Does God Exist? – Part 4

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The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Psalm 14:1

Today we continue with simple and convincing evidences of God’s existence. As we study these, keep two things in mind:

1. No single piece of evidence is “proof”. It is the overall weight of the tremendous quantity of evidence that brings any sincere seeker to the inescapable conclusion of God’s existence.
2. No amount of evidence will convince someone who doesn’t want to believe. As we have discussed, you can’t mathematically and empirically “prove” things that have to do with philosophy, origins, history or God. You can’t MAKE someone believe the evidence. But the sheer quantity, quality and persuasiveness of the evidence for God is so overwhelming, that only the heart set against God in the first place, can ignore the obvious conclusion.

We will look at the first five of ten common evidences for God’s existence.

1 The Cosmological Argument

Every thing that exists must have a reason or cause that brought it into existence. No one argues this (unless of course they are talking about the origin of life and the universe, then all logic goes out the door).

If everything must come from something that preceded it, then there must be something, or some ONE, who was first, with nothing existing before that. This entity must be eternal, must exist because of itself and be the originator of all that came after it.

Revelation 22.12-13 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”

The “first” being must by default be more intelligent than its creation. It must be of a higher order and exist outside of its creation.

This “entity” is of course God, and makes perfect sense.

2 The Teleological Argument

The teleological argument considers that fact that all design must come from a Designer; that all law must be originated with a Law-Giver; and all order must come from an intelligence and power that created that order.

Once again, no person looks at any design, law or obvious orderly system and believes that it just “happened”. We always know intuitively that it come from some intelligence higher than itself… except when it comes to life and the universe. Then all logic goes out the window and some people believe it all just happened by chance!

The universe, and life, show almost infinite complexity (design); perfect order; and all creation is bound to the immutable laws of physics. The only logical conclusion is that God created it.

Romans 1.20-21 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

If you look at a toothpick, a deck of cards, a house, or the National Football League Rules & Regulations… you would never question the existence of a designer that created them. How foolish to look at life; which is infinitely more complex and perfectly ordered; and question the existence of its Creator-Designer.

3 The Anthropological Argument

Despite today’s animal rights movement and earth worship religion; it is plainly obvious to all open eyes that humans are of a higher order than animals or plants.

How can Evolution, chance or time begin to explain the impassable chasm between the “smartest” of animals and the intelligence of man? Man can reason, think abstractly, conceptualize and be creative. We have emotions for justice, honesty, loyalty, dignity, art, love and many others. With no possible “survival-of-the-fittest” need, how would such emotions and thoughts ever come into existence?

What animal ever built hospital to care for the sick; laid a road; built a house or computer? What animal gives charity to the poor or sacrifices its life in service to others? What animal communicates creative ideas or develops philosophy? What animal ever even asked the question “does God exist”?

The Bible says “God formed the spirit of man within him”. And “the body returns to dust but the spirit returns to God who gave it (Zech.12.1)”. The fact that man exists, and is of a higher order than the rest of creation, is powerful evidence for God’s existence.

4 The Ontological Argument

The Ontological argument comes in many forms but basically is this: the very fact that we can conceive of God, means that He exists.

By default, man can’t conceive of something that has never existed in some form. Our thoughts and ideas may be a compilation of a thousand other thoughts, sights and experiences, but you cannot think of something that does not truly exist, whether in whole or parts.

All societies have sought out the existence of God, or a higher intelligence apart from us. Where did that universal desire come from? It could not have evolved by time and chance, there is no “need” for it biologically or chemically.

Psalm 42:7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

God created man and instilled in him the innate knowledge that He exists and should be sought out.

5 The Moral Argument for God’s existence

People who don’t believe in God are insincere about it. If they truly believe in natural evolution, then there can be no “right or wrong”. We are all the random product of electrical impulses and mixing chemicals.

How can anything be “wrong”? Who says its wrong? You? Society? What makes them right?

If there is no Absolute Being who has determined absolute right and wrong, then nothing is right or wrong. The absurdity of the argument can be demonstrated in a simple conversation:

Person 1: “Nothing is absolute. There is no absolute right or wrong”
Person 2: “Are you sure?”
Person 1: “Yes”
Person 2: “Are you absolutely 100% sure of that?”
Person 1: “Yes”

You can’t have it both ways. If there are no absolutes, you can’t be absolutely sure there aren’t any. If you can’t be absolutely sure there aren’t any, then there is a chance that there is.

Romans 2.15-16 …who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

The fact is, without a source of absolutes, life is random chaos. God has ordained what is absolute right and wrong and the ultimate appeal is to His authority.

Man is moral because deep down these Absolutes have been programmed into us.

This can easily be demonstrated with a few questions. If these questions were asked to the general world population, the answers would almost be universal. Why? Because in our hearts, God has written laws of morality. We can ignore them, suppress them and argue against them; but deep down, everyone knows the answer to these questions:

• Should all elderly, sick and retarded people be killed because they don’t contribute to society and “survival of the fittest”?
• Should all babies who are not perfect when born be killed so they don’t “infect” the human race?
• Should it be perfectly legal and accepted to molest, abuse and torture children?
• Should we kill all people who can’t work?
• Should we have the freedom to exterminate all poor countries who don’t contribute to the world economy?
• Should men be able to rape and molest any woman he wants?

Of course the answer to all these questions are obvious. But why? If we are just random products of evolution, the answers are NOT absolute and therefore not binding. It would truly be a savage world of “survival of the fittest” without absolute ideas of right and wrong.

But its not that kind of world. For the most part, life is not “kill or be killed” like the animal world (although there are men who act like animals, no doubt). The answers to these questions ARE absolute because our Creator instilled basic moral laws into our hearts, even if they are ignored.

Tomorrow we will cover five more points. Take some time and really ponder these issues. Why? Because it will strengthen your faith, solidify your resolve to serve the God that you know exists; and will help you communicate these truths to those sincere seekers of God’s truth.

Father, the evidence is overwhelming. You exist. And You have revealed Your nature and will to us in Your Word. May we be serious and committed in our effort to know You more fully, to obey You more earnestly, and to share Your Good News to all we come in contact with. Amen.

1. What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?
2. What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?
3. What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?