FROM THIS WE LEARN -
(A) The Bible, beginning with its very first words, simply
speaks of God as existing;
(B) It does not consider it necessary to prove that there
is a God since only a person who refuses to use his reason
would deny or doubt so evident a fact. (Atheism, Agnosticism.)
2. HOW MAY ALL MEN KNOW BY NATURE THAT THERE IS A GOD?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
(a) Gen. 3:4. Every house is builded by some man; but
HE THAT BUILT ALL THINGS IS GOD.
*(a) Ps. 19:1. The HEAVENS DECLARE the glory of God; and the
FIRMAMENT SHOWETH His handiwork.
(a) Rom. 1:19,20. That which may be known of God is
manifest in them (the Gentiles): for God hath showed it unto
them.
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 the they are without excuse.
(b) Rom. 2:15. (The Gentiles) show the work of the
Law written in their hearts, their CONSCIENCE also bearing witness, and
their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
All men may know by nature that there is a God
(A) From the existence of the world;
(B) From the testimony of their conscience.
3. WHAT DO THE UNIVERSE AND CONSCIENCE TELL MAN ABOUT GOD?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
(a b) Rom. 1:20 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.
(c) Ps. 104:24. O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In WISDOM
hast Thou made them all.
(d) Acts 14: 17. He left not Himself without witness, in that
He DID GOOD, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons,
filling
our hearts with food and gladness.
(e) Rom. 1:32. (The Gentiles know) the JUDGMENT of God,
that they which commit such things are worthy of death.
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The universe and conscience tell man that God is
(A) Eternal (without beginning and without end);
(B) Powerful;
(C) Wise;
(D) Good to His creatures;
(E) Just (fair and impartial), punishing the evildoers.
4. FOR WHAT PURPOSE HAS THIS NATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD BEEN
GIVEN TO MAN?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
Acts 17:26,27. (God) hath made of one blood all nations for
to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times
before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK
THE
LORD, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him.
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
The natural knowledge of God should move man to search after
God.
5. IS MAN'S NATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD SUFFICIENT?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
(a) Ps. 96:5. All the GODS OF THE NATIONS ARE IDOLS; but the
LORD made the heavens.
(a) Acts 17:23. As I passed by, and beheld your devotions,
I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
(b) Acts 16:29,30. He called for a light, and sprang in, and
came TREMBLING, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them
out,
and said, SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
(b) 1 Cor. 2:9. EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER
HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART of man, the things which God hath prepared
for them that love Him.
(a b) Eph. 2:12. Ye were without Christ ... having NO
HOPE, and WITHOUT GOD in the world.
FROM THIS WE LEARN -
Man's natural knowledge of God is not sufficient because the
universe and conscience do not reveal
(A) Who the true God is;
(B) How man, the sinner, may escape the punishment of the
just God and enter heaven.
6. WHICH OTHER REVELATION HAS GOD THEREFORE GIVEN TO MAN?
THE BIBLE SAYS -
1 Cor. 2:9,10,13. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the thing which God hath
prepared
for them that love Him. But GOD HATH REVEALED THEM UNTO US BY HIS
SPIRIT ... WHICH THINGS ALSO WE SPEAK.
FROM THIS WE LEARN - Since man's natural knowledge of
God is
altogether
insufficient, God has revealed Himself in the Bible. (Revealed
knowledge
of God.)
BEFORE THE NEXT LESSON FILL OUT Work Sheet No. 1.
MEMORIZE, if you can, the Bible passages in this lesson marked with
an asterisk (*).
READ Genesis, chapters 1-7. (A chapter a day.)
1. (A) The atheist denies the existence of God because he follows
the guidance of his reason. [_]
(B) The atheist denies the existence of God because he wishes that
there were no God. [_]
(C) The atheist denies the existence of God because he has no way
of knowing whether there is a God. [_]
2. Name something in nature that impresses you with
(A) Gods's power
..........................................
(B) God's wisdom ..........................................
(C) God's goodness ........................................
3. Conscience tells us that we have..................and deserve................. (Insert the missing words.)
4. We sometimes hear people say: "Foreign mission
work
is a waste of men and money because the heathen already have a religion
of their own."
Is this attitude correct ?
Yes [_] No [_]
Give reasons for your answer.
...................................................................................................................................................
5. (A) The NATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD is that knowledge of
God
which we get from
...........................................................
(B) The REVEALED KNOWLEDGE OF GOD is that knowledge of God which we get
from...........................................................