The Essence of Being: Understanding God's Eternal Existence
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the concept of being, focusing on the difference between human beings and the Supreme Being, God. I began by examining the commonality of the verb 'to be' in our daily conversations, highlighting its significance in expressing the state of our existence or being. I then delved into the philosophical aspects of being, discussing how we often perceive it in a graduated way, from the basic existence of rocks to the complex existence of humans and ultimately to the Supreme Being, God. However, I emphasized that the difference between God and everything else is not a matter of degrees but lies in the concept of being itself.
In the second part of the sermon, I discussed the Apostle Paul's declaration that in God we live, move, and have our being. I used the illustration of throwing a pen in the air to demonstrate that while we may attribute the pen's movement to the power of my arm and gravity, it is ultimately God's power that enables all motion and existence. I further emphasized that we cannot live, move, or exist apart from God, but God, in His self-existence, lived, moved, and was before we were. I concluded by reminding us that while we may idolize people who have achieved great things, we must remember that we owe our very existence to God, the one who is not a creature but the Supreme Being.
Key Takeaways:
- The verb 'to be' is fundamental in expressing the state of our existence or being, and it is a common element in our daily conversations. [01:20]
- The difference between God and everything else is not a matter of degrees but lies in the concept of being itself. God is the only true being, while everything else, including humans, are not beings in the strict sense. [08:57]
- In God, we live, move, and have our being. We cannot exist or perform any action apart from God's power. [43:30]
- We owe our very existence to God, the one who is not a creature but the Supreme Being. This realization should inspire awe and reverence for God's transcendent majesty. [46:35]
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The sermon begins with a contemplation of God's eternal self-existence, a concept that is unfathomable to our human minds. This is not an abstract philosophical speculation, but a reality that should fill us with awe ([01:20]).
2. The speaker discusses the concept of 'being' and how it is used in our daily conversations. He points out that the verb 'to be' is the most basic verb in the English language and is used to describe the state of our existence or being ([03:20]).
3. The speaker then talks about the different levels of 'being' that we recognize in our world, from rocks to plants, animals, humans, and finally, the Supreme Being, God. He emphasizes that the difference between God and everything else is not just a matter of degrees, but in the very essence of 'being' ([08:57]).
4. The speaker argues that without God, there can be no beginning. If there was a beginning, then before that beginning, there was not nothing, but there was one who has the power of being in himself. God is pure being, there is no becoming in God ([29:53]).
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Exodus 3:14 - God reveals Himself as "I AM WHO I AM", the self-existent one.
2. John 1:1-18 - The Word was God and the Word became flesh.
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. How does the speaker describe the concept of 'being' in our daily conversations?
2. What are the different levels of 'being' that the speaker talks about?
3. How does the speaker differentiate between God's 'being' and everything else?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Exodus 3:14 support the speaker's point about God's self-existence?
2. How does John 1:1-18 relate to the speaker's point about God being pure 'being' with no 'becoming'?
3. What does the speaker mean when he says "without God, there can be no beginning"?
Application Questions:
1. How does understanding God as the Supreme Being, the self-existent one, affect your relationship with Him?
2. How can we apply the understanding of God's eternal self-existence in our daily lives?
3. How does this understanding of God's 'being' influence our view of ourselves and the world around us?
Devotional
Day 1: The Unfathomable Nature of God's Existence
God's eternal self-existence is a dimension of His character that is perhaps more unfathomable to our minds than any other. This is not an abstract philosophical speculation, but a reality that should strike our minds with a sense of awe of His being. His existence is not contingent on anything, He is self-existent and eternal. [07:40]
Exodus 3:14 - "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
Reflection: How does the understanding of God's eternal self-existence impact your perception of Him and your relationship with Him?
Day 2: The Power of Being
God's being is not only ontologically necessary, but also logically necessary. Without a self-existent, eternal being, nothing could possibly exist. This understanding should lead us to affirm the reality of God's existence. [38:45]
Psalm 90:2 - "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Reflection: How does the logical necessity of God's existence strengthen your faith and trust in Him?
Day 3: The Dependence of Our Existence on God
Our existence is entirely dependent on God. We cannot live, move, or exist apart from Him. This understanding should lead us to a deeper appreciation of our dependence on God for our very existence. [43:30]
Acts 17:28 - "For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'"
Reflection: How does the understanding of your dependence on God for your existence influence your daily life and decisions?
Day 4: The Transcendent Majesty of God
God's being is from everlasting to everlasting. He is not a creature, but the Creator. This understanding should lead us to give Him the glory due to His name for the perfection of His very being. [46:35]
Revelation 4:11 - "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Reflection: How does the understanding of God's transcendent majesty inspire you to worship and serve Him?
Day 5: The Necessity of God's Existence for Our Existence
If God's power of motion ceases, that's the end of motion, the end of gravity, and the end of our existence. This understanding should lead us to a deeper appreciation of the necessity of God's existence for our existence. [45:30]
Colossians 1:17 - "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: How does the understanding of the necessity of God's existence for your existence influence your trust in Him and your commitment to Him?
Quotes
1. "When we consider your ASEA tea, your eternal self existence, we know that we enter now into that dimension of your character that is perhaps more unfathomable to our minds than any other. If ever we need your condescension, if ever we need you to stoop to our level and list for our infantile ears, it is here." - 01:20
2. "When we ask the question 'how are you', we're asking a question that relates to the state of your existence or to put it another way, the state of your being. And when we respond 'I'm fine', we're making a statement about our condition, about the state of our existence or the state of our being." - 03:20
3. "Whatever is, is. For something to exist, there has to be being. Without being somewhere, there can be no becoming. Without being, you can't have any becoming." - 17:00
4. "The minute you say there's a beginning to the universe, you've got two options: either the universe came out of nothing all by itself, or the universe was created by something that is self-existent and eternal. Those are the only options." - 25:11
5. "Without God, there can be no beginning. Without being, there can be no becoming. And if there was a beginning, nothing screams louder that before the beginning there was not nothing, but there was one who has the power of being in himself." - 29:53
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