5 Bible Questions and AnswersSample
Introduction
In this plan we share a selection of 5 of the 100 questions in our book, 100 Bible Questions and Answers. A caution before you dive in. We have taken on some of the most controversial topics of our time. You might not agree with every conclusion we offer, especially on questions where the Bible doesn’t give a direct answer. However, we always look to Scripture as the basis for our decisions and encourage you to do so as well. When we are uncertain of the final interpretation on a difficult topic, we mention that, allowing you to decide from the options we offer as you study.
If God made everything, who made God?
Many have asked, “Who made God?” It is a natural thought to consider upon recognizing God’s creation of all things. If everything else is made by God, shouldn’t God have an origin as well?
The study of this question has led philosophers to sometimes call God the First Cause. While it is true all created things came from something, a first cause is necessary as the origin of all things. In other words, everything cannot come from nothing. If you ask, “Who created God?” then you could continue to ask, “Who created the one who created God?” and on and on without end.
Instead, the Bible simply begins with the words of Genesis 1:1 that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (NJKV). It assumes a beginner, Creator, or First Cause as the basis for the rest of creation.
Colossians 1:16–17 includes insight regarding the role of Jesus in creation. Take a moment and read it now. As the second person of the Triune God, Jesus was involved in everything in creation. He likewise sustains all things, offering an explanation both for creation and the continued existence of our universe.
Interestingly, modern science points to the common need for a creator. The theory of the Big Bang as the origin of time, space, and matter requires a creator. Even those who suggest the idea of multiple universes cannot escape the need for an original starting point rather than a past extending into eternity.
Today, many refer to this First Cause as an Intelligent Designer. Why? The original cause of our universe includes a massive amount of intelligence as well as intricate design. The most recent research even points increasingly against Darwinian evolution as a sufficient answer for living things—including humans—as the complexity involved in a single cell is much greater than previously known.
While most philosophers and even scientists will admit the necessity of a First Cause or Intelligent Designer, not everyone wants to agree that this starting point is the God of the Bible. However, our Christian faith affirms both God’s creation and his involvement in creation. Most importantly, this includes God himself leaving heaven for earth through Jesus Christ, offering the ability for those who believe to become a new creation in him.
Second Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15 remind us we live in a universe created by God and can become a new creation through Christ, living with the Holy Spirit within us today.
About this Plan
Alex McFarland and Bert Harper, hosts of the nationally syndicated broadcast Exploring the Word, have answered questions from listeners throughout North America for more than ten years. Drawing on their years of experience as pastors, scholars, and Bible researchers, Alex and Bert offer factual, biblical responses to frequently asked questions in their book "100 Bible Questions and Answers." Here you’ll find straightforward answers to 5 of the toughest Bible questions.
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