CHRISTIAN LIVING 3

LESSON 4: THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

II. PROOF FROM CONSCIENCE
INTRODUCTION
− Man is born with a universal belief in a
− To begin our study in Bible doctrine, we ought supreme Being; no tribe has yet been
to begin with God. We are constantly discovered that lacks this. They know that
challenged by atheists, sceptics and hecklers some Being creates and controls.
to prove that there is a God. − Romans 2 :15, "Which shew the work of the
− It is difficult for natural man to believe in law written in their hearts, their conscience also
something that he cannot see, touch or feel (1 bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean
Corinthians. 2 :14). while accusing or else excusing one another.
− The problem for the Christian is solved with the “The existence of God is written in the human
first verse of the Bible, "In the beginning God conscience.
created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis − Acts 17 :23, "For as I passed by, and beheld
1:1). your devotions, I found an altar with this
− The Bible is not a textbook that attempts to inscription, To the Unknown God." Conscience
prove the existence of God-the Bible opens told them that there was a God though they did
with a positive fact that God does exist. It did not know Him personally.
not occur to any other writer of the Bible to − Some atheists may claim that their conscience
prove this fact. does not tell them about God. It is doubtful if a
− The Bible plainly states that it is the fool who genuine atheist can be found for at best they
denies the existence of God. Psalms 14 :1, are men who have stilled conscience by blatant
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no unbelief. Some men are so blind that they may
God." deny the existence of the sun in the sky but
− Anyone with any intelligence would that does not alter the fact that the sun exists,
acknowledge the evident fact of a living God. rises and sets each day.
The greatest proof apart from Scripture of the
existence of God is our daily fellowship with III. THE ARGUMENT FROM CAUSE
Him in prayer. I know that there is a God (COSMOLOGICAL)
because I talked to Him today and He heard
and answered the prayer of my heart though it − The world is here. It must have come from
was only whispered silently. somewhere. Somebody or something must
have caused it to come into being at one time
I. PROOF FROM SCRIPTURE or another. Here is a book. Someone must
have written it. No printing press can of itself
− Psalms 19 :1, "The heavens declare the glory produce a book, be it ever so modern a press
of God; and the firmament sheweth His with the latest electrical gadgets. Someone
handywork." The beauty and glory of the built the building. Someone created the trees.
heavens speak loudly saying, "God exists." Someone operates the universe. If all the
− Romans 1 :20 goes farther and suggests that pieces of a watch were placed in a can and the
creation even teaches about the eternal power can shaken gently for a million years the watch
of the Godhead, "For the invisible things of Him would not be "accidentally" put together and
from the creation of the world are clearly seen, running. The only sensible answer to the
being understood by the things that are made, problem of the existence of the world is the
even His eternal power and Godhead; so that existence of an intelligent Being whom we call
they are without excuse." The man who God.
accepts Scripture will readily acknowledge the
existence of God. Let us study some other less
convincing but nevertheless powerful
arguments.
 IV. THE ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN beginning. The only logical answer is that
(TELEOLOGICAL) beginning was with God.

− A watch not only exists but it has a designer. It

was planned for a specific purpose. A watch VII. THE ARGUMENT FROM CONGRUITY
was not designed for mosquitoes to live in. It
was designed by a keen mind for the purpose − The theory of atheism solves no problems but
of accurately telling the time. An examination only multiplies unsolved mysteries. The
of the world and the things large and small acceptance of the existence of God as Creator
shows that each is designed by an intelligent of the world is like a magic key that fits all the
mind for a specific purpose in life. The colours facts of Scripture, revelation, knowledge and
of the bird and means of defence of the science. This irrefutable doctrine is held
animals are not accidents. They are the result tenaciously by multitudes of souls who are
of a plan of a superior planning mind of the willing both to live and die in the consolation of
originator. this assurance.

V. THE MORAL ARGUMENT CONCLUSION

(ANTHROPOLOGICAL) − Atheism which is only giant doubt and unbelief
can only lead to darkness and despair for the
− Man has an intellectual and moral nature one accepting it. Acceptance of Gen. 1 :1, "In
showing that the Creator must not be merely the beginning God," leads a sincere seeker into
an inanimate force but a living, intelligent moral the path of a fuller revelation of God Himself
Being. − Hebrews 11 :6, "He that cometh to God must
− Genesis 1:26, "Let us make man in our image, believe that He is [exists]." Let us come as
after our likeness." Genesis 1:27, God created children in simple faith, based on the revelation
man in the image and likeness of God, that is, of God in Scripture and nature, believing and
patterned after Him. trusting Him completely.
− Psalms 94:9, "He that planted the ear, shall
He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He
not see?" God has given to man ears, eyes,
knowledge, intelligence, and will power for
these are the things that He possesses.
Conscience teaches man right and wrong,
good and bad; for the Creator is a moral Being
that is holy, and loves righteousness but
abhors evil.

VI. THE LIFE ARGUMENT

− Life comes from life and the original life must

have come from a Being possessing eternal
life, that is, life that existed before physical life
was created. Where can such life be found? It
can only be found in God who possesses
eternal life. Psalms 36:9, "For with Thee is the
fountain (source) of life." The apple tree gets its
life from the parent tree, the lamb from the
mother sheep.
− But where did they get life from? We go back
to the original creation. Jesus said in John
11:25, "I am... life," also in John 14:6, "I am . . .
life," and in John 10:28, "And I give unto them
eternal life.“ All life proceeds from God. The
theory of spontaneous generation has been
proved false and completely unacceptable to
authoritative science. Life must have a