Page 82 - Apologetics Student Textbook (3 Credits)

Each person finds God in his own way – why isn’t one way as good as another?

God is the person who defines how He can be found, not man. Jesus Himself says in John 14:6, “I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is not a way, as in one
of many; He is the way, as in the one and only.

The above question comes from a false philosophy called Existentialism. This idea is that individuals
have the full responsibility for creating the meanings of their own lives. The movement had its origins in
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the 19 century of thought of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche.

Existentialism is simply defined by the phrase, “existence precedes essence.” This means that a human’s
existence precedes and is more fundamental than any meaning which may be ascribed to life: humans
define their own reality.

The Bible declares that truth is found outside of us. Truth is found in God’s Word (John 17:17) and in
Jesus Christ (John 14:6). God declares what is true regardless if humans agree with it or not. God’s
words remain true. Truth is not based on human opinion.

So to find God, we must do so according to God’s plan. We must agree with God and accept His plan for
eternal salvation. Consider this passage of Scripture:

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
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on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the
world; but that the world should be saved through him. He that believeth on him is not judged: he that
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believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten
Son of God.

10.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What was the purpose for all the miracles in the Bible?

2. Why did God use both the Holy Spirit and Mary to be involved in the incarnation of Jesus
Christ?

3. Why is it important that Jesus was born without a man’s seed?

4. Why could Jesus not have just forgiven us but not have died?

5. What key passage in the Old Testament tells us that the Messiah would suffer and lay His life down
for his sheep?

6. Why did Jesus have to die?

7. How do we know that Jesus is the ONLY way to God and eternal life?

8. How do you answer a person who says that each person finds God in his own way?

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