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Romans 1:18-20

Romans 1:18-20. Evidence Part 2. Romans 1:18-20. Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them ; for God made it evident to them.”. Romans 1:18-20. -When we look inside ourselves, we see evidence there that we were created by an infinite, personal God.

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Romans 1:18-20

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  1. Romans 1:18-20 Evidence Part 2

  2. Romans 1:18-20 Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

  3. Romans 1:18-20 -When we look inside ourselves, we see evidence there that we were created by an infinite, personal God Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

  4. Romans 1:18-20 -When we look inside ourselves, we see evidence there that we were created by an infinite, personal God -Today: The evidence from internal consistency (presuppositions) Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

  5. Romans 1:18-20 • Compare people’s beliefs to their actions • Our actions may demonstrate our true beliefs better than our words • When our actions contradict our claimed beliefs, it suggests we are either confused or dishonest

  6. Romans 1:18-20 • Examples: -Your friend says he doesn’t believe in gravity, but he wears a parachute when flying

  7. Romans 1:18-20 • Examples: -A friend says he is concerned about the environment, but you see him empty his car’s oil into the stream behind his house

  8. Romans 1:18-20 • See illustration in Christianity: Faith That Makes Sense

  9. Argument from design

  10. Argument from design Presuppositions

  11. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Morality • Paper falling: • Matter reacting to physical laws cannot be turned into morality • Under naturalism, what is, is right • See debate between Moreland and Nielsen:

  12. Nielsen vs. Moreland • Kai Nielsen, professor and head of the department of philosophy, U.of Calgary. Atheist, author of 16 books (including Morality Without God).J. P. Moreland and Kai Nielsen, Does God Exist: The Great Debate, (Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1990) • “There can be purpose in life, even if there is no purpose to life.” 104

  13. Nielsen vs. Moreland • Neilsen cont. “If you have some life plan, if you want to be a doctor or a professor or a political radical, whatever you want to be, if there’s something you want to do in this world, you can do that, God or no God.” 104

  14. Nielsen vs. Moreland What is the determining factor in what has value? • Neilsen cont. “If you have some life plan, if you want to be a doctor or a professor or a political radical, whatever you want to be, if there’s something you want to do in this world, you can do that, God or no God.” 104

  15. Nielsen vs. Moreland What is the determining factor in what has value? What you want to do • Neilsen cont. “If you have some life plan, if you want to be a doctor or a professor or a political radical, whatever you want to be, if there’s something you want to do in this world, you can do that, God or no God.” 104

  16. Nielsen vs. Moreland • “[you say] Aren’t these just your personal preferences?. . . What foundations have you?”

  17. Nielsen vs. Moreland “They rest on my considered judgments... You start with considered judgments and then you try to get them into a coherent pattern with everything else... with the best theories of the function of morality in society, with the best theories we have about human nature and so forth.”107

  18. Nielsen vs. Moreland • Moreland: “Under Nielsen’s system, the difference between, say, Mother Teresa and Hitler is roughly the same as the difference between whether I want to be a trumpet player or a baseball player.” 117

  19. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Morality

  20. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Morality • Those who believe in an infinite, personal creator God believe in morality because God, as a moral being, made us moral beings

  21. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Morality • Those who believe in an infinite, personal creator God believe in morality because God, as a moral being, made us moral beings • Doesn’t imply that we necessarily live morally...

  22. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Morality • Those who believe in an infinite, personal creator God believe in morality because God, as a moral being, made us moral beings • Doesn’t imply that we necessarily live morally. . . Pantheists have a problem with morality...

  23. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Morality • Those who believe in an infinite, personal creator God believe in morality because God, as a moral being, made us moral beings • Doesn’t imply that we necessarily live morally. . . Animists have a problem with morality...

  24. Romans 1:18-20 So, what does it mean when a naturalist or a pantheist refer to objective morals? Areas to check: Morality • Those who believe in an infinite, personal creator God believe in morality because God, as a moral being, made us moral beings • Doesn’t imply that we necessarily live morally. . .

  25. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Human Dignity • Who is really reluctant to swat a mosquito or eat an onion? • But why are we willing to kill these when we will not kill humans? • Why do we say all people are equal? • Without a personal, spiritual dimension, these are nonsense

  26. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Human Dignity • When believers in God say humans are significant it’s because we were created in the image of God... • As personal beings, we are all equally significant

  27. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Human Dignity • When believers in God say humans are significant it’s because we were created in the image of God... • As personal beings, whether for good or for evil, we are more significant than non-personal beings

  28. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Human Dignity • When believers in God say humans are significant it’s because we were created in the image of God... • As personal beings, whether for good or for evil, we are more significant than non-personal beings Pantheists have a problem with dignity...

  29. Romans 1:18-20 So, what does it mean when a naturalist or a pantheist refer to human significance? Areas to check: Human Dignity • When believers in God say humans are significant it’s because we were created in the image of God... • As personal beings, whether for good or for evil, we are more significant than non-personal beings Pantheists have a problem with dignity...

  30. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • Vinegar and soda

  31. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • Vinegar and soda • If the universe = matter only, it is a machine, no matter how complex

  32. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • Vinegar and soda • If the universe = matter only, it is a machine, no matter how complex • If cause and effect explain everything, this includes your thoughts

  33. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • Vinegar and soda • If the universe = matter only, it is a machine, no matter how complex • Therefore, freedom is essential if we are to trust our rational conclusions

  34. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • J.P. Moreland: “It is important to have freedom of the will in order for there to be such a thing as human moral action or moral responsibility.” 115 • Also cannot have meaningful love

  35. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • When we protest a rapist or a racist, we are showing that we believe they are not determined to do what they do, but are free

  36. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • Our position • As thinking Christians we argue that human freedom has been impaired but still continues to a meaningful extent • We have the power to make free choices--especially whether to come to God

  37. Romans 1:18-20 Areas to check: Freedom • Our position • As thinking Christians we argue that human freedom has been impaired but still continues to a meaningful extent • We have the power to make free choices--especially whether to come to God Pantheists have a problem with freedom...

  38. Romans 1:18-20 Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

  39. Romans 1:18-20 When we believe people are significant, free, moral beings, we imply that God must have created them with a spiritual nature Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

  40. Romans 1:18-20 When we believe people are significant, free, moral beings, we imply that God must have created them with a spiritual nature Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” If we turn around and deny that such a God created, we are confused or dishonest

  41. Romans 1:18-20 When we believe people are significant, free, moral beings, we imply that God must have created them with a spiritual nature Romans 1:19 “…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.” If we turn around and deny that such a God created, we are confused or dishonest

  42. Conclusions 18 For the anger of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness

  43. Conclusions 18 For the anger of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness

  44. Conclusions • We are not suggesting that Christians are better than others • We are only saying that God “made himself evident within us” Rom 1:19 • Our own actions show that at some deep level, we know a personal God made us

  45. Conclusions • Who is this God and What is he like? • How can you get to know him personally and be with him forever? • Start by taking your search to him personally • See the good news in the book of Romans

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