God does?
Ian Migala (3/17/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 4 ” C. GOD’S EXISTENCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS THE BASIS AND RATIONAL FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE [39:00]. This universe makes no sense unless God has created it; His existence grounds the existence of creation. Three points about this: 1. GOD BROUGHT EVERYTHING INTO EXISTENCE [40:30]. Nothing didn't become something. If unbelievers were critically objective, they would see that a creator causing everything is far more logical than nothing causing everything. God tells us in His word that He created everything as a display of His sovereign power and pleasure in fulfilling His divine purpose; He didn't need anything. Everything from the angels to the atoms displays His glory. 2. GOD KEEPS EVERYTHING INTO EXISTENCE [42:40]. COLOSSIANS 1:17, HEBREWS 1:3, ACTS 17:25 and other passages reveal God to not only be a creator, but a sustainer.
Ian Migala (3/17/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” Again, mental acknowledgement of "a God" is one thing, but communion with Him is another. It's also worth noting that harassing His people is distinct from hating Him (LUKE 21:17). B. GOD’S EXISTENCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT AFFORDS TO ALL MANKIND THE HOPE OF DELIVERANCE FROM SIN AND DEATH [28:00]. All other gods are false and do not offer this hope. ISAIAH 45:22 proclaims that there is a remedy to the death and disaster from which man cannot escape. Only a merciful God can offer this remedy. Christ came to seek and save the lost; He came to heal the sick, not the healthy. 1. THE SUBSTANCE OF GOD’S CALL TO EXPERIENCE HIS DELIVERANCE [33:20]. We cannot save ourselves. Sinners can't become saints. False gods can't save. God calls upon us to turn from our self-righteousness and to trust Him and Him alone for salvation. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:14 - the substance of this call is for sinners to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and to obtain His glory. 2. THE SCOPE OF GOD’S CALL TO EXPERIENCE HIS DELIVERANCE [36:15]: all the ends of the earth. We've just seen the gospel in Isaiah. ACTS 17:31 - all need salvation. Sin is the great leveler of mankind, but so is the gospel.
Ian Migala (3/17/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” 2. THE DENIAL OF GOD’S EXISTENCE IN THE HEART IS THE TRAGIC FOLLY OF ALL MEN IN ADAM [14:55]. By nature, heart atheism is our native condition; we are infected with a moral virus called depravity. Paul used the PSALMS text in the preamble of his letter to the ROMANS (1:16-32). Without God's mercies, without restraints such as conscience and civil government, native sin would make life unlivable. The only remedy is the saving power of Jesus Christ. 3. THE DENIAL OF GOD’S EXISTENCE IN THE HEART MAKES MEN HOSTILE TO GOD’S PEOPLE AND PRAYERLESS BEFORE GOD [19:30] (verse 4). One telltale sign of heart atheism is hostility toward God's people. History bears this out, as does today's news. It began in the very first family, yielding Cain's murder of his brother Abel. Heart atheists claim that they don't want to spend Sundays with "hypocrites", but why are they then willing to spend eternity with such people in Hell? The truth is that they don't want to be around the saints. They are not only hostile, but irrational. Another telltale sign is a disaffection toward God Himself; they do not call upon Him. Prayer is one's heart directed to God.
Ian Migala (3/17/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” [Pastor Nutter credits his former professor, Pastor Greg Nichols of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the outline of this message, which can be found in Pastor Nichols’ book, *What does the Bible say about God?: The Biblical doctrine of God*.] V. THE PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S EXISTENCE [starting at 2:50 of the audio]. What does it mean that God exists? Is it theoretical or practical? A. GOD’S EXISTENCE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ITS DENIAL IN THE HEART IS THE VERY FOUNTAIN OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY, AND THE SPRING OF ALL THE DECADENCE AND IRREVERENCE IN THE WORLD [3:25]. We can simply acknowledge that God exists and have nothing further to do with Him. That is practical denial. The Bible teaches, and history confirms, that a life without God is a life without a moral anchor. 1. THE DENIAL OF GOD’S EXISTENCE IN THE HEART BREEDS GREAT WICKEDNESS IN THE LIFE [5:55]. PSALM 14:1-4 – We live out of the heart. Godlessness breeds ungodliness. Remember that the word ‘fool’ comes from a root that signifies the extinction of life. Faith in Christ is the living principle, and denial is the putrefying one. In the same way, heart atheism yields corrupt fruit; it profanes everything and cannot sustain moral decency.
