This week we will look at the third of several questions that will be covered in this class: Q3 How do we know God Exists? For each question we will offer several answers for you to ponder. For the second half of class each week we will continue our Bible study practice in the book of Exodus. All sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, an “apologetics” presentation, and a Bible study piece. You will also find the presentation notes, Bible study survey format and additional resources below.
Watch this week’s class presentation on this topic:
A CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY: FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS
Session 4: Does God Exist?
The truth claim in Christianity
REVIEW AND REFLECTION
Prayer cards: Take a minute and write your name on the index card provided, and add any special prayer request you might have. Exchange cards at the end of the class this evening.
At your table groups, do the following:
1.Review Tactics #2 and #3 (the second and third answers) to the question: Q2: Why do Christian think they have the truth, (why is Jesus the only way to God and eternal life)?
2.Recite the Memory Verse(s):
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
Presentation Notes
DOES GOD EXIST?
Q3. How Do We Know God Exists?
Tactics in answering
Arguments, Answers and Evidence for God’s Existence can be found in…
Tactic 1: The Cosmological Argument – Evidence from the creation and origin of the Universe
Tactic 2: The Teleological Argument – Evidence from the design of the creation
Tactic 3: The Anthropic Principal – Evidence from, 1) The Fine Tuning of the Universe for Life; 2) The Fine Tuning of Biochemistry for Life
Tactic 4: Mathematics, Statistics and Probability – Evidence built into the first three arguments and examples therein
Tactic 5: Laws of Logic and Philosophy – Evidence from deductive reasoning and common-sense arguments
Tactic 6: The Axiological Argument – Evidence from the universal moral law, ethics, values and aesthetics
Tactic 7: The Bible – Evidence from eyewitness testimony in the Word of God
Tactic 8: Personal Experience – Evidence from witnesses and personal testimonies
Q3. How Do We Know God Exists?
Tactics in answering
TACTIC #1: THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
Premise #1: Whatever begins to exist must have a cause; all effects must have a cause.
Premise #2: The Universe began to exist. *
Premise #3: Therefore, the Universe has a cause, and because the evidence of effects implies a cause, there must be a causer.
*We must provide evidence for premise #2 for premise #3 to be true.
Evidences for Premise #2
Evidence #1) According to the laws of Physics and Chemistry…
Everything that we know to exist has the following properties:
Time, force, energy, space and matter
Genesis 1:1 describes these same properties in God’s act of creation…
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…
- In the beginning = time
- God = force
- Created = energy
- The heavens = space
- and the earth = matter
Evidence #2) The second law of thermodynamics (The law of entropy)
“In a closed system the amount of useful energy is moving toward zero, or in other words it is being used up. A closed system is where no matter or energy can come in from the outside. Within this system you have energy in it, entropy, and over time it is being used up.”
The Bible tells us that God has set it up this way…
“In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
Psalm 102:25-27
Evidence #3) The Theory of Relativity
In 1905 Albert Einstein unintentionally proved that the Universe was expanding as he proposed the theory of relativity (he thought he had made a calculation error).
E=MC2
In 1920 Edwin Hubble and his studies confirmed Einstein’s theory and showed that there was an expansion going on in the Universe and the movement of the galaxies was away from the earth. This is confirmed based on measurements of Red Shift, Background Radiation and Background Noise.
The Bible also tells us that in God’s creation of the Universe He did it this way…
“This is what God the LORD says – he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it…”
Isaiah 42:5
Evidence #4) The Big Bang
- Big Bang Definition: The sudden and immediate expansion resulting from an explosive beginning.
- Implication: If everything is expanding, or moving out, then by rewinding we can take things back to an initial point of beginning or singularity.
- Confirmed based upon Einstein’s work, Hubble’s experiment, the red shift evidence, background radiation and background noise – together this is overwhelming evidence of a sudden and explosive beginning.
The Importance of the Big Bang Theory
- Astronomer Sir Fredrick Hoyle coined the term “Big Bang” in 1950.
- On April 24, 1992 ABC News Nightline reported on the implication of the Big Bang in support of a Biblical account of creation.
- If there was a “big bang” there had to be a “big banger” with intelligence capabilities for design! Sounds an awful lot like Genesis 1!
There are actually four “big bangs” that atheists (and evolutionists) have to account for:
- Cosmological big bang: Origin of the universe and basic elements
- Biological big bang: Origin of living things
- Anthropological big bang: Origin of humans
- Psychological big bang: Origin of consciousness and reason
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
-Psalm 19:1-4
“Oh LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praises because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place. What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the sea. O LORD, our lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8
Q3. How Do We Know God Exists?
Tactics in answering
TACTIC #2: THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
Premise #1: Whatever has the appearance of design must have a designer (for example, a building must have a builder, a painting or sculpture must have an artist, and a computer must have a programmer).
Premise #2: The Universe has the appearance of design.*
Premise #3: Therefore, the Universe has a designer.
*We must provide evidence for premise #2 for premise #3 to be true.
Evidence for Premise #2
Evidence #1) Design in Mathematics
Example…
The Fibonacci Sequence: The first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 1 and 1, or 0 and 1, depending on the chosen starting point of the sequence, and each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two. These are Fibonacci numbers:
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc.
Each number is found by adding up the two numbers before it:
The 2 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+1)
The 3 is found by adding the two numbers before it (1+2),
And the 5 is (2+3), and so on!
What is the next number from the last two above?
21+34= 55
The importance is that we find examples of the Fibonacci sequence everywhere, because it works…
The Fibonacci sequence is in Golden Spirals from nature, and human anatomy too!
The Fibonacci sequence forms the principal of the Golden Rectangle as seen in architecture, art and all kinds of design factors
Evidence #2) Design in Engineering
Example…
When we look at nature there is an intelligence in the design factors of everything from the water cycle to the nitrogen cycle to the structure of plants and even the wings of birds. Humans have used God’s Creation as the template for many of the modern designs we see today, for example, bridge construction, mechanisms for flying and even the structure of the Eiffel Tower are taken from things that work well from God’s intelligent design found in His Creation!
Why do you believe what you believe?
BIBLE STUDY
THE BOOK OF EXODUS
Bible Study Survey Format
Old Testament
Category: Torah
Book: Exodus
| 1. Author: Who wrote the book and when? (Include anything you can find about the author and when it was written) |
| 2. Audience: Who was it written to? (Include anything you can find about the people, the culture or societal norms, of that time period) |
| 3. Purpose: Why was it written? (Include anything you can find about their circumstances and what was, or had been, going on) |
| 4. Content: What is in each chapter? (Include chapter by chapter titles and a short summary – no more than 3-5 sentences – Keep in mind #5 and #6 and mark a chapter accordingly) |
| 5. Going Deeper: What are the major Covenants found in this book? (Include new ones or ones that relate back to Genesis and mark (C); you can also include any major events here) |
| 6. Finding Jesus: Where is Jesus? Include any appearances (JA), foreshadows (JF) or prophecies (JP)? |
| 7. Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today? (Answers will vary, but can include personal, cultural or timeless teachings for us today) |
| 8. The Shelf: What questions or comments do you have about this book? (Answers will vary, but can include things you didn’t understand or things you want to learn more about) |
This week we are concluding #4 of the survey format with chapters 31 through 40.
The following are example answers for your review for chapters 21-30 (your answers may be different, but you may want to add anything here that would help you see the big picture of the book)…
Chapter 21: Laws About Servitude (slavery); killing, personal injury and other regulations
In this chapter we begin to read about specific laws and regulations that the Israelite were to abide by (ceremonially, civically and morally). This first one was concerning the treatment of a Hebrew slave/servant that also allowed him options in the seventh year of service to either stay, or leave freely. There is also a protection clause and specific requirement for the treatment of women (who, as we know, were considered second class, and usually could not provide for themselves out in the culture, so God made sure there were directives).
In this chapter we also have some guidelines for when a person is killed; respect for parents; human trafficking (v. 16), and even causing an abortive death (v. 22-24); personal injury; injury to personal property such as animals, or injury to a human caused by an owner’s animal that would also require restitution.
Note: We must keep in mind that we are reading about ancient cultures and the normative nature of servitude/slavery in those days. There was no “middle-class” and most people were in service to someone else in order to survive. Family groups, including servants, were important for survival, keeping in mind the rough environment and living conditions at that time. The difference here is the Law regulated the treatment of people, unlike the harsh treatment seen in other cultures; and God was gracious, yet just, in that the laws and regulations He gave were for the people’s protection, and required fair and just treatment in various situations, which was not common in the other cultures of that day.
In application: These Laws represent the way God wants His people Israel (as role models to the Nations) to take care of each other. This is summed up in the second part of the Great Commandment when Jesus tells us to ‘love our neighbors as ourselves.’ These Laws were also given to show that everything we do has consequences in life.
Chapter 22: Laws About Theft; Consequences for Breaking Laws; and Laws Concerning Social Justice
In this chapter we read about consequences for theft of animals, property or breaking an entering; self-defense versus pre-meditation; invading someone else’s property and causing damage by accident or on purpose; regulations on making, receiving, making restitution for losses, and repaying loans of any kind. The last part of this chapter speaks to some social justice issues such as, seducing a virgin; death for sorceresses, lying with an animal, and sacrificing to any god. Laws for proper treatment of sojourners, widow or fatherless children and the consequences of mistreatment. Rules for lending money to the poor and borrowing from your neighbor. Other rules that include not reviling God, curing a ruler, delaying offering from your harvest, the dedication of the firstborn son, oxen and sheep, and not eating of flesh of an animal that was torn in the field (health practices).
Note: The sorcery law is important (also found in Leviticus 19-20 and Deuteronomy 18), because those that practice such things are actually teaming up with Satan, and this is a direct crime against God and His authority. Sorcery includes many things like fortune telling, palm reading, seances, and even drug use.
Chapter 23: More Social Justice Laws; Laws About the Sabbath and Festivals; Conquest of Canaan Promised
Here we continue reading about the various laws against, lying and giving false witness; doing evil and perverting justice with others who do the same; showing partiality; not helping neighbors with lost or hurt animals (even if you are enemies); killing the innocent and righteous; taking bribes; and oppressing sojourners (because they were sojourners in Egypt).
The second part of this chapter concerns laws about Sabbath regulations and festivals including, 6 years to sow the land, 7th year to let it rest; and 6 days for work, 7th day for rest to be refreshed. Make no mention of the names of other gods. Three times a year they were to keep a feast to the LORD: Feast of Unleavened Bread-Passover (when they left Egypt); Feast of Harvest-Pentecost; Feast of ingathering- end of the year when the gathered the fruit of their labor. All males were to appear before the LORD three times a year. They were not to offer blood of God’s sacrifice with anything leavened, or to let the fat of God’s feast remain until the morning. The best of the “firstfruits” shall be brought to the house of the LORD. They should not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
In the last part of this chapter, God promises to send His angel to go before them on the way to the Promised Land in Canaan. God promises protection and care if they will obey His Voice and do all that He says, but if they do not there will be consequences, especially if they serve foreign gods.
C =v. 31 the Land Promise from the Abrahamic Covenant
JF = vs. 15-19 The Feasts and the regulation of blood in the offerings foreshadow Jesus and the blood of His sacrifice for us.
JA = verses 20-23 The promise of the Angel of the LORD to go before them into the Promised Land (only Jesus who is God, could pardon their transgressions – v. 21)
Chapter 24: The Mosaic Covenant Confirmed with Moses and the People
In this chapter God has Moses come up the Mountain with Aaron, his sons and 70 elders to worship, and Moses alone received the Words of the LORD and all the rules and regulations and then He told the people; and the people agreed to obey the LORD. This is where we are told in v. 4 that “Moses wrote down all of the words of the LORD.” And the people made offerings to the LORD. We are also told in v. 7 that Moses took the “book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people,” and they replied that they would be obedient. We are also told in this chapter, that Moses was summoned by the LORD to go up and receive on the tablets the law and the commandment which He (God) had written Himself (v. 12), and Moses was up there 40 days and 40 nights, and the people could see the fire and cloud of the LORD and Moses went up and entered it.
Note: This chapter verifies Moses’ authorship and that the Covenant was actually written down in a book (probably in the form of scrolls at that time).
(ESV study Bible): “What was the purpose of the Mosaic Covenant? Israel was already God’s chosen people because of the promises God made to Abraham. The covenant with Moses established the nation as a holy kingdom of priests, dedicated to serving God and teaching other nations about him (19:5-6). Israel was a theocracy a nation ruled directly by God. The Mosaic covenant established the political, social, and religious aspects of Israel’s life.”
C =This entire chapter (and the rest of the book) focuses on the receiving of the Mosaic Covenant by Moses and the people.
JA =v. 10 “they saw the LORD which could only be Jesus as this was in the form of a man, because we know that no one can see the LORD in all of His glory and live (not even Moses experienced that).
JF =v. 8 This sprinkling of blood represents the Old Covenant and pictures the shedding of Jesus’ blood, that would cover sins, in the New Covenant fulfillment.
Chapter 25: Laws for the Sanctuary; Making of the Ark of the Covenant; The Table of Showbread; The Golden Lampstand
In this chapter God gives Moses instructions for collecting contributions from the people for materials to build the Sanctuary/Tabernacle. This included instructions for building the Ark of the Covenant that was to be made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold inside and out. It would contain a mercy seat between two cherubim where God would meet with Moses (and later the Priests). God instructed that the testimony of the Covenant (the Tablets) would be placed inside the Ark (Hebrews 9:4 tells us it also held a golden urn with the Manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded). Some of the important items for the Tabernacle, along with the Ark, included: The table for the bread of the presence (showbread); The altar of incense; the golden lampstand; and the bronze altar.
Note: All the material for the Tabernacle most likely came from all the things the people of Egypt had given to the people of Israel when they left Egypt as God had instructed them to ask for, especially the gold and silver.
JF = The Tabernacle itself is seen as a picture of Jesus in many ways (Jesus is the Tabernacle with you – see Revelation 21:3), and many of the items and structures within are pictures, such as the door/entry way (Jesus said “I AM the door”), and we know that in the end, we will be with Him face to face in His eternal presence and home.
Chapter 26: More Instructions for the Tabernacle; Curtains of Linen; Curtains of Goats’ Hair; Boards and Sockets; The Veil and Screen
In this chapter we get more specific detail for the construction of the Tabernacle, specifically the curtains and their accessories; the framework of acacia wood; and directions for setting up the veil and screen that separated the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) where the Ark of the Covenant would be placed inside.
Note: The model for the Tabernacle eventually became the model for the Temple in Jerusalem at a grander scale. The Holy of Holies was the sacred place where God dwelt and He would meet with Moses, and later only the High Priest once a year.
Also note some of the specific details of the Tabernacle, for example the veil. The Temple veil was miraculously torn from top to bottom at the crucifixion of Jesus – this indicated that there was no longer a veil between God and man because the man, Jesus, the Son of God and Promised Messiah fulfilled the purpose of the veil, covering sins, and He now stands as the mediator between God and humans, there is no longer a need for a veil and Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) where only priests could meet God and intercede for the people.
JF = Same as above for chapter 25
Chapter 27: The Bronze Altar; The Court of the Tabernacle; Oil for the Lamp
In this chapter we are given specific details in the design and materials for the construction of the Bronze Altar and the Court of the Tabernacle. We also read about the Oil for the Lamp, that it should be pure and its light would never go out, just as Jesus is the light that will never go out (for example see John 8:12 and Revelation 22:5).
Note: In verse 8 God says “As it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made.” This means Moses saw the heavenly Tabernacle!
JF = Jesus said “I AM the light” and we see this picture in verses 20-21 with the Oil for the Lamp that was never to go out; and there are many references Jesus Himself makes in the Gospels and then in Revelation 22).
Chapter 28: The Priests’ Garments
This chapter gives detailed information concerning the priests and their attire. We learn about the breastpiece, an ephod and robe, a tunic of checkered work, a turban and a sash along with the type of material, stones and jewels, and engraving of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the way it is all put together. We also see the Urim and the Thummim was to be placed in the breastpiece of judgment and would be worn over Aaron’s heart (as the High Priest), these were used in making decisions and judgments from the LORD. We notice in verse 12 the importance of all this as a memorial (they were not to forget all that God had done, and is doing for them).
Application Note: We notice the importance of holiness, glory and beauty that the garments worn by the priests represent. We often forget the importance of these things to God who is the Creator of all things and who, above all, demands our respect and worship. We must remember that He is our loving Father, but He alone is also holy, righteous and just, and demands obedience for our own benefit and protection under Him.
Chapter 29: Consecration of the Priests and Sacrifices
In this chapter God gives specific directions for consecrating the Priests, which means to make them holy unto God by performing specific rituals and sacrifices. We also notice the importance of the blood of the sacrifices as it is poured out to cover them, making them pure and holy in the sight of God (the blood is directing our attention to an ultimate shedding of blood by the Messiah, Jesus in fulfillment of all these things). Only the priests could eat the food of the things in which the atonement was made, because they are holy, and the priests were representing the holiness of God (v. 33). Note that the atonement offering had to be two, one year old lambs each day for seven days (seven is a number in the Bible that usually represents completion or perfection, and lambs represent the purity and innocence of the offering for sin). At the end, God tells them that this should all be done in remembrance of their salvation from slavery in the land of Egypt (through Jesus it is salvation from the slavery to sin and the curse of the Fall in Genesis 3)
Application Note: We should also remember, as they were told to do, how God rescued us from slavery to sin and the curse of the Fall through the blood atonement and Priesthood of Jesus.
JF = We see a foreshadowing of Jesus in the offering of innocent and perfect lambs (We are told in the New Testament that Jesus is the Lamb of God). Also, in the blood sacrifices and in the position of priesthood. Then the priests would sacrifice to God, and be the mediator between God and the people. Now we have Jesus as our final High Priest and mediator between believers and God (see Hebrews chapters 4-9).
Chapter 30: The Altar of Incense; The Census Tax; The Bronze Basin; The Anointing Oil and Incense
In this chapter we read details about the altar and the incense that was to perpetually be burning, and Aaron was to make a blood offering on the horns of the altar once a year, and it was to be “most holy to the LORD.” This is known as “the Day of Atonement.” We also read about the census tax for the service of the Tabernacle, and to make atonement for themselves, and again notice the ritual of washing and the anointing of oil, because the LORD requires holiness (and cleanliness) before Him.
JF =This “Day of Atonement” again points to Jesus Christ, the perfect atonement, who could remove sins forever.
HOMEWORK:
1. In your own words, answer Q3 from Tactic #1 presented this week: HOW DO WE KNOW GOD EXISTS? (you can use the class notes to help you formulate your response)
2. We have now completed the context study for the book of Exodus. Review what you have learned from chapters 1-40 then answer #5-8 from our format to finish up your survey of this book:
#5 Going Deeper: What are the major Covenants found in this book?
(Include new ones or ones that relate back to Genesis and mark (C); you can also include any major events)
#6 Finding Jesus: Where is Jesus?
(Include any appearances JA, foreshadows JF or prophecies JP)
#7 Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today?
(Answers will vary, but can include personal, cultural or timeless teachings for life application)
#8 The Shelf: What questions or comments do you have about this book?
(Answers will vary but can include things you didn’t understand or you want to learn more about)
Some helpful notes:
Keep in mind that the Old Testament is mainly a “historical narrative” and it is important to get the big picture of that narrative before doing deeper dives into particular topics or questions. Remember to use #8 “The Shelf” to jot down any questions, concerns or comments you want to look at later on, or discuss deeper – this will help keep you focused on the big picture survey of the book, and how it fits into the overall narrative of the Bible in whole.
Focus on the following things:
C = Covenant
- The Adamic Covenant: The Genesis 3:15 “Seed” promise that would be carried through the Nation of Israel culminating in the person of Jesus
- The Abrahamic Covenant: The Genesis 12 promise God made to Abraham is unconditional in the sense that God would fulfill it, but God also gave a requirement of circumcision that would be a sign of His people’s obedience to Him under this covenant. It encompassed three things:
- A Nation
- Land
- Blessing
- The Mosaic Covenant is presented in the later part of the book of Exodus and it will further unfold the Abrahamic Covenant, but will be a conditional covenant specifically for the Nation of Israel to function governmentally, societally and morally:
- The Law will set them apart from the other nations as a representative of the one true God
- The expectation is obedience to the Law and consequences as the result of disobedience (and they will fail, thus showing them, and us, the need for a savior and redeemer = Jesus)
- The Law will, in many ways, will foreshadow the coming Messiah, Jesus
JA = Jesus Appearance (Any human appearance of God, or specifically “The Angel of God” where a human bows before Him and the worship is accepted).
JF = Jesus Foreshadowed (A person or event that “pictures” something Jesus would be or do)
JP = Jesus Prophecy (A specific prophecy about a coming Messiah, or of an event in Jesus’ time, or attribute that Jesus would have)
Extra: Mark any special verses or passages or events you’d like to remember.
Join us next week as we continue our “Case for Christianity” Studies!
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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.
Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.
Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.
Teri Dugan
TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com
1 Peter 3:15