CHAPTER 1. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

Introduction:
We understand by faith that God exists. Look at the heaven, the earth and Oceans and you will perceive the Creator God. Let us begin with God to understand the basic Bible doctrines.

The Bible opens with the truth that God does exist. The first verse of the Bible solves all problems. Let us believe the first Bible verse. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). God is the Creator of all things in the Universe. All things were created by the Word of God. He is the Living God.

“…The Living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them”(Acts 14:15). “By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

God the Creator framed the worlds by the word of God. The visible things are made by the invisible. Hr creates out of nothing. God speaks Word and things come into existence. I talked to God today and He heard and answers my prayer. I know and believe God exists.

1. PROOF FROM NATURE:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork”(Psalm 19:1). “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”(Romans 1:20).

When we see the heavens, we see the glory of God. His invisible attributes like love, mercy, power, goodness, perfection, compassion and immortality are clearly seen. We understand His eternal power(energy) and Godhead. God’s power is eternal. It cannot be created of destroyed; but it can transform our life on earth.

“ There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory”( 1 Corinthians 15:41).

IV. DATE OF WRITING: 80-95 of First Century.

2. PROOF FROM CONSCIENCE:

All human beings have a universal faith in God Almighty. All of us know that He creates and controls. All the people in the world have conscience. The existence of God is written in human conscience. “who show the works of the law written in their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them”(Romans 2:15).

Conscience is a part of the heart( the inner man).Conscience bears witness whether something is good or bad. Conscience tells you to do good to others. The law of God is written in your inner being. Conscience tells you that there is a God even you did not know Him personally. In all things, people of this world are very religious. They believe in the invisible God who is the unknown God to them.

Atheists are fools and said in their hearts, ’there is no God’. They are liars who have silenced their conscience by blatant unbelief. Some men are so blind that they may deny the existence of the sun. But the fact is it exists, rises and sets each day. Honest men believe in the existence of God. Moon, stars and sun are the creations of God.

3. ARGUMENTS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD:

(i) Cosmological argument (ii) Teleological argument
(iii) Moral argument (iv) Life argument (v) Congruity argument.

Cosmological Argument: If there is a cause, there must be an effect. Someone built this building. Engineer is the cause, Building is the effect. Someone created the trees. The builder built the house. Here is a book. A person had written it. We believe in the existence of an intelligent being whom we call God. “He who built the house has more honor than the house”.

Teleological Argument: A watch exists. But it has a designer. It is designed for the purpose of accurately telling the time. Similarly, the world is designed by an intelligent mind for a specific purpose in life. Our life must be a purpose driven life.

“ For He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him”( Colossians 1:16).

God is the Master designer of the universe. He created the sun, Moon and stars. He created the plants, animals, birds, visible things and invisible things and human beings through His word. Jesus is the Word of God. He is the first born over all creation. God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father of us all believers.

The Moral Argument: The Creator God is not merely an inanimate force, but a living intelligent moral being. Therefore, man has an intellectual and moral nature. “ Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness,…so God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them”( Genesis 1:26,27).

We human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. God is holy and righteous. We must have this divine nature. Our creator is a moral being. God has given to man ears, eyes, knowledge, intelligence and will power.

The Life Argument: Physical life comes from physical life. Spiritual life is imparted to us from God who has and is the eternal life. Life does not come from inert materials. Life comes from divine life. Biology proves this fact. The apple tree gets its life from the parent tree., the lamp from the mother sheep. Where did human beings get life from? Adam and Eve the original creation. They were created by the living God. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus said: “ I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may dis, he shall live”( John 11:25). “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”(John 14:6 ).

Jesus is the life. He gives us eternal life when we put our faith in Him. All life proceeds from God. The theory of spontaneous generation has been proved false. True science says that life must have a beginning. That beginning was/is with God. God is our life and the length of our days.

The Congruity Argument: We need to accept the existence of GOD as the Creator of the world. This fact firs all the facts of the Scripture, revelation, knowledge and science. The theory of atheism solves no problems, but only multiplies unsolved mysteries. Atheism is only doubt and unbelief.

Conclusion: Genesis 1:1 leads a sincere believer in to the path of further revelation of God. “ But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”( Hebrews 11:6). We must believe that God exists. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Let us come to God our Father as dear little children by believing and trusting Him completely. God is our Father. Have faith in God.

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Write: Genesis 1:1 from your memory.2. Who made the heaven, the earth, and the seas. Explain: Acts 14:15. 3. Give two Scriptures to prove the existence of God. 4. What are the invisible attributes of God? 5. Why Atheists deny God’s existence? 6. What is the argument from cause to prove the existence of God? 7. What is the Teleological argument to prove the existence of God? 8. Explain the life argument for God’s existence? 9. Write: Hebrews 11:6. 10. What is a prerequisite for faith in God?