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Christianity for Dummies - 1 - The one true God

by Michael Russell
November 2002

Based upon a sermon series by Pastor Jim Henry, senior pastor of First Baptist Orlando, and enhanced with my personal commentary. Apologies to the book publisher for the title.

1. Introduction

Before starting, he shared the results of his own research and some surveys done by Barna Research that showed just how ignorant the vast majority of people are about what the Bible actually teaches. He said that Christians have no excuse for not knowing the fundamentals and the sad fact is way too many who call themselves Christians haven't a clue. Worse, it is the very people who call themselves Christians yet acting totally contrary to Biblical teachings who are bringing shame upon the Church.

I think this will be a great series. I, too, have been feeling ashamed of being a Christian. Not ashamed of Jesus, but ashamed and embarassed by fellow "Christians" who act and talk so very contrary to God's Word.

I am embarrassed by the legalists. These are the ones who want to bound believers and even non-believers in the chains of some massive set of do's and don'ts.

Likewise, I'm embarrassed by the liberalists. These are the ones who think Christians can live any way they want. These are the ones who ignore even the few commands and guidelines that are given to Christians. The liberalists live as if they had not even been saved.

Now, on to the lesson:

2. Why learn about God?

2.1. God delights (is happy) when we seek to know Him

Jer 9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

God wants us to know Him and to seek to understand Him. He revealed Himself to us in His Word. He came to us directly in the person of Jesus. God created mankind for fellowship and relationship.

2.2. Understanding God helps us understand the world

1 Cor 1:26-31 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Many things in the world do not make any sense unless we understand God and how the things in the world work together. For example, the evil in the world does not make sense unless we understand sin and rebellion against God. Disasters do not make sense unless we understand the punishment of the world because of that original sin.

However, if a person rejects God and rationalizes with himself that there is no God, then that person is open to all types of irrational beliefs and will believe and follow anything.

Let's say we have person 'X' who thinks there are all kinds of gods or no God whatsoever. And we have person 'Y' who does believe in the one true God. Then the actions and beliefs of 'Y' will look like total nonsense to person 'X'. However, person 'Y' will understand the origins of person 'X' behaviour.

3. How do we know there is a God?

3.1. Limited by our finiteness, moral impurity, and resources

Job 42:1-3 Then Job replied to the LORD: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."

We are finite, God is infinite. So, the attributes of God are beyond our ability to comprehend. We are only able to know a small portion of that which God reveals.

1 Cor 13:12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Also, our sinful life causes us to be imperfect. So, being imperfect, we cannot comprehend a perfect God.

Deut 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Finally, we have limited resources. God has only revealed to us those things He wants us to know.

3.2. Shown in the Creation

Rom 1:20 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.

The earth and the universe, from the largest galaxy to the smallest quark at the subatomic level shows intelligent design. Where did the matter come from? Where did the energy come from? Where did life come from? To think this came about by chaos becoming organized is as fanciful as believing that if I stir a cup of chocolate milk long enough that a Hershes chocolate kiss is going to form at the bottom of the glass.

Yes, I am fully convienced that the scientific evidence fits better into the young earth model of Special Creation than the long age model of Evolution.

Until anyone can show me, and remember my primary college degree work is in Physics, an adequate answer to these problems then I can never accept the Evolution conjectures.

Problem 1 -- how independent organic molecules (such as amino acids) in a suspension can: (a) form from basic molecules (methane, carbon dioxide, and such), (b) form in the right orientation and stay organized long enough for the subsequent steps, (c) form into complex protien strands when such organic compounds are unstable, and (d) finally collect together in an encapsulated form the nearly 200 distinct protiens needed for the simplest cellular life form -- all without external intervention.

Problem 2 -- how time is a sufficient agent to overcome the conservation of matter/energy and increasing entropy laws of thermodynamics, which dictate that systems, such as the universe, move toward increased state of chaos.

Problem 3 -- how chance or randomness became an agent of change? This is so counter to true physics and mathematics, because at the molecular level and higher, ALL things are deterministic, not random. Just because we are not capable of calculating all the forces acting on a body at any given moment does not negate the fact that the body's action is deterministic. In fact, in computer science, problems that have a computable solution but the effort to actually compute the solution is excessive is called NP-Complete. Chance, from a mathematical view, is simply a heristic to predict the outcome of a NP-Complete situation.

3.3. Shown in the soul

Rom 2:14-15 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they 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.)

It is interesting that through recorded history, every society has come up with essentially the same laws. Laws such as those against murder and lying and so forth. Where did this come from? Could it be that when God created mankind, that God put into man's "programming" and that unique life force, the soul or spirit, a sense of who God is?

It is also interesting that regardless of the form of expression, that mankind has always sought to worship something. The further away man has gotten from God, the more weird the created things man has chosen to act as the worship substitute. In early recorded history, man worshipped the sun and moon. Later creating all types of animal gods (such as Baal, the golden calf god of the middle east). Then, they started worshipping human like gods (such as the Greek and Roman gods). Finally, in today's world, we have reached the ultimate escape from the True God, by worshipping ourselves. Each person is now a god unto themselves.

Every step along the way only took man farther and farther away from the loving and holy Creator God. It has become easier and easier for today's people to quiet that inner spark that reveals God.

3.4. Revealed in the Bible

2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In the beginning, from Adam to Abraham, God revealed Himself directly to mankind. As man rebelled and went further away from God, God started to record His revealation in the Scriptures. As a result, today we have a written revelation of God in the form of history, prophets, poetry, and laws.

The canon of Scripture is complete and is the only source material we need.

3.5. In the person of Jesus

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

Finally, we are able to know God because God made Himself known directly to us in His Son, Jesus. By studying Jesus, we learn a lot about God. Jesus is perfect, just as His Father is perfect.

4. What is the nature of God?

4.1. Self existent and always

Ex 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'"

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

God existed prior to the creation of time itself.

4.2. Consistent and not changing

Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

God is the same now as He was in the past and the same in the future. God is an absolute, not relative or flexible. Because of this, we are able to have an anchor in the storms of life.

4.3. All knowing

Matt 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

As I mentioned before, everything is in reality deterministic. There is nothing that is by chance. God, who created everything, surely has the capability to solve every deterministic situation and thus knows exactly how and when everything will happen. Nothing surprises God. He created you and me, and thus he knows what we will experience and need, from the very beginning.

4.4. All powerful

Psa 62:11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,

God created, instantly, everything in the universe, then I think it is clear that God is all powerful.

4.5. All present

Psa 139:7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

We cannot run away from God. He sees and knows everything we do and think. There is nothing hidden from God.

4.6. Holy

Lev 19:2 "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

This implies perfect and free from sin. Obviously, God cannot sin against Himself; that would be a contradiction. Holiness also requires justice. This is the attribute of God that requires that sinful beings, whether the fallen angels or fallen mankind, must be separated from and punished for this rebellion.

4.7. Love

1 John 4:8-12 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Love is not the wimpy, wishy-washy, tolerant of evil, type of feeling that too many people today think it is. Love is an action, not a feeling. God's love is demonstrated in the fact that He provided a way around the punishment that His holiness requires. By providing a substitute to take on the punishment rightly due sinful man, God makes a provision to those who accept the substitute to escape punishment and regain a relationship with God. However, if you reject the substitute, then you will suffer the full punishment already assigned.

Side note. A common misconception is that if you are bad in this life, then you go to hell. According to Scripture, how you behave has nothing to do with it. Everyone, because of even ONE sin, is already sentenced to hell. There is only one way to escape and that is to accept the freely given gift of salvation provided by the substitute - Jesus.

5. What are the benefits of knowing God?

5.1. Confidence

Dan 11:32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.

Daniel was describing how the people were easily led astray by the flattery of the government leaders. At that time, the king of Babylon was making these idols and telling the people that if they would worship the idols, then everything would go well with them.

However, as Daniel points out, those who know God will have the confidence to resist the flattery and to do what is right, not what is convienent.

5.2. Contentment

Phil 4:11-13 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Knowing God and that God is in control will give a person the strength to be content with his current condition and situation. Note, content is not the same as "happy". Content is an attitude. Happy is a feeling.

5.3. Conformity to His will

Eph 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

God created man to be in His image. Man rebelled. When we return to a right relationship with God, He will start conforming us back to that original perfect image He originally planned.

5.4. Conditioning

Rom 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Knowing God gives us the foundation to face the trials and hardships that will come our way. Through them, we are conditioned and grow to a higher level of character.

5.5. Full life

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

God wants His children to enjoy life to the fullest.

5.6. Wisdom

Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

5.7. Courage

Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!"

God gives us the courage to do what is right, not what is popular or convienent.

6. Can I know this fully?

Yes and no. God reveals enough of Himself to us that we can know Him, "beyond a reasonable doubt". However, since we are finite and He is infinite, we can never know everything there is to know about God. And, there are some things that God has chosen to not reveal to us until we are with Him in eternity.