It's crazy because the same God that I pray to during my devotional time in my bedroom is the same God that someone in China could be standing up and risking their lives to worship! I mean, He is good at making Himself known, and it just dawned on me that the reason for this is because *He is sooo real.* The fact that the disciples would risk their lives to spread the news about a Jesus that died and never rose just doesn't make sense to me.
Scientists can say what they like, but Romans 1:19 tells us that all people know instinctively about God. They just know, and God doesn't leave us to build our faith off of shaky and questionable statements, but He gives us some hard- core evidence in His word. Even history and science itself can go some ways to helping "prove" God. But the point is, He doesn't need to be proven. Verse 4 says that Christ was shown to be God. He rose from the dead. I think its just interesting how God in a way "helps" us believe. He even gives us his scripture to back up our instinctive knowledge of Christ (verse 19-- God is manifest in us and has put this knowledge in our hearts).
A God that is real must want people to know about Him. I mean, I am just human and I don't like to be ignored, so how much more will an infinite, glorious, wonderful God allow Himself to be ignored? And by His very own creation nevertheless?? It just doesn't make sense. So this chapter just goes to show that God is very passionate about His own glory...because he is soo real. That's why we become passionate about His glory as well: because we have His Spirit. The spirit excites us about telling others about God.
God is real because He is so active. God is real because we see people so on fire for Him. God is real because there are people not only risking their lives to tell others about Him, but dying daily
and picking up their crosses to live for love. And God is real because He is love.
I think that a silent god (the gods of other religions and other things that people idolize), is no God at all. But our God is no silent God. He is constantly speaking. Not only that, but He "shows his anger from heaven against all people who prevent the truth from being known (verse 18)." ha! I'm pretty sure Jesus said that *he* was the way, the truth and the life. So God doesn't just sit back and let people prevent the truth (Jesus) from being known. He punishes. This is because He is love, and he doesn't want us, whom He loves so much, to miss out on His love.
Beyond my doubts that I occasionally have, I've always just sorta known that I know, that I know, that I know that Jesus is God. I just know. And Romans 1:20 tells me why. It says "From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God." That's just so beautifully laid out for us. In my opinion, it's the foundation of all faith.
God put it in us. He Himself. His Spirit does all this. I think sometimes we fool ourselves by thinking that its something we do-- believing. It's really not. It is God's spirit moving in us and convicting us of His truth, and His grace that allows us to believe. Only if we push it away is our doing.
So that leads us to the question of why some people don't believe. I mean, if God is so real, why don't people trust in this God ?? Obviously, He is making Himself known. Well, just as surely as we have questions, the word of God has answers! woo-whoo! haha. It says
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.
So that pretty much answers that question.
And in verse 28 it says "When they refused to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done."
The reason for this might be because love can't be forced. So God didn't want to force anything on them, and so He let them choose. Him or their sinful deeds and they chose their deeds. So he left them to it. What are yall thinkin? Do you agree? Or...?? Can you think of any other reasons why? Come on! Let's get a reall conversation started out of this. I know that if we were all together we'd have PLENTY of things to say about plenty of this, so let's get the most out of this.
Also, I think that another reason God cares so much about His glory is because he loves us sooo much. He wants us to know about Himself-- the only one who can fill our empty hearts. The one who fills and fulfills and gives us joy. And of course, everyone wants the people they love to find joy.
We all doubt it sometimes, but true faith flowers through and from doubt. I know something that science just doesn't. And while science is constantly changing with new discoveries and such, I have a God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Apologetics(the study of defending Christianity) truly does sit at the feet of the Gospel. The Gospel is strong enough on its own.
** ROMANS 1:16 FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL ABOUT CHRIST. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD AT WORK..**
So that's it for now ladies and germs. God is real. Yes, science can go someways in proving God, but there is a point where we must just go off the word and have belief in what is unseen... and that's faith for ya! :)
... Even then... how unseen is God, really?
Hopefully God strengthened your faith as we started off Romans and, if not, write down the questions you have under comments. Questions, prayer requests, ANYTHING!!! JUST INTERACT!! Let's make this as lively as possible.
--Emnet
I agree when you say that how can we not see God at work today. I know at times it can be doubtful that all this is real, that there is a God, his son came and died and rose again for us. Thats a lot to beilive.
ReplyDeleteBut heres the beauty in all that, it all came true. But mabey some of you are still doubtful of whether there is a God at all through natural disasters. I think then you are looking at it in the compleatly wrong point of view. For example the earthquake in Haiti. Why would such a disaster happen if God loves mankind, you mabey asking your self. But remember this didn't God say things like this would happen, (genisis: the exile of Adam and Eve.) And even then, if you still questin God and his plan then think of it like this, if the earthquake in Haiti never happened, would hundreds of nations out of love ever come together to support a devestated nation, no. There are litarly millions of ways to look at Haiti and ask yourself why this happened. Or you could do the one thing that God asks you to do and that is keep the FAITH, keep the FAITH, because in the end thats what is going to get you through, FAITH. And I think Emnet touched on that really well, so great job.
First off...i have to give you props emnet. The Lord really spoke through you on that one. Second, about yoni's comment about natural disasters and God's impact in having the world coming together and praying and all that, thats good. But, i was just thinking, do we really need that much of a wake up call to start having hope in God? I feel as though God is saying '' Oh, ok so it takes an EARTHQUAKE to get them to start talking to me.'' Yes, faith is important to have. But, its more important to have that faith with you before disaster strikes than afterwards. On another note, its not necessarily peoples fault that they believe in other gods and idols and what not. God knew all along that people weren't going to listen...not even to Jesus. That's why its our job, as God's people, to spread the good news so that we can save these lost souls. Because whether we're ready or not, kids, Jesus is coming and idk about you but i dont want to be the reason why someone didnt go to heaven.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! All glory = God's.
ReplyDeleteI agree yoni! The bad that happens in the world is because of our sin and leaving God at the fall. I know that later on in Romans (like chapter 8ish, I'm not sure) it says that all creation groans as it waits for the saviour to return. So yeah, all the wrong that happens is caused by our own turning from God, but like you said, God doesn't do this to us. It is just evil, and evil is the absence of God who is good, but like you emphasized, he uses it to work out his plan. Nice buddyy! lol
Ruth: GOODD POINNTTSS.. i agree..like why would we need such a wake up call if we really didn't need to wake up in the first place? That wasn't God's doing, He was just able to work good out of it. You are right dude, we gotta have faith before that disaster strikes. One question though. I'm not completely sure what you mean when you say its not necessarily peoples fault that they believe in other gods and idols and what not.
What do you mean? I think that verses 21 - 28 kinda make it clear that it is... right?
I don't know, especially cuz verse 19 says They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
...and is it really possible to be responsible for someone not going to heaven? Anyways,, thanks yall for committing to the bible study :) :)!!
Good points to both of you and it really is starting to look a lot like I pictured it.
now that this thing finally works i was wondering when we were going to get this thing on, like week by week? are we waiting for volunteers or what??
ReplyDelete