by Owen Olbricht

Adequate evidence is available to convince anyone who wants to do God’s will that God exists, that the Bible is his word, and that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. David wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1). That statement in the Psalms might sound arrogant and bigoted to an unbeliever, but the failure to believe that God exists may appear as foolishness when almost everything in the universe affirms that there is a Creator.

Quoting the Bible to prove God exists is a weak way to lead someone to faith in God. Some have said, “It is so because the Bible says so.” That is not a good response unless there is evidence in the Bible itself that it is the word of God.

In a sense, the Bible assumes God is the mind that inspired the men who wrote the Bible. The nature of the Bible itself, however, is evidence that it is from God, and, therefore, that he exists. If I write a letter, I do not have to prove I exist. The letter itself is proof of my existence. The Bible has ample proof that mortal man could not have been the mind behind the writing of the Bible and that a Mind greater than that of a man is its author.

What I intend to do is to present principles from the Bible, that can point to the existence of God.

FOUR IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES

1. The creation is so designed that all that is needed for the life, health, and happiness of man is built into our planet.

On Paul's first missionary journey, he confronted the idolatrous people of Lystra with the challenge that God left witness of his existence by providing good things that sa tisfied all their needs. As John Clayton pointed out that those who accept intelligent design believe, “… if God designed the world for human habitation, he would have built into it a large number of devices to assist humans living on the planet.” (John Clayton, Does God Exist? March/April 2013, 22).

Paul presented this principle by stating, “Nevertheless, he did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17, all references are from the NKJV).

2. The glory, creative ability, and existence of the Creator can be seen in his creative works.

Perhaps David was moved to write the following observation based on his gazing into the starry heavens on clear nights as he tended his father's sheep.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament [expanse] shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1, 2).

3. The reality, nature, and existence of the Creator can be understand by what exists.

The Gentiles had given themselves over to dumb idols. As a result, they were worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. Paul maintained that this was inexcusable because God's invisible attributes are revealed by what he created. “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).

4. A house does not just happen, but it is evidence of a builder. So also the creation speaks of a Creator.

The purpose of the writer of the book of Hebrews was to show the superiority of Jesus over Moses, who was only a servant in God's house (Hebrews 3:3). Instead of a servant, Jesus was the builder of the house. The writer correctly affirmed that a house must have a builder, as also does this universe. “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God” (Hebrews 3:4).

EVIDENCE ABOUT JESUS

The evidence of a Creator is adequate — more is not needed. This is also true of evidence that Jesus is the Christ of God, based on God's witness through Jesus' works, and that of witnesses of his works. “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater … he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because He has not believed the witness that God has given of His Son” (1 John 5:9a, 10b).

God gave testimony concerning Jesus by verbal confirmation (Matthew 3:17; 17:5) and through miraculous works that Jesus performed (John 5:36). “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, and wonders” (Acts 2:22). “… these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).

UNBELIEVERS

In spite of all the evidence, why do some not believe? Many reasons may be given. The Bible gives some.

1. Satisfaction with abundance of possessions. “Feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ ” (Proverbs 30:8b, 9a).

2. Hard and impenitent hearts. “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:4, 5).

3. Not being convinced by obvious miracles as testified in the Bible (John 6:26). “But although [Jesus] had done so may signs before them, they did not believe in him” (John 12:37).

4. Lack of desire to do God’s will. “Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority’ ” (John 7:16, 17).

ADEQUATE EVIDENCE

The evidence for the existence of God, the inspiration of the Bible, and the deity of Jesus is adequate for those who desire to do God's will. No more is needed and no more will be given. Our responsibility is to search for the truth and accept the truth that is revealed. The stakes are high. Those who believe and are born again have hope in Jesus that they will have eternal life in heaven (1 Peter 1:3, 4). Those who do not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15, 16).

Picture credits:
© Zurijeta. Image from BigStockPhoto.com.
© nopow. Image from BigStockPhoto.com.
© Sergey Nivens. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
© pelooyen. Image from BigStockPhoto.com.