Opening Prayer Introduction Introduction LESSON 2 GOD TELLS

Opening Prayer

Introduction

Introduction

LESSON 2 GOD TELLS US ABOUT HIMSELF

Psalm 14: 1 1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God. " They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

IS THERE A GOD? An agnostic says “I don’t know if there is a god. ”

IS THERE A GOD? An agnostic says An athiest says “I don’t know if there is a god. ” “There is no god. ”

His Word in My Life Time for reflection – How would your family be different if there was no God?

IS THERE A GOD? All people can know that there is a God. Psalm 19: 1 ; Hebrews 3: 4 Romans 1: 20 ; Romans 2: 15

PSALM 19: 1 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

HEBREWS 3: 4 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

IS THERE A GOD? All people can know that there is a God. Psalm 19: 1 ; Hebrews 3: 4 Romans 1: 20 ; Romans 2: 15 1. From nature (the created universe)

ROMANS 2: 15 15 since [the Gentiles] show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. )

IS THERE A GOD? All people can know that there is a God. Psalm 19: 1 ; Hebrews 3: 4 Romans 1: 20 ; Romans 2: 15 1. From nature (the created universe) 2. From conscience (the voice within us)

“Pull up!”

IS THERE A GOD? Natural knowledge of God = What can be learned about God from nature and one’s conscience

ROMANS 1: 20 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

IS THERE A GOD? Natural knowledge of God = What can be learned about God from nature and one’s conscience Nature Conscience tells me There is a God who is powerful, wise and holy

Niagra Falls

IS THERE A GOD? The weakness of natural knowledge - It doesn’t tell: 1. Who the true God is (versus idols) 2. About one’s Savior from sin Acts 17: 26 -27

“You have a problem!”

ACTS 17: 26 -27 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

IS THERE A GOD? God gives people natural knowledge to lead them to seek after the Lord and know more about him John 1: 18 ; John 14: 8 -9 ; John 5: 39

JOHN 1: 18 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only [Jesus Christ], who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

JOHN 14: 8 -9 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us. " 9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

IS THERE A GOD? God gives people natural knowledge to lead them to seek after the Lord and know more about him John 1: 18 ; John 14: 8 -9 ; John 5: 39 God shows what He is really like through Jesus Christ

IS THERE A GOD? God gives people natural knowledge to lead them to seek after the Lord and know more about him John 1: 18 ; John 14: 8 -9 ; John 5: 39 God shows what He is really like through Jesus Christ We find Jesus Christ in the Bible God man Jesus

IS THERE A GOD? “Bible” = The book “Scriptures” = The writings Revealed knowledge of God = What God has made known about Himself in the Bible

IS THERE A GOD? The Bible tells us: Isaiah 43: 11 -12

ISAIAH 43: 11 -12 I, even I, am the LORD , and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses, " declares the LORD , "that I am God. 11

IS THERE A GOD? The Bible tells us: Isaiah 43: 11 -12 1. Who the true God is: the Triune God 2. Who one’s Savior is: Jesus Christ

“How do you start this thing? ”

WHAT IS THE TRUE GOD LIKE? holy/just (punishes sin) unchangeable omnipresent (present everywhere) omnipotent (all-powerful) eternal (no beginnings or end omniscient (all-knowing) loving

His Word in My Life What does the awesome natural wonder you mentioned earlier tell you about God? OR What do the following tell you about God? A spring garden in bloom Our bodies’ ability to develop immunity

His Word in My Life Agree or Disagree – People could come to saving faith if they would only look closely at nature and listen to their conscience.

His Word in My Life Agree or Disagree? The Bible is the light of salvation for everyone who reads it.

WHAT IS THE TRUE GOD LIKE? Our God is TRIUNE = Three persons in one Godhead or Deity Deuteronomy 6: 4 2 Corinthians 13: 14 Genesis 1: 26

DEUTERONOMY 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 4

DEUTERONOMY 6: 4 GOD 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

GENESIS 1: 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. " 26

MATTHEW 28: 19 -20 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. "

2 CORINTHIANS 13: 14 Father Son GOD Holy Spirit 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

THE PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD is not FATHER is is is SON GOD not is is not 1. The Father, who is the Creator (one who made us all 2. The Son, who is the Redeemer (one who bought us back) 3. The Holy Spirit, who is the HOLY SPIRIT Sanctifier (one who sets us apart) Note: All of the above descriptions of God – holy, eternal, etc. – apply equally to each person of the Trinity.

His Word in My Life Agree or Disagree – We have one God but sometimes he acts like the Father, sometimes He acts like the Son, and sometimes he acts like the Holy Spirit.

His Word in My Life Agree or Disagree – Essentially all people believe in the same God. They only call him different names and worship him in different ways.

His Word in My Life Question: We said that there are three persons in the Trinity and that they all do divine things. Can we distinguish between the work of the Father, the work of the Son, and the work of the Holy Spirit

His Word in My Life Question: Would it be proper to address a prayer to only one member of the Trinity?

His Word in My Life “God is three and one at the same time – just as a triangle has three sides but at the same time is only one thing. ” In what way is this a useful illustration of the Trinity? In what way is this not very helpful as an explanation of the Triune God?

His Word in My Life Why is it a comfort knowing that we have a Triune God? Hint: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ” declares the LORD (Isaiah 55: 8)

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK 1. Study carefully the notes you have taken in class; be sure you understand them. 2. Study questions 1 -5; 148 -150 in the Catechism. 3. Complete the “Working with God’s Word” section on this page. Read the Bible sections and fill in all the blanks. 4. Memorize these Bible verses: Psalm 19: 1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. ” VIP John 1: 18 – “No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. ” 2 Corinthians 13: 14 – “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ”

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK 5. Memorize in order the names of the following New Testament books; and review the ones you learned last week. 1 & 2 Thessalonians Hebrews 1 & 2 Timothy James Titus 1 & 2 Peter Philemon 1, 2, & 3 John Jude Revelation 6. Complete Worksheet #2 at home and have your parents correct it with workbook. 7. Be ready to take a quiz on the Key Truths, VIP and Bible Books from this Lesson on September 26

Key Truths Lesson Two All people can know there is a god from ________ and from ________. We call this kind of knowledge the ________ knowledge of God. The problem is these things will never tell us who _____________ or who _____________. Only in the Bible, or the ________ knowledge of God, do we discover who ________ and who ________.

Key Truths Lesson Two All people can know there is a god from NATURE and from CONSCIENCE. We call this kind of knowledge the NATURAL knowledge of God. The problem is these things will never tell us who THE TRUE GOD IS or who OUR SAVIOR IS. Only in the Bible, or the REVEALED knowledge of God, do we discover who THE TRUE GOD IS and who THE SAVIOR IS.

Closing Prayer