I Believe God is There
I believe in the God of the Bible: the personal-infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, holy and righteous triune God. I described Him in the article The God I Believe In. He stands out from all the gods of all non-biblical religions.
I believe in the God of the Bible: the personal-infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, holy and righteous triune God. I described Him in the article The God I Believe In. He stands out from all the gods of all non-biblical religions.
Some religions see their gods as persons, but they are limited – not infinite. Others represent their god as infinite force, but without conscious personhood.
Only in Scripture (or in religions influenced by Scripture) will you find the God who is both infinite and personal.
One other feature sets the God of the Bible apart from the other gods: HE ACTUALLY EXISTS.
The God Who is There
Modern atheists or naturalists have something in common with pagan religionists. They believe that Nature (physical matter & physical force) includes all that exists.
Nature, as they see it, is ultimately irrational (non-reasoning) and random or chaotic.
These beliefs introduce a basic contradiction into their belief system. They may try to use reason (logic) to disprove the existence of God, but they cannot explain how reason exists in a non-reasoning universe. They cannot logically reconcile ultimate irrationality with their own use of logic.
Christians do not face this inconsistency. The personal infinite God of Scripture is the ultimate being, and He is fully rational. Since he made mankind in His image, it is perfectly sensible that He created us with reasoning minds.
Atheism contains another basic contradiction in that it cannot give a reasonable account of how order has come out of ultimate chaos.
The God described in the Bible has ordered all of creation according to His purposes. There is no contradiction here for the Christian.
All atheists, therefore, are left with two choices: self-contradiction or the God of the Bible.
Accusing the God Who is There
There are some atheists who reveal deep-seated anger against God. They say that they do not believe in God because He is immoral or that He is unjust. They say that a just God would not allow all the pain and suffering that we find in the world.
This reasoning, too, harbors basic contradictions.
First, this kind of atheist is saying that he refuses to believe in God because he does not like Him. But denial of God does not make the hard realities go away. In fact, it cuts this person off from the one and only possible solution to those hard realities.
Second, the atheist who claims that God has violated some code of justice or morality is entwined in another basic inconsistency. How do the very concepts of justice and morality arise in an ultimately irrational and random world?
This kind of atheist, though, serves a useful purpose. He or she helps to illustrate the real source and cause of unbelief.
Why They Deny the God Who is There
The real question is not, “Is there evidence that God exists?” You see, there is nothing but evidence for His existence.
It lies not only around you, but also in you. The Bible says,
[T]hat which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed 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 Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:19-20)
The real question is, “Why doesn't everyone believe in Him?” To answer that question, think back to the atheist who is angry at God.
His problem is not lack of information, but a lack of inclination. The fact of God confronts him at every turn, but he refuses to acknowledge it because of his personal anger.
This is just one expression of a universal human trait. Very early in the history of our race, a fatal flaw was introduced that has infected every one of us.
That flaw is every person's desire to live independent of God. The Bible puts it this way:
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way . . . . (Isa 53:6)
It also says that , on some level, people “suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18)
What About Sin?
Don’t most Christians say that sin is the big problem that separates us from God? Yes, and they are right.
When you think of sin, you probably think of breaking rules. The Bible even says,
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 3:4)
But it is mankind’s inborn desire to live independently of God that provides the motive and desire to break God’s laws. “We have turned every one to his own way.”
This is the sin principle in the heart of human beings that keeps them from acknowledging the God of Scripture.
You may not be an atheist, but if you choose to believe in a god other than the one described in the Bible, or if you just ignore Him and refuse to acknowledge Him in all you do, then you are living in terms of the inborn sin principle. You are trying to go your own way.
Why Do Christians Believe?
Christians do not believe because they are better or smarter people. They believe for one simple reason: the grace of God.
The Bible teaches,
. . . the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance [repentance = change of mind] (Romans 2:4)
An old catechism for children puts this truth in practical terms:
Q. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power?
A. No; I can do nothing good without the help of God's Holy Spirit.
A. No; I can do nothing good without the help of God's Holy Spirit.
Q. How can you get the help of the Holy Spirit?
A. God has told us that we must pray to him for the Holy Spirit.
A. God has told us that we must pray to him for the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 139 shows that God is the one, great inescapable Fact of life. Will you pray for His Spirit to reveal this truth to you?
O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. . . .
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 uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me;” even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. (verses 1, 7-12)If you email me at gravelbelly@gmail.com, I will be happy to make arrangements to further discuss the Bible's teachings about God.
