"I'm Not God" 8-6-23
Overview
I'm Not God
"I was an atheist until I realized I was God." It sounds absurd, even laughable, but it captures something true about every human heart since the fall. We are wired to put ourselves—or something else—in the place of God. The slogan may belong to modern self-empowerment culture, but the impulse is as old as Eden. Scripture insists on a different starting point, a different baseline: God is the Creator, and we are not.
Paul makes this plain in Romans 1:20: God's eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived through the things he has made, "so they are without excuse." The Psalms say the same—"the heavens are telling the glory of God" Psalm 19:1, and "all the earth worships you" Psalm 66:4. The breeze in the trees, the birds, the colors of the world—creation itself sings the praise of its Maker. When God answers Job out of the whirlwind Job 38, asking "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?", Job has no answer. Neither do we. We did not create the tree we walk past. We are not the Creator—we have one.
Yet, as Paul continues, "though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him" Romans 1:21–23. The honor and thanks owed to God get redirected—stifled, exchanged for images, philosophies, and self-made deities. This great exchange goes back to Adam and Eve, who traded perfect fellowship and divine wisdom for the foolishness of being their own gods. We inherit that baseline. As Romans 3:23 confesses, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We cannot create, and we cannot redeem ourselves.
But there is another exchange—a happy one. Romans 3:24–25 declares that we "are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith." Christ entered our humanity, took our sin to the cross, and gave us his perfection. He alone could offer a sacrifice worthy of our debt, because everything we bring to the altar is sin, and everything he brings is righteousness. This is the gospel baseline: God is Creator, God is Redeemer, and God is sustainer. He calls us by name in the waters of baptism, places his body in our hands and his blood on our tongues at the table, and speaks again the promise we need to hear: You are mine. You are forgiven. Our baseline is never us. By his grace and goodness, we can joyfully proclaim, "I am not God"—and praise God for it.
Transcript
If you would please open your Bibles to Romans the first chapter, 2s
where in Romans the first chapter page 133 of the New Testament, 8s
if you're using a Pue edition of the Bible. 14s
Romans chapter 1. 20s
As I was studying for this sermon, I was trying to think of a really good 24s
way to open it, a really good way to begin it. 29s
And it was hard. 35s
It was really hard to figure this out because our bumper sticker this week, 37s
it's just Iki. 43s
It is. And there is no clever way to open it. 46s
The bumper sticker we're just going to dive in. 51s
The bumper sticker is, I wasn't atheist until I realized 54s
I was God. 59s
And it sounds funny at first. 61s
And we as Christian people can roll our eyes and chuckle and think, 63s
oh, those silly atheists. 68s
But when you really think about that, 71s
listen to those words, I was an atheist. 73s
So I denied God until I realized I was God. 76s
Until I put myself in the place of God and it's tragic, 83s
it's really sad to think that there are people who not only 93s
not only believe this, but they proclaim this. 100s
That this is the word upon their lips. 105s
And so as I began studying for this sermon and throughout the study, 110s
I just was really uncomfortable. 117s
It didn't feel good. 121s
It didn't feel right because everything in that bumper sticker 125s
is against what we know to be true. 132s
So I'm going to invite you to be uncomfortable with me. 137s
As we study, this bumper sticker and as we study, God's word 142s
and what God's word has to say about this. 146s
Because when it comes down to it as uncomfortable as it is 154s
to think that someone would put themselves in the place of God, 160s
the truth is that we do it all the time. 165s
And if we aren't putting ourselves in the place of God, 168s
we're putting something or someone else in the place of God, 171s
we are trained to do that. 177s
We are conditioned to do that and sadly in our sinful nature, 179s
it is not only second nature, it's first nature to do just that. 184s
Think about the early philosophers. 191s
When I was thinking about this very bumper sticker, 194s
the first thing that popped into mind was René D'Icart. 198s
I think therefore I am. 201s
I think therefore I am. 206s
Now, D'Curt was actually a Christian man and he was just looking 209s
for a baseline for his existence, a reason, a purpose 214s
to know that he indeed existed and we all. 221s
We all want a baseline or a reason or a purpose for our existence. 226s
And so we think about this, how do we learn? 233s
How do we know things? 236s
Well, by the senses, by the senses that we have been given, 238s
we see, we feel, we smell, we taste, we hear. 241s
This is how we know the world around us and this is how we're going to approach our text. 249s
Let's look at verse 20 of Romans chapter 1, where Paul writes, 257s
ever since the creation of the world, 264s
his eternal power and divine nature in visible though they are, 266s
have been understood and seen through the things he has made, 272s
God has eternal power, his divine nature though invisible 277s
is seen and is understood. 285s
In Psalm 19, we read, the heavens are telling the glory of God, 290s
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 299s
Day to day, pours forth speech and night to night, 302s
declares knowledge. 307s
There is no speech nor are there words. 308s
Their voice is not heard yet, their voice goes out through all the earth 311s
and their words to the end of the world. 315s
In Psalm 66 verse 4, we have a very similar, similar verse, 319s
where it says, all the earth worships you. 325s
They sing praises to you, sing praises to your name. 327s
The we do not actually hear creation singing, we hear creation singing, 332s
the praises of the Lord. 340s
If you step outside and you hear the breeze through the trees, 342s
you hear the birds singing, the crickets chirping, you hear creation singing, 347s
the Lord's praise. 355s
We see the bright colors that are all around, 358s
and we see the glory of God before us. 362s
We see the power, the power and the divinity around us, 366s
that was all brought into being, creation itself, 375s
sings of the power and the glory of God. 382s
And we look at verse 2, part C of verse 20, 391s
where it says, so they are without excuse. 395s
Anyone who steps out into nature, anyone who steps out into creation, 401s
whether it is out in nature or in the city, 407s
when we step into God's creation, 413s
we are without an excuse for seeing and knowing God's eternal power, 419s
and divinity and glory. 428s
And yet we make excuses. 431s
Or we put our blinders on, we plug our ears, 435s
so we don't have to see, don't have to hear, don't have to think. 440s
I was an atheist until I realized I was God, 445s
the philosopher of the modern day. 450s
As I was studying, I found a blogger who wrote on this very line, 454s
and she found such comfort, such comfort, 460s
and power in these words. 467s
So we're going to use this blogger as a type of foil 469s
for our study today as well. 472s
She writes, I thought I was an atheist until I realized I'm a God, 475s
giving credit to the author, 480s
where this comes from a rather vulgar song, by the way, 482s
where she says that speaks to me on so many levels. 486s
Doesn't it just make you feel so empowered to realize and know 489s
that you contain pieces of the universe, 495s
that you are the moon, the sun, the earth, 498s
and everything in between, 502s
love the grit of your stand, 504s
love the shine of your star, 507s
love the burn of your sun, 509s
love the blow of your wind, 512s
love yourself through loving, 515s
the universe. 519s
Thank you. 521s
She knows. 526s
She knows. 529s
Creation is there. 532s
She knows the sand is there. 534s
She knows the sun is there. 536s
She knows the moon is there. 537s
She feels the wind, 539s
and yet she empowers herself. 541s
She empowers herself. 546s
Do you remember where Job is questioned by the Lord? 553s
Where he continues day after day, 560s
week after week, 563s
wanting to demand answers from God, 564s
and God finally comes to Job and says, 566s
I will answer you when you answer me. 569s
Where were you when? 573s
And God goes through all these times 575s
and parts of creation. 580s
And Job has no answer because Job wasn't there 582s
when God created light. 587s
Job wasn't there when God separated the waters from the land. 590s
God or Job was not there when God put the snow 596s
and the hail and the houses, 600s
the keeping houses. 603s
Job wasn't there for any of creation. 606s
You and I were not there for any of creation. 612s
When we look around, 617s
we know that we did not create. 618s
When we walk outside and look at the tree, 625s
we know we did not create that tree. 628s
Our baseline, 636s
our baseline is that we are not the creator. 638s
We cannot have not and will not ever be the creator 647s
of all things, all time, all places. 654s
We continue in verse 21. 661s
Though they knew God, 665s
they did not honor Him as God 667s
or give thanks to Him, 669s
but they became futile in their thinking 671s
and their senseless minds were darkened. 673s
When He writes about knowing God through creation, 676s
this knowing God is not that personal or saving relationship 680s
with God, 685s
it's referring to that baseline. 686s
That baseline that we are not God, 689s
that baseline that we did not create. 693s
Yet, though being very aware that we cannot create 698s
did not create, 703s
but in sin, 705s
the honor and the glory and the thanks that should be given to God 707s
is placed elsewhere. 714s
We stifle it. 718s
We stifle the thanks. 720s
We stifle the honor. 722s
We stifle the glory that should go to God. 724s
We stifle honor and thanks 731s
when we ignore our baseline. 735s
The baseline that we are not 738s
creators, 741s
but that we have a creator. 743s
We stifle honor and thanks 747s
and our hearts and our minds are darkened 752s
and we turn further and further from the Lord. 757s
But when we turn further and further from the Lord, 763s
we leave this space and this space 766s
has to get filled. 769s
We have to fill this empty space with something 771s
and so we try to fill our minds 774s
and try to fill our hearts with philosophy of today 776s
and philosophy of yesterday 780s
and wisdom of those who have come before us 782s
and wisdom that are here of those that are here with us now. 786s
And we try to fill our minds and our hearts with wisdom 791s
that we gain from our senses. 794s
What we think we perceive, 797s
what we think we know, 801s
or what we think we want to know. 804s
We want to fill our minds and our hearts 810s
with what we choose to glorify and honor. 814s
We make our own little gods. 822s
We make our own little deities 825s
to worship, to honor, to glorify. 829s
We continue claiming to be wise, 834s
they became fools and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God 837s
for images resembling a mortal human being, 841s
or birds or for-footed animals or reptiles. 845s
There's a really important word in here. 851s
Exchange. 854s
There's a great exchange that is happening here, 855s
a great exchange that foolish, foolish men and women 860s
make and this goes back to the very beginning. 865s
This goes back to Adam and Eve, 868s
where they exchanged a perfect relationship with the Lord. 872s
They exchanged perfect wisdom of the Lord 878s
and they exchanged it for the foolishness of the world. 883s
They exchanged it for the foolishness of their own wisdom. 889s
And we enter into humanity. 896s
We enter into humanity with the baseline of this very sin. 900s
When we are born, we are born with the baseline of a sinful nature. 910s
We are born with a baseline of wanting to seek after the world's 918s
foolishness. 925s
We are born with a baseline of rejecting God, 927s
not wanting to have anything to do with him. 933s
And our baseline is that we are sinners. 939s
And try as we might. 946s
We can never make up for that sin. 948s
In Romans chapter 3 verse 23, 952s
it says, 956s
since all have sinned and false short of the glory of God, 956s
that's our baseline that we will and have and will continue 963s
to false short of the glory of God, 969s
that we have will and will continue to sin. 974s
Our baseline is that we are sinners. 983s
And our baseline is that we cannot make up for our sin. 988s
Our baseline is that we have no answer for our sin. 994s
God alone, God alone created. 1001s
Just as we come to that baseline that God alone created, 1005s
we come to the baseline that God alone can redeem us. 1009s
This is done through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 1015s
Romans 3, 23, we are going to continue after that. 1021s
All have sinned and false short of the glory of God. 1024s
They are now justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption 1028s
that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of a tonement 1033s
by His blood effective through faith. 1040s
We made this exchange as human beings. 1045s
We made the exchange of that perfect relationship, 1048s
that perfect wisdom of God knowing the Lord, 1053s
intimately we exchanged that for the foolishness, 1057s
the darkness of this world, but then another exchange was made. 1060s
The happy exchange, the exchange where Jesus entered into humanity, 1066s
to dwell amongst sinners, to dwell amongst you and me. 1071s
And He exchanged our sin for His own perfection. 1077s
And He walked amongst the sinners. 1082s
And He taught and He healed and He performed miracles feeding 5,000 plus. 1085s
And then He walked to the cross, already beaten, already humiliated, 1096s
already bruised and bleeding, and He walked the cross to the hill. 1102s
And He allowed Himself to be laid down upon that cross. 1112s
And He allowed Himself to be nailed to that cross. 1116s
Because you and I, even if we were to lay down on that cross, 1122s
even if we were to be nailed to that cross, 1129s
we still wouldn't be giving the sacrifice that could atone for our sin. 1132s
Because all we bring to the table is our sin. 1141s
And Christ brings His own perfection to the table. 1150s
Christ brings His own perfection to the cross. 1154s
And He exchanges that perfection for the sin that we bring to the cross. 1158s
And He gives His life He gives His blood as the sacrifice, 1167s
the only atonement that is worthy and acceptable for our sin. 1176s
And He gives that for you, not because you can pay him back, 1184s
not because you have earned it, not because of anything to do with you, 1191s
but because of God and God alone. 1201s
And because God alone has redeemed you, you are born a new, 1209s
and you walk in the freedom of that redemption every single day. 1217s
Does that mean that every single day is going to be easy? 1225s
No, absolutely not. 1230s
But again, again, it's God and God alone that sustains us. 1232s
Our baseline, we are not the creator. 1239s
Our baseline, we are sinners. 1243s
Our baseline, we cannot redeem ourselves. 1247s
Our baseline, Christ has redeemed you. 1252s
Our baseline, you don't sustain yourself in that faith. 1259s
Which means that our next baseline is that God Himself sustains you. 1267s
God Himself sustains each of us. 1276s
You have been called by God, you have been washed through the waters of baptism. 1281s
God has said, you are mine, you are forgiven, and how do we know that we hear? 1288s
The word spoken, that promise spoken, we feel the water washed upon our heads. 1295s
We see the water before us. 1304s
We come to the table, the altar, we hold out our hands and we feel the bread, the body put in our hands, 1308s
and we taste the blood, the wine, upon our tongues. 1316s
And again, we hear the promise. 1322s
You are mine, you are forgiven, and we're reminded again and again and again that our baseline, 1329s
our baseline is not us. 1343s
Our baseline is always God. 1349s
Our baseline is that God is our creator. 1354s
Our baseline is that God is our Redeemer. 1358s
And our baseline is that God is our sustainer. 1362s
I was an atheist until I realized I was God. 1373s
It's just gross. 1383s
By His grace, by His goodness, and through His glory, we can happily, 1390s
joyfully, rejoicingly proclaim, 1401s
I am not God. 1408s
Praise God. 1412s