The Substance of Faith An Evidence and Foundational Christian Curriculum Conclusion

Is There Substance to Faith? Is the Christian faith reasonable? Consider Pauls defense in Acts 26:24-26

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!" But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. "For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. (Acts 26:24-26 NKJV)

The Areopagus Pauls message to the skeptic of his time A good summary of our position

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; "for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. (Acts 17:22-24 NKJV)

Are even atheists religious? The unknown God – do we all search for something greater? Is even reason and truth impossible without an ultimate authority? God made the world – can we know of God by the general revelation of creation?

"Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; (Acts 17:25-27 NKJV)

Is God great? Our view of God is fundamental to whether we see faith in Him as reasonable or not.

Is God limited? God thinks like me. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV)

Is God near? God desires to be in relationship with us. He communicates to us and we are able to communicate to Him.

"for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.' "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (Acts 17:28-30 NKJV)

Are Gods fingerprints visible? Gods nature is printed on humans as evident in moral law. Even our DNA contains an advanced message, and knowledge comes from a mind. God is not merely our own puppet – to satisfy our convenience and wants.

Does God call for change? We are called to stop running from God and to run to God. This is repentance.

"because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." (Acts 17:31-32 NKJV)

Is there proof of Jesus? God has given proof – the ultimate proof is the resurrection of the dead. Since He was raised, we too will be raised. We must decide what we will do with Jesus. It is not reasonable to ignore Him.