QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS ON GOD

From the Evidence Bible, Compiled by Ray Comfort

(Comments by Harold M. Lind)

Below are a number of questions, statements, and objections. Some of them are from non-believers that pose questions to prove in their mind that the Bible is not true. They think that by “stumping” a Christian, they somehow have disproved the Bible. What they don’t understand is that the Bible stands by itself. It doesn’t need to be proved true. It is the inspired Word of God. If someone chooses to not believe in it, he will find out later, when it is probably too late, that it is true. And God will have to judge his sins because he hasn’t been washed clean in the blood of Jesus. There are other questions about what the Bible says, and other topics such as how to tell others about Jesus Christ, why we can’t just lead a “good” life to go to heaven, and why God must judge sin.

I will believe if God will appear to me.

When a proud and ignorant sinner says, “I will believe if God will appear to me,” he has no understanding of the nature of his Creator. If the mere “goodness” of God were manifest to any sinner, he would instantly die. His “goodness” would spill wrath upon evil man. We can understand that if an earthly judge is a good man, he would be outraged by a vicious murder and must do his best to make sure the wicked criminal is brought to justice. It is his goodness that makes him passionate for justice to be done.

It is the goodness of God that will make sure every murderer and rapist is brought to justice on Judgment Day. However, God is so good, so pure and holy, that He is utterly provoked to just retribution by any evil (anger, greed, envy, pride, lust, lying, jealousy, hatred, etc.). The only way man may live in the presence of a holy God is to be hidden in the rock of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). The pure in heart shall see God (see Matthew 5:8), and the only way we can become pure is through the righteousness of the Savior.

When God “appeared” to certain men in the Old Testament, He manifested himself in another form, such as a burning bush or the angel of the Lord. However, no man has seen the essence of God at any time (see John 1:18). When the Bible says that the Lord spoke to Moses “face to face” (Exodus 33:11), it is an example of anthropomorphism. When Moses simply gazed at where God had been, his own face so shone with the glory of God that Israel couldn’t even look at him (see Exodus 24:29-35). The Christian has the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (see 2 Corinthians 4:6).

Why does that Old Testament show a God of wrath and the New Testament a God of mercy?

The God of the New Testament is the same as the God of the Old Testament. The Bible says that He never changes. He is just as merciful in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament. Read Nehemiah 9 for a summary of how God mercifully forgave Israel, again and again, after they repeatedly sinned and turned their back on Him. The Psalms of David often speak of God’s mercy, poured out on sinners.

He is also just as wrath-filled in the New Testament as He is in the Old. He killed a husband and wife in the Book of Acts, simply because they told one lie. Jesus warned that He was to be feared because He has the power to cast the body and soul into hell. The apostle Paul said that he persuaded men to come to the Savior because he knew the “terror of the Lord.” Read the dreadful judgments of the New Testament’s Book of Revelation. That will put the “fear of God” in you, which incidentally us “the beginning of wisdom.”

Perhaps the most fearful display of His wrath is seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. His fury so came upon the Messiah that it seems God enshrouded the face of Jesus in darkness so that creation couldn’t gaze upon His unspeakable agony. Whether we like it or not, our God is a consuming fire of holiness (Hebrews 12:29). He isn’t going to change, so we had better… before the Day of Judgment. If we repent, God, in His mercy, will forgive us and grant us eternal life in heaven with Him.

The First Commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” That proves He isn’t the only God.

That’s true. Man has always made false gods. An old adage says, “God created man in His own image, and man has been returning the favor ever since.” Hindus have millions of gods. Sometimes gods are made of wood or stone, other times man makes up a god in his mind. Whatever the case, making a god to suit yourself is called “idolatry,” and is a transgression of both the First and Second of the Ten Commandments.

The Bible says, “God repented.” Doesn’t that show He is capable of sin?

“Repent” means “to have a change of mind.” When the Bible tells sinners to repent, it means to change their direction, to turn from their sins. God’s “repenting” is when He turns away from His fierce anger toward sinners. He warns men of the consequences of their disobedience. If they repent (turn from their sins), He will “repent” by not pouring out His promised wrath on them. For instance, Jonah 3:8-9 says “Let them turn every one from his evil way… Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” (See also Jeremiah 18:8).

How can a perfect God be furious?

Let such know that Jehovah, the one and only living and true God, is a jealous God, and a revenger; he is jealous for the comfort of his worshippers, jealous for his land (Joel 2:18), and will not have that injured. He is a revenger, and He is furious.

He has fury (so the word is), not as man has it, in whom it is in ungoverned passion (so He has said, Fury is not in me, Isaiah 27:4), but He has it in such a way as becomes the righteous God, to put an edge upon His justice, and to make it appear more terrible to shoes who otherwise would stand in no awe of it. He is lord of anger (so the Hebrew phrase is for that which we read, He is furious); He has anger, but He has it at command and under government. Our anger is often lord over us, and those that have no rule of their own spirits, but God is always Lord of His anger and weighs a path to it (Psalm 78:50). (By Matthew Henry)

Does God hear our prayers and answer them?

God always answers prayer. Sometimes He says yes; sometimes He says no; and sometimes He says, “Wait for a minute.” And since to the Lord a day is as a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8) that could mean a ten-year wait for us. So ask in faith, but rest in peace-filled patience.

Surveys show that more than 90% of Americans pray daily. No doubt they pray for health, wealth, happiness, etc. They also pray when Grandma gets sick, and when grandma doesn’t get better (or dies), many end up disillusioned or bitter. This is because they don’t understand what the Bible says about prayer. It teaches, among other things, that our sin will keep God from even hearing our prayer (Psalm 66:18), and that if we pray with doubt, we will not get an answer (James 1:6-7).

Here are some ways to be heard: Pray with faith (Hebrews 11:6). Pray with clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4). Pray genuine heartfelt prayers, rather than vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7). Make sure you are praying to the God revealed in the Scriptures (Exodus 20:3-6).

How do you “pray with faith?” Someone once told me, “Ray, you’re a man of great faith in God,” thinking they were paying me a compliment. They weren’t. What if I said to you, “I’m a man of great faith in my doctor?” It’s a compliment to the doctor. If I have great faith in him, it means that I see him as being a man of integrity, a man of great ability – that he is trustworthy. I give “glory” to the man through my faith in him. The Bible says that Abraham “staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20-21). Abraham was a man of great faith in God. Remember, that is not a compliment to Abraham. He merely caught a glimpse of God’s incredible ability, His impeccable integrity, and His wonderful faithfulness to keep every promise He makes. His faith gave “glory” to a faithful God.

As far as God is concerned, if you belong to Jesus, you are a VIP. You can boldly come before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). You have access to the King because you are the son or daughter of the Hung. When you were a child, did you have to grovel to get your needs met by your mom or dad? I hope not.

So when you pray, don’t say, “Oh God, I hope you will supply my needs.” Instead say something like, “Father, thank You that You keep every promise You make. Your Word says that You will supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, I thank You that You will do this thing for my family. I ask this in the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.”

How do you get “clean hands and a pure heart?” Simply by confessing your sins to God through Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses from all sin (1 John 1:7-9). God will not only forgive your every sin, He promises to forget them (Hebrews 8:12). He will even justify you based on the sacrifice of the Savior. This means He will count in as though you have never sinned in the first place. He will make you pure in His sight – sinless. He will even “purge” your conscience, so that you will no longer have a sense of guilt that you sinned. That’s what it means to be “justified by faith.” That’s why you need to soak yourself in Holy Scripture; read the letters to the churches and see the wonderful things God has done for us through cross of Calvary. If you don’t bother to read the “will,” you won’t have any idea what has been given to you.

How do you pray “genuine heartfelt prayers?” Simply by keeping yourself in the love of God. If the love of God is in you, you will never pray hypocritical or selfish prayers. Just talk to your heavenly Father as candidly and intimately as a young child, nestled on Daddy’s lap, would talk to his earthly father. How would you feel if every day your child pulled out a pre-written statement to dryly recite to you, rather than pouring out the events and emotions of the day? God wants to hear from your heart. When you prayer-life is pleasing to God, He will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6).

How do you know you’re praying to “the God revealed in Scripture?” Study the Word. Don’t accept the image of God portrayed by the world, even though it appeals to the natural mind. A kind, gentle Santa Claus figure, dispensing good things with no sense of justice or truth, appeals to guilty sinners. Look to the thunderings and lightnings of Mount Sinai. Gaze at Jesus on the cross of Calvary – hanging in unspeakable agony because of the justice of a holy God. Such thoughts tend to banish idolatry.

What is the Biblical presentation of God’s Love?

The modern message of the gospel is “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” However, our idea of “wonderful” and the world’s may be a little different. Take a sinner through the pages of the Book of Acts and show him the terrifying scene of boulders breaking the bones of Stephen. Then smile and whisper, “Wonderful…” Listen together to the sound of a cat-o’-nine-tails as it rips the flesh off the back of the apostle Paul. Follow together the word “suffering” through the Epistles, and see if you can get the world to whisper, “Wonderful!” After such a ride down Honesty Road, they may think the pleasures of sin are a little more attractive than the call to “suffer affliction with the people of God.” John MacArthur said, “We need to adjust our presentation of the gospel. We cannot dismiss the fact that God hates sin and punishes sinners with eternal torment. How an we begin a gospel presentation by telling people on their way to hell that God has a wonderful plan for their lives?”

Who in the world is going to listen if we are so blatantly honest about the Christian life? Perhaps not as many are attracted by the talk of a wonderful plan. However, the answer to our dilemma is to make the issue one of righteousness, rather than happiness. This is what Jesus did. He used the Ten Commandments to show sinners the righteous standard of God (Luke 10:25-26; 18:18-20). Once the world sees the perfect standard by which they will be judged, they will begin to fear God, and through the fear of the Lord, men depart from sin (Proverbs 16:6). They will begin to hunger and thirst after the righteousness that is in Jesus Christ Alone.

If you study the New Testament you will see that God’s love is almost always given in direct correlation to the cross: herein is love, for God so loved, God commended His love, etc. (See John 3:16; Romans 5:5-6,8; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:4-5, 5:2,25; 1 John 3:16, 4:10; and Revelation 1:5, among others). The cross is the focal point of God’s love for the world. How can we point to the cross without making reference to sin? How can we refer to sin without the Law (Romans 7:7)? The biblical way to express God’s love to a sinner is to show him how great his sin is (using the Law – see Romans 7:13; Galatians 3:24), and then give him the incredible grace of God in Christ. This was the key to reaching so many on the Day of Pentecost. They were “devout” Jews who knew the Law and its holy demands, and therefore readily accepted the mercy of God in Christ to escape its fearful wrath.

When you use the law to show the world their true state, get ready for sinners to thank you. For the first time in their lives, they will see the Christian message as an expression of love and concern for their eternal welfare, rather than of merely proselytizing for a better lifestyle while on this earth.

As true Bible believing Christians, our citizenship is not of this world. We are the children of the God of the Universe. There are two things that are important in this world; the first is to trust in Jesus Christ. He came to this earth, God indwelling in man, to take all our sins upon Him. He paid the price for our sin so that we wouldn’t have to. And all that believe in Him will be saved. This is the most important decision that someone can make. The second decision is to tell others about Christ, so they can dedicate their lives to Him and be free from the bondage of sin.

Because our citizenship is in heaven, we are like strangers in a strange land on the earth. It could actually be considered “hell” to the Christian, because of the contrast of a fallen world with heaven. So although there are no guarantees that our lives as Christians will be wonderful, God says that His grace is sufficient. Jesus paid a far greater price to save us from our sins than anything that might happen to us in this world. When we remember what He did, we can find joy in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we start to sink, like Peter did when he asked Jesus if he could walk on water. As long as he kept his attention on Jesus, he was able to walk. The minute he looked away from Jesus and onto his current situation (on the sea in a storm), he started to sink. We must always remember that this world will pass away, but God’s Word will never pass away.

God is unfair in that Hitler and a dead old lady (who never accepted Jesus) will both go to hell.

Sinners often accuse God of being unjust, because they assume that everyone will receive the same punishment in hell. God’s judgment, however, will be according to righteousness (Acts 17:31). This verse shows that there will be degrees of punishment (See also Mark 6:11).

As unbelievable as it may seem, God’s grace and forgiveness extends to all until they die. After that, there is nobody to pay the price for his or her sins except them. This means that a person could do community service for their entire lives (like Mother Theresa), but if they have not trusted in Jesus Christ and had their sins forgiven, they will have to pay the price. Then someone else could come along, perhaps a “Hitler” type, who was evil all his life, which then repents and accepts Christ on his deathbed. If he truly trusted in Christ, he would go to heaven despite his evil ways during his life. Most people would think that this was unfair, that such an evil person should go to heaven, and one who dedicated their life to sacrifice to others should perish.

Jesus was very clear on this. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me”. Since the Bible states “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and “there is none righteousness, no not one.” Because we are all sinful, we will either pay the price for our sins, or have a substitute take the consequences for our actions. Jesus paid the price, and offers us a pardon. For those that accept it, no matter what their past, they are forgiven. God says that He doesn’t even remember the sins anymore; it is as if they never happened. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any consequences for the sin; just that God will not hold us accountable.

My God would never create hell.

Those who say that are right: their “god” would never create hell, because he couldn’t. He doesn’t exist. He is a figment of their imagination, a god they have created t o suit themselves. It’s called “idolatry,” and it’s the oldest sin in the Book. Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God. The one true God, however, could and did create hell for those who reject His mercy. They will reap His just wrath.

The Bible says that God created hell for the devil and his angels. So hell was not created for man. Some people think God should not impose his will or Commandments on them. They object to Him creating a hell and sending people there who don’t “toe the line.” They do not understand what God did for them. God created a perfect world for man to enjoy and have a relationship with Him. He also gave man choice, because He didn’t want robots worshiping Him. He wanted man to realize how good God was and what He had done. Instead, man chose to reject God and as a result, the world became corrupt. With man in charge of the world, there has been non-stop suffering and death.

Even after man destroyed the perfect world God created, and lost fellowship with Him; God came back in human form to save man from himself. He died for our sins, to restore our relationship with God. This restoration requires us accepting Jesus as our Savior, basically making the choice again to follow God instead of Satan. But those that are content in their sins don’t want to follow God. They want to perpetuate the rebellion that Adam and Eve chose at the beginning. When they realize that the result of those choices will lead them to hell, they think that God is not fair.

There will come a day when they will be kneeling before the God of the Universe, and they will be asked why they rejected Jesus, the Son of the Living God. When that day comes, they will be all out of excuses.

I don’t believe that God is knowable.

It is amazing how it’s human nature to assume that because we believe or don’t believe something; that makes it true. Some may not believe in the law of gravity, and may feel they have “evidence” to back up their belief. However, gravity exists whether they believe in it or not. The truth is, God is knowable. Jesus testified, “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). We not only have the testimony of the Scriptures to tell us this, but we have the testimony of multitudes of Christians who know the Lord personally. It is more truthful to say, “I don’t want to know God.” Sinful man runs from Him, as did Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Why is there suffering? That proves there is no “loving” God.

Study the soil for a moment. It naturally produces weeds. No one plants them; no one waters them. They even stubbornly push through cracks of a sidewalk. Millions of useless weeds sprout like there’s no tomorrow, strangling our crops and ruining our lawns. Pull them out by the roots, and there will be more tomorrow. They are nothing but a curse!

Consider how much of the earth is uninhabitable. There are millions of square miles of barren deserts in Africa and other parts of the world. Most of Australia is nothing but miles and miles of useless desolate land.

Not only that, but the earth is constantly shaken with massive earthquakes. Its shores are lashed with hurricanes; tornadoes rip through creation with incredible fury; devastating floods soak the land; and terrible droughts parch the soil. Sharks, tigers, lions, snakes, spiders, and disease-carrying mosquitoes attack humanity and suck its life’s blood. The earth’s inhabitants are afflicted with disease, pain, suffering, and death.

Think of how many people are plagued with cancer, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, emphysema, Parkinson’s, and a number of other debilitating illnesses. Consider all the children with leukemia, or people born with crippling diseases or without the mental capability to even feed themselves. All these things should convince thinking minds that something is radically wrong.

Did God blow it with He created humanity? What sort of tyrant must our Creator be if this was His master plan?

Sadly, many use the issue of suffering as an excuse to reject any thought of God, when its existence is the very reason we should accept Him. Suffering stands as terrible testimony to the truth of the explanation given by the Word of God.

But how can we know that the Bible is true? Simply by studying the prophecies of Matthew 24, Luke 21, and 2 Timothy 3. A few minutes of openhearted inspection will convince any honest skeptic that this is no ordinary book. It is the supernatural testament of our Creator about why there is suffering… and what we can do about it.

The Bible tells us that God cursed the earth because of Adam’s transgression. Weeds are a curse. So is disease. Sin and suffering cannot be separated. The Scriptures inform us that we live in a fallen creation. In the beginning, God created men perfect, and he lived in a perfect world without suffering. It was heaven on earth. When sin came into the world, death and misery came with it.

Those who understand the message of Holy Scripture eagerly await a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. In that coming Kingdom there will be no more pain, suffering, disease, or death. We are told that no eye has ever seen, nor has any ear heard, neither has any man’s mind ever imagined the wonderful things that God has in store for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). Think for a moment what it would be like if food grew with the fervor of weeds. Consider how wonderful it would be if the deserts became incredibly fertile, if creation stopped devouring humanity. Imaging if the weather worked for us instead of against us, if disease completely disappeared, if pain was a thing of the past, if death was no more.

The dilemma is that we are like a child whose insatiable appetite for chocolate has caused his face to break out with ugly sores. He looks in the mirror and sees a sight that makes him depressed. But instead of giving up his beloved chocolate, he consoles himself by stuffing more into his mouth. Yet, the source of his pleasure is actually the cause of his suffering.

The whole face of the earth is nothing but ugly sores of suffering. Everywhere we look we see unspeakable pain. But instead of believing God’s explanation an asking Him to forgive us and change our appetite, we run deeper into sin’s sweet embrace. There we find solace in its temporal pleasures, thus intensifying our pain, both in this life and in the life to come.

It’s hard to have “faith” in God

I have heard people say, I just find it hard to have faith in God, not realizing the implications of their words. These are the same people who often accept the daily weather forecast, believe the newspapers, and trust their lives to a pilot they have never seen whenever they board a plane. We exercise faith every day. We rely on our car’s brakes. We trust history books, medical journals, and elevators. Yet elevators can let us down. History books can be wrong. Planes can crash. How much more then should we trust the sure and true promise of Almighty God. He will never let us down… if we trust Him.

Cynics often argue, “You can’t trust the Bible, it’s full of mistakes.” It is. The first mistake was when man rejected God, and the Scriptures show men and women making the same tragic mistake again and again. It’s also full of what seem to be contradictions. For example, the Scriptures tell us with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37); there is nothing Almighty God can’t do. Yet we are also told that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). So there is something that God can’t do! Isn’t that an obvious mistake in the Bible? No, it isn’t.

Lying, deception, bearing false witness, etc., is so repulsive to God, so disgusting to Him, so against His holy character, that the Scriptures draw on the strength of the word impossible to substantiate the claim. He cannot, could not, and would not lie.

That means that in a world where we are continually let down, we can totally rely on , trust in, and count on His promises. They are sure, certain, indisputable, trustworthy, reliable, faithful, unfailing, dependable, steadfast, and an anchor for the soul. In other words, you can truly believe them, and because of that, you can throw yourself blindfolded and without reserve, into His mighty hands. He will never, ever let you down. Do you believe that?

If God is a God of love, why hasn’t He dealt with evil?

In Dr. Robert Morey’s book The New Atheism and the Erosion of Freedom, he talks with an atheist about this issue. The atheist assumes that everything is relative, and there are no absolutes (he is absolutely sure of that). Morey replies that the first thing an atheist must do is prove the existence of evil. But what process can an atheist identify evil? He must have a universal absolute to do so. Without an absolute reference point for good (which only God can provide), no one can identify what is good or evil. Thus without the existence of God, there is no evil or good in an absolute sense. Everything is relative. The problem of evil does not negate the existence of God. It actually requires it.

Many assume that because evil still exists today, God has not dealt with it. How can atheists assume that God has not already solved the problem of evil in such a way that neither His goodness nor omnipotence is limited? On what grounds do they limit what God can and cannot do to solve the problem? God has already solved the problem of evil. And He did it in a way in which He did not contradict His nature or the nature of man.

We assume God will solve the problem of evil in one single act. But why can’t he deal with evil in a progressive way? Can’t He deal with it throughout time as we know it, and then bring it to the climax on the Day of Judgment?

God sent His Son to die on the cross in order to solve the problem of evil. Christ atoned for evil and secured the eventual removal of all evil from the earth. One day, evil will be quarantined in one spot called hell. Then there will be a perfect world devoid of all evil. If God declared that all evil would, at this moment, cease to exist, you and I and all of humanity would go up in a puff of smoke. Divine judgment demands that sin be punished. – Ron Meade

Why does God allow evil?

Why does God allow evil men and women to live? Should He instead kill them before they do evil deeds? Should He judge murders and rapists now? What about thieves and liars, adulterers, fornicators, those who lust, and those who hate? If God judged evil today, all unconverted men and women would perish under His wrath. Thank God that He is patiently waiting for them to turn to the Savior and be saved from His terrible wrath.

God told Joshua to kill every man, woman, and child, and He killed masses of people in Revelation. If that’s your “God of love,” I want nothing to do with Him!

God didn’t confine His wrath to the Canaanites, or to those mentioned in Revelation. He proclaimed the death sentence upon the whole of humanity. We will all die because we have broken God’s Law. Every one of us is waiting on death row. Instead of standing in moral judgment over Almighty God, we need to judge ourselves according to the Law of God. We will find that we have a multitude of sins and therefore are deserving of punishment. Yet God, out of love, paid the penalty for our sin so we would not have to.