GOD HIS EXISTENCE NATURE and creation THE

GOD: HIS EXISTENCE, NATURE and creation

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD Desire to believe in the existence of God “I want to believe in something or someone higher and better than I. ” Temple at Capernaum

Reasons for wanting to believe in and have the approval of God • Reason 1: Belief in God gives me a purpose and a reason to live. • Ecclesiastes 12: 13 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

• Reason 2: Belief in God gives hope that I am eternal and death is not the end of me: Job 14: 14 14 If a man dies, will he live again?

1 Corinthians 15: 19 -22 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

• Reason 3: Belief in God gives me a basis for morality

• Reason 4: Belief in God allows me to recognize the spiritual

Raphael: God Appears to Isaac Vatican, High Renaissance

What God is not: Statues of gods from Thailand Rembrandt, Juno(Hera) 1664, Los Angeles

Elgin marbles from the Parthenon Greek gods Zeus and Hera now at British Museum Work of Phidias

THE NATURE OF GOD. From “The Trinity” Trinity blessed, deity coequal, Unity sacred, God one eke in essence, Yield to thy servant, pitifully calling Merciful hearing. **** Glory to God, the Father, and his only Son, the protector of us earthly sinners, The sacred spirit, labourers refreshing, Still be renowned. Amen. – Richard Stanyhurst (1547 -1618)

1. God is one being Deuteronomy 6: 4 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

God has three personalities, each of which is called “God”: Matthew 28: 19 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 8: 6 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

John 1: 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2. God is spirit, not flesh and he is eternal • John 4: 24 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. ” Model of Jerusalem

God has infinite characteristics: • He is good, powerful and just Psalm 89: 14 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

HIS CREATION: Genesis 1, 2 Day 1: LIGHT and darkness, Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

Day 3: Land Water Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

Day 4: Stars and Planets Michelangelo, Sistine Chapel

The Starry Night, Van Gogh, Mo. MA, Post Impressionist

Other days • Day 2: Water and Sky • Day 5: Creatures of the Sky and Water • Day 6: Creatures of the Land • Peaceable Kingdom • Hicks, 1834 National • Gallery, Washington

The Olive Trees, Van Gogh Mo. MA, Post-Impressionist

Isaiah 40: 12 -17 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? 13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? 15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. 16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. 17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.

Isaiah 40: 21 -31 21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. 25 ‘‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? ” says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘‘My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary

Milton Paradise Lost, Book 7 387: And God said, let the Waters generate 388: Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule: 389: And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings 390: Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n. 391: And God created the great Whales, and each 392: Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously 393: The waters generated by thir kindes, 394: And every Bird of wing after his kinde; 395: And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, saying, 396: Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas 397: And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill; 398: And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth. 399: Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay 400: With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales

401: Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales 402: Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft 403: Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate 404: Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves 405: Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance 406: Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold, 407: Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend 408: Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food 409: In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale, 410: And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk 411: Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate 412: Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan 413: Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep 414: Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes, 415: And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles 416: Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.

Edward Taylor (ca. 1642 -1729) The Preface 1 Infinity, when all things it beheld 2 In Nothing, and of Nothing all did build, 3 Upon what Base was fixt the Lath wherein 4 He turn’d this Globe, and riggalld it so trim? 5 Who blew the Bellows of His Furnace Vast? 6 Or held the Mould wherein the world was Cast? 7 Who laid its Corner Stone? Or whose Command? 8 Where stand the Pillars upon which it stands? 9 Who Lac’de and Fillitted the earth so fine, 10 With Rivers like green Ribbons Smaragdine? 11 Who made the Sea's its Selvedge, and it locks 12 Like a Quilt Ball within a Silver Box? 13 Who Spread its Canopy? Or Curtains Spun? 14 Who in this Bowling Alley bowld the Sun? 15 Who made it always when it rises set: 16 To go at once both down, and up to get? 17 Who th' Curtain rods made for this Tapistry? 18 Who hung the twinckling Lanthorns in the Sky? 19 Who? who did this? or who is he? Why, know 20 It's Onely Might Almighty this did doe.