He was created.
C. ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN-TELEOLOGICAL: The structure of a watch proves not only a maker but also a designer. The universe and nature prove a superintending and originating intelligence and will.
D. ARGUMENT FROM BEING-ONTOLOGICAL: Man has an idea of an infinite and perfect Being. This idea did not come from us. Therefore such a Being must exist and it cannot be just a mere thought.
E. MORAL ARGUMENT-ANTHROPOLOGICAL: Morality is obligatory, not optional. Man has an intellectual and a moral nature, a conscience, an emotional nature, and only a Being of goodness, power, love, wisdom and holiness can satisfy such a nature. As a result there must be a creator who is an intellectual, moral Being, a Judge and a Lawgiver.
F. ARGUMENT FROM CONGRUITY: If we have a key that fits the lock, we have the right key. Belief in a self-existent, personal God is in harmony with our mental and moral nature, and the entire world around us. If God exists, all questions regarding creation, religion, nature and human history are answered. Atheism leaves all these matters without explanation.
G. ARGUMENT FROM SCRIPTURE: The history of the Jews and fulfilled prophecy would not be explainable without God.
The above arguments are arguments of logic and are all quite sound. However, it is the writer’s opinion that the following argument is far more effective.
H. ARGUMENT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Every Christian can testify of many experiences that he has had with a personal, living God. This alone is sufficient proof that God lives. These experiences may be divided under four main headings:
1. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER. The fact that man prays and prayers are answered is proof of the existence of God.
2. GOD SAVES THE SOUL OF A SINNER. This is not just a little religious emotion but the power of God is experienced in having sins remitted, sinful habits broken, and in being born again.
3. GOD HEALS SICK BODIES. Each time a miracle takes place in the healing of a sick body we have proof of the existence of God.
4. MAN HAS FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS GOD. This undoubtedly is the strongest argument of all and all the proof that is needed. That man is able to experience the real presence of God in his soul leaves no room for further argument. In answering an atheist the best approach is to ask him what atheism has done for him. It is an easy matter to testify of what a living faith has done for us and what unbelief has cost him.
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD
A. ONE TRUE GOD: There are over fifty passages of Scripture that teach that God is one and that there is no other. No other truth of Scripture receives more prominence than that of the Oneness of God.
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
“Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8). “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:5).
“Thou believest, that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19).
More References: Isaiah 45:5; Isaiah 46:9; Mark 12:32; I Corinthians 8:4; and Revelation 4:2.
A multiplication of Gods is a contradiction. There can be but one Supreme Being: one God. Such a Being cannot be multiplied, nor pluralized. There can be but one ultimate all-inclusive God.
The Oneness of God is the great truth and message of the Old Testament. The Jews sought to stone Jesus because He laid claim to Deity; and said, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:33). The truth taught in the Old Testament is never contradicted in the New Testament but rather fulfilled.
B. THE TRINITY EXAMINED: The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible. The doctrine called the Trinity was introduced by the Roman Catholic synod at the beginning of the third century at the Nicean Council in 325 A.D. The Athanasian Creed later made the Trinity a fundamental tenet. It kept company with other Roman Catholic tenets such as: Transubstantiation, Indulgences, Mariolatry, Infallibility of the Pope, Purgatory, etc. Unfortunately, when Protestants repudiated the above fallacies they held on to the error of the Trinity maintaining a vital link with the false and unscriptural creeds of the Roman Catholic Church
The word “Persons” when used regarding the Godhead does violence to the absolute Oneness of God. Dividing God into three persons makes three Gods, which is Tri-theism regardless of how it may be argued otherwise. God is the “Three in One;” not the “One in Three.” The doctrine of the Trinity leads to much confusion and contradiction.
C. ELOHIM: Elohim is a Hebrew word in the plural form translated “God” in our Bibles. Trinitarians will argue that this means a plurality of persons in the Godhead. To answer this we shall quote from Smith’s Bible Dictionary: “The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of powers displayed by God.”
The question might be asked: “Why did the Jews, knowing that Elohim was plural, cling so tenaciously to the Oneness of God?”
Elohim is applied to Christ in the following Scriptures:
Zechariah 11:4, 12-13 - Elohim was sold for thirty pieces of silver.
Zechariah 14:5 - Elohim is coming back as King.
Zechariah 12:10 - Elohim was pierced at Calvary.
The true significance of Elohim is a plurality of attributes and powers.
GOD IS SPIRIT
A. GOD IS SPIRIT:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).
The Samaritan woman asked, “Where is God to be found? On Mt. Zion or Mt. Gerizim?” To this question Jesus answered that God is not to be confined to any one place.
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my footstool: what house will ye build me?” (Acts 7:48).
“Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.” (I Kings 8:27).
God must be worshipped in spirit as distinguished from place, form, or other sensual limitations; and in truth as distinguished from false conceptions and wrong teachings.
Study carefully I Corinthians 2:6-16. We cannot understand or know God otherwise than by the leading and help of His Spirit.
B. GOD IS INVISIBLE: Apart from Jesus Christ the Eternal Spirit cannot be seen.
“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20).
“No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18).
“For a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39).
“Who is the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15).
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever.” (I Timothy 1:17).
C. IMAGES FORBIDDEN: Images were forbidden because: 1) No one has seen God; and, 2) Nothing on earth can resemble Him.
References: Deuteronomy 4:15-23: Isaiah 40:25; and Exodus 20:4.
Jesus Christ is the express image of his person (Hebrews 1:3). As such God can only be seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
D. ANTHROPOMORPHIC EXPRESSIONS: God is spoken of as having hands, feet, arms, eyes and ears. He sees, feels, walks, etc. Such expressions as relating to the Father, the Eternal Spirit, are to be understood only in the sense of being human expressions used in order to bring the infinite within the comprehension of the finite. Only by means of human expressions can we understand God.
However,