WEBVTT
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In an age of uncertainty and spiritual noise, there is still a firm foundation.
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God's word is steady, his truth is sufficient.
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This is echoing truth.
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Anchored in scripture, engaged with culture, helping you stand firm.
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All right, welcome to Echoing Truth, where we bring God's truth into the conversations that matter most.
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Um, so we're gonna begin a turn.
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And I know that we started several weeks ago um uh a series on prayer.
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And I think for us, I'm still going through that series, but we're gonna take a little turn with the podcast and begin to answer some hot button topics that we know people are looking for answers on these topics, and I think that they're gonna challenge our faith because they're big.
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I mean, and today we're just I'm gonna lay it right out there.
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Is there really a God?
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Ooh, I love it.
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Powerful, tough question.
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I mean, it's a tough question.
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And I guess I'll ask you guys this.
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Have you ever debated that in your life?
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Uh, with myself.
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Yeah, yeah.
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I mean, inward, have you ever come to the point where you're like, is there?
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Yeah.
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Yeah, when I was a kid, um, I remember laying on the trampoline, looking up at the stars, going, There's gotta be something.
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Before I was actually saved, there's gotta be something.
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There's such a big world out there, yeah.
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And yeah, it's just I think that's a question all of us have to struggle with at some point in our lives.
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Yeah, I've been blessed to be a Christian all my life.
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So I grew up in a family that, you know, just I was introduced to faith at age five.
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And so God always existed in my mind.
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I don't know a reality in which God doesn't exist.
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And um, you know, going through Bible college and and just, you know, being in God's word all of my life, really, um, it's sometimes hard to understand people who question God.
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Um, and so I'm gonna get right to my point, which I guess this is what I want to talk about today as we contemplate this.
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If someone comes up to us tomorrow and poses this question to us, is there really a God?
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Do you feel ready to answer it?
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Yeah.
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Because if I was, this is where I would start.
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Yeah.
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That creation demands a creator.
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Yeah.
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And I think it's probably the most obvious starting point for me in answering a question like that.
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Um, and I have scripture, and I think what I want to do in just trying to answer this question for people who are genuinely seeking, and maybe even for ourselves, and we can just chat about these scriptures, is answering this question that it that it's satisfactory to us, but we're also confident that if people could hear it and understand it and contemplate it, that it could change them, maybe persuade them.
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Um, I think about Paul, who always was making an argument, you know, that that people would would hear them.
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And I think as we deal with these hot topic questions, um, that we could just kind of chat about it enough that we can answer some questions.
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So I've got some scriptures.
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Let's start in Psalms, Psalm 19, one, and it says, the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
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Amen.
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Great starting point, right?
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Scripture just immediately declares that God is.
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In Romans 1, um, it it's a little broader, but I kind of want to read the whole thing because I always reference Romans 1 when it comes to our culture today and where we are.
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So listen to this.
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For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress truth.
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Because truth is out there.
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We can get it, we can, we can understand it.
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For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them, for his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made, so they are without excuse.
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For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
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Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
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Again, declaring that God has made himself known to us.
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We can perceive it even from nature around us every day.
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And yet there are those who still ask this question is there really a God?
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Yeah.
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I find that absolutely uh astounding.
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A couple more.
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Oh, go ahead.
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No, I want to hear.
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I was thinking, you know, Nathan just jumped right in and said, Yeah, I I've thought that.
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Or not Nathan.
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My gosh.
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Lincoln.
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Um my brain.
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That's me.
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Um it's it for me, you know, listening to these scriptures, it again, I'm very much been raised since I was like seven years old being taught the Bible.
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And so it like it almost makes my mind I have to stop and really, really think about it, which I'm because I just believe it.
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Maybe that's a simplicity of my mind, but I feel like that's where I fall when is there really a God?
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I stop and my mind just automatically says, of course.
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But maybe that's the danger too with Christians as a whole, is that we do almost take it for granted.
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Yeah.
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Um, I I had this random thought, and I don't want to bunny trail here, but I had this random thought as I was outside this morning with my coffee, just trying to enjoy the morning.
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It was beautiful.
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Animals bouncing around.
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And and I've been going through the Old Testament, right?
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And enjoying every moment of it, just God revealing who he was through the Old Testament.
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Not the most exciting thing that people talk about, but it's been exciting for me.
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And I've been going through it for months now.
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And I had this thought as I was sitting there that God has revealed so much to me about who he is in the Old Testament that I didn't want that to leave me.
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Do you ever have that thought that just being in God's word, you know how it fuels you, it reminds you, it it um it was like supercharging my faith.
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And I had this random moment that um I as I go through it, I'm like, I don't, God, I don't want to, I don't want to forget this.
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So that comment, I guess that's what I think about, is that sometimes we're so as Christians, we're so used to hearing this.
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Yeah.
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Does it become too common?
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Or the base of what we believe is solid.
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So I mean it makes me want to be better at being able to communicate it with somebody.
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So I have to be thinking properly, like having the right arguments, like you're saying, in my mind.
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I think that's yeah, important.
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And we have super helpful.
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Well, deflecting to scripture just as a whole, I think we need to be quick to do.
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Yeah, that's why I want to read these first because this is our base point, right?
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And answering a big question like, is there really a God?
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It's truth.
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Hebrews 3 4 says, For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
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So again, scripture revealing the creator.
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Love it.
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Genesis 1:1, in the beginning, God.
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Uh as glorious as is, right out of the gates, it is God.
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Psalm 92, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
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So scripture reveals God as creator.
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There's no doubt, right?
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That as Christians, we know um, without a doubt, that the Bible declares there is a creator.
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So creation demands a creator.
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And I guess in thinking about this and answering this question, again, if I'm standing next to someone who's like, Come on, tell me, is there really a God?
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I guess that's the first question I'm gonna pose them who created all this?
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Where did that all come from?
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Right.
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I mean, are you ready to say nothing came or everything came from nothing?
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Right.
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Yeah, we talked about that.
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Like I'm a car guy and I love cars.
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Where did that come from?
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You are a car guy.
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So if I see something really cool, I want to know who made that.
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Yeah.
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And so I know it.
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How can we ignore that out in the world when we see something that's beautiful?
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Like you mentioned, you're out drinking your coffee.
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And I've had those moments too, and I'm like, wow, that's just beautiful.
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So if you're an unbeliever, what do you say?
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You go, wow, that's pretty that that randomly came together.
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Yeah.
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Right.
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And knows what to do.
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Yeah.
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And it functions, mechanically works, and everything is uh over the top awesome, bringing us to question it.
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So I think when you say where did it come from, and you say, Well, it just came from the Big Bang.
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Okay, well then this is like sixth grade science class for me.
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I remember being in sixth grade going, Well, well, where did the Big Bang come from?
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Yeah.
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And the the science teacher looked at me and went, Well, we don't know.
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Like, that's not an answer.
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So we have to believe by faith one way or the other.
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Either it s began with God or by what?
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I know I'm gonna hear that too.
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That's what's uh frightening is if I'm standing before someone, they're saying, is there really a God?
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And and I talk about God as creator, that there's going to be some discussion about now evolution, the Big Bang, it all came from a star, stardust.
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That's where we came from.
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And how how can I I just I guess I'm just amazed that anyone's mind can assume that the complexity of life could randomly evolve into anything.
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I mean, we've uh and I know I re I realize this is a very, very deep discussion.
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I'm not gonna go down the create or the evolution uh rabbit hole right now.
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I think we'll get to that.
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For sure.
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But but intelligence, this kind of creation that we can witness requires an intelligent creator, an intelligent designer.
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And I I use this all the time.
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This is my car, is my watch because the idea that this little thing that we now have strapped around us, which is now an amazing computer, can read your heartbeat.
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It can you can talk to it, it can talk to you, it reminds you of appointments in a in a in a day.
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I mean, it's really amazing what we got packed into here.
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It it would be insane in my mind.
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And I'm sorry to use those as strong, that strong language there.
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How dare you!
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But it would be insane to me to think that I could put rubber and metal and wires and gears in my pocket, shake it up, leave it there for even a thousand years, and it's gonna turn into anything other than a pocket full of rubber, wire, metal, whatever I put in there.
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Nothing's gonna change.
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And I do not evolve into an intelligent created thing.
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The design that that was was made by an intelligent person, a very intelligent person.
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That brain that that came up with this, or the team of people that came up with this, but then you you even let's think about the brain, right?
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Like that actually was able to create that.
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We're saying that this brain magically or somehow evolved without any designer.
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Yeah, the most complicated thing in the universe really is our brains because it's creative, it creates things, has to be bigger than us.
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It must be bigger than us.
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Yeah, intelligent design demand well, creation demands it, the the intelligence there.
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You know, and I I this is probably another point, but think about uh who we are.
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We're creators, we like to create you.
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Like to work with your car build things, thinker, electronics.
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We are created to be creators, right?
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Because we're created in the likeness of God.
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So we we have the same desire to create, form, and fashion and build and find logic and then set it loose as God did.
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It's like we are a reflection of that creative brilliance that who God is.
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He put it within all of us, so we witness it on a daily basis.
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Well, Drew is making a puppet right now, and it's just so cool to watch him, like the way his mind is working and how he's like literally fashioning it and making it and making his mouth move and doing it's creating a uh well, you know, in that in adamant object, but uh yeah, the creation process excites us, yeah.
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Yeah, which I think is just again a reflection that creates needs a creator, yeah.
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And I think it's I don't see a good example anywhere here on uh among humanity that would ever say that's not true.
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Yeah.
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I mean, what what doesn't need a designer?
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No matter what you start with, no matter what project you're doing, there always has to be a design, a starting point, and uh an intellect that that guides you.
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So it's it's really difficult for me to understand any argument against this when it comes to is there really a God?
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There has to be a creator.
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So let's just talk about that.
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Who is is is God real?
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And let's look at these scriptures.
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But Christianity demands one big miracle, and I think we just have to be honest about that when we're talking with people.
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Like I'm I'm asking for you to believe in one miracle that brought about everything.
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The atheist, the the God denier, the creator, creator denier is basically believing in many miracles, all right, to turn into everything, right?
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Talk about long ago and far away, right?
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Long ago, far away, a petty fairy tale that feels much more hard.
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It's much harder to believe that there isn't a God in my mind than there is.
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Yeah, I I love this, and I think this was uh uh a quote from John MacArthur, but it was says, if you see design, now think about this.
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If you see design, you already believe there's a designer.
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Oh, yeah, we wouldn't question it in any other form.
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You're just deciding who the designer is, who made this jacket?
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Yeah, we do this every day.
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Look at that car, was that Ford?
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Is that Gia?
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Who made you know?
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Uh, if we watch a movie, we're like, who produced this?
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Yeah, we are adamant that in everything else that we witness in life, when we see a design of any kind, we immediately think, Who did this?
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Yeah, I need to talk to them right now.
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Who wrote this?
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Um, but when it comes to the to God and the creation, it's no, there was nobody, there was nothing.
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So I find that fascinating.
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Um, other thoughts when it comes to answering this question is there really a God?
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Yeah, I I like your analogy with the watch.
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The watch was developed not just to be a hunk of something that sits on your arm, it has a purpose, right?
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It has a design.
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Right.
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So there are things that are built into that.
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Not only does it have a physical design that it fits on your wrist, it's adjustable, it has a magnetic, by the way.
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I don't even see that.
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Oh, that's yeah, that's even more complex.
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It's even more complex.
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So, and then and then beyond that physical design, there's a um software design.
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So there's now software built in.
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So a human has functioning different parts that work together, right?
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So that's like the physical piece, but then unseen to us, there's DNA, there's purpose within each of those cells to do a job.
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So you have structure of different pieces with different parts working together like your watch to accomplish a goal.
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And so I, you know, yeah, it is funny that we can say, Yeah, that's that's an Apple watch.
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Apple, a bunch of engineers at this company put this thing together.
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I'm gonna get some stock in Apple because this is brilliant, right?
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And and there are people that actually there are robots and machinery that has created that and put that together.
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Well, to go one step further, we are produced by what?
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Was there a little machine putting us together during conception?
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No, it's it's an automated process, right?
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And and when we believe in the Bible, it says that God stitched us together.
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So, how do you get us without any machinery or anything that like you were talking a miracle?
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That is a miracle, and then the other side of that, if you say, Well, there is no God, okay.
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Well, that's still a miracle.
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How is this functioning body coming out that's more complex than your watch without any machinery or anything so that we function?
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Because we we function with multiple different moving parts that are more sophisticated than that, than a car and everything else.
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Yeah, so those those kinds of things it has to ask the question is there a God?
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Is there a creator?
00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:32.240
Yeah, the amount of miracles you have to believe uh to get God out of the picture is it really is astounding.
00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:40.240
Um if your starting point is God did not exist, there is no uh designer, there is no um creator.
00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:46.480
The the amount of faith you have to have in nothing is really astounding to me.
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:54.000
And and the only answer I can think of, and I'm just being real honest with you, you have to check out intellectually to come to a conclusion.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:18:05.039
Well, I would think that what happens is our minds go to um somebody smarter than me gave me the answer.
00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:21.599
I'm trusting the scientists, I'm not a scientist, I'm not looking at the evidence like they're looking at the evidence, and they've looked at the evidence and they've very clearly come up with this idea, and it must be true because they're scientists.
00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:29.920
So I feel like the teacher is telling us things and we just believe it and say in our mind we couldn't possibly comprehend it.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:35.839
That's it's so outside of our ability to understand it that don't even don't even try.
00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.599
Just trust us, we've done the research and it is this way.
00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:47.119
Well, but we God has made us, He's made us to be looking around and observing things.
00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.599
That's what science really is, is observation.
00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:56.799
And when you uh really observe God's world, you find that there is a designer.
00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.400
It's very practical, it's very simple, it's very in your face, it's it's not hard to understand.
00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:04.960
And I think that was by God's design.
00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.440
Yeah.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:09.039
Which is beautiful.
00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:21.200
You know, I yeah, I think uh I think it's astounding how how our culture today, and I I just to speak about about the things we deal with in our culture, how much we trust others.
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:37.039
You know, I and and given you know the educational system that we have today, I mean I could list all kinds of things that I do think uh our culture is beginning to see uh a distrust with some of these answers.
00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:39.839
And people are genuinely seeking.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.759
I think this is a great time to answer a question.
00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.880
Is there really a God?
00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:51.119
Because it's becoming very obvious to the everyday human that we can't trust anyone.
00:19:51.200 --> 00:20:03.039
Our government fails us, scientists fail us, um, the education system is failing us, and and it's being exposed that the answers given really have no merit.
00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:08.799
Yeah, we're you know what I love about the Bible is that it's the most proven book on earth.
00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:13.599
I mean, it is it has been scrutinized for centuries, right?
00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:18.960
I mean, proof after proof after proof, it's been proven to be exactly what it is, truthful.
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:21.440
And I think you can't deny that.
00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:27.839
I think to deny that would require um, you know, a lot more than most people are willing to even try to attempt.
00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:39.839
Um so I I I think you know, when you talk about creation demands a creator, I think that there is um so much truth to that that it should shake people up and bring that into that.
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.920
How else do you answer that question for people?
00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:45.519
I guess um is there really a God?
00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.240
Yeah, I think I think you point to scripture.
00:20:48.400 --> 00:21:04.480
Um, I think that's the first thing that you have to do because uh somebody who is going to become a believer, scripture will cause them to chew on scripture and struggle with it until the conversion happens.
00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:10.559
So um and and I think that's our commandment is that we we give God's word because it's alive, right?
00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:13.440
And so I think that's where I think I think that's where you start.
00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:30.000
I mean, we we could always go down the path of trying to convince somebody of certain facts and like, okay, fine, I believe that Jesus lived, I believe, you know, these certain areas, but I think you still have to give them the scripture and and see how it works in them, right?
00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.559
That's our job.
00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.480
We we let God do the heavy lifting.
00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:36.160
So when someone says, Is there a God?
00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:43.119
I think we're responsible to answer on our own accord, but it's not our job to convince them.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:49.759
That's the job of the Holy Spirit and the job of scripture, especially when you use scripture because it it does not return void, it tells us that, right?
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:57.200
Well, and if I can bounce off of that, yeah, with with scripture, we either believe because none of us were there at the beginning.
00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.000
That's a good point.
00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.759
We weren't uh no, this is.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.039
An observable science, it's it's historical science.
00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:09.359
So because none of us were actually there, we have to presuppose something.
00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:28.720
And so we're choosing to either have faith in the Bible that God in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, that that He's telling us what He did, or we believe man's word, which is built on the fact that there is no God.
00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:36.160
So there is every person has to make a decision in their own mind who they're going to have faith in.
00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.799
And that's the basis of this question.
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:48.319
If we choose to trust the Bible, that's where we find out about who God is, that God is eternal, that helps with creation because he's outside of time.
00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.440
If God is eternal, he was always there.
00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:57.519
It's not everything that we see has a starting point.
00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.559
And so it obviously will have an ending point.
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.279
But God is outside of that.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:11.119
And so it helps my mind know that okay, this guy God is outside of time and he is eternal.
00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:20.559
That's part of his attributes, and I can learn more about this God who gave me a book to understand him more.
00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.599
Yeah.
00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:24.720
And I think that is that's the the challenge.
00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:29.599
So do we believe in these things that are difficult to believe in first?
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:32.240
And then do we believe in God did them?
00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:37.440
Or do we believe in God first and then we can believe that all these difficult things happen?
00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.200
And I think it's I think it's the belief in God.
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:45.279
And and then everything else, you're you just you you have faith that he's capable.
00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.559
And I I like how you mentioned that.
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:54.640
Because he is uh he's not uh he's not uh finite like we are, he's infinite, he's eternal.
00:23:55.200 --> 00:24:02.799
He created everything that we see here, so we can't say, oh well, you you now fit into what you've created.
00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:06.079
So it had to have star it had to have started outside of you.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:10.960
Well, no, he's already outside of, he's in a different realm than what he created.
00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:18.319
And I think that's another thing that um I think some people struggle with when they say, Well, how can God create something out of nothing?
00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.680
Well, because he's God, right?
00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:23.279
And and it goes back to as if we can compare him to us.
00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:25.519
Yeah, and so that's the we can't do that.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:40.480
The big topic of you have to have some faith in certain areas, and that's part of uh being saved, is that you have faith and God's just separate from us, he's completely different, way more powerful than we could ever imagine, and he has abilities that we can't even imagine.
00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:48.160
I think we share some of his attributes because we're made in his image, but there are some that are 100% only for him.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:55.359
And it's makes us want to worship him more when we do study his world and we see what he's made.
00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:59.599
It makes us want to bring glory to God, which is is why we're here.
00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:04.160
A question like this just shakes it should shake people up for the Christian.
00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:10.799
The question, is there really a God should shake us up to say, if so, are we even doing what we're supposed to do?
00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.559
Are we walking in the way we're supposed to walk?
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:20.160
I mean, this question has a lot of uh twists and turns to it because for the believer, for those people who are gonna say, Yeah, of course he's creator, he's God, you know.
00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:23.519
The the next question would be, well, what is your response to that?
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.359
Is your everyday reflect that?
00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:44.720
And then for the reb, the the unbeliever, the the the Bible denier, the God denier, the atheist, um, you know, I they're living their life, and I have to assume this is just the truth that our culture has buried um us in stuff, right?
00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:53.039
Entertainment, activity, work, just buried us to the point where do you even reflect on origins?
00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:56.000
Do you even think about whether there is a God or not?
00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.960
Do you even care?
00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:14.400
And I think that you know, this question when it comes to those we work with, those in our neighborhood, uh, those in our family, you know, I I this is what I feel like I witness that life has just buried people to such a degree that they're not pondering this question.
00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:26.799
No, I think centuries ago when life was simple, quiet, slow, it it probably was um you were confronted more with that because your life just slowed down.
00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:37.119
I mean, again, I not to keep bringing up my coffee outside, but when you go and you stop and you and you tune everything out, it's amazing all of a sudden the things that flood into your mind.
00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:40.720
It's it's kind of like the three o'clock in bed thing, you know, all of a sudden everything's clear.
00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.319
You're like, oh my gosh, I have so much to do.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.200
What am I doing?
00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:51.119
And I I do think that if we could stop, slow down, that maybe this question, is there really a God, would be pondered more.
00:26:51.440 --> 00:27:02.640
But I do think that the enemy of our soul, which we know Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy, is so effective uh in our culture today of just burying us.
00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:06.720
I mean, we go home, TV goes on, it's it's what can I binge?
00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:08.079
It's what work can I do?
00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:11.039
I gotta mow the lawn, I gotta do this, I gotta go there.
00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:20.880
And I I just honestly think um, as great as our answers are, I have to wonder whether anyone's asking this for those who are distant.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:27.519
And I would also challenge believers to say, if your answer is absolutely, of course, God exists, he is creator.
00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:31.200
The obvious question then is how real is he?
00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.640
Are we walking the walk?
00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:35.440
Are we um doing what he asks us to do?
00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.599
You know, it should be a change, yeah.
00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.000
Right.
00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:53.119
I mean, there that's that's where I feel is what you're saying is if he's creator, then he owns this world and he owns us, and if he has a way that he wants things to be done, and it we should know we should know what it is.
00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:59.119
And do we do we um do we want to be outside of that accountability?
00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:22.799
Is that why we're trying to get rid of the idea of a God or you know obviously when when you look at God and his even in our world, we I mean this is another point, but about the morality side of things, like you know, not even the physical things, but what we perceive as right and wrong, it it translates to all different people groups.
00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:27.200
Well, which actually brings me to the next answer or answer to this is it really God?
00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:30.079
The moral law requires a moral lawgiver.
00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:36.000
How can we know what it how would there even be a right and wrong if there wasn't a creator?
00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.960
I mean, when I buy something, I get this ridiculous manual.
00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.519
Right.
00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.640
I I hate manuals.
00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.119
I I always throw them out and I get the PDF versions because I have to like you know zoom in.
00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.880
And what what is a manual?
00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:50.319
Obviously, it's just this maker saying, Oh, here's what you gotta do.
00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.119
I mean, we don't even we don't even take care of our stuff, by the way.
00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.000
Isn't that hilarious?
00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:59.119
I if you if you're in manuals, they always have troubleshooting areas, but they also have maintenance.
00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.039
Have you ever read the maintenance?
00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.920
You probably have.
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.039
You're a maintenance guy.
00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.480
The cars will change.
00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:08.000
By the way, you have to clean this thing out every year or it's gonna fail.
00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.319
And then when it fails, we're like, what happened here?
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.519
Yeah, why is it broken?
00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:14.480
Well, you didn't clean the vent out, so it it just died.
00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:19.200
That goes to another whole thing of everything goes from order to disorder, yeah, yeah.
00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:21.519
Not from disorder to order.
00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:24.480
That's a good proof that of intelligent design.
00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:27.839
Coming back to this moral law requires a moral lawgiver.
00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:32.960
I think any any uh rational person wants a boundary, right?
00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.920
A right and a wrong.
00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:37.519
But in in order for that to be defined, there's gotta be a standard.
00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.960
And God sets that standard.
00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:43.680
If God isn't, if there isn't a creator, then there's no standard.
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.440
So then who's making it?
00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.720
Who's creating it?
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:50.319
And well, I think we've seen that very clearly in our world today.
00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:54.640
There's all kinds of standards that aren't that's where we're going.
00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.559
Yeah, it's changing.
00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:56.880
Yep.
00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:59.599
Good is evil and evil is good.
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:03.039
And I would make that as an appeal to someone who's questioning God.
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:04.400
I would say you want God.
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:12.240
Yeah, yes, you want order, you want order, you want the laws that God has established because it safeguards all of us.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:16.400
I mean, look at what we're descending into today, which again, I just go back to Romans 1.
00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.880
It's chaos, nothing is right.
00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.359
They we can't even define genders today.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:23.680
Yeah, um, people are afraid to answer what is a woman.
00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.880
I don't know, I can't answer that.
00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:26.240
I'm gonna get trapped.
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:32.400
Um, as if God hasn't defined that clearly, as if a three-year-old couldn't answer that question 10 years ago.
00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:44.400
Yeah, but now we're so afraid, and that is what happens when you eliminate uh that the moral God, the creator God who designed it, and said, This is how I want you to live.
00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:50.000
Um Romans 2, 14 says, The law is written on human hearts.
00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:55.279
That that is that is our conscience, that is the moral law that's been put there.
00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:58.960
That's why he can say, without a doubt, we have been made aware.
00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:01.519
Um, Romans 1 says, Although they knew God.
00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:01.920
Why?
00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.440
Because it was written on us.
00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:09.680
This moral God, this this creator God established this moral law.
00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:13.680
And I think that that is a great answer to people saying, Well, is there really a God?
00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.440
Yeah, and you should be thankful for that.
00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:20.640
Yeah, well, we want justice and justice more than ever today, right?
00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:32.480
Everyone wants justice, but it I mean, that's a a proof that there is a right and a wrong because if somebody hurts somebody I love, I want justice.
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:36.000
I want it to be this isn't right, it needs to be fixed.
00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:42.880
That's a God-given order that's built in us because it's written on our hearts.
00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:45.039
We know when it's when we're wrong.
00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.640
We know down deep.
00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:50.400
A lot of our laws are written from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy.
00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:59.680
Yeah, and it it has order, it has structure, it has um, I don't know if I want to use the word fairness, but a a process to get to the truth.
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.960
And that's what we all want.
00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:05.039
When there is a crime committed, we want to know the truth, and there's only one, right?
00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:10.240
So I think that comes back to um if there is a God, there's only one, there's only one truth.
00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:10.480
Yeah.
00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.240
And how do how do we get there?
00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.759
How do how do we get people there?
00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:18.319
Do we really want to live in a world of opinions when it comes to justice?
00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:18.720
Right.
00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:30.480
I mean, no, no one wants to live in that world, but it does feel like we're sliding into that nowadays in order to push an agenda or and the unfortunately justice is becoming muddled.
00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:39.680
I think law is becoming so muddled even in this country to the degree that the moral law giver is being denied to such a degree that we're descending into chaos.
00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:45.839
And I think all of us don't, we don't I don't want to go to court over something and be judged by opinion.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.400
Yeah.
00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:48.960
Um, we want to be judged by what's right and wrong.
00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:55.039
So yeah, I think you know, if again, if I'm looking face to face with someone who's like, I don't know, uh, is there really a God?
00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:58.319
I'm gonna say you want, you want God, you want a designer.
00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:58.799
Yeah.
00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.920
Um, I agree.
00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.799
Yeah.
00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:06.799
What other uh I guess responses would we have if that question's posed to us?
00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:11.440
Yeah, so I I always go to there's scripture.
00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:14.720
That's that's my belief, and I think that's for all believers.
00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:19.680
Um, so you have an unbeliever and he's going, okay, well, since scripture is a fairy tale.
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.960
I don't believe in scripture.
00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:26.880
Okay, well, let's let's take scripture out of the equation, and so I'll go to my next uh set of notes.
00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.400
Which I traditionally would never do.
00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.440
I don't think we should ever.
00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:32.160
I don't know, but we can add to it.
00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.279
Right, right.
00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.960
You can add to it, not to it.
00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.079
That's a good correction.
00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:51.119
So I would I would say, okay, so we'll we'll pretend that the scripture that I shared with you is is not real, but now I have external, we'll call it scripture or historical evidence because that's what I feel the Bible is historical um evidence.
00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.880
So there are documents that you guys can look up.
00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.000
Um that's good.
00:33:56.160 --> 00:34:02.480
So there's a Roman historian named uh Tacitus, and the book is called The Anals, A-N-N-A-L-S.
00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:04.480
Um, book 15, chapter 44.
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:07.920
It confirms Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate.
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:11.199
So Pontius Pilate was a real person that's in the Bible.
00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.880
So now you have to struggle with that.
00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:16.480
If the Bible is a fairy tale, then why does it have why does it have these facts in there?
00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:25.920
So it's during Tybertius' reign, and that his followers believed he rose and continue worshiping him as divine.
00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:27.440
So and there's many more.
00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:34.639
I've got five others that also these are these are people that were in power, um, or people that were historians.
00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:38.400
And back in the day, um, being a historian was much different than it is today.
00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:42.159
Um, so these are accurate accounts of history.
00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:53.119
So if I'm giving you scripture and you're saying, well, it's a fairy tale, then now you have to struggle with I give you uh uh things that are outside the Bible that are referencing that the Bible is true.
00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.679
And so that's that's where I would I would go.
00:34:55.840 --> 00:35:05.440
And and not to go too much on a tangent, but as a believer, we believe scripture is true because when we hear it, we're like, Yeah, I have no problems with that.
00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.039
I believe in white.
00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.519
Comes from hearing, exactly.
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:12.239
And and we've got more scripture that we could go to on that.
00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:26.079
But um, so I think you if if once somebody hears scripture and they hear some other evidence that's even pointing to scripture is true, we wipe our uh the dust off our sandals and we we move on, you know.
00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:35.039
So we can't make somebody believe, we can only give them the evidence that we have that we feel has has converted us and and let them chew on that.
00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.239
So good though.
00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.360
I I don't want to follow that too.
00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:37.679
But go ahead.
00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:42.559
Can I follow up just on what you were talking about with history, which I found this absolutely amazing?
00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:50.320
And I know you're gonna put this link, and we'll probably have an entire podcast on how the word of God is true.
00:35:50.639 --> 00:36:11.280
But um, with the historian that you just pointed out, um there's a uh video that talks about the different historical manuscripts that we have and the gaps of the how many manuscripts we have and how from from the moment that was done until it was actually written, handwritten.
00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:13.920
So the one guy you just said, what was his name?
00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:16.400
You gave an example Tacitus.
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.440
Okay, Tacitus.
00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:20.719
Um, and it talks about him in this video.
00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:29.360
There's like two handwritten manuscripts, and I think there was 750 years from the time he actually said those things till it was actually written down.
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:40.960
And we have two manuscripts, so that it goes through like Plato and through all of these people that a lot of people will say this is true historical fact because we have these manuscripts.
00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:53.599
With when you look at the word of God and you see how many actual manuscripts we have within 50 years of them actually being written, it like there's thousands of manuscripts, thousands.
00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:59.760
So to believe those historical accounts and not believe the Bible is silly.
00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:03.679
It yeah, it because of the proof we have actual proof.
00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:09.199
So we'll have that linked in there too, so you can watch that because it is it's it's undeniable.
00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.039
And you do have to do the work.
00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:18.320
Um, this is where uh study research comes in because when we talk about the Bible, which I do think should be our next one, I already put that down.
00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:19.760
Yeah, um good topic.
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:22.320
Uh the how proven of a book it is.
00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:33.519
Uh, it was hilarious because I saw some statistics about even our history books that are in schools are less proven than, you know, I mean substantially less proven.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:38.960
And they're written about, you know, historical things that are just 50 years ago and they're inaccurate.
00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:52.719
Um, so it is outstanding when you think about the historians you're referencing that um, again, apart from scripture, which I'll just say this, you know, and I love the answers in Genesis remind you never set the Bible aside.
00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.119
Never.
00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:59.199
It is our presupposition, our starting point, and don't make um don't make uh apologies for that.
00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:06.800
But I don't think we reference historical documents enough because um, and I know John MacArthur's so big on that.
00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:16.639
I love how fun to unwrap it is because very few pastors do the work to unwrap historical references and it brings so much pencil.
00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:18.000
All of it together.
00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:18.960
Yeah, so fun.
00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:32.800
Yeah, and I'm going down bunny trails, but I just heard in one of the sermons um that I was listening to, um, where you know, modern pastors today will try to take scripture and try to interpret in light of you know our culture.
00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:41.280
They'll they'll they'll not use biblical culture, biblical um reference in order to try to relate to today's audience.
00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:41.920
Yeah.
00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:57.119
And and he was like, you're missing the whole point because when you when you and this is again, John MacArthur will take you back into the understanding of that day and age, why Jesus used this reference, why he pointed out this, and it brings so much depth and understanding.
00:38:57.199 --> 00:39:05.119
And if you don't do that work, you you misinterpret and you come up with uh many times just different results to what the meaning is.
00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:12.559
So I'm getting in a tangent, but I love this truth, and I think that it should be a reminder when we're asked, is there really a God?
00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:21.519
Just check out how much historical truth there is surrounding the Bible itself, which ultimately says there is a God.
00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:23.920
And I want to add one piece to that.
00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:31.760
Back in those days when people were um communicating historically, they would verbally tell each other.
00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:34.239
And then they had amazing memories.
00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:39.679
It's not like today where we are, I think we're used to having a phone and other electronic devices.
00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:41.599
So I don't think we don't have to remember.
00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:43.599
Yeah, we don't have to have that capacity.
00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:56.480
But back then, it was extremely important that the things you were regurgitating were exact, they were truthful because there was a high price to pay if you if you became a slanderer, a liar, or whatever you want to call it.
00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:56.880
Yeah.
00:39:57.119 --> 00:40:06.800
Um and so when when you go back to those times, when people were documenting things, this was the truth historically.
00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:11.280
And you didn't get people that are telling lies.
00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:25.440
And and so that's what I want to help people understand that if you're if you're if you're struggling, well, that was written a long time ago, and you're trying to place the way we are in society today to back then, that's the inappropriate application.
00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:27.280
Things were much different back then.
00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:29.360
But would you say people didn't lie?
00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:29.840
No.
00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:35.840
Well, I mean, I think there is false stuff from back then, but not at not like we think about it today.
00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:48.239
And and so when you have these um these uh historical documents and they're pointing to other historical documents to support them, I think you can confidently say that that is truth.
00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:49.679
And and so that's what I'm getting at.
00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:50.719
Oh, I see what you're saying.
00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:53.199
Well, yeah, and I think the fact that what is it?
00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:59.039
Um in a court of law, you have to have two or three witnesses, right?
00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:01.039
Like to show.
00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:04.480
And I think the this is and what we would say is a witness.
00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.280
Yeah, there was no.
00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:07.519
And I was reading a book about it.
00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:18.400
Um give you the name of the book, but um, the idea that there wasn't there's no logical reason for them to lie about that, you know.
00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:22.639
So because of that, you can't assume that that is a lie.
00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:30.239
You know, there's there's thought processes that go into putting that into position.
00:41:30.559 --> 00:41:36.159
And you also have to do research on the and a lot of these historians, they weren't, I don't even think some of them were Christians, right?
00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:38.239
Yeah, they were complete independently.
00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:40.800
Some of them hated historians Christianity here, right?
00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:49.679
So uh that's why it survived all the uh generations, because uh I mean, obviously, it's hard to question that.
00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.159
Yep.
00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:54.480
Um, I love this, and this is kind of surrounding what you brought up.
00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:57.760
Man doesn't invent God, yeah.
00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:59.360
He tries to suppress him.
00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:05.119
People have said, oh man created, you know, Christianity is nothing more than some conceived idea.
00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:11.519
God is just this idea that man is in this hopeless state and needs someone to cling to.
00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:20.000
And uh, I know that came out of the Freud era and the the so-called intellectuals of the 1800s, 1900s.
00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:26.079
And I love the argument that John MacArthur brings up because he's like, man wouldn't invent God.
00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:29.440
Not well, not this God, not our not the true God.
00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:33.039
Doesn't invent God, tries to suppress God.
00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:36.239
That is man's inclination, is is his point.
00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:41.760
Man has created gods, but our desire is to suppress God.
00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:46.960
Yeah, we don't want an order over us, we don't want a law over us.
00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:56.159
Our sinful nature wants to thrive in the decline, in the the the the sinfulness of our human nature, right?
00:42:56.400 --> 00:43:01.840
So it's an interesting argument that you don't hear often because it just gets swallowed up by other things.
00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:04.400
But as he was presenting, I'm like, you know, that is so true.
00:43:04.719 --> 00:43:06.719
It is not our inclination to do that.
00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:08.559
We will make ourselves God.
00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:11.360
Yeah, we will put ourselves in power.
00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:22.800
But when what human, even today, then, would create a God as merciful, as powerful, as independent, as loving as as the God of the universe?
00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:23.840
We wouldn't do that.
00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:37.760
The gods man create are much like men, yeah, who crave power and corruption and authority, the Greek gods, the these were these were uh evil beings, right?
00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:39.599
So yeah, I find that fascinating.
00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:43.679
I thought that was an interesting thought, and you have to link that one too.
00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:49.599
Whatever there's a study we were going to study that is um yeah, God, Satan, angels and demons, or something like that.
00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:59.199
One of his his series, phenomenal series, but it's it's in the uh the part he's talking about God, and uh he brings that truth up.
00:43:59.280 --> 00:43:59.760
So I thought that.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:00.639
Was important.
00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:05.840
I don't know that I would use that as my starting point to argue with someone who's saying is there really a God?
00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:09.599
But I would for someone who's probing and say, you know, have you ever thought about it?
00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:12.639
Would you create the God of this of the Bible?
00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:12.960
Yeah.
00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:20.320
Can man even conceive of such love, mercy, grace, and put that as our authority?
00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:22.239
And I don't, I think the answer is no.
00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:23.360
We we wouldn't do that.
00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:34.320
Um, and I think another another good question that we could I would I would say it's a debate versus an argument with somebody that's questioning a God.
00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:36.239
Um, is there not a God?
00:44:36.400 --> 00:44:38.239
Ask them, well, is there not a God?
00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:39.039
And they say, No.
00:44:39.519 --> 00:44:40.000
Why?
00:44:40.239 --> 00:44:49.199
What so let's hear your argument um of why you say there's not a God, because I think that would give you an opportunity to kind of see what the where their mindset is uh to be able to help.
00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:51.119
Um yeah, and what would we hear?
00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:54.079
Yeah, we we would well, you know, I've got some examples.
00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:56.480
Uh there's a God, but he doesn't care, right?
00:44:56.559 --> 00:44:58.159
The the hands-off kind of God.
00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:06.239
He he's created everything, but he really could care less about humanity and the struggles, um, or the people that go, Well, there's something smart out there, we don't know what it is.
00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:10.320
I mean, there's a lot of intelligent design, so there's some sort of creator.
00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:14.559
Um, or God is whatever you want him to be, kind of like what we're doing today.
00:45:14.800 --> 00:45:20.320
Or we we we take um God and we mold him into something a little bit different, right?
00:45:20.400 --> 00:45:22.159
So it's convenient for us, yeah.
00:45:22.320 --> 00:45:25.599
Um, or or science has replaced God, that's like the atheist.
00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:29.280
So uh there's a lot of uh God replacements out there.
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:37.840
Um, but so so I still think for us to really get at where that person is coming from, ask them well if there's no God, why?
00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:38.880
Why isn't there a God?
00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:44.239
Give me your proof and what where do you see no creator at all?
00:45:44.400 --> 00:45:45.679
So that's my thought.
00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:48.880
I I I'll and we should wrap it up with this.
00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:51.280
Uh this this is my closing thought to this.
00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:52.559
You guys can chime in.
00:45:53.119 --> 00:45:59.280
But think about what God tells us to do for those unbelieving people.
00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:04.079
I mean, I I think of the reference of the shepherd and the sheep, the lost sheep.
00:46:04.239 --> 00:46:06.559
Yeah, leave the 99, chase the one.
00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:16.559
You know, God's God's answer to reaching the unbeliever, the denier, is to love them, to go after them, to devote attention to them.
00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:20.400
And and I think as Christians, that's a tough thing for us to do.
00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:26.960
I it's you know, you feel attacked when Christianity or your faith is put in question.
00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:30.800
It's easy for us to respond with you know what you're talking about.
00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:51.039
Um, but God's answer again, a God that man would not create, his answer is to love them, to go after them, to give truth, give truth to them, you know, and and and not stop, continue, um, all the way to the point where he calls us to um love our enemy.
00:46:51.280 --> 00:46:51.840
Yeah.
00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:54.079
Uh this is the God of the Bible.
00:46:54.239 --> 00:46:58.480
This is the creator who formed and fashioned us and made us who we are.
00:46:58.719 --> 00:47:00.159
Um, I love that God.
00:47:00.239 --> 00:47:01.440
That's an amazing God.
00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:03.519
That's a God for us to know.
00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:04.400
He's unique.
00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:17.039
Um, I understand, I take such comfort when I when I contemplate the universe and and all that we are and all that we live in, when I think of that God.
00:47:17.599 --> 00:47:22.000
I uh I think of the people in today's world that are full of anxiety and fear.
00:47:22.159 --> 00:47:28.960
And I think if you just know this God, this God made a way, and I know, I understand all the arguments.
00:47:29.119 --> 00:47:34.239
You know, the first thing you hear from a lot of people is I don't understand a God who would who would send people to hell.
00:47:35.039 --> 00:47:36.960
Um, those are the types of things you hear.
00:47:37.119 --> 00:47:48.480
And and I look back at them and say, I see a God who made a way of salvation for you for all mankind, who who has eternity carved out for you, who has made a way.
00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:49.599
That's the God I see.
00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:53.599
Um, choose that God today, choose him because he chose you.
00:47:53.760 --> 00:47:57.840
So I just want to bring Hebrews 11:6.
00:47:58.320 --> 00:48:20.400
I I just find it awesome that it was our memory verse a few months ago, and it's just been echoing in my mind as we've been starting this whole journey that um that if we believe that he exists, that that is what God asked, that we would believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:42.000
So if you're in the position where you are at that moment and you're like, I choose to believe, I am going to have faith, I'm gonna believe the truth about our eternal and creator and our our eternal God, our creator God, that that he is, and then know that he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:43.599
So he wants us to seek him.
00:48:43.760 --> 00:48:46.400
It gives him joy and pleasure.
00:48:46.960 --> 00:48:50.320
And when we bring him glory in that, in that in that search for him.
00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:58.239
If you're if you're struggling in something and you're not sure, you have to lean in to God, not away from him.
00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.639
Lean into him right now and seek him.
00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:04.079
He will reward you, he will show you more of himself.
00:49:04.400 --> 00:49:07.599
And it's precious because he loves us that much.
00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:09.039
He wants us to know him.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:11.119
And faith comes from hearing.
00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:15.679
You know, it's it's easy to make an argument, maybe stir a thought in in someone.
00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:24.000
But my encouragement to the unbeliever or the seeker is dive into God's word, read it, let the Holy Spirit bring revelation and truth.
00:49:24.239 --> 00:49:27.840
Because he does what I can't do or you can't do, none of us can do.
00:49:28.239 --> 00:49:34.880
But when you get into the word of God and you and you read and you hear, he brings understanding and and will open your mind.
00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:39.280
But uh one more thought: God's unchanging nature gives certainty.
00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:48.480
And thank God that we serve a God who is unchanging because man, our culture is just shifting on us.
00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:52.079
We feel like our ground is always shaking beneath us, always splitting.
00:49:52.400 --> 00:50:00.079
But our faith, our peace as believers comes from knowing that God is unchanging and that we can put our trust and hope in Him.
00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:03.679
His promises are true and they remain true forever.
00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:05.840
So that's my closing thought.
00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:10.400
Um, obviously, there is no way that we can feel like we've answered a question like this.
00:50:10.559 --> 00:50:14.079
Is there really a God in every twist and turn?
00:50:14.159 --> 00:50:20.960
But I think we've done pretty good just answering some thoughts and sharing some scripture and um hopefully it makes sense.
00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:27.119
Yeah, I think our short answer is we we are accountable to give our answer for that question.
00:50:27.280 --> 00:50:30.800
Yeah, it's good, but it's not our uh job to convince them.
00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:34.000
It's it's scripture and the Holy Spirit to amen to that.
00:50:34.079 --> 00:50:34.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:50:34.559 --> 00:50:37.280
I hope those are seek him helpful.
00:50:37.440 --> 00:50:38.239
Yeah, very good.
00:50:38.480 --> 00:50:38.880
Seek him.
00:50:39.440 --> 00:50:39.760
All right.
00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:42.719
Well, next week we might be diving into is the Bible true?
00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:44.239
Yeah, um big topic.
00:50:44.400 --> 00:50:48.719
Um so yeah, tune in and we'll um see what what happens with that.
00:50:48.800 --> 00:50:50.400
But I look forward to the conversation.
00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:06.080
In an age of uncertainty and spiritual noise, there is still a firm foundation.
00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:10.320
God's word is steady, his truth is sufficient.
00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:12.400
This is echoing truth.
00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:17.679
Anchored in scripture, engaged with culture, helping you stand firm.
00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:26.000
All right, welcome to Echoing Truth, where we bring God's truth into the conversations that matter most.
00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:29.839
Um, so we're gonna begin a turn.
00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:34.640
And I know that we started several weeks ago um uh a series on prayer.
00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:52.320
And I think for us, I'm still going through that series, but we're gonna take a little turn with the podcast and begin to answer some hot button topics that we know people are looking for answers on these topics, and I think that they're gonna challenge our faith because they're big.
00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:55.119
I mean, and today we're just I'm gonna lay it right out there.
00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:56.880
Is there really a God?
00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:58.159
Ooh, I love it.
00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.359
Powerful, tough question.
00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:00.719
I mean, it's a tough question.
00:01:01.119 --> 00:01:02.960
And I guess I'll ask you guys this.
00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.599
Have you ever debated that in your life?
00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.040
Uh, with myself.
00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:07.920
Yeah, yeah.
00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:11.519
I mean, inward, have you ever come to the point where you're like, is there?
00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:12.159
Yeah.
00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:18.480
Yeah, when I was a kid, um, I remember laying on the trampoline, looking up at the stars, going, There's gotta be something.
00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:21.280
Before I was actually saved, there's gotta be something.
00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.840
There's such a big world out there, yeah.
00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:29.280
And yeah, it's just I think that's a question all of us have to struggle with at some point in our lives.
00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:32.000
Yeah, I've been blessed to be a Christian all my life.
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:37.280
So I grew up in a family that, you know, just I was introduced to faith at age five.
00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:39.840
And so God always existed in my mind.
00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:43.599
I don't know a reality in which God doesn't exist.
00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:57.200
And um, you know, going through Bible college and and just, you know, being in God's word all of my life, really, um, it's sometimes hard to understand people who question God.
00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:05.760
Um, and so I'm gonna get right to my point, which I guess this is what I want to talk about today as we contemplate this.
00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:11.520
If someone comes up to us tomorrow and poses this question to us, is there really a God?
00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:13.680
Do you feel ready to answer it?
00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:14.560
Yeah.
00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:17.599
Because if I was, this is where I would start.
00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:18.400
Yeah.
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:21.039
That creation demands a creator.
00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:21.360
Yeah.
00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:30.240
And I think it's probably the most obvious starting point for me in answering a question like that.
00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:56.000
Um, and I have scripture, and I think what I want to do in just trying to answer this question for people who are genuinely seeking, and maybe even for ourselves, and we can just chat about these scriptures, is answering this question that it that it's satisfactory to us, but we're also confident that if people could hear it and understand it and contemplate it, that it could change them, maybe persuade them.
00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:01.919
Um, I think about Paul, who always was making an argument, you know, that that people would would hear them.
00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:10.080
And I think as we deal with these hot topic questions, um, that we could just kind of chat about it enough that we can answer some questions.
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:11.439
So I've got some scriptures.
00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:21.599
Let's start in Psalms, Psalm 19, one, and it says, the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:22.080
Amen.
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:23.280
Great starting point, right?
00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:26.560
Scripture just immediately declares that God is.
00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:35.759
In Romans 1, um, it it's a little broader, but I kind of want to read the whole thing because I always reference Romans 1 when it comes to our culture today and where we are.
00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:36.800
So listen to this.
00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:46.159
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who by their unrighteousness suppress truth.
00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:47.599
Because truth is out there.
00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:50.159
We can get it, we can, we can understand it.
00:03:50.400 --> 00:04:07.439
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them, for his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made, so they are without excuse.
00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:16.560
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:26.639
Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:31.199
Again, declaring that God has made himself known to us.
00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:36.639
We can perceive it even from nature around us every day.
00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:40.399
And yet there are those who still ask this question is there really a God?
00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:40.720
Yeah.
00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:43.600
I find that absolutely uh astounding.
00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:44.560
A couple more.
00:04:44.720 --> 00:04:45.199
Oh, go ahead.
00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:46.000
No, I want to hear.
00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:50.639
I was thinking, you know, Nathan just jumped right in and said, Yeah, I I've thought that.
00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:51.759
Or not Nathan.
00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:52.480
My gosh.
00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:53.120
Lincoln.
00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:55.279
Um my brain.
00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:55.920
That's me.
00:04:56.319 --> 00:05:08.639
Um it's it for me, you know, listening to these scriptures, it again, I'm very much been raised since I was like seven years old being taught the Bible.
00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:19.199
And so it like it almost makes my mind I have to stop and really, really think about it, which I'm because I just believe it.
00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:28.800
Maybe that's a simplicity of my mind, but I feel like that's where I fall when is there really a God?
00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:33.279
I stop and my mind just automatically says, of course.
00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:38.639
But maybe that's the danger too with Christians as a whole, is that we do almost take it for granted.
00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:39.279
Yeah.
00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:48.800
Um, I I had this random thought, and I don't want to bunny trail here, but I had this random thought as I was outside this morning with my coffee, just trying to enjoy the morning.
00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:49.680
It was beautiful.
00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:51.360
Animals bouncing around.
00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:54.879
And and I've been going through the Old Testament, right?
00:05:55.040 --> 00:05:59.759
And enjoying every moment of it, just God revealing who he was through the Old Testament.
00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:04.560
Not the most exciting thing that people talk about, but it's been exciting for me.
00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:06.720
And I've been going through it for months now.
00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:16.160
And I had this thought as I was sitting there that God has revealed so much to me about who he is in the Old Testament that I didn't want that to leave me.
00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:25.040
Do you ever have that thought that just being in God's word, you know how it fuels you, it reminds you, it it um it was like supercharging my faith.
00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:31.920
And I had this random moment that um I as I go through it, I'm like, I don't, God, I don't want to, I don't want to forget this.
00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:39.600
So that comment, I guess that's what I think about, is that sometimes we're so as Christians, we're so used to hearing this.
00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:40.160
Yeah.
00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:42.800
Does it become too common?
00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:48.160
Or the base of what we believe is solid.
00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:55.920
So I mean it makes me want to be better at being able to communicate it with somebody.
00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:01.680
So I have to be thinking properly, like having the right arguments, like you're saying, in my mind.
00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:03.360
I think that's yeah, important.
00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:06.399
And we have super helpful.
00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:10.399
Well, deflecting to scripture just as a whole, I think we need to be quick to do.
00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.920
Yeah, that's why I want to read these first because this is our base point, right?
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.639
And answering a big question like, is there really a God?
00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:17.279
It's truth.
00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:22.959
Hebrews 3 4 says, For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.240
So again, scripture revealing the creator.
00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:26.879
Love it.
00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:29.360
Genesis 1:1, in the beginning, God.
00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:36.079
Uh as glorious as is, right out of the gates, it is God.
00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:46.000
Psalm 92, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.800
So scripture reveals God as creator.
00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.000
There's no doubt, right?
00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:56.560
That as Christians, we know um, without a doubt, that the Bible declares there is a creator.
00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:59.360
So creation demands a creator.
00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:07.199
And I guess in thinking about this and answering this question, again, if I'm standing next to someone who's like, Come on, tell me, is there really a God?
00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:11.120
I guess that's the first question I'm gonna pose them who created all this?
00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:13.360
Where did that all come from?
00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.000
Right.
00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:18.879
I mean, are you ready to say nothing came or everything came from nothing?
00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:19.360
Right.
00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:20.639
Yeah, we talked about that.
00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:23.040
Like I'm a car guy and I love cars.
00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:23.920
Where did that come from?
00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:24.959
You are a car guy.
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:28.079
So if I see something really cool, I want to know who made that.
00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:28.399
Yeah.
00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:29.759
And so I know it.
00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:34.159
How can we ignore that out in the world when we see something that's beautiful?
00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:36.320
Like you mentioned, you're out drinking your coffee.
00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.759
And I've had those moments too, and I'm like, wow, that's just beautiful.
00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:43.360
So if you're an unbeliever, what do you say?
00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:47.759
You go, wow, that's pretty that that randomly came together.
00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:48.320
Yeah.
00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:48.639
Right.
00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:49.840
And knows what to do.
00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:50.240
Yeah.
00:08:50.480 --> 00:09:01.039
And it functions, mechanically works, and everything is uh over the top awesome, bringing us to question it.
00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:08.480
So I think when you say where did it come from, and you say, Well, it just came from the Big Bang.
00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:13.440
Okay, well then this is like sixth grade science class for me.
00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:18.080
I remember being in sixth grade going, Well, well, where did the Big Bang come from?
00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:18.240
Yeah.
00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:21.039
And the the science teacher looked at me and went, Well, we don't know.
00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:23.440
Like, that's not an answer.
00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:27.919
So we have to believe by faith one way or the other.
00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:34.000
Either it s began with God or by what?
00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:36.960
I know I'm gonna hear that too.
00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:42.399
That's what's uh frightening is if I'm standing before someone, they're saying, is there really a God?
00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:52.080
And and I talk about God as creator, that there's going to be some discussion about now evolution, the Big Bang, it all came from a star, stardust.
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:53.360
That's where we came from.
00:09:53.519 --> 00:10:08.720
And how how can I I just I guess I'm just amazed that anyone's mind can assume that the complexity of life could randomly evolve into anything.
00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:13.519
I mean, we've uh and I know I re I realize this is a very, very deep discussion.
00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:17.440
I'm not gonna go down the create or the evolution uh rabbit hole right now.
00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.320
I think we'll get to that.
00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:20.720
For sure.
00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:29.440
But but intelligence, this kind of creation that we can witness requires an intelligent creator, an intelligent designer.
00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:30.879
And I I use this all the time.
00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:41.759
This is my car, is my watch because the idea that this little thing that we now have strapped around us, which is now an amazing computer, can read your heartbeat.
00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:46.559
It can you can talk to it, it can talk to you, it reminds you of appointments in a in a in a day.
00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.720
I mean, it's really amazing what we got packed into here.
00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:51.600
It it would be insane in my mind.
00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:55.039
And I'm sorry to use those as strong, that strong language there.
00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:55.759
How dare you!
00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:12.000
But it would be insane to me to think that I could put rubber and metal and wires and gears in my pocket, shake it up, leave it there for even a thousand years, and it's gonna turn into anything other than a pocket full of rubber, wire, metal, whatever I put in there.
00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:12.879
Nothing's gonna change.
00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:16.080
And I do not evolve into an intelligent created thing.
00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:22.639
The design that that was was made by an intelligent person, a very intelligent person.
00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:31.200
That brain that that came up with this, or the team of people that came up with this, but then you you even let's think about the brain, right?
00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.919
Like that actually was able to create that.
00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:42.080
We're saying that this brain magically or somehow evolved without any designer.
00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:50.480
Yeah, the most complicated thing in the universe really is our brains because it's creative, it creates things, has to be bigger than us.
00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.399
It must be bigger than us.
00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:57.519
Yeah, intelligent design demand well, creation demands it, the the intelligence there.
00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:04.159
You know, and I I this is probably another point, but think about uh who we are.
00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:06.000
We're creators, we like to create you.
00:12:06.080 --> 00:12:09.600
Like to work with your car build things, thinker, electronics.
00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:12.399
We are created to be creators, right?
00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:14.799
Because we're created in the likeness of God.
00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:23.039
So we we have the same desire to create, form, and fashion and build and find logic and then set it loose as God did.
00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:29.519
It's like we are a reflection of that creative brilliance that who God is.
00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:33.039
He put it within all of us, so we witness it on a daily basis.
00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:54.320
Well, Drew is making a puppet right now, and it's just so cool to watch him, like the way his mind is working and how he's like literally fashioning it and making it and making his mouth move and doing it's creating a uh well, you know, in that in adamant object, but uh yeah, the creation process excites us, yeah.
00:12:54.480 --> 00:13:00.000
Yeah, which I think is just again a reflection that creates needs a creator, yeah.
00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:10.240
And I think it's I don't see a good example anywhere here on uh among humanity that would ever say that's not true.
00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:10.799
Yeah.
00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.440
I mean, what what doesn't need a designer?
00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:24.240
No matter what you start with, no matter what project you're doing, there always has to be a design, a starting point, and uh an intellect that that guides you.
00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:32.240
So it's it's really difficult for me to understand any argument against this when it comes to is there really a God?
00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.759
There has to be a creator.
00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:35.279
So let's just talk about that.
00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:37.759
Who is is is God real?
00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:39.120
And let's look at these scriptures.
00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:45.519
But Christianity demands one big miracle, and I think we just have to be honest about that when we're talking with people.
00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:50.639
Like I'm I'm asking for you to believe in one miracle that brought about everything.
00:13:50.960 --> 00:14:05.120
The atheist, the the God denier, the creator, creator denier is basically believing in many miracles, all right, to turn into everything, right?
00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.440
Talk about long ago and far away, right?
00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:12.399
Long ago, far away, a petty fairy tale that feels much more hard.
00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:19.279
It's much harder to believe that there isn't a God in my mind than there is.
00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:27.120
Yeah, I I love this, and I think this was uh uh a quote from John MacArthur, but it was says, if you see design, now think about this.
00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:30.960
If you see design, you already believe there's a designer.
00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:33.360
Oh, yeah, we wouldn't question it in any other form.
00:14:33.600 --> 00:14:36.720
You're just deciding who the designer is, who made this jacket?
00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.960
Yeah, we do this every day.
00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:40.799
Look at that car, was that Ford?
00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.440
Is that Gia?
00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:42.799
Who made you know?
00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:45.039
Uh, if we watch a movie, we're like, who produced this?
00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:53.840
Yeah, we are adamant that in everything else that we witness in life, when we see a design of any kind, we immediately think, Who did this?
00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.519
Yeah, I need to talk to them right now.
00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:56.799
Who wrote this?
00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:04.399
Um, but when it comes to the to God and the creation, it's no, there was nobody, there was nothing.
00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:06.240
So I find that fascinating.
00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:11.679
Um, other thoughts when it comes to answering this question is there really a God?
00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.720
Yeah, I I like your analogy with the watch.
00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:21.039
The watch was developed not just to be a hunk of something that sits on your arm, it has a purpose, right?
00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.080
It has a design.
00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:22.960
Right.
00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:25.360
So there are things that are built into that.
00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:32.240
Not only does it have a physical design that it fits on your wrist, it's adjustable, it has a magnetic, by the way.
00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.039
I don't even see that.
00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.799
Oh, that's yeah, that's even more complex.
00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.840
It's even more complex.
00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:41.600
So, and then and then beyond that physical design, there's a um software design.
00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.679
So there's now software built in.
00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:48.559
So a human has functioning different parts that work together, right?
00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:59.039
So that's like the physical piece, but then unseen to us, there's DNA, there's purpose within each of those cells to do a job.
00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:09.440
So you have structure of different pieces with different parts working together like your watch to accomplish a goal.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.639
And so I, you know, yeah, it is funny that we can say, Yeah, that's that's an Apple watch.
00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:18.159
Apple, a bunch of engineers at this company put this thing together.
00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:20.879
I'm gonna get some stock in Apple because this is brilliant, right?
00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:27.039
And and there are people that actually there are robots and machinery that has created that and put that together.
00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:33.679
Well, to go one step further, we are produced by what?
00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:37.600
Was there a little machine putting us together during conception?
00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:41.120
No, it's it's an automated process, right?
00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:45.200
And and when we believe in the Bible, it says that God stitched us together.
00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:51.519
So, how do you get us without any machinery or anything that like you were talking a miracle?
00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:55.840
That is a miracle, and then the other side of that, if you say, Well, there is no God, okay.
00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.200
Well, that's still a miracle.
00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:06.640
How is this functioning body coming out that's more complex than your watch without any machinery or anything so that we function?
00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:13.759
Because we we function with multiple different moving parts that are more sophisticated than that, than a car and everything else.
00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:21.680
Yeah, so those those kinds of things it has to ask the question is there a God?
00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.960
Is there a creator?
00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:32.240
Yeah, the amount of miracles you have to believe uh to get God out of the picture is it really is astounding.
00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:40.240
Um if your starting point is God did not exist, there is no uh designer, there is no um creator.
00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:46.480
The the amount of faith you have to have in nothing is really astounding to me.
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:54.000
And and the only answer I can think of, and I'm just being real honest with you, you have to check out intellectually to come to a conclusion.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:18:05.039
Well, I would think that what happens is our minds go to um somebody smarter than me gave me the answer.
00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:21.599
I'm trusting the scientists, I'm not a scientist, I'm not looking at the evidence like they're looking at the evidence, and they've looked at the evidence and they've very clearly come up with this idea, and it must be true because they're scientists.
00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:29.920
So I feel like the teacher is telling us things and we just believe it and say in our mind we couldn't possibly comprehend it.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:35.839
That's it's so outside of our ability to understand it that don't even don't even try.
00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:39.599
Just trust us, we've done the research and it is this way.
00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:47.119
Well, but we God has made us, He's made us to be looking around and observing things.
00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:49.599
That's what science really is, is observation.
00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:56.799
And when you uh really observe God's world, you find that there is a designer.
00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:02.400
It's very practical, it's very simple, it's very in your face, it's it's not hard to understand.
00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:04.960
And I think that was by God's design.
00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:05.440
Yeah.
00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:09.039
Which is beautiful.
00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:21.200
You know, I yeah, I think uh I think it's astounding how how our culture today, and I I just to speak about about the things we deal with in our culture, how much we trust others.
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:37.039
You know, I and and given you know the educational system that we have today, I mean I could list all kinds of things that I do think uh our culture is beginning to see uh a distrust with some of these answers.
00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:39.839
And people are genuinely seeking.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.759
I think this is a great time to answer a question.
00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.880
Is there really a God?
00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:51.119
Because it's becoming very obvious to the everyday human that we can't trust anyone.
00:19:51.200 --> 00:20:03.039
Our government fails us, scientists fail us, um, the education system is failing us, and and it's being exposed that the answers given really have no merit.
00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:08.799
Yeah, we're you know what I love about the Bible is that it's the most proven book on earth.
00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:13.599
I mean, it is it has been scrutinized for centuries, right?
00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:18.960
I mean, proof after proof after proof, it's been proven to be exactly what it is, truthful.
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:21.440
And I think you can't deny that.
00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:27.839
I think to deny that would require um, you know, a lot more than most people are willing to even try to attempt.
00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:39.839
Um so I I I think you know, when you talk about creation demands a creator, I think that there is um so much truth to that that it should shake people up and bring that into that.
00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.920
How else do you answer that question for people?
00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:45.519
I guess um is there really a God?
00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:48.240
Yeah, I think I think you point to scripture.
00:20:48.400 --> 00:21:04.480
Um, I think that's the first thing that you have to do because uh somebody who is going to become a believer, scripture will cause them to chew on scripture and struggle with it until the conversion happens.
00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:10.559
So um and and I think that's our commandment is that we we give God's word because it's alive, right?
00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:13.440
And so I think that's where I think I think that's where you start.
00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:30.000
I mean, we we could always go down the path of trying to convince somebody of certain facts and like, okay, fine, I believe that Jesus lived, I believe, you know, these certain areas, but I think you still have to give them the scripture and and see how it works in them, right?
00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.559
That's our job.
00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:32.480
We we let God do the heavy lifting.
00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:36.160
So when someone says, Is there a God?
00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:43.119
I think we're responsible to answer on our own accord, but it's not our job to convince them.
00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:49.759
That's the job of the Holy Spirit and the job of scripture, especially when you use scripture because it it does not return void, it tells us that, right?
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:57.200
Well, and if I can bounce off of that, yeah, with with scripture, we either believe because none of us were there at the beginning.
00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.000
That's a good point.
00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.759
We weren't uh no, this is.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.039
An observable science, it's it's historical science.
00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:09.359
So because none of us were actually there, we have to presuppose something.
00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:28.720
And so we're choosing to either have faith in the Bible that God in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, that that He's telling us what He did, or we believe man's word, which is built on the fact that there is no God.
00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:36.160
So there is every person has to make a decision in their own mind who they're going to have faith in.
00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.799
And that's the basis of this question.
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:48.319
If we choose to trust the Bible, that's where we find out about who God is, that God is eternal, that helps with creation because he's outside of time.
00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:51.440
If God is eternal, he was always there.
00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:57.519
It's not everything that we see has a starting point.
00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.559
And so it obviously will have an ending point.
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:03.279
But God is outside of that.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:11.119
And so it helps my mind know that okay, this guy God is outside of time and he is eternal.
00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:20.559
That's part of his attributes, and I can learn more about this God who gave me a book to understand him more.
00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.599
Yeah.
00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:24.720
And I think that is that's the the challenge.
00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:29.599
So do we believe in these things that are difficult to believe in first?
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:32.240
And then do we believe in God did them?
00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:37.440
Or do we believe in God first and then we can believe that all these difficult things happen?
00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.200
And I think it's I think it's the belief in God.
00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:45.279
And and then everything else, you're you just you you have faith that he's capable.
00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.559
And I I like how you mentioned that.
00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:54.640
Because he is uh he's not uh he's not uh finite like we are, he's infinite, he's eternal.
00:23:55.200 --> 00:24:02.799
He created everything that we see here, so we can't say, oh well, you you now fit into what you've created.
00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:06.079
So it had to have star it had to have started outside of you.
00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:10.960
Well, no, he's already outside of, he's in a different realm than what he created.
00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:18.319
And I think that's another thing that um I think some people struggle with when they say, Well, how can God create something out of nothing?
00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.680
Well, because he's God, right?
00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:23.279
And and it goes back to as if we can compare him to us.
00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:25.519
Yeah, and so that's the we can't do that.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:40.480
The big topic of you have to have some faith in certain areas, and that's part of uh being saved, is that you have faith and God's just separate from us, he's completely different, way more powerful than we could ever imagine, and he has abilities that we can't even imagine.
00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:48.160
I think we share some of his attributes because we're made in his image, but there are some that are 100% only for him.
00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:55.359
And it's makes us want to worship him more when we do study his world and we see what he's made.
00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:59.599
It makes us want to bring glory to God, which is is why we're here.
00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:04.160
A question like this just shakes it should shake people up for the Christian.
00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:10.799
The question, is there really a God should shake us up to say, if so, are we even doing what we're supposed to do?
00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.559
Are we walking in the way we're supposed to walk?
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:20.160
I mean, this question has a lot of uh twists and turns to it because for the believer, for those people who are gonna say, Yeah, of course he's creator, he's God, you know.
00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:23.519
The the next question would be, well, what is your response to that?
00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:25.359
Is your everyday reflect that?
00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:44.720
And then for the reb, the the unbeliever, the the the Bible denier, the God denier, the atheist, um, you know, I they're living their life, and I have to assume this is just the truth that our culture has buried um us in stuff, right?
00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:53.039
Entertainment, activity, work, just buried us to the point where do you even reflect on origins?
00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:56.000
Do you even think about whether there is a God or not?
00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:56.960
Do you even care?
00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:14.400
And I think that you know, this question when it comes to those we work with, those in our neighborhood, uh, those in our family, you know, I I this is what I feel like I witness that life has just buried people to such a degree that they're not pondering this question.
00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:26.799
No, I think centuries ago when life was simple, quiet, slow, it it probably was um you were confronted more with that because your life just slowed down.
00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:37.119
I mean, again, I not to keep bringing up my coffee outside, but when you go and you stop and you and you tune everything out, it's amazing all of a sudden the things that flood into your mind.
00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:40.720
It's it's kind of like the three o'clock in bed thing, you know, all of a sudden everything's clear.
00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.319
You're like, oh my gosh, I have so much to do.
00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.200
What am I doing?
00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:51.119
And I I do think that if we could stop, slow down, that maybe this question, is there really a God, would be pondered more.
00:26:51.440 --> 00:27:02.640
But I do think that the enemy of our soul, which we know Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy, is so effective uh in our culture today of just burying us.
00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:06.720
I mean, we go home, TV goes on, it's it's what can I binge?
00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:08.079
It's what work can I do?
00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:11.039
I gotta mow the lawn, I gotta do this, I gotta go there.
00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:20.880
And I I just honestly think um, as great as our answers are, I have to wonder whether anyone's asking this for those who are distant.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:27.519
And I would also challenge believers to say, if your answer is absolutely, of course, God exists, he is creator.
00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:31.200
The obvious question then is how real is he?
00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.640
Are we walking the walk?
00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:35.440
Are we um doing what he asks us to do?
00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.599
You know, it should be a change, yeah.
00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.000
Right.
00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:53.119
I mean, there that's that's where I feel is what you're saying is if he's creator, then he owns this world and he owns us, and if he has a way that he wants things to be done, and it we should know we should know what it is.
00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:59.119
And do we do we um do we want to be outside of that accountability?
00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:22.799
Is that why we're trying to get rid of the idea of a God or you know obviously when when you look at God and his even in our world, we I mean this is another point, but about the morality side of things, like you know, not even the physical things, but what we perceive as right and wrong, it it translates to all different people groups.
00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:27.200
Well, which actually brings me to the next answer or answer to this is it really God?
00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:30.079
The moral law requires a moral lawgiver.
00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:36.000
How can we know what it how would there even be a right and wrong if there wasn't a creator?
00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.960
I mean, when I buy something, I get this ridiculous manual.
00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.519
Right.
00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:40.640
I I hate manuals.
00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.119
I I always throw them out and I get the PDF versions because I have to like you know zoom in.
00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.880
And what what is a manual?
00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:50.319
Obviously, it's just this maker saying, Oh, here's what you gotta do.
00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:53.119
I mean, we don't even we don't even take care of our stuff, by the way.
00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.000
Isn't that hilarious?
00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:59.119
I if you if you're in manuals, they always have troubleshooting areas, but they also have maintenance.
00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.039
Have you ever read the maintenance?
00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.920
You probably have.
00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.039
You're a maintenance guy.
00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.480
The cars will change.
00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:08.000
By the way, you have to clean this thing out every year or it's gonna fail.
00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.319
And then when it fails, we're like, what happened here?
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.519
Yeah, why is it broken?
00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:14.480
Well, you didn't clean the vent out, so it it just died.
00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:19.200
That goes to another whole thing of everything goes from order to disorder, yeah, yeah.
00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:21.519
Not from disorder to order.
00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:24.480
That's a good proof that of intelligent design.
00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:27.839
Coming back to this moral law requires a moral lawgiver.
00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:32.960
I think any any uh rational person wants a boundary, right?
00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:33.920
A right and a wrong.
00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:37.519
But in in order for that to be defined, there's gotta be a standard.
00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.960
And God sets that standard.
00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:43.680
If God isn't, if there isn't a creator, then there's no standard.
00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.440
So then who's making it?
00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.720
Who's creating it?
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:50.319
And well, I think we've seen that very clearly in our world today.
00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:54.640
There's all kinds of standards that aren't that's where we're going.
00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:56.559
Yeah, it's changing.
00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:56.880
Yep.
00:29:57.200 --> 00:29:59.599
Good is evil and evil is good.
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:03.039
And I would make that as an appeal to someone who's questioning God.
00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:04.400
I would say you want God.
00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:12.240
Yeah, yes, you want order, you want order, you want the laws that God has established because it safeguards all of us.
00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:16.400
I mean, look at what we're descending into today, which again, I just go back to Romans 1.
00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:18.880
It's chaos, nothing is right.
00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.359
They we can't even define genders today.
00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:23.680
Yeah, um, people are afraid to answer what is a woman.
00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.880
I don't know, I can't answer that.
00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:26.240
I'm gonna get trapped.
00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:32.400
Um, as if God hasn't defined that clearly, as if a three-year-old couldn't answer that question 10 years ago.
00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:44.400
Yeah, but now we're so afraid, and that is what happens when you eliminate uh that the moral God, the creator God who designed it, and said, This is how I want you to live.
00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:50.000
Um Romans 2, 14 says, The law is written on human hearts.
00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:55.279
That that is that is our conscience, that is the moral law that's been put there.
00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:58.960
That's why he can say, without a doubt, we have been made aware.
00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:01.519
Um, Romans 1 says, Although they knew God.
00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:01.920
Why?
00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:03.440
Because it was written on us.
00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:09.680
This moral God, this this creator God established this moral law.
00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:13.680
And I think that that is a great answer to people saying, Well, is there really a God?
00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:15.440
Yeah, and you should be thankful for that.
00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:20.640
Yeah, well, we want justice and justice more than ever today, right?
00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:32.480
Everyone wants justice, but it I mean, that's a a proof that there is a right and a wrong because if somebody hurts somebody I love, I want justice.
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:36.000
I want it to be this isn't right, it needs to be fixed.
00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:42.880
That's a God-given order that's built in us because it's written on our hearts.
00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:45.039
We know when it's when we're wrong.
00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.640
We know down deep.
00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:50.400
A lot of our laws are written from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy.
00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:59.680
Yeah, and it it has order, it has structure, it has um, I don't know if I want to use the word fairness, but a a process to get to the truth.
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:00.960
And that's what we all want.
00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:05.039
When there is a crime committed, we want to know the truth, and there's only one, right?
00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:10.240
So I think that comes back to um if there is a God, there's only one, there's only one truth.
00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:10.480
Yeah.
00:32:10.720 --> 00:32:12.240
And how do how do we get there?
00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.759
How do how do we get people there?
00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:18.319
Do we really want to live in a world of opinions when it comes to justice?
00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:18.720
Right.
00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:30.480
I mean, no, no one wants to live in that world, but it does feel like we're sliding into that nowadays in order to push an agenda or and the unfortunately justice is becoming muddled.
00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:39.680
I think law is becoming so muddled even in this country to the degree that the moral law giver is being denied to such a degree that we're descending into chaos.
00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:45.839
And I think all of us don't, we don't I don't want to go to court over something and be judged by opinion.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.400
Yeah.
00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:48.960
Um, we want to be judged by what's right and wrong.
00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:55.039
So yeah, I think you know, if again, if I'm looking face to face with someone who's like, I don't know, uh, is there really a God?
00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:58.319
I'm gonna say you want, you want God, you want a designer.
00:32:58.480 --> 00:32:58.799
Yeah.
00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.920
Um, I agree.
00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.799
Yeah.
00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:06.799
What other uh I guess responses would we have if that question's posed to us?
00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:11.440
Yeah, so I I always go to there's scripture.
00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:14.720
That's that's my belief, and I think that's for all believers.
00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:19.680
Um, so you have an unbeliever and he's going, okay, well, since scripture is a fairy tale.
00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.960
I don't believe in scripture.
00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:26.880
Okay, well, let's let's take scripture out of the equation, and so I'll go to my next uh set of notes.
00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:28.400
Which I traditionally would never do.
00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.440
I don't think we should ever.
00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:32.160
I don't know, but we can add to it.
00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:33.279
Right, right.
00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.960
You can add to it, not to it.
00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.079
That's a good correction.
00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:51.119
So I would I would say, okay, so we'll we'll pretend that the scripture that I shared with you is is not real, but now I have external, we'll call it scripture or historical evidence because that's what I feel the Bible is historical um evidence.
00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.880
So there are documents that you guys can look up.
00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.000
Um that's good.
00:33:56.160 --> 00:34:02.480
So there's a Roman historian named uh Tacitus, and the book is called The Anals, A-N-N-A-L-S.
00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:04.480
Um, book 15, chapter 44.
00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:07.920
It confirms Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate.
00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:11.199
So Pontius Pilate was a real person that's in the Bible.
00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.880
So now you have to struggle with that.
00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:16.480
If the Bible is a fairy tale, then why does it have why does it have these facts in there?
00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:25.920
So it's during Tybertius' reign, and that his followers believed he rose and continue worshiping him as divine.
00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:27.440
So and there's many more.
00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:34.639
I've got five others that also these are these are people that were in power, um, or people that were historians.
00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:38.400
And back in the day, um, being a historian was much different than it is today.
00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:42.159
Um, so these are accurate accounts of history.
00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:53.119
So if I'm giving you scripture and you're saying, well, it's a fairy tale, then now you have to struggle with I give you uh uh things that are outside the Bible that are referencing that the Bible is true.
00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.679
And so that's that's where I would I would go.
00:34:55.840 --> 00:35:05.440
And and not to go too much on a tangent, but as a believer, we believe scripture is true because when we hear it, we're like, Yeah, I have no problems with that.
00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:07.039
I believe in white.
00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.519
Comes from hearing, exactly.
00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:12.239
And and we've got more scripture that we could go to on that.
00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:26.079
But um, so I think you if if once somebody hears scripture and they hear some other evidence that's even pointing to scripture is true, we wipe our uh the dust off our sandals and we we move on, you know.
00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:35.039
So we can't make somebody believe, we can only give them the evidence that we have that we feel has has converted us and and let them chew on that.
00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.239
So good though.
00:35:36.320 --> 00:35:37.360
I I don't want to follow that too.
00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:37.679
But go ahead.
00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:42.559
Can I follow up just on what you were talking about with history, which I found this absolutely amazing?
00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:50.320
And I know you're gonna put this link, and we'll probably have an entire podcast on how the word of God is true.
00:35:50.639 --> 00:36:11.280
But um, with the historian that you just pointed out, um there's a uh video that talks about the different historical manuscripts that we have and the gaps of the how many manuscripts we have and how from from the moment that was done until it was actually written, handwritten.
00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:13.920
So the one guy you just said, what was his name?
00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:16.400
You gave an example Tacitus.
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:17.440
Okay, Tacitus.
00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:20.719
Um, and it talks about him in this video.
00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:29.360
There's like two handwritten manuscripts, and I think there was 750 years from the time he actually said those things till it was actually written down.
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:40.960
And we have two manuscripts, so that it goes through like Plato and through all of these people that a lot of people will say this is true historical fact because we have these manuscripts.
00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:53.599
With when you look at the word of God and you see how many actual manuscripts we have within 50 years of them actually being written, it like there's thousands of manuscripts, thousands.
00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:59.760
So to believe those historical accounts and not believe the Bible is silly.
00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:03.679
It yeah, it because of the proof we have actual proof.
00:37:03.840 --> 00:37:09.199
So we'll have that linked in there too, so you can watch that because it is it's it's undeniable.
00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.039
And you do have to do the work.
00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:18.320
Um, this is where uh study research comes in because when we talk about the Bible, which I do think should be our next one, I already put that down.
00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:19.760
Yeah, um good topic.
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:22.320
Uh the how proven of a book it is.
00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:33.519
Uh, it was hilarious because I saw some statistics about even our history books that are in schools are less proven than, you know, I mean substantially less proven.
00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:38.960
And they're written about, you know, historical things that are just 50 years ago and they're inaccurate.
00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:52.719
Um, so it is outstanding when you think about the historians you're referencing that um, again, apart from scripture, which I'll just say this, you know, and I love the answers in Genesis remind you never set the Bible aside.
00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.119
Never.
00:37:53.360 --> 00:37:59.199
It is our presupposition, our starting point, and don't make um don't make uh apologies for that.
00:37:59.360 --> 00:38:06.800
But I don't think we reference historical documents enough because um, and I know John MacArthur's so big on that.
00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:16.639
I love how fun to unwrap it is because very few pastors do the work to unwrap historical references and it brings so much pencil.
00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:18.000
All of it together.
00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:18.960
Yeah, so fun.
00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:32.800
Yeah, and I'm going down bunny trails, but I just heard in one of the sermons um that I was listening to, um, where you know, modern pastors today will try to take scripture and try to interpret in light of you know our culture.
00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:41.280
They'll they'll they'll not use biblical culture, biblical um reference in order to try to relate to today's audience.
00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:41.920
Yeah.
00:38:42.159 --> 00:38:57.119
And and he was like, you're missing the whole point because when you when you and this is again, John MacArthur will take you back into the understanding of that day and age, why Jesus used this reference, why he pointed out this, and it brings so much depth and understanding.
00:38:57.199 --> 00:39:05.119
And if you don't do that work, you you misinterpret and you come up with uh many times just different results to what the meaning is.
00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:12.559
So I'm getting in a tangent, but I love this truth, and I think that it should be a reminder when we're asked, is there really a God?
00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:21.519
Just check out how much historical truth there is surrounding the Bible itself, which ultimately says there is a God.
00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:23.920
And I want to add one piece to that.
00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:31.760
Back in those days when people were um communicating historically, they would verbally tell each other.
00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:34.239
And then they had amazing memories.
00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:39.679
It's not like today where we are, I think we're used to having a phone and other electronic devices.
00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:41.599
So I don't think we don't have to remember.
00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:43.599
Yeah, we don't have to have that capacity.
00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:56.480
But back then, it was extremely important that the things you were regurgitating were exact, they were truthful because there was a high price to pay if you if you became a slanderer, a liar, or whatever you want to call it.
00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:56.880
Yeah.
00:39:57.119 --> 00:40:06.800
Um and so when when you go back to those times, when people were documenting things, this was the truth historically.
00:40:07.360 --> 00:40:11.280
And you didn't get people that are telling lies.
00:40:11.440 --> 00:40:25.440
And and so that's what I want to help people understand that if you're if you're if you're struggling, well, that was written a long time ago, and you're trying to place the way we are in society today to back then, that's the inappropriate application.
00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:27.280
Things were much different back then.
00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:29.360
But would you say people didn't lie?
00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:29.840
No.
00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:35.840
Well, I mean, I think there is false stuff from back then, but not at not like we think about it today.
00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:48.239
And and so when you have these um these uh historical documents and they're pointing to other historical documents to support them, I think you can confidently say that that is truth.
00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:49.679
And and so that's what I'm getting at.
00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:50.719
Oh, I see what you're saying.
00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:53.199
Well, yeah, and I think the fact that what is it?
00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:59.039
Um in a court of law, you have to have two or three witnesses, right?
00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:01.039
Like to show.
00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:04.480
And I think the this is and what we would say is a witness.
00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:05.280
Yeah, there was no.
00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:07.519
And I was reading a book about it.
00:41:07.599 --> 00:41:18.400
Um give you the name of the book, but um, the idea that there wasn't there's no logical reason for them to lie about that, you know.
00:41:18.559 --> 00:41:22.639
So because of that, you can't assume that that is a lie.
00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:30.239
You know, there's there's thought processes that go into putting that into position.
00:41:30.559 --> 00:41:36.159
And you also have to do research on the and a lot of these historians, they weren't, I don't even think some of them were Christians, right?
00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:38.239
Yeah, they were complete independently.
00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:40.800
Some of them hated historians Christianity here, right?
00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:49.679
So uh that's why it survived all the uh generations, because uh I mean, obviously, it's hard to question that.
00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.159
Yep.
00:41:50.320 --> 00:41:54.480
Um, I love this, and this is kind of surrounding what you brought up.
00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:57.760
Man doesn't invent God, yeah.
00:41:58.000 --> 00:41:59.360
He tries to suppress him.
00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:05.119
People have said, oh man created, you know, Christianity is nothing more than some conceived idea.
00:42:05.360 --> 00:42:11.519
God is just this idea that man is in this hopeless state and needs someone to cling to.
00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:20.000
And uh, I know that came out of the Freud era and the the so-called intellectuals of the 1800s, 1900s.
00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:26.079
And I love the argument that John MacArthur brings up because he's like, man wouldn't invent God.
00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:29.440
Not well, not this God, not our not the true God.
00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:33.039
Doesn't invent God, tries to suppress God.
00:42:33.199 --> 00:42:36.239
That is man's inclination, is is his point.
00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:41.760
Man has created gods, but our desire is to suppress God.
00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:46.960
Yeah, we don't want an order over us, we don't want a law over us.
00:42:47.119 --> 00:42:56.159
Our sinful nature wants to thrive in the decline, in the the the the sinfulness of our human nature, right?
00:42:56.400 --> 00:43:01.840
So it's an interesting argument that you don't hear often because it just gets swallowed up by other things.
00:43:01.920 --> 00:43:04.400
But as he was presenting, I'm like, you know, that is so true.
00:43:04.719 --> 00:43:06.719
It is not our inclination to do that.
00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:08.559
We will make ourselves God.
00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:11.360
Yeah, we will put ourselves in power.
00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:22.800
But when what human, even today, then, would create a God as merciful, as powerful, as independent, as loving as as the God of the universe?
00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:23.840
We wouldn't do that.
00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:37.760
The gods man create are much like men, yeah, who crave power and corruption and authority, the Greek gods, the these were these were uh evil beings, right?
00:43:38.000 --> 00:43:39.599
So yeah, I find that fascinating.
00:43:39.679 --> 00:43:43.679
I thought that was an interesting thought, and you have to link that one too.
00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:49.599
Whatever there's a study we were going to study that is um yeah, God, Satan, angels and demons, or something like that.
00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:59.199
One of his his series, phenomenal series, but it's it's in the uh the part he's talking about God, and uh he brings that truth up.
00:43:59.280 --> 00:43:59.760
So I thought that.
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:00.639
Was important.
00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:05.840
I don't know that I would use that as my starting point to argue with someone who's saying is there really a God?
00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:09.599
But I would for someone who's probing and say, you know, have you ever thought about it?
00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:12.639
Would you create the God of this of the Bible?
00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:12.960
Yeah.
00:44:13.199 --> 00:44:20.320
Can man even conceive of such love, mercy, grace, and put that as our authority?
00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:22.239
And I don't, I think the answer is no.
00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:23.360
We we wouldn't do that.
00:44:23.519 --> 00:44:34.320
Um, and I think another another good question that we could I would I would say it's a debate versus an argument with somebody that's questioning a God.
00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:36.239
Um, is there not a God?
00:44:36.400 --> 00:44:38.239
Ask them, well, is there not a God?
00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:39.039
And they say, No.
00:44:39.519 --> 00:44:40.000
Why?
00:44:40.239 --> 00:44:49.199
What so let's hear your argument um of why you say there's not a God, because I think that would give you an opportunity to kind of see what the where their mindset is uh to be able to help.
00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:51.119
Um yeah, and what would we hear?
00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:54.079
Yeah, we we would well, you know, I've got some examples.
00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:56.480
Uh there's a God, but he doesn't care, right?
00:44:56.559 --> 00:44:58.159
The the hands-off kind of God.
00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:06.239
He he's created everything, but he really could care less about humanity and the struggles, um, or the people that go, Well, there's something smart out there, we don't know what it is.
00:45:06.320 --> 00:45:10.320
I mean, there's a lot of intelligent design, so there's some sort of creator.
00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:14.559
Um, or God is whatever you want him to be, kind of like what we're doing today.
00:45:14.800 --> 00:45:20.320
Or we we we take um God and we mold him into something a little bit different, right?
00:45:20.400 --> 00:45:22.159
So it's convenient for us, yeah.
00:45:22.320 --> 00:45:25.599
Um, or or science has replaced God, that's like the atheist.
00:45:25.840 --> 00:45:29.280
So uh there's a lot of uh God replacements out there.
00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:37.840
Um, but so so I still think for us to really get at where that person is coming from, ask them well if there's no God, why?
00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:38.880
Why isn't there a God?
00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:44.239
Give me your proof and what where do you see no creator at all?
00:45:44.400 --> 00:45:45.679
So that's my thought.
00:45:45.840 --> 00:45:48.880
I I I'll and we should wrap it up with this.
00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:51.280
Uh this this is my closing thought to this.
00:45:51.519 --> 00:45:52.559
You guys can chime in.
00:45:53.119 --> 00:45:59.280
But think about what God tells us to do for those unbelieving people.
00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:04.079
I mean, I I think of the reference of the shepherd and the sheep, the lost sheep.
00:46:04.239 --> 00:46:06.559
Yeah, leave the 99, chase the one.
00:46:07.199 --> 00:46:16.559
You know, God's God's answer to reaching the unbeliever, the denier, is to love them, to go after them, to devote attention to them.
00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:20.400
And and I think as Christians, that's a tough thing for us to do.
00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:26.960
I it's you know, you feel attacked when Christianity or your faith is put in question.
00:46:27.280 --> 00:46:30.800
It's easy for us to respond with you know what you're talking about.
00:46:31.599 --> 00:46:51.039
Um, but God's answer again, a God that man would not create, his answer is to love them, to go after them, to give truth, give truth to them, you know, and and and not stop, continue, um, all the way to the point where he calls us to um love our enemy.
00:46:51.280 --> 00:46:51.840
Yeah.
00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:54.079
Uh this is the God of the Bible.
00:46:54.239 --> 00:46:58.480
This is the creator who formed and fashioned us and made us who we are.
00:46:58.719 --> 00:47:00.159
Um, I love that God.
00:47:00.239 --> 00:47:01.440
That's an amazing God.
00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:03.519
That's a God for us to know.
00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:04.400
He's unique.
00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:17.039
Um, I understand, I take such comfort when I when I contemplate the universe and and all that we are and all that we live in, when I think of that God.
00:47:17.599 --> 00:47:22.000
I uh I think of the people in today's world that are full of anxiety and fear.
00:47:22.159 --> 00:47:28.960
And I think if you just know this God, this God made a way, and I know, I understand all the arguments.
00:47:29.119 --> 00:47:34.239
You know, the first thing you hear from a lot of people is I don't understand a God who would who would send people to hell.
00:47:35.039 --> 00:47:36.960
Um, those are the types of things you hear.
00:47:37.119 --> 00:47:48.480
And and I look back at them and say, I see a God who made a way of salvation for you for all mankind, who who has eternity carved out for you, who has made a way.
00:47:48.559 --> 00:47:49.599
That's the God I see.
00:47:49.760 --> 00:47:53.599
Um, choose that God today, choose him because he chose you.
00:47:53.760 --> 00:47:57.840
So I just want to bring Hebrews 11:6.
00:47:58.320 --> 00:48:20.400
I I just find it awesome that it was our memory verse a few months ago, and it's just been echoing in my mind as we've been starting this whole journey that um that if we believe that he exists, that that is what God asked, that we would believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:42.000
So if you're in the position where you are at that moment and you're like, I choose to believe, I am going to have faith, I'm gonna believe the truth about our eternal and creator and our our eternal God, our creator God, that that he is, and then know that he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:43.599
So he wants us to seek him.
00:48:43.760 --> 00:48:46.400
It gives him joy and pleasure.
00:48:46.960 --> 00:48:50.320
And when we bring him glory in that, in that in that search for him.
00:48:50.480 --> 00:48:58.239
If you're if you're struggling in something and you're not sure, you have to lean in to God, not away from him.
00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.639
Lean into him right now and seek him.
00:49:00.800 --> 00:49:04.079
He will reward you, he will show you more of himself.
00:49:04.400 --> 00:49:07.599
And it's precious because he loves us that much.
00:49:07.840 --> 00:49:09.039
He wants us to know him.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:11.119
And faith comes from hearing.
00:49:11.599 --> 00:49:15.679
You know, it's it's easy to make an argument, maybe stir a thought in in someone.
00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:24.000
But my encouragement to the unbeliever or the seeker is dive into God's word, read it, let the Holy Spirit bring revelation and truth.
00:49:24.239 --> 00:49:27.840
Because he does what I can't do or you can't do, none of us can do.
00:49:28.239 --> 00:49:34.880
But when you get into the word of God and you and you read and you hear, he brings understanding and and will open your mind.
00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:39.280
But uh one more thought: God's unchanging nature gives certainty.
00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:48.480
And thank God that we serve a God who is unchanging because man, our culture is just shifting on us.
00:49:48.559 --> 00:49:52.079
We feel like our ground is always shaking beneath us, always splitting.
00:49:52.400 --> 00:50:00.079
But our faith, our peace as believers comes from knowing that God is unchanging and that we can put our trust and hope in Him.
00:50:00.239 --> 00:50:03.679
His promises are true and they remain true forever.
00:50:03.920 --> 00:50:05.840
So that's my closing thought.
00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:10.400
Um, obviously, there is no way that we can feel like we've answered a question like this.
00:50:10.559 --> 00:50:14.079
Is there really a God in every twist and turn?
00:50:14.159 --> 00:50:20.960
But I think we've done pretty good just answering some thoughts and sharing some scripture and um hopefully it makes sense.
00:50:21.199 --> 00:50:27.119
Yeah, I think our short answer is we we are accountable to give our answer for that question.
00:50:27.280 --> 00:50:30.800
Yeah, it's good, but it's not our uh job to convince them.
00:50:30.880 --> 00:50:34.000
It's it's scripture and the Holy Spirit to amen to that.
00:50:34.079 --> 00:50:34.400
Yeah, yeah.
00:50:34.559 --> 00:50:37.280
I hope those are seek him helpful.
00:50:37.440 --> 00:50:38.239
Yeah, very good.
00:50:38.480 --> 00:50:38.880
Seek him.
00:50:39.440 --> 00:50:39.760
All right.
00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:42.719
Well, next week we might be diving into is the Bible true?
00:50:42.880 --> 00:50:44.239
Yeah, um big topic.
00:50:44.400 --> 00:50:48.719
Um so yeah, tune in and we'll um see what what happens with that.
00:50:48.800 --> 00:50:50.400
But I look forward to the conversation.
