Six Steps Step 6 Does God Care About Me

Does

DOES God
Care?
Answering the “So What?” Question about Christianity

God
DOES

Care?

Does God Care about Me?

© Confident Christians – www.confidentchristians.org

God
DOES

Care?
What is Deism?

Deism is the belief that a single God created the universe,
but asserts that He is not active in His creation nor cares
about it.

Deists deny the presence of miracles, the divinity of
Christ, any revelation from God, and any concern of God
regarding mankind.


God
DOES

Care?
Deism is refuted by the already covered points:
1. God has performed verified and recorded miracles in this world
2. God revealed His Word to selected individuals who recorded His
revelation
3. God entered into this world in the form of a Man who showed us
the face of God
4. Every answered prayer would have some natural explanation.

But still people question whether God really cares about man…


God
DOES

Care?
The Problem of Evil

If a God who cares exists, when why does
evil exist?


God
DOES

Care?

The Problem of Evil – Why did the Tsunami Happen?
• The evolutionist/scientific naturalist can‟t ask the question because the
animals did better than the humans during the crisis. If macroevolution is
correct and we‟re the higher species, then why did that happen? If survival
is the mark of superiority, why did the lower survive and not the higher?
• The philosophical naturalist can‟t ask the question without using a moral
framework. And this is what he denies because everything in this world is
random and has no meaning. It is a self-defeating proposition – there is no
ultimate moral reference in an amoral universe.
• The Buddhist and Hindu don‟t ask the question because for them it is karma
– those who died got their just desserts.
• The Muslim doesn‟t ask the question because for them it is the will of Allah –
he brought this disaster about.


God
DOES

Care?

The Problem of Evil – Why did the Tsunami Happen?

So who is asking the question? Only a person
who assumes a Christian worldview asks the
question of why there is evil in the world…


God
DOES

Care?
What about the evil inside of man?

Those who argue about evil in the world rarely
turn their gaze inwardly. Rather than focus on
the evil “out there” what about the evil in the
heart of man?


God
DOES

Care?
Two “Absurdities”

1. The absurdity of good and evil in the world
2. The absurdity of good and evil in man

Both must be understood and reconciled, not just the first one


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Dilemma
Man can be both noble and cruel. How did he get that way?
Option 1 Option 2
Today Today

?
No Change

Change
Original Original


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Dilemma
In Mary Shelly‟s (who was not a Christian) book Frankenstein, Dr.
Frankenstein is a doctor who creates a perfectly benign and peaceful
being. The more the creation observes human behavior, the more it
begins to mimic human behavior and starts to become evil. The
creation confronts the doctor and tells him that when he was brought
into this world, he didn‟t understand why people needed government
and controls and police, but as he observed people and read history, he
turned away in horror at what man was capable of. People could be
kind, but also evil. Why both – where does that capacity come from?
The creation concludes this: you were created in the image of a perfect
being, and you’ve fallen away from it.


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Dilemma – the Biblical Perspective
• Man is fallen – Genesis 3
• Man is corrupt – Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is more
deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can
understand it?”
• Man is separated from God – Romans 3
• Man is incapable of working to make things right, with
himself or with God

Man needs two things (1) Reconciliation with God (2) Freedom from sin


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Dilemma – the Cure

• The penalty of sin was satisfied at the cross (Romans
5:18)
• The reconciliation of man was accomplished at the
cross (Romans 5:10)
• New life was given to man via Christ‟s life (Romans
5:10)
• Freedom from sin will be achieved when each believer
is glorified (Romans 8:30)


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Dilemma – Why do Christians still sin?
Romans 7:20, “But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no
longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.”
+
1 John 5: 18, “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He
who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch
him.”
=
Romans 7:24-25, “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from
the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our
Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the
law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

God
DOES

Care?
The Promise for the Defeat of Man‟s Evil and Sin
Justification Sanctification Glorification

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed
to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many
brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these
whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also
glorified.” – Romans 8:29-30


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Meaning – What is the Meaning of Life?

Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity
of vanities! All is vanity.” – Ecclesiastes 1:2


God
DOES

Care?


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Meaning – What Comprises Meaning?

• Sense of wonder – removes boredom and monotony
• Knowledge of Truth – supplies freedom
• Experience of Love – greatest of all things
• Confidence of Security – enables peace


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Meaning – What Comprises Meaning?
Wonder “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments
and unfathomable His ways!” – Romans 11:33
Truth “…you will know the truth, and the truth will make you
free.” – John 8:31
Love “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another.” – 1 John 4:10-11
Security “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 5:1


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Meaning – The Place of Worship
“I thought of it [worship] in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I
have never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless
(sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to
check it. The world rings with praise - lovers praising their mistresses, readers their
favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game -
praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries ... I had
not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they
spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it! „Isn't she lovely?‟ „Wasn't it
glorious?‟ „Don't you think that magnificent?‟ My whole, more general, difficulty about
the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely
Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can't help doing, about everything
else we value. Fully to enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to glorify Him, God is
inviting us to enjoy Him.” – C. S. Lewis


God
DOES

Care?
How do you define pleasure?

“Pleasure is getting more than you expect.”
- Neurobiologist

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen.” – Apostle Paul, Ephesians 3:20-21


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Meaning – What is the Meaning of Life?

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear
God and keep His commandments, because this
applies to every person. For God will bring every act
to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is
good or evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:12-14

The intertwining of meaning and destiny…


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Destiny – Where is Man Going?
God’s plan for history:

(Creation Linear Eternity)

VS.
Cyclical
Pantheistic Faiths: Stoics/Nietzsche:
Karma, etc. Eternal Recurrence


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Destiny – The Paths

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the
way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who
enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow
that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” – Matthew
7:13-14


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Destiny – The Promise
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John
3:16

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be
any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first
things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:4


God
DOES

Care?
Man‟s Destiny – The Choice
“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for
yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your
fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites
in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has
been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.” – John 3:18


God
DOES

Care?
Does God Care?
• He cares enough to overcome the evil in this world and the evil in
every human heart
• He cares enough to save man from his dilemma of being lost
• He cares enough to give meaning and purpose to everyone who
He saves
• He cares enough to equip you to spend eternity and enjoy
everlasting life with Him
• He cares enough to give you freedom and choice

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He
cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

God
DOES

Care?
Last Puzzle Pieces are in Place

• We know our life has meaning – To
discover our Creator, live as He
has intended, and glorify Him.
• We know our destiny – God has
destined all those who trust Him to
obtain everlasting life and live with
Him in eternity.


God
DOES

Care?
The End of the Worldview Maze
• Absolute Truth Exists
• Reason and Religion are Compatible
• God Exists
• God can be Known
• Jesus is God
• God Cares for You Christianity is True

Knowing all these things…What are you going to do about it?


Does

DOES God
Care?
Yes, He does

Six Steps Step 6 Does God Care About Me

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