Revelation –“Something that was previously unknown by man and
could only have been known by God, and therefore only revealed by God”
God has revealed Himself to mankind in a plethora of ways. The evidence for His existence is seen in the physical world in a general sense and supernaturally through His Son and Word.
Here are four arguments for the existence of God:
1. The cosmological argument is known as the cause and effect argument. Everything that exists must have an adequate cause, and an all-powerful intelligent God is certainly an adequate cause to explain our universe. He can be clearly seen as the creative power behind the natural world in which we live, and the celestial world we gaze into each evening.
Psalm 19:1-4a (ESV) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, …
Romans 1:20 (ESV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
2. The teleological argument looks at the order and design of our universe and demands that God must exist. If there is a design there must be a designer. Mankind himself as a living intelligent being supports the argument for a living and intelligent God.
Psalm 19:4 (NJB) but from the entire earth the design stands out, this message reaches the whole world. High above, he pitched a tent for the sun,
Psalm 19:6 (NLT) The sun rises at him one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
Psalms 94:8-9 (HCSB) Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise? 9 Can the One who shaped the ear not hear, the One who formed the eye not see?
3. The ontological argument is a deductive one. It reasons that the idea of a perfect and infinite Being cannot be derived from a finite and imperfect being. Therefore only an infinite Being could place such an idea in the mind of man. In essence we know instinctively that God exist; if He didn’t exist the atheist would have no reason to argue his case.
Here are four arguments for the existence of God:
1. The cosmological argument is known as the cause and effect argument. Everything that exists must have an adequate cause, and an all-powerful intelligent God is certainly an adequate cause to explain our universe. He can be clearly seen as the creative power behind the natural world in which we live, and the celestial world we gaze into each evening.
Psalm 19:1-4a (ESV) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, …
Romans 1:20 (ESV) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
2. The teleological argument looks at the order and design of our universe and demands that God must exist. If there is a design there must be a designer. Mankind himself as a living intelligent being supports the argument for a living and intelligent God.
Psalm 19:4 (NJB) but from the entire earth the design stands out, this message reaches the whole world. High above, he pitched a tent for the sun,
Psalm 19:6 (NLT) The sun rises at him one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
Psalms 94:8-9 (HCSB) Pay attention, you stupid people! Fools, when will you be wise? 9 Can the One who shaped the ear not hear, the One who formed the eye not see?
3. The ontological argument is a deductive one. It reasons that the idea of a perfect and infinite Being cannot be derived from a finite and imperfect being. Therefore only an infinite Being could place such an idea in the mind of man. In essence we know instinctively that God exist; if He didn’t exist the atheist would have no reason to argue his case.
“Unless [an atheist] is carrying on his fight against absolute
nothingness … then he must be [arguing] against something he finds
ingrained in himself and in others.” Addison Leitch
“Man doesn’t call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line.
What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? C. S. Lewis
Romans 1:18-19 (NLT) But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. [19] For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.
4. Special revelation takes a variety forms and gives evidentiary support for the existence of God. This supernatural revelation is primarily seen in the incarnate Christ and the distinctiveness of the Bible.
John 3:2 (HCSB) This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.”
The evidence for God’s existence is seen through the first advent of Christ, His miraculous works, eyewitness accounts, and historical writers.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NASB) God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
2 Peter 1:16-17 (NASB) For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"
The historical writers I speak of are not that of Matthew, John, Peter, or Paul, but of secular historians who were certainly no friends of Christianity. These writers such as Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, and Josephus just to name a few confirm the existence of Christ Jesus and His works.
The Bible also attests to the existence of God; it is accurate and trustworthy in all areas even beyond theology. No other ancient writings can even “hold a candle” to the number of known New Testament manuscripts in existence. Then we also have the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls which supports the trustworthiness of the Old Testament.
4. Special revelation takes a variety forms and gives evidentiary support for the existence of God. This supernatural revelation is primarily seen in the incarnate Christ and the distinctiveness of the Bible.
John 3:2 (HCSB) This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.”
The evidence for God’s existence is seen through the first advent of Christ, His miraculous works, eyewitness accounts, and historical writers.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NASB) God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
2 Peter 1:16-17 (NASB) For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"
The historical writers I speak of are not that of Matthew, John, Peter, or Paul, but of secular historians who were certainly no friends of Christianity. These writers such as Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, and Josephus just to name a few confirm the existence of Christ Jesus and His works.
The Bible also attests to the existence of God; it is accurate and trustworthy in all areas even beyond theology. No other ancient writings can even “hold a candle” to the number of known New Testament manuscripts in existence. Then we also have the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls which supports the trustworthiness of the Old Testament.
“Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself,
but because it contradicts them.” - Author unknown
Searcher your hearts and know this for sure; the God Who formed the universe also sent His Son to redeem us from our sin. He not only exists – He also loves you.
Blessings,
Rod
Blessings,
Rod
