Jude 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Commentary
Two weeks ago, I debated two atheist brothers, Dan and Bill Courtney from Rochester, New York. It was a lengthy debate that covered a lot of territory. The debate is being edited for cable TV. I will be provided a copy, which I will post on the blog.
What was interesting was the atheists rested their argument on human reason and logic which is really all they have. It has been a long time since I debated an atheist, as most of time is now with Jews and Muslims in defense of the gospel. During this debate, some things became sharp in my mind which I want to share now.
During a break, I entered into a private discussion with Dan Courtney that is still going through my mind. I realized for the first time that our emotions are supernatural. Take love for example. How do hydrogen atoms evolve into dead matter: that than evolves into organic matter: that than evolves into love? In other words, the universe does not love or have emotions, so where did our emotions come from! Love is outside of atoms, etc., as I see this beyond the natural universe.
The answer to the question is that love comes from being created in God's image and likeness. God is in the spiritual realm, and this is the source of love! Love transcends the material into the spiritual realm.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ... (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Our emotions are not from the material universe but are derived from another realm. How does human reason and logic go from hydrogen atoms to love, when love is not found anywhere in the universe? It is not really logical as science has never done this, and it has never been observed. What it is, is just old fashion denial of God wrapped in human reason and logic. Love comes directly from the Creator of the universe. It really saddens me to think that atheists actually believe that the love of God which is in our hearts is just some form of hydrogen atoms with really no meaning! What a depressing belief system.
1John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Also during this discussion with Dan Courtney, I realized for the first time how much faith it takes to be atheist! When I debate Muslims, that concept does not arise because the Muslims do have faith, but now for the first time, I realized just how much faith real atheists have!
When speaking to Dan, I showed him my watch and said if this was found on Mars no one would think it had evolved. The watch shows that it took an architect and engineer to build it; thus intelligence and a creator. I then used the complexity of this brain with billions of neurons and connections along with the incredible complexity of his DNA! The human brain is a billion times more complex than a watch, so it is a logical conclusion there was an architect and engineer to build it! I also asked him what came first the DNA or body, to which I think he responded a body! How could there first be a body without DNA!
I realized right then just how much faith that Dan had. I told him at this point that he had more faith than me, to believe the incredible complex DNA and human brain evolved. It is natural to believe in a Creator. Dan did not really respond but politely listened. Real logic and reason drives us to a belief in the Creator.
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. The last thing still going through my mind is that the atheists really went after the idea that God created the universe from nothing. When I mentioned God spoke the world into existence, they said it was unreasonable to believe this. This was early in the debate, and I really want to listen to the debate, so I can nail down exactly what they said. Later on during the debate, they tried to explain the existence of the universe by saying that something can come from nothing! I am not kidding you! There is a new theory "proving" this.
I jumped on this seeing the irony, and said that they sounded like creationists believing that God spoke the universe into existence by His word. They just looked at me and dropped this argument. It seems, when a person denies the existence of God, they will believe anything that is wrapped in science and can explain away the Creator. It was really amazing to hear them believe that something can come from nothing! They believe this and that the incredibly complex mind and DNA had no creator but happened by chance! They have more faith than me but in the wrong area.
I came across their new theory that something came from nothing, and look how with this bizarre theory, they attack the Lord Jesus Christ and His dying for us!
A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing by Lawrence A. Krauss. Notice the mocking of the Lord Jesus Christ in yet more theories that are discarded almost as fast as it takes to print the books!
"A fascinating antidote to outmoded philosophical and religious thinking, A Universe from Nothing is a provocative, game-changing entry into the debate about the existence of God and everything that exists. “Forget Jesus,” Krauss has argued, “the stars died so you could be born.” What a mocker. Just give this theory a few years and it will be discarded like all the rest.
The unifying factor for the universe is not in this realm. It is the word of the Lord Jesus Christ from the spiritual realm that holds this universe together.
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
This universe is decaying just like a battery is running out of power or as a piece of cloth rots. At the glorious Second Coming of the Lord Jesus with His church, He is going to roll up this dying, decaying universe and reveal His new one that is not subject to decay! This current universe is temporary, but the Lord Jesus Christ is forever!!!
Hebrews 1:10-13 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.