LEARNING TO PLEASE GOD

LESSON TWO – THE ONE TRUE GOD

 

     God created man in His own likeness. By His word He brought things into existence from nothing. He spoke and "it was so." No man has seen God and yet none should deny the existence of God. There is a God in Heaven. (Daniel 2:28) Only a fool would deny the existence of God. (Psalms 14:1) The Bible teaches that there is a God in Heaven who was in the beginning. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) God formed and fashioned both the heavens and the earth, therefore, they are His. "The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them." (Psalms 89:11) Hebrews 1:3 says that God upholds all things by the word of His power. God's mighty power is revealed in creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge." (Psalms 19:1-2) The Bible forcefully pictures God as the creator of all things. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:11)

 

     God created both the universe and mankind. God very specifically stated the fact of creation. "And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." (Genesis 6:7) The Old Testament opens with the story of God creating man. (Genesis 1:1-31) At the close of the Old Testament the prophet Malachi again reminded us that God is Creator. "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?" (Malachi 2:10) It is not reasonable to believe that man came from non-existent, non-intelligent matter with no design. The Bible says man was made by God. "Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments." (Psalms 119:73) At the beginning man was made male and female. "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." (Mark 10:6)

 

     Mankind is God's special creation. Man is special because he has both body and a soul or spirit. The Bible teaches that man is more valuable than the "fowls of the air." (Matthew 6:26) If evolution is true, we are no better than animals. But, we are more than animals; God has given us an eternal spirit or soul. Man is God's special creation because, though He has a body of flesh, the real person is that living soul. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) Our spirit or soul will continue to live even after our body dies. Each of us possesses an eternal, living soul. This soul is of great worth. Our soul is so valuable that all the wealth of the world does not equal it. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

 

     Life is valuable because we are made in the image of God. If there was nothing after physical death it would make no difference how we live. But, the fact that there is life after death means it is important how we live our lives. Our life on earth is brief, like a vapor. "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James 4:14) Because life on earth is brief we all need to consider the reality of death and prepare to meet God now. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

 

     Jesus invites all to come to Him for salvation. (Matthew 11:28-30) The alien sinner prepares to meet God through hearing God's word, believing in the Lord Jesus, repenting of sins, confessing faith in Christ and being baptized. (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 10:32, Acts 2:38) God pleads with everyone to prepare for eternity by faithfully obeying His will. If we fail to prepare we will be cast out to eternal destruction.

 

True or False:

 

1. _________ The Bible does not specifically say there is a God. (Daniel 2:28)

 

2. _________ Only a fool would deny the existence of God. (Psalms 14:1)

 

3. _________ God made both male and female at the beginning. (Mark 10:6)

 

4. __________ Our life on earth is brief, like a vapor. (James 4:14)

 

5. __________ Salvation is not available to everyone. (Matthew 11:28-30)