The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Let’s pray together before beginning this set of lessons: |
Lord, As we are about to open the Bible, perhaps we are not entirely convinced of Your existence. But we are here today to give You a chance to make Yourself known. We humbly ask You to show us the reasons why we should believe in You. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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John 1:18 | Comments |
No man has seen God at any time. | Sure of holding a convincing argument, the unbeliever will say: «God? Nobody has ever seen Him...» As you can notice, the apostle John agrees with that statement. However, John doesn’t deny the existence of God. Would we refuse to recognize the existence of electricity under the pretext that we cannot see it? Of course not, since we can all observe its power. There are also some «powerful» reasons to believe in God. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Exodus 33:20 | Comments |
And [the Lord] said, «You can not see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live.» |
First of all, let’s understand why we cannot see God. Mankind, in his fallen state, would not be able to bear seeing God’s holiness. We cannot even look at the sun, how much less the Creator of the sun? |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Genesis 1:1 | Comments |
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. | The Bible doesn’t even try to prove God’s existence. It simply states the fact, right from the very first verse. God is, because He has to be. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Romans 1:19,20 | Comments |
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in [men]; for God has showed it to 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 that they are without excuse. |
We never cease to marvel at the prodigious complexity of Creation. We will see, in a future lesson, that all this is inconceivable without the presence of a superior intelligence. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Isaiah 46:9,10 | Comments |
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else. I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done. |
During our lessons we will also have the opportunity to study the amazing prophecies of the Bible. The facts foretold centuries beforehand by God’s prophets have come true with remarkable accuracy: together, we will see that there is no way that «chance» could be so accurate... |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Daniel 2:28 | Comments |
But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets. | Wait until you see what God revealed to the prophet Daniel about the future, and you will surely understand why this prophet spoke this way. Fascinating lessons await you! |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Psalm 10:4 | Comments |
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. | Nowadays, to deny the existence of God is often considered as the sign of a cultured mind. But in view of the evidence of a superior intelligence, the Bible can only qualify atheism as nonsense. Yes, truly, God exists. |
Psalm 14:1 | |
The fool has said in his heart, «There is no God.» |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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John 20:29 | Comments |
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. | God promises a blessing to those who believe in Him without having seen Him. And a wonderful promise is made to those who seek God... |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Jeremiah 29:13,14 | Comments |
«And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you,» said the Lord. | What a promise God gives us! If we only give Him a chance, the Lord will clearly reveal Himself in our lives, and we will be transformed by His presence within us. What can we lose? Nothing! On the contrary, we have everything to gain by doing so. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Acts 17:27 | Comments |
That [men] should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us. | The existence of God doesn’t need to be proven, but rather felt by each one of us. When we have been in contact with God, even if it’s only once in our lifetime, we can no longer doubt His reality. And to seek the Lord is precisely the goal of these lessons. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Hebrews 11:6 | Comments |
But without faith it is impossible to please [God]: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. | We can better understand why our first lesson focuses on the existence of God: it is necessary, at the very least, to believe that God exists, before exploring the next lessons. Otherwise they would be meaningless. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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James 2:19 | Comments |
You believe that there is one God. You do well. | The philosopher Kant declared, «There is no proof of the non-existence of God.» So, the least we would ask an atheist is to suppose that God exists. We pray that these lessons transform this supposition into solid reality. |
The Moment of Truth | Lesson 1 | |
God: Could He Be Dead? | ||
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Let’s pray together before ending this first lesson: |
Our Father, We thank You for Your promise to let Yourself be found by whoever sincerely seeks You. As the apostles asked Jesus, we also ask You, «Increase our faith.» (Luke 17:5). As the father of the demon-possessed child, we also address this prayer to You, «Lord, I believe; help You my unbelief!» (Mark 9:24). In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. |
The test of Lesson 1 is waiting for you!
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson |
Screen 1: «Sequoias tower in Lady Bird Johnson Grove of the Redwood National Park.» In: «Deluxe Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton’s Home Library, 1997. Screen 2: Picture from the Web site: http://www.csicop.org/articles/sagan.html. Screen 3: Photo In: «Master Clips 500,000» by IMSI, CD #17, SSGP1919.JPG. Screen 4: MICHELANGELO. «Creation of the Sun, Moon and Planets» (1509-1512), Sistine Chapel, Vatican. In: «Charlton Heston Presents the Bible», GT Publishing, New York, 1997, p.18. Screen 5: «The monarch butterfly.» In: «Deluxe Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia CD - 1998 Edition», Compton’s Home Library, 1997. Screen 6: HARLAN, Russell. In: «Votre Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.286. Used by permission. Copyright ©1959, 1987 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 7: COLLINS, Fred. In: «The Bible Story, volume 6» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.67. Used by permission. Copyright ©1955, 1983 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 8: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (June 1, 1998), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.1. Screen 9: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «Uncle Arthur’s Bible Book» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.93. Used by permission. Copyright ©1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1968, 1996 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 10: Photo by SPRINGER, Joel. In: «Adventist Review» (September 1996), p.17. Used by permission. Copyright ©1996 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 11: SCHLAIKJER, Jes. In: «Votre Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.193. Used by permission. Copyright ©1959, 1987 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 12: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (March 15, 1988), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.1. Screen 13: In: «La Pure Vérité» magazine (unknown date), Worldwide Church of God, front cover. Screen 14: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #8, Photo Library 4, 603005.PCD. |
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