Precepts in Natural Theology

Natural Theology and the Finite Beginning of the Universe

Okay. Okay, and I'm going live on Facebook. Okay, so our little disclaimer here, especially if anybody here is new tonight, we ask that everybody keeps themselves muted and keep your camera off. During Jim's presentation, he's going to present his,.

His.

He's going to give his lesson and then at the end if you guys have any questions during his presentation or at the end, you can post your questions into the chat on zoom or if you're watching along with us on Facebook you can post your questions for him in the Facebook comments, and then at the end during the live q amp a will ask him those questions so for those of you who are in zoom after that we'll have a time where we go off camera and you can turn on your own cameras and ask him questions at that time.

If you'd like to. So, with that, let's get started. I'm Terry cameras out here with creation fellowship Santee for our last virtually their fellowship of 2021. We're a group of friends bound by our common agreement that the creation account as told in Genesis is a true depiction of how God created the universe and all life from nothing in just six days a few thousand years ago.

We've been meeting most Thursday nights here on zoom since June of 2020, we've been blessed with presentations by pastors teachers doctors cartoonists scientists apologists prophecy speakers and all around smarty pants people who love the Lord and have a message to share.

You can find most of our past videos by searching for creation fellowship Santee that's sa and T on YouTube. You can also find us on bit shoot at BFS 20 or CFS 2020 and rumble at creation fellowship, or the other way around.

You can find us, and especially you can find us on Facebook which is where we do most of our posting our Facebook is creation fellowship Santee and you can email us at creation fellowship Santee at gmail .com, and that way you'll get on our speaker on our email list so that you'll get invitations for each of our Thursday night presentations, and you won't miss any of them.

So, with that we're happy to introduce to you tonight. Jim Pamplin, Jim is a has been a Christian since he was a boy and he heard with his brother, a presentation at Green Oak Ranch in Vista, and he's been serving the Lord he he loves the Lord he loves the topic of creation, and he himself led a creation fellowship for a while at the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa he and Chuck Smith helped start the logos research associates, and we'll let him tell you a little more about that during his at the end of his presentation tonight but with that, we're happy to have with us Jim Pamplin.

The Beginning of the Universe and the Case for Intentional Causation

Thank you very much. Should we just jump in. Go ahead. All right. Precepts and natural theology. By common sense and observations of the natural world. What can we reasonably infer about the existence and nature of God.

How well do our surmising square with the God of the Bible. Let's begin with a question. As the universe, always been here. Or did it have a beginning. Everywhere we look throughout the cosmos, we see a net flow of energy.

Cascading from higher states to lower states. Light streams into darkness heat flows from hot to cold, ultimately degrading in the black body radiation, which dissipates at the speed of light into the vast cosmic void.

The heat sink of the universe. If the universe had always been here. It should have long since reached thermal equilibrium and a uniform temperature of absolute zero. There would be no heat. No light.

No colliding particles. No temperature. No pressure. No chemistry. No electricity. No events to mark the passage of time. No future. Forever. An infinitely old universe is not what we see around us. Therefore, the age of the universe is finite.

And that means it had a beginning. But how did the universe begin? Ultimately, there are only two possible answers. Mindless, spontaneous magic. Or its exact opposite. Intentional causation. Let's examine each in turn.

Mindless, spontaneous magic. First, there was nothing. No matter. No energy. No space. No time. No physics. No laws of physics. Nothing. And then it exploded. And nothing. Accidentally. Turned itself into everything.

Unplanned. And uncaused.

Yeah, right.

If the universe spontaneously exploded into existence. Unplanned. And uncaused. It can just as spontaneously pop out of existence. Unplanned. And uncaused. If mindless, causeless, spontaneous magic. Is the core.

Of reality. There is no reason to suppose the future will be like the past. No reason to believe effects result from causes. No reason to believe the universe should be intelligible. In any sense. No basis.

For knowledge. Or science. The only alternative to mindless, causeless, spontaneous magic. Is it's antithesis. Intentional causation. A cause. Greater than the universe.

The universe.

Brought the universe into existence. This forensic evidence point to an intentional cause. A creator. Indeed.

It does.

Everywhere we look throughout the cosmos. We find the fingerprints of intentionality. We live in a highly organized universe. Far from equilibrium. Where the parameters of nature. Appear fine-tuned. In order to host life.

Biological life in general. Intelligent life. In particular. Examples of life critical fine-tuning abound. Among all the elements. Carbon displays a uniquely voracious capacity. To form an almost infinite variety of compounds and polymers.

With itself. And with many other elements. Carbon forms the backbone of all four types of life's essential. Biomacro molecules. These comprise. Nucleic acids. Proteins. Carbohydrates.

And lipids.

Interestingly. Biomacro molecules can only exist. Stably. Within the narrow water modulated. Temperature band found on earth. Of all chemical compounds. Water uniquely exhibits many life critical properties.

The bonding of between hydrogen atoms in water. Gives the molecule an overall polarity. Causing water molecules to attract one another. Giving liquid water high cohesion. High surface tension. Extraordinary heat capacity.

And a remarkable dielectric constant. These properties combine to make liquid water. The universal solvent. Able to dissolve and transport. All the chemicals. Minerals and nutrients needed to maintain life.

Liquid water is essential for all life. Earth orbital radius appears fine tuned. To permit liquid water. If earth were only marginally closer to the sun. Its oceans would boil away. Into a runaway greenhouse atmosphere of superheated steam and crushing pressure.

There would be no liquid water. And there would be no life. If earth were only marginally farther from the sun. It's water would be locked up. In solid ice. There would be no liquid water. And there would be no life.

Closer to the sun would make her too hot for liquid water. Farther from the sun would make her too cold for liquid water. Earth orbital radius is just right. It lies within a narrow habitable band called.

The Goldilocks zone. Another life critical parameter of earth orbit. Is it's remarkably low eccentricity. Among all the planets. Earth orbit is closest to circular. It stays within the habitable Goldilocks zone throughout the year.

Only slightly greater eccentricity. Would carry earth into lethal ranges. Every year. And there would be no life. If a cause. A creator. Greater than the universe. Brought it into existence. What can we know about such a creator?

Warning. Whatever creator there may be. Those nothing of its existence. Or of its essence. To philosophers or theologians who try to figure it out. Such a creator simply is what it is. Independent of human expectations.

Notwithstanding. What can we. Reasonably infer. About such a creator. It stands to reason. The creator of space. Is not constrained by space. But fills up. And exceeds all of space. Such a creator is.

By definition. Omnipresent. The creator of time. Is not constrained by time. But fills up. And exceeds all of time. Such a creator is. By definition. Eternal. Omni-temporal. A creator able to create.

Not only. The time. Space. Matter. And energy.

Not only.

The energy of the material universe. But also all the abstract. Non-material. Non-spatial entities. In relationships. That govern the physical world. Including the laws of nature. The laws of logic.

In all mathematical relationships. A creator. Able to organize. Matter into dynamic biological structures.

And systems.

Capable of reproduction.

I might add.

Imbued with terabytes of software governing biochemical pathways. A creator able to fabricate sentient beings. Programmed. With self-awareness. Curiosity. Ability to engage and explore both the material.

And the abstract universe. To reason. Discover. Analyze.

Invent.

Compose. And communicate. Such a creator. Can do anything. He jolly well pleases. He is by definition.

Omnipotent.

A creator filling up and exceeding all of time and all space.

Knowing how.

To create. And order the material universe. And it's abstract underpinnings. Knows everything. That ever can be known. By definition, such a creator is. Omniscient. One can know nothing. About the creator of the universe.

Beyond what the creator allows. Revealing himself. Either passively.

Or actively.

Passive revelation would include providing clues. About himself. And creating and programming. Sentient beings. Equipped with the faculties. To discover. And analyze those clues. In order to reach correct conclusions.

Active self-revelation. Would constitute overt communications. Apart from self-revelation. Whether passive or active. The creator of the universe. Must be. Inscrutable.

It follows.

The creator who chooses. To create sentient beings and communicate with them. Must be.

Personal.

In summary. We can reasonably infer that. The universe had a beginning. Intentional causation. Best explains. How the universe began. We can reasonably infer. That the creator of the universe is. Self-existent.

Independent of human expectations. Omnipresent. Eternal and omnitemporal. Omnipotent. Omniscient.

Self-existent.

Inscrutable. Apart from self-revelation. Self-revealing. And therefore personal. How well does the God we infer from natural theology. Square with the God of the Bible. Why the Bible? The Bible. Attests to be the word of God.

A message system. Offered by the creator of the universe. A message system. From beyond the constraints of time and space. A message system. Which from the beginning. Has validated its authenticity. By describing events before they occur.

Isaiah 46. Nine through 10. Remember the former things of old. For I am God. And there is no other. I am God. And there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning. And from ancient times. Things that are not yet done.

Saying my counsel shall stand. And I will do all my pleasure.

Isaiah 42.

Nine.

Behold the former things are come to pass. And new things do I declare. Before they spring forth. I tell you of them. John 13. 19. And these verses now are from Jesus. Now I tell you before it come. That when it is come to pass.

You may believe that I am. John 14. 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass. That when it is come to pass.

You might believe.

So how do our inferences. About the existence and nature of God. Square with the Bible. Let's compare. We inferred. The universe had a beginning. The Bible says. In the beginning. God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1.

1.

We inferred a cause greater than the universe. Brought the universe into existence. Both the physical and the abstract. The Bible says. For by him were all things created. That are in heaven. And that are in earth.

Visible and invisible. Colossians 1. 16. We inferred the creator of the universe is what he is. Self-existent. Owing nothing of himself to human expectations. The Bible says. And God said unto Moses.

I am that I am. And he said. Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel. I am. Hath sent me unto you.

Exodus 3.

14. We inferred the creator is omnipresent. The Bible says. Can any hide himself in secret places. That I shall not see him. Sayeth the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth. Sayeth the Lord. Jeremiah 23.

24. The Bible says. That will God indeed dwell on the earth. Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens. Cannot contain thee. How much less is the house that I have built. First Kings 8. 27. The Bible says.

For in him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17. 28. The Bible says. Whither shall I go from thy spirit. Or whither shall I flee from thy presence. If I ascend up into heaven thou art there. If I make my bed in hell.

Behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning. And dwell in the outermost parts of the sea. Even there. Shall thy hand lead me. And thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139.

Acts 17.

7 -10. The Bible says. The Lord is high above all nations. In his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God. Who dwelleth on high. Who humbleth himself. To behold the things that are in heaven.

And in the earth. Psalm 113. 4 -6. Had Michael Angelo known Psalm 113. 4 -6. Might he have added another panel. To the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Who is like unto the Lord our God. Who dwelleth on high.

Who humbleth himself. To behold the things that are in heaven. And in the earth. We infer the creator is eternal. And omnipotent. The Bible says. And Abraham planted a grove. In Beersheba. And called there on the name of the Lord.

The everlasting God. Genesis 21. 33. The Bible says. Now unto the king eternal. Immortal. Invisible. The only wise God be honor and glory. Forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1. 17. The Bible says. Before the mountains were brought forth.

Forever thou hast formed the earth and the world. Even from everlasting. To everlasting. Thou art God. Psalm 90. 2. The Bible says. For thus says the high and lofty one. Who inhabits eternity. Whose name is holy.

Isaiah 57.

15. We infer the creator is omnipotent. The Bible says. But Jesus beheld them and said unto them. With men this is impossible. But with God all things are possible. Matthew 19. 26. The Bible says. Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Genesis 18. 14.

The Bible says. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32. 27. The Bible says. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude. And as the voice of many waters. And as the voice of mighty thundering.

Saying hallelujah.

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19.

6.

We inferred the creator of the universe is omniscient. The Bible says. Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God. The Lord. The creator of the ends of the earth.

The Bible says.

The Lord is faint if not. Neither is weary. There is no searching of his understanding.

Isaiah 40.

28. The Bible says. For if our heart condemn us. God is greater than our heart. And knoweth all things. First John 3.

20.

The Bible says. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Sayeth the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Sayeth the Lord. Jeremiah 23. 24. The Bible says. Neither is there any creature that is not manifesting his sight.

But all things are naked and open. Under the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Hebrews 4. 13.

The Bible says. For he looketh to the ends of the earth and seeth under the whole heaven. Job 28.

24.

The Bible says. The eyes of the Lord are in every place. Beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15.

3.

The Bible says. Great is our Lord and of great power. His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147.

5.

We infer that apart from what the creator reveals about himself. He is inscrutable. The Bible says. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Romans 11.

34.

The Bible says. For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways. Sayeth the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are my ways higher than your ways. And my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55.

8.

The Bible says. Oh, the depth of the riches. Both of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable.

Are his judgments.

And his ways past finding out. Romans 11.

33.

We inferred the creator's personal. The Bible says. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. Be not dismayed. For I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41.

10. The Bible says. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand. Saying unto thee, fear not.

I will help thee.

Isaiah 41.

13. The Bible says. But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob. And he that formed thee, O Israel. Fear not. For I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name. Thou art mine.

Isaiah 43.

1. The Bible says. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him. To the soul that seeketh him. Lamentations 3. 25. The Bible says. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me. Saying yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31.

3.

The Bible says. For God so loved the world. That he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him. Should not perish. But have everlasting life.

John 3.

16. What could be more personal. Than that. Should we be surprised that these fundamental attributes of God. Are knowable outside the Bible.

No.

We should not. John chapter 1. Speaking of the word who was made flesh. And dwelt among us. The only begotten of the father.

Says.

That was the true light. Which lighteth every man. That cometh into the world.

John 1. 9.

Amos 4.

13.

Says.

For lo, he that formeth the mountains and created the wind. And declareth unto man. What is his thought. That maketh the morning darkness. And treadeth upon the high places of the earth. The Lord. The God of hosts.

Is his name.

Romans chapter 1. Tells us. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. And unrighteousness of men. Who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

Because.

That which may be known of God. Is manifest in them. For God hath showed it.

Unto them.

For the invisible things of him. From the creation of the world. Are clearly seen. Being understood by the things that are made. Even his eternal power. And Godhood. Godhead. So they are without excuse.

Romans 1.

18 to 20.

God's passive revelations. Through natural theology are clarified. And vetted. By the Bible. The self-attesting word of God. While the creator reveals his eternal power. And Godhead clearly. Through natural theology.

We must draw lesser inferences. As through a glass darkly. God has reserved many more. Precious truth in his written word. The Holy Bible. Our final authority. What natural theology does not reveal. Is the fallen nature.

Of all humanity. And the gospel of Jesus Christ. The forgiveness of sin. And the exclusive promise. Of everlasting life. To everyone who puts their trust.

In Jesus.

2000 years ago. Using the genetic language. God had created to make man.

In his own image. God spelled himself.

The Holy Spirit. Downloaded that spelling.

That word.

Into the chemistry of an ovum. A virgin conceived. And the word. Became flesh. To dwell among us. Nine months later. A little boy was born. Who was in every sense. Emmanuel. God with us. He was the word.

Become flesh. The only begotten son of God. The son of man.

That little boy grew up.

Living a sinless life. And became a man. Of whom God spoke from heaven. Saying this is my beloved son. In whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3.

17. In Matthew 17.

5.

A man approved of God. By miracles. And wonders and signs. Which God did by him.

Acts 2.

22. This same Jesus. Who knew no sin. Went to the cross to be made sin for us. First Corinthians 5. 28. To extinguish. All of our sins. In the death of his own body. Three days later. He rose from the dead.

Giving everlasting life. To everyone who puts their trust.

In him. Romans 10.

13 -15. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord.

Shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him. In whom they have not believed. And how shall they believe in him. Of whom they have not heard. And how shall they hear without a preacher. And how shall they preach. Except they be sent.

As it is written.

How beautiful are the feet of them. That preach the gospel of peace. And bring glad tidings of good things. Go ye therefore. And teach all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the father. And of the son. And of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things. That I have commanded you. And lo I am with you always. Even to the end of the age.

Amen.

Matthew 28. 19 -20. Seeing then that God has commissioned believers. To share the gospel of Jesus Christ. With the lost. With the lost world. Let us seize every opportunity. To share the good news personally.

With friends. Family.

Neighbors.

And strangers. And by supporting. Bible believing ministries. That preach the gospel. And equip the saints. Hebrews 12. 1 -2. Wherefore seeing we also. Are compassed about. With so great a cloud of witnesses.

Let us lay aside every weight. And the sin which doth so easily.

Beset us.

And let us run with patience. The race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus. The author and finish of our faith. For the joy that was set before him. Endured the cross. Despising the shame. And set down.

At the right hand of the throne of God.

Amen. Yes.

Your pictures disappeared.

Yeah.

Because it's over.

Q&A on Omnitemporal, Testimony, and Creation Science Ministry

Okay.

That was really good. I'm impressed. And we have some questions. So I will turn that over to Terry.

Well.

The first question. I mean. That was really amazing. And it was different than most of the things that we have seen. In one way. I think. And I'm going to go ahead and stop your sharing. So that we can have our videos up here.

Here we go.

Okay.

Okay.

Your presentation was unique to us because it seemed like it was like a movie. And your voice. You have a very great. Narrator voice. We were commenting about that.

Wow.

Like it was, it was interesting to watch your slides. They're very well done. And the way that you presented them was great. And one of the, one of the ladies seems to think that maybe your voice is familiar.

So our first question is, have you actually done any. Kind of movie work or like, have you ever narrated like a Bible story or something that we might have recognized?

No.

Okay. Well you could. So, and then.

Okay.

I learned a new word tonight, which is omnitemporal. So of course I've, I've always known omnipresent and omnipotent and. No, I forgot the third one that I've always known, but, but. But on the temporal.

Interesting.

Well, you know,.

I only learned it recently from my 13 year old grandson.

Wow.

I was sharing with him some of the ideas in this. And he told me about what he'd been learning. At a class at compass Bible church. And that was the first time I'd heard the term.

Yeah, that's pretty cool. I mean, and obviously it is a characteristic of. Of God that he's exists across all time. That's what that means basically. So.

Yeah.

So that's what I mean. He is throughout all ages.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. So not only is he. All powerful and omniscient. That was the third one. Powerful all knowing. And he exists everywhere in all places, but on the temporal then means that he exists throughout all time, everywhere in time.

Bible verse. He inhabits eternity.

Yeah. Oh,.

That's a verse in the Bible.

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

What was when we covered today?

Okay.

There was a lot of material there.

Yes.

That's what this is definitely one that I think. A lot of us will want to go back and rewatch because it was, it was, it will be worth rewatching. It was very interesting. And, and like I said, it had a nice.

Your presentation had a nice aesthetic appeal. So, so that was interesting. So does anybody else have questions? You can put them in the chat or.

While.

Jim give his. His bio.

Yeah. Jim, why don't you share your testimony with us?

Wow.

I wrote it all out for you, but.

I can just kind of. Give it off a cup, I guess.

Yeah, that would be fine.

Yeah.

You could read it or you could tell it to us.

I don't have a written out.

In front of me. But basically I grew up in a Christian home.

But.

It was an interesting thing. My, my grandmother was. Considered by my uncles to have been a fanatic. And so they.

And so I grew up in a Christian home.

Ran the other way. My dad loved the Lord, but. Some of his brothers were just real Hellions. And so I guess maybe because of that. My parents. Taught us about God and. And things, but my brother and I didn't really understand the gospel, the concept of, of being personally saved.

Until we went to. Green Oak ranch. One Thanksgiving weekend, many, many years ago. And we heard the gospel presented in a way that. You know, really struck home for us. We both received Jesus as our savior the same night.

Same event.

And.

And.

What else can I tell you?

Well.

So I think I read that you started out as pre-med in college. You were being taught a lot of evolution.

Yes. And.

Ran.

Headlong into a biology teacher that.

And.

Gave my wife and I, we weren't married yet. She was my fiance. He was both DS.

On the. On the.

These are an F. I'm not sure which. On our final. Because we didn't believe in evolution. And it was all essay. You know, so if you don't. You can't answer the questions, right?

Jim, what year was that?

1967.

And so they were already. They were militant about it already then.

She was.

Yeah.

Yes.

Thank you. Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just wanted to get a timeframe around that. You went from pre-med. To.

To.

Did your wife continue on through medical or.

Well, no, we both. We both switched majors to biology. We went to zoo Pacific. And graduated there. And I worked briefly for the movie Institute of science. In Whittier. And then my wife continued. She eventually got her.

Credential in biology to teach biology. And so we both have bachelors in biology. But she actually put hers to use. And I never really did. Beyond the short time I was at.

Science.

And so I got off into mechanical design. My dad was a prolific inventor. And we had a little machine shop in the backyard. And so I just kind of gravitated to drafting mechanical design. And so that's what I did for most of my careers.

Means of making a living. But this thing about creation evolution. I just had a real itch for a long, long time because of what happened.

To us. And so.

I started attending. The creation science association meetings in Santa Ana. And I was on the board for several years. And then. Bill Morgan. I don't know if you know, Bill.

Oh, yeah.

Okay.

He's one of our repeats.