Faith Bible Church 11 Sept 1988

Dr. Robert C. Newman

Biblical Theological Seminary

CAN WEREALLY KNOW GOD?

Introduction

For many today, Q of God's existence isan abstract philosophical problem with little relevance for everyday concerns,OR it is a matter that is so beclouded by the various religions that exist thatthey either give up trying to find out or figure they can pick whicheverreligion they prefer.

Either of these solutions are foolish:

IfGod exists, it makes all the difference in the world what life is all about;

IfGod really exists, we can't just pick the religion we like, because they teachdifferent, inconsistent things.

      If God reallyexists, it is possible that the confusion about what He is like is not his doing,but the result of wishful thinking and intentional deception.

We Can Know God Exists

Sketchtypes of evidence:

GeneralRevelation:

              Originand Nature of Universe

              Originand Nature of Life & Mankind

SpecialRevelation:

              Preknowledgeof Science

              FulfilledProphecy

              Jesus

Redemption:

              ChangedLives

              ChangedSocieties

He Does Not Guarantee Us SpecialAppearances

Deuteronomy18: Stay away from the occult. Godhas chosen to send prophets who wrote Bible.

Matthew5: The pure in heart will see God.

John14: Seeing Jesus is seeing God the Father.

We Cannot Know God as Friend if WeRemain His Enemies

Aslong as we want to live our own lives without trying to find out how God wantsus to live, we are really rebels against Him, no matter how pious our words.

God'stwo prime commands:

(1)Love God w/ everything we are and have.

(2)Love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Letus not deceive ourselves:

1John 1:5‑7 by walking indarkness

1John 2:3‑6 by disobeyingGod's commands

1John 2:9‑11 by hating others

We Can KnowGod Personally (Though Not Exhaustively) Through the Provisions He Has Made

HisWord: read and study the Bible to learn about God.

His Spirit: believers havethe Holy Spirit within to teach them to love the right things, to hate evil inthemselves as well as outside, i.e., to have God's attitude toward things.

Prayer: when we prayaccording to God's word, we begin to see God working around us (as Heencourages us with answers to prayer) and we begin to want the things He wants.

Modelling by otherChristians: thru fellowship with other Xns we see God's character lived out inhuman lives, in small‑scale, imperfect replicas of Jesus.