Is it not amazing to you that people spend so much time and effort denying that God exists? Why are their not groups, movements, societies, educational guidelines, and government policies to deny the existence of Zeus, Apollo, or Allah? The number one reason is because Zeus, Apollo, Allah, etc. are fables invented by men and everyone knows it deep in their conscience. There is no reason to deny what every one knows does not exist.
The Bible teaches us why men spend so much energy denying the God of the Bible.
Romans 1:18-23, says...
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."
1. Men know the truth about God's existence, power, and sovereignty in their consciences from birth--intuitively. ["men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness" "know of God is manifest in them" "clearly seen" "when they knew God"] In Romans 2:14-15 says, "For when the Gentiles [non-Jews], which have not the law [written Bible], do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness."
2. Worship of false gods comes from man perverting the truth about the one and only real God of the Bible, not because the truth is not knowable. "became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" "became fools" "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image like to corruptible man, and to birds, and creeping things."
3. Man is without excuse, culpable, condemned in his sin. In Psalm 14:1-3 it is written, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Someone might ask, well if there is a God I wish He would tell me. One might ask, will the read God please stand up? The real God has stood up.
It is written in the book of Proverbs, in the Bible...
"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." (Proverbs 30:4-6)
Yes God has revealed his power and sovereignty to man in God's creation, of which you are apart. But, to know God's name--WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE--we need the WORD OF GOD, the Holy Bible.
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, which meant HE was God.
The Bible records, "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18)
And again, "I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." (John 10:30-33)
The Apostle Paul taught Jesus is God.
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1Timothy 3:16)
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." (Hebrews 1:1-3)
The Apostle John taught Jesus is God.
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1John 2:22--remember, the above quotes from John 5 and 10, the son is equal with the father.)
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (1John 5:7--the Word is another name for Jesus Christ, see John 1:1-14.) This verse also teaches the triune nature of God--one God (being) in three distinct persons.
Jesus Christ is JEHOVAH of the Old Testament
A.
Jehovah
Isa. 40:3, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our
God.”;
With Matt. 3:3, “For this is he that was spoken of by the
prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” John the Baptist prepared the way for
Jehovah made flesh, Jesus Christ.
B.
Jehovah of glory
Psa. 24:7-8, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift
up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong
and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.”;
With 1Cor. 2:8, “Which none of the princes of this world
knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”;
and Jam. 2:1, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”
C.
Jehovah our righteousness
Jer. 23:5-6, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I
will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel
shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”;
With 1Cor. 1:30, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption:”
D.
Jehovah the Shepherd
Isa. 40:10-11, “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong
hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his
work before him. He shall feed his flock
like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his
bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”;
With Heb. 13:20, “Now the God of peace, that brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the
blood of the everlasting covenant,”; and, Jesus said in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
E.
Jehovah, all things created for
Prov. 16:4, “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea,
even the wicked for the day of evil.”;
With Col. 1:16, speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, “For
by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”
F.
Invoked as Jehovah
Joel 2:32, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in
Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom
the LORD shall call.”;
With Acts 2:21, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”; and, 1Cor. 1:2, “Unto the
church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord,”; and, Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.”
What will you do with Jesus?
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