5 Proofs of God’s Existence | Classic Proofs for the Existence of God
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on God
Do we believe that God exists because of some “leap of faith” or is there real evidence for God’s existence? God “did not leave Himself without witness” (Acts 14:17). There is much evidence. It is not some “leap of faith” or some assumption as some teach! There is credible evidence for God’s existence. Here are 5 proofs of God’s existence.
The Teleological Argument
The first of these proofs involves the material universe and deals with order and design. Sometimes it is called the “watch argument”. When a person picks up a watch, he or she knows because of order an design, there must have been a “designer.” Only a fool would believe that a watch “just happened.” The universe is X to the nth degree more complex than any watch, therefore there must have been a designer. That designer is God. David used this argument in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
The Anthropological Argument
The second of the 5 proofs of God’s existence involves the moral law within man. Sometimes it is called the “moral argument”. Briefly stated, the moral law within man implies a moral Creator – God! The infidel would argue that morality “evolved”. However, animals exist, yet they have no moral code. The fact is, if God does not exist, then there is no such thing as evil. Paul used this argument in Romans 2:14-15.
The Cosmological Argument
This argument deals with “cause” and “effect”. Nothing comes from nothing. Everything except that which is eternal must have an adequate cause. Thus, the world exists back to a creative cause, and that cause is God. Since matter cannot create itself, the existing cosmos is an undeniable evidence of the Creator. This argument is used in Hebrews 3:4.
The Ontological Argument
This argument concerns philosophy. It is based on the fact that man is “incurably religious”. Of the 5 proofs of God’s existence this is the most compelling to some. There is something about man that he or she reaches beyond this material/physical world into a spiritual realm. No matter how hard one looks, one cannot find a culture nor civilization where man is not in some way religious. The atheist believes that this is some “psychological inadequacy”. However, the reality is that atheism is not normal, and the atheist is the one with the psychotic deficiency. The Psalmist David said, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4).
The Biblical Argument
This argument deals with the supernatural characteristics of the Bible. It states that if the Bible contains properties beyond the capabilities of man, then the Bible is not the product of mere humans but is the product of God, and if it is from God, then God must exist. The Bible does contain properties that are beyond human inventions such as predictive prophecy. Humans cannot accurately predict the future. Yet, the Bible contains predictions of meticulous details centuries before their fulfillment (The Evidence Of Divine Prophecy). Thus, the Bible is not the invention of man but is indeed from God.
Conclusion
In light of the above evidence, David wrote, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). Since God is knowable through credible “faith” (Hebrews 11:1; Acts 14:17; Romans 1:20; Romans 10:17), all men are accountable to Him (Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:16; Romans 14:11-12). Here we have listed 5 proofs of God’s existence. You must decide.