There are myriad views on not
only the nature of God but also His very existence. Humans have limited
perception of the complexities of our immediate world and the universe as a
whole. The irony is that God’s nature is not one of confusion, but of peace.
First Corinthians 14:33 states, “For God is not a God of confusion but of
peace.” The key to overcoming confusion is not to avoid the question
altogether, but to focus on the very One whom many choose to ignore (Philippians
4:6–7).
We should eagerly address the real, concrete problems facing humanity, such as poverty, illiteracy, and disease, and it is true that debates about the existence and nature of God can keep us from concentrating on those challenges. So, why should any of us care whether or not God exists? To the believer, it is the theological question above all others. To the unconvinced, it remains a philosophical issue. Theology, to the agnostic, is merely a human invention; the question of God’s existence seems pointless.
The Bible’s presentation of God shows why His existence matters. God’s holy nature is revealed in contrast to human (sinful) nature, and the Bible gives mankind a standard of right and wrong. Without an arbiter, there is no final authority to weigh the values we establish for ourselves (Psalm 19:7–11). Who is to say one thing is wrong and another right? Why is it incumbent upon us to help those in need? By what authority can we object to illiteracy? If there is no God, and life on earth is simply “survival of the fittest,” then why should anyone work to feed the hungry? Upon what standard do we lay the foundation of our morality?
God reveals to us His essence: “I AM WHO I AM” (see Exodus 3:3–15). This statement speaks to God’s self-existence, which is fully independent of mankind’s perceptions of Him. He encompasses everything, and He Himself is the standard of what is good. Psalm 19:1–5 paints a beautiful picture of God’s eternal nature and His revelation of that nature in His creation.
The question of God’s existence is important because, on a practical level, if God does exist, there is a good chance that He wants to connect with us and that He requires the meeting of certain standards to make that happen. So, the question is central to everything. We are either created in God’s image, or we are not. Love and compassion are either part of God’s nature (and therefore to be reflected in us), or they are products of a random biological accident (and therefore unnecessary). Our existence has significance (or insignificance) depending on the existence (or nonexistence) of God. Meeting the temporal, material problems of mankind is important, but meeting the eternal, spiritual problems of mankind is even more important.
The Bible says mankind has been spoiled by sin. In fact, the pressing global problems that we face today are, ultimately, the result of sin. The question of God’s existence then becomes of utmost importance, because to ignore God’s existence is to ignore the reality of sin and thus the root of the world’s problems.
Fortunately, God has provided a way to forgive sin and restore our fellowship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16, Romans 3:21–26). Sinful man is spiritually dead and often rejects any notion of the one true God. John 3:19 states, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” It is God who brings us to faith in His Son through the Holy Spirit (John 6:41–51). Salvation is a gift God offers to all mankind (John 3:16). Our role is simply to believe what God says and yield to His Spirit. The validity of this message, of course, is contingent upon God’s existence!
Why do people attempt to persuade others to agree with their view of God’s existence? Why can’t Christians keep their faith within the confines of their homes and churches, as they are often told to do? The motivation for many Christians is that they want everyone to have the opportunity to fellowship with God. Also, Christianity is inherently evangelistic. One of Jesus’ mandates is to spread the gospel and make disciples. This outreach is done out of love, and it is an endemic principle of the Christian faith.
While no one has seen God, He manifests Himself to us in a number of ways. First, God is made known through His creation (Romans 1:20). The willing observer can look all around him, see God’s handiwork, and spend a lifetime in wonderment at the intricacies and interdependence of all physical things. Scripture states it is foolish to deny there is a God (Psalm 14:1). The universe was clearly designed, and we have been created with an ability to comprehend it at some level. Scripture is unambiguous that God has given us everything we need to acknowledge His existence (Job 38).
God also reveals Himself through His Word (Psalm 19:7–11). The Bible teaches us of God’s nature, and it instructs us in morality (1 Timothy 3:16). The supreme expression of God is to be found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15).
The plain fact is that God does exist. He loves us and wants to bring us from spiritual death to life in His Son, Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
6 Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 19:7-11 NKJV
7
The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise the simple;
8
The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord
is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9
The fear of the Lord is
clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they
than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and
the honeycomb.
11
Moreover by them Your servant
is warned,
And in keeping them there is
great reward.
Exodus 3:3-15 KJV
3 And Moses said, I will now
turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4 And when the Lord saw that
he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and
said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5 And he said, Draw not nigh
hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place where on thou
standest is holy ground.
6 Moreover he said, I am the
God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
7 And the Lord said, I have
surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard
their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
8 And I am come down to
deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that
land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;
unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the
Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
9 Now therefore, behold, the
cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the
oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
10 Come now therefore, and I
will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the
children of Israel out of Egypt.
11 And Moses said unto God,
Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the
children of Israel out of Egypt?
12 And he said, Certainly I
will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee:
When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon
this mountain.
13 And Moses said unto God,
Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The
God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is
his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I
Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I
Am hath sent me unto you.
15 And God said moreover unto
Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your
fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent
me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all
generations.
Psalm 19:1-5 NKJV
The Perfect Revelation of the
Lord
To the Chief Musician. A
Psalm of David.
19 The heavens declare the
glory of God;
And the firmament shows His
handiwork.
2
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals
knowledge.
3
There is no speech nor
language
Where their voice is not
heard.
4
Their line has gone out
through all the earth,
And their words to the end of
the world.
In them He has set a
tabernacle for the sun,
5
Which is like a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong
man to run its race.
John 3:16 NKJV
16 For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 3:21-26 NKJV
God’s Righteousness Through
Faith
21 But now the righteousness
of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the
Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to
all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation
by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to
demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and
the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
John 3:19 NKJV
19 And this is the
condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 6:41-51 NKJV
Rejected by His Own
41 The Jews then complained
about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42
And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 Jesus therefore answered
and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me
unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last
day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’
Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46
Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the
Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting
life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the
wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven,
that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down
from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread
that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
John 3:16 NKJV
16 For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 1:20 NKJV
20 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,
Psalm 14:1NKJV
Folly of the Godless, and
God’s Final Triumph
To the Chief Musician. A
Psalm of David.
14 The fool has said in his
heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable
works,
There is none who does good.
The Lord Reveals His
Omnipotence to Job
38 Then the Lord answered Job
out of the whirlwind, and said:
2
“Who is this who darkens
counsel
By words without knowledge?
3
Now prepare yourself like a
man;
I will question you, and you
shall answer Me.
4
“Where were you when I laid
the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have
understanding.
5
Who determined its
measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line
upon it?
6
To what were its foundations
fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7
When the morning stars sang
together,
And all the sons of God
shouted for joy?
8
“Or who shut in the sea with
doors,
When it burst forth and
issued from the womb;
9
When I made the clouds its
garment,
And thick darkness its
swaddling band;
10
When I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11
When I said,
‘This far you may come, but
no farther,
And here your proud waves
must stop!’
12
“Have you commanded the
morning since your days began,
And caused the dawn to know
its place,
13
That it might take hold of
the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out
of it?
14
It takes on form like clay
under a seal,
And stands out like a
garment.
15
From the wicked their light
is withheld,
And the upraised arm is
broken.
16
“Have you entered the springs
of the sea?
Or have you walked in search
of the depths?
17
Have the gates of death been revealed
to you?
Or have you seen the doors of
the shadow of death?
18
Have you comprehended the
breadth of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all
this.
19
“Where is the way to the
dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its
place,
20
That you may take it to its
territory,
That you may know the paths
to its home?
21
Do you know it, because you
were born then,
Or because the number of your
days is great?
22
“Have you entered the
treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury
of hail,
23
Which I have reserved for the
time of trouble,
For the day of battle and
war?
24
By what way is light diffused,
Or the east wind scattered
over the earth?
25
“Who has divided a channel
for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the
thunderbolt,
26
To cause it to rain on a land
where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there
is no man;
27
To satisfy the desolate
waste,
And cause to spring forth the
growth of tender grass?
28
Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops
of dew?
29
From whose womb comes the
ice?
And the frost of heaven, who
gives it birth?
30
The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep
is frozen.
31
“Can you bind the cluster of
the Pleiades,
Or lose the belt of Orion?
32
Can you bring out Mazzaroth
in its season?
Or can you guide the Great
Bear with its cubs?
33
Do you know the ordinances of
the heavens?
Can you set their dominion
over the earth?
34
“Can you lift up your voice
to the clouds,
That an abundance of water
may cover you?
35
Can you send out lightnings,
that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we
are!’?
36
Who has put wisdom in the
mind?
Or who has given understanding
to the heart?
37
Who can number the clouds by
wisdom?
Or who can pour out the
bottles of heaven,
38
When the dust hardens in
clumps,
And the clods cling together?
39
“Can you hunt the prey for
the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of
the young lions,
40
When they crouch in their
dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie
in wait?
41
Who provides food for the
raven,
When its young ones cry to
God,
And wander about for lack of
food?
Psalm 19:7-11NKJV
7
The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise the simple;
8
The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord
is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9
The fear of the Lord is
clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they
than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and
the honeycomb.
11
Moreover by them Your servant
is warned,
And in keeping them there is
great reward.
1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV
16 And without controversy
great is the [a]mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the
flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
Colossians 1:15 NKJV
15 He is the image of the
invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
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