We recently completed 1 and 2 Peter in our Friday morning Bible study group. These short epistles were written at the end of the apostle Peter’s life and they condensed his thoughts down to what he felt were the most important things to know. They are packed full of good teaching, but I’d like to pick one verse as an embarkation point on what might prove to be a long journey…
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1Peter 3:15 KJV
The word “answer” is translated here from a Koine Greek word ἀπολογία (pronounced apologia) which is where we get the word apologetics: i.e. a reasoned statement or argument (it does not mean to apologise! Sorry). Have you sanctified The Lord in your heart? Can you give a straight explanation for the hope that is within you, and the follow up questions? The key verse being the succinct Gospel found in 1 Corintians:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15 3-4 KJV
So Christ died for our sins. “Christ” means “son of God” (the son of the “Lord God” in the first scripture above – more about Christ will follow in later posts).
So who is the Lord God? It may surprise you that God is not introduced in the Bible.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 KJV
The Bible is full of genealogies but God doesn’t have one. The Old Testament does not build up to the opening verse of the Bible with an explanation of how, why, when or who God is. He just is.
The existence of God is not testable either by proof or disproof, but the big questions in life are more understandable if God exists. Many can argue the existence of God with their head, or intellect, but the key issue is with the heart.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” Psalm 14:1 KJV
Within the Bible there are many ways in which we can explain God:
1. Cosmological (from κόσμον = cosmon, “world”). The only sufficient cause for everything we can see is God (Psalm 19:1)
2. Teleological (from τέλος = telos, “purpose”) not only did God make all that we can see but He designed it (Romans 1:18-20). Not only did God create and design the entire universe but He gives it purpose.
3. Anthropological (from ἄνθρωπος = anthropos, “man”). Since man is moral and has intellect, he must have a maker who is moral and intelligent (Acts 17:29). Man’s moral nature argues for an existence of his maker, God. It is curious that our planet is in such a position in our solar system and galaxy that enable mankind to exist.
4. Ontological (from ὄν = on “being). Because man believes that a perfect being must exist. The Most Perfect Being must be God.
The Bible begins with God, but the Bible is not a textbook that is trying to prove His existence. The first proof must however be from God’s word itself:
“Thy word is truth” John 17:17 KJV
The above is very brief, but many of these answers to these types of questions are answered in the Thursday evening Bible group.
The greatest proof though, apart from scripture, for God’s existence is daily fellowship that any born-again person can have with God in prayer and it is encouraging that there is a real thirst in this church for both scripture and prayer.
God bless you.
Gareth Gadd