While the Bible claims that the physical creation manifests the wisdom and power of God (Psalm 19:1 'The heavens are telling of the glory of God'; Romans 1:20); a tremendous amount of misinformation about God circulates in our society. Misconceptions and myths that prevent some people from coming to God or investigating the Bible. And this shouldn't surprise us, for early Christians had to basically re-teach their neighbors about the one true God (Acts 14:15-17; 17:24 'The God who made the world and all things in it...does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything....17:29..we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone..'). We also learn that mankind often attempts to reinvent God, to make God manageable, less threatening, or more accommodative to the things that we would like to do (Romans 1:18 '..who suppress the truth in unrighteousness'...1:21-24). These verses should remind all listeners. A correct knowledge of God won't do you any good, unless you have integrity, i.e. the courage to honestly face up to such truth and then act upon it.

I. Our Forgotten Task:

When we discuss the need to teach others, we often think in terms of conversions and church growth. But there is a higher purpose to our existence as Christians, than even saving souls. It is to stand up for and proclaim the glory of the God who has saved us (Matthew 5:16 'Let your light shine before men in such a way that...and glorify your Father who is in heaven'; 1 Peter 2:9 'But you are a chosen race...that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness.'; Isaiah 43:21 'The people whom I formed for Myself, Will declare My praise.'). POINTS TO NOTE: (1) We easily forget that our purpose as Christians is to defend God's honor, to stand up and oppose those who slander and misrepresent Him, to tell people of the glorious nature and accomplishments of God. (2) This is what Paul means about "boasting in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17). And I am afraid that often among Christians there appears to be very little boasting concerning the greatness of our God. When was the last time you really "talked up" God's character, His achievements, His faithfulness, mercy, compassion, loyalty, unselfishness, etc..? Maybe some people aren't too impressed with the God we claim to serve, because we don't act very impressed. (3) For example, what is our usual attitude, when other activities try to cut into the times that we gather for worship and edification? Do we say to our spouse, friend, or relative, 'Yea, I have to go to services, but I will try to get out of there as soon as possible..'? Brethren, how does such an attitude glorify God? Oh that a Christian would say, 'Even though I like (this or that activity), right now it is far from my thoughts, because tomorrow, I get to worship the God who loved me and gave His Son for Me. Don't wait for me, start without me, I might be late, because I will soak up every moment of the worship service, sing every song from the heart, concentrate on every prayer, feel humility, shame and gratitude as I partake of the Lord's Supper, listen intently as God's Word is proclaimed, and relish the fellowship I have with my brethren. The God I serve is so great, so wonderful and impressive, that it might take some time to get my mind back on the activity that you are planning tomorrow (Psalm 122:1; 27:4; 84:10 'For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside.') (4) Notice Paul's attitude, Ephesians 3:8 '...to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable RICHES of Christ, AND TO BRING TO LIGHT ('TO MAKE ALL MEN SEE' KJV)...(3:18)..may be able to comprehend with ALL THE SAINTS what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ..'; Acts 26:18 'to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light'. Also note this attitude, Psalm 89:1 'I will sing of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever; To all generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth.' Brethren, our task is to make people "see" how great is our God! That is precisely why we can't tone down the message, add to or subtract from it (2 John 9).

II. What We Have In The Bible:

Maybe some have never realized this, but the Bible is more than a book of commands. It is more than an infallible guide for our lives (as if that wouldn't be enough-Psalm 119:105). Even before that, the Bible is God revealing Himself to mankind (Exodus 3:13-14; 34:6-7; Deut. 32:1-4). This is God's 'resume' or God's TRACK-RECORD. The Bible is more than a book about human unfaithfulness and sin. More than a book about man's redemption and people being saved. Ultimately this book is about God, His faithfulness, in spite of man's unfaithfulness, His unselfishness, in spite of human self-interest, His condescension, in spite of human arrogance, His giving, in spite of man's greed, His faith in mankind-in spite of man's unwillingness to believe and obey Him, His love for all-in spite of human hate and apathy.

III. Stumbling-Blocks:

A. Where Did God Come From?

RESPONSE: (1) God is eternal and self-existent (Acts 17:25; Psalm 90:2; Romans 16:26). (2) And it has to be this way! God cannot be all-powerful or all-knowing, unless He is eternal. Any limitation upon His existence would also limit all His other powers. (3) God isn't subject to time or space (2 Peter 3:8; Psalm 90:4; 139:7ff). One writer said, 'To accept that God exists outside the time and space framework as we know it renders any question of where He came from...totally meaningless.' (Answers To Tough Questions. McDowell p. 68) (4) Everything in our earthly experience should convince us that "eternity" must be found outside the material creation. For everything, that we encounter in this physical world is temporary (Hebrews 1:10-12; 1 Peter 1:24).

B. Can God Be Trusted With My Life?

POINTS TO NOTE: (1) God doesn't have an evil or dark side (1 John 1:5). For example, God cannot tell a lie (Titus 1:2), and neither has He ever set someone else up to sin (James 1:13 '..God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.'). (2) God plays no favorites (Romans 2:11). Which means that God is pulling for everyone (2 Peter 3:9). And if you are living the Christian life, then God is backing you 100%. This also means that every person is accountable to the exact same conditions of salvation (Mark 16:16). God doesn't require a higher standard for some and a lower standard for others. (3) Before God created the universe and mankind, God knew that the creation of mankind would result in the sacrifice of Jesus (1 Peter 1:20 'For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world..'). And yet He created us anyway. He was willing to pay such a high price for our very existence. He was willing to sacrifice His comfort for our living. (4) He has endured with mankind, when no human being would have (Genesis 6:5-6,8; Jeremiah 19:5 'nor did it ever enter My mind'; Leviticus 18:20-24; 2 Kings 17:17). (5) In view of the abuse that God has continually taken (2 Chronicles 36:16 'but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets..'; Romans 10:21 '..All the day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people'), God has indeed been very patient and longsuffering. (6) He allowed His own Son to die for the sins of unrepentant people (Romans 5:6-8). (7) And despite the fact that the majority have spurned such a sacrifice, God still offers it some 2000 years later (2 Peter 3:9). (8) God even treats the sinner with some kindness (Luke 6:35; Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17). I was thinking about this question. And the real question isn't whether God can be trusted with your life (happiness, contentment, fulfillment, etc..), BUT WHETHER YOU CAN BE TRUSTED! What does your "track-record" look like? How much of the time do you (when operating independent of God), have your own best interest at heart? Is "self" concerned about your "eternal future"?

C. Can God Be Pleased?

POINTS TO NOTE: (1) Right up front, the very fact that He offers forgiveness of all past sins (Acts 2:38), is proof that He isn't unreasonable! (2) This also demonstrates that God isn't overbearing, He isn't a tyrant. Perfection isn't demanded (Phil. 3:12). But repentance, honesty, sincerity, integrity and that we give it our best effort, is required (1 John 1:8-10; 2:3-4; 3:7-8, 15-17; 4:20). (3) God doesn't expect the impossible from any (Matthew 25:14-15 '..according to his own ability'; 27). (4) His commands make perfect sense and they aren't oppressive (1 John 5:3). Rather, what should be so hard about loving such a wonderful God with our whole being? (Mark 12:30) Or loving our mates, children or parents unselfishly? (Eph.5:25) Or even loving our brethren? (1 Peter 1:22) Wouldn't it be unnatural not to do these things? (Romans 1:31) (5) And then I contemplate all the "freedoms" that God has given us (John 8:32,36). Freedom from guilt, worry, anxiety (Matt. 6:25ff); destructive self-interest, superstition, and the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15; Philippians 1:21-23). Besides all this, God leaves us with an incredible number of options in life, what to do for a living (Eph. 4:28), where to live, social, recreational, and wholesome entertainment choices. In so many areas of our lives, the sinful choice is seen even more inexcusable, when one considers the whole host of good choices that could have been made. (Col. 4:1)

D. But God Is So Strict:

POINTS TO NOTE: (1) God is absolutely inflexible and serious, when our best eternal interest is at stake. God understands that sin hurts people (Ecc. 9:18), someone is always cheated when sin happens (1 Thess. 4:5-6). Why shouldn't God oppose it? (2) Friend, seeing that God has proven His love for you, that should tell you that if God condemns something, then that something is your enemy, instead of ignorantly assumed that the enemy is the God who condemns it (1 Peter 2:11). (3) Be thankful that God takes sin so seriously. The ramifications of God's strictness are: (a) God has spoken very plainly, so that nobody could miss the point (1 Cor. 6:9; Galatians 5:21; 1 Thess. 4:3,6-8). (b) God has spoken it many times in His revelation, so people could escape from sin that much sooner (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). (c) If God hadn't taken sin so seriously, Jesus probably would have never died for our sins! (d) The sacrifice of Jesus should remind all of us that certain attitudes and actions are just plain wrong, and we don't have any right to engage in them, no matter how bad we are hurting.

E. Why Hell?

POINTS TO NOTE: (1) That's God's question! 'In view of the sacrifice of My Son, why should anyone end up lost?' (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4) (2) God has spoken compassionately, persuasively, in a winsome way (Matthew 11:28-29). I challenge anyone to compose a more winsome and attractive offer than that found in the above passage! (3) I challenge anyone to equal the persuasiveness found in the following passages (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; Romans 8:18; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:4). Where has God not spoken with enough persuasion, with enough encouragement, with enough positive statements, with enough love??? Where has God failed to convince mankind that God loves them, that God can be trusted, that God's way is the best way, and that hell is avoidable! Where has God failed to demonstrate His concern for us, where has He failed in revealing the horrors of eternity apart from His presence? And where did God confuse us concerning the plan of salvation? The importance of the church? The need for right living, pure motives, and doctrinal faithfulness?