Title: Do You Really Believe in God
1Do You Really Believe in God?
- A True, Living, and Eternal God?
2Poll ResultsConcerning God
- 1990 Gallup poll revealed that 94 of Americans
believe in God or a universal spirit - Only 81 of college graduates believe in God
- 2009 ARIS Survey concerning religion and belief
in God - When it comes to religion, the USA is now a land
of the freelancers - People who call themselves Christians dropped
more than 11 in a generation
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4Poll ResultsConcerning God
- Since the first ARIS survey was released in 1990,
other national surveys have offered snapshots of
the USAs faith and others have commented on
these findings - 41 of people have switched their religion at
some point in life (Pew survey) - How far is heaven? At least half will make it,
Americans say (Baylor University survey)
5Poll ResultsConcerning God
- Religion has become more like a fashion
statement, not a deep personal commitment for
many (Kosmin) - Im totally disengaged from the church and the
Bible, too. Sunday mornings mean playing in a
park, not praying in a pew (Mueller) - If religion comes up, everyone at the table will
start mocking it. I dont know anyone religious
and hardly anyone spiritual (Rossi)
6Poll ResultsConcerning God
- I see kids today who have no vocabulary of
faith, and neither do many of their parents
(Gautier) - I am a deeply committed follower of Christ.
Rather than aligning with a specific
denomination, I attend a non-denominational
community church where I like rock music, but
Bible study is the focus of my faith. We just
look to Jesus. It happens inside of peoples
souls (Haynes)
7Poll ResultsConcerning God
- Two comments individuals stated in response to
the USA Today religious survey - Im so happy to see the increase in
non-believers, agnostics, atheists. As people
become more educated and expand their knowledge
and experiences, theyre more likely to see that
religion is about as valid as Mother Goose fairy
tales - This is good news. The sooner mankind weans
himself from the tyranny of religion the better.
Religion is the worst thing ever invented. More
misery has been visited upon mankind in the name
of religion than anything else
8The Bible Showsand Proves the Existence of God
- Presents us a living God
- Psalms 652
- We MUST believe in God
- Hebrews 116
- God is NOT just an abstract idea or impersonal
creator He is a - living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the
sea, and all things that are in them (Acts 1415)
9The Bible Showsand Proves the Existence of God
- Gods Word teaches the absolute necessity of
knowing who God really is - John 173
- 2 Thessalonians 17-9
- knowing God means more thanhaving some
understanding of Hisexistence - It includes all concepts that lead toa right
relationship with God
10Faith Is Essentialin Recognizing theTrue God
- We must gain faith in Him
- Romans 1017 Hebrews 1022-24
- Many are drawing back, losing their faith and
living a life expecting God to change to keep up
with modern times
Now the just shall live by faith But if anyone
draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But
we are not of those who draw back to perdition,
but of those who believe to the saving of the
soul. Hebrews 1038-39
11Faith Is Essential in Recognizing the True God
- Comments from a Theologian conference (2000)
- Gods image is going to have to change for all
faiths if religion is to survive - We cant enter the 21st century with the idea of
the God we learned in Sunday School - The God I grew up with had an image of a stern
lawgiver and judge who required obedience within
a system of rewards and punishments a
monarchical model of God that has turned many
people away from the Christian faith - I find it literally incredible that the God of
the whole universe has chosen to be known by one
religious tradition
12It Does MatterThat WeBelieve in God
- Should all who claim the name of Christ be
united? YES - John 1720-23
- Gods Word says that wedo things the same way!
- 1 Corinthians 110
- Ephesians 43-6
13It Does MatterThat WeBelieve in God
- Jesus message did not waver depending on His
audience Paul taught likewise - 1 Corinthians 717
- 1 Timothy 63-5
- 1 John 41
- We must follow thesame standard today!
- Jude 3 Matthew 159, 13
14There Really Is OnlyOne True God
- With Gods Word as our complete guide, we can
believe in the one and only God - Hes the creator man is the creature
- Genesis 11, 26-27 John 11-5 Acts 1726-31
- Man is an immortal being and will live forever
- Hebrews 927 Ecclesiastes 127 James 226
15There Really Is OnlyOne True God
- Moral standard for man is not of his own personal
choosing it comes from God - Titus 212
- John 1010
- 1 John 54-5
We know the truth through His inspired Word
One day, EVERYONE will KNOW the truth!