god's relationship with the world

• What is God's relationship with the world?

  • He sustains and provides all that is needed
  • He controls the seasons
  • natural world is proof of his existence
• Evidence for God as a sustainer

  "He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the Earth with rain"
• Evidence for God controlling seasons

  "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the Heavens"
• Evidence for the natural world as evidence for God

  "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities"..."have been clearly seen"..."so people are without excuse."
• Is God still involved in the world today?

  Christians disagree on this

  • God exists on His own and depends on nothing
  • God doesn't need to be active in creation
• What is "ex-nihilo"?

  It means it came from/out of nothing. God came before everything so He is this.
• Some people use the idea of entropy to argue against God.
• What is entropy?

  The idea that the world is out of order and all matter and energy is spreading out which will cause nothing to exist eventually.
• How is God atemporal?

  He is not limited to time and is outside it. He can see past, present and future.
• Evidence for God is atemporal

  "For I know the plan I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you"
• Some Christians say that because God is atemporal he cannot relate to His creations in a personal way and answer prayers as He would have to change the plan He has already put in place.
• Some Christians believe that God does respond to prayers and interact with the world. Evidence for this is:

  • Jesus' incarnation and how He healed people who needed it
  • Holy spirit interacting with people on Earth
• What is learnt about God's relationship with humans from the creation story?

  • Humans are like God unlike His other creations
  • God gave humans a special duty. (He trusts us)
  • see God's authority through our dominion over animals and Earth
• Evidence for God's relationship with humans

  "Let us make mankind in our image, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea, and the birds in the sky."
• How is God good?

  • Salvation
  • Said the world was "good" in Gen 1
  • Has good judgement
  • Providence of law
• Evidence for salvation

  "For God so loved the world He gave His only son." (John 3:16)
• Evidence for good judgement

  "He rules the world in righteousness and judges the people's equity"(Psalms 9:8)
• How may non-Christians challenge God's goodness?

  In the Old testament, God showed anger and lack of justice. He helped people destroy other nations.
• Evidence against God's goodness

  God told Joshua, "3 days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving to you."