· Theology Proper ·

Lecture Eighteen:  The Existence of God

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”  (Ps 14:1; 53:1)

I. Internal Evidence for God’s Existence:  The Sensus Divinitatis

A. All People Possess a Sense of God’s Existence

“There is within the human mind, and indeed by natural instinct, an awareness of divinity.”  (John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.iii.1)

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”  (Rom 1:18-20)

B. Some People Suppress This Sense of God’s Existence

C. For Believers, This Innate Knowledge of God Grows

“You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  (Rom 8:15-16)

II. External Evidence For God’s Existence:  Revelation and Reason

A. The Witness of Scripture

B. The Witness of Nature

1. The Concept of Natural Revelation

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…”  (Rom 1:20)

“Yet he has not left himself without testimony:  He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”  (Acts 14:17)

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.”  (Ps 19:1-2)

“[I]n one sense, everything that exists gives evidence of God’s existence.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 142)

2. “Proofs” For God’s Existence

a. The Cosmological Argument

The argument from nature. If we look at the universe, we know that it came from something.

b. The Teleological Argument

There has to be a starting point. A place where things were set into motion. “The uncaused beginning (Aquinas).”

teloV (telos; “end, goal, purpose”)

something that has purpose must have given it one. The watchmaker…

c. The Ontological Argument

God is a being than nothing greater can exist. You can’t think of anything bigger/better than God.

d. The Moral Argument

We have this innate need for justice. Everyone has it, this must have come from somewhere.

III. Conclusion

In all this, we have solid evidence that God must exist.

2 Cor 4:4.  “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

1 Cor 1:21.  “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

1 Cor 2:5.  “…your faith [does] not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

“We are dependent upon God to remove the blindness and irrationality caused by sin and to enable us to evaluate the evidence rightly, believe what Scripture says, and come to saving faith in Christ.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 144)