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How to Prove the Existence of God

“It takes no brains to be an atheist. Any stupid person can deny the existence of a supernatural power because man’s physical senses cannot detect it. But there cannot be ignored the influence of conscience, the respect we feel for the Moral Law, the mystery of first life . . . or the marvelous order in which the universe moves about us on this earth. All these evidence the handiwork of the beneficent Deity. . . That Deity is the God of the Bible and Jesus Christ, His Son.” D WIGHT E ISENHOWER

K i r k ’ s C o m me nt

Proving God’s existence is not difficult. But as it has been said, many atheists don’t want to be “confused by the facts.” Our job is to demonstrate Truth. The Holy Spirit is the One who can open an unbeliever’s heart to receive that Truth.

QUESTIONS & OBJECTIONS “Who made God?” To one who examines the evidence, there can be no doubt that God exists. The fact of the existence of the Creator is axiomatic (self-evident). That’s why the Bible says, “The fool has said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). The professing atheist denies the common sense given to him by

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God, and defends his belief by thinking that the question “Who made God?” can’t be answered. This, he thinks, gives him license to deny the existence of God. The question of who made God can be answered by simply looking at space and asking, “Does space have an end?” Obviously, it doesn’t. If there is a brick wall with “The End” written on it, the question arises, “What is behind the brick wall?” Strain the mind though it may, we have to believe (have faith) that space has no beginning and no end. The same applies with God. He has no beginning and no end. He is eternal. The Bible also informs us that time is a dimension that God created, into which man was subjected. It even tells us that one day time will no longer exist. That will be called “eternity.” God Himself dwells outside of the dimension He created (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2); He dwells in eternity and is not subject to time. God spoke history before it came into being. He can move through time as a man flips through a history book. Because we live in the dimension of time, logic and reason demand that everything must have a beginning and an end. We can understand the concept of God’s eternal nature the same way we understand the concept of space having no beginning or end—by faith. We simply have to believe they are so, even though such thoughts put a strain on our distinctly insufficient cerebrum. w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m w o t m

here are many who say, “You can’t prove or disprove God. It’s all a matter of faith.” However, the existence of God has nothing to do with “faith.” This is why. When we look at a building, how do we know that there was a builder? We can’t see him, hear him, touch, taste, or smell him. Of course, the building is proof that there was a builder. In fact, we couldn’t want better evidence that there was a builder than to have the building in front of us. We don’t need “faith” to know that there was a builder—all we need are eyes that can see and a brain that works. This same profound, intellectual principle applies to paintings and painters. When we look at a painting, how can we know that there was a

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painter? Why, the painting is perfectly positive proof that there was a painter. In fact, we couldn’t want better evidence that there was a painter than to have the painting in front of us. Isn’t it true? (Pause for a moment and visualize a painting.) We don’t need “faith” to believe in a painter—all we need are eyes that can see and a brain that works. This is so simple that a child can understand it. The only ones who have trouble with its simplicity are those who profess to be intellectuals. No wonder man is searching for intelligent life in the universe. Everything on this earth that was “made” has a maker. The same principle of building/builder, painting/painter applies with the existence of God. When we look at creation, how can we know that there was a Creator? We can’t see Him, hear Him, touch Him, taste Him, or smell Him. How can we know that He exists? Why, creation proves, beyond the shadow of the smallest doubt, that there is a Creator. You cannot have a “creation” without a Creator. (Webster’s dictionary defines “creation” as “the act of creating; especially the act of bringing the world into ordered existence.”) We couldn’t want better proof that a Creator exists than to have creation in front of us. We don’t need “faith” to believe in a Creator —all we need are eyes that can see and a brain that works. The Bible tells us, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen [by the eyes that can see], being understood [by a brain that works] by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). If, however, we want the builder to do something for us, then we need to have faith in him. This is where “faith” enters, in the form of “trust”: Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

Let’s put it another way: Only without doubt it is possible to please Him, for he who comes to God must not believe that He doesn’t exist.

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QUESTIONS 1. When we look at a building, how do we know that there was a builder?

2. When we look at a painting, how can we know that there was a painter?

3. When we look at creation, how can we know that there was a Creator?

4. What does someone need to be able to figure this out?

5. Do we need “faith” to believe in a Creator?

6. According to Romans 1:20, why does humanity have no excuse for not recognizing God?

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7. Could you explain who made God?

P R E A C H E R’S P R O G R E S S Ken Outwitgod: “I’ve looked at women with lust, but I enjoy it.” Christian: “There’s no argument there. The Bible acknowledges that sin has pleasure, but it’s only for a season.” Ken Outwitgod: “What I want to know is, how much can I sin and still make it to heaven?” Christian: “Don’t you have any fear of God?” Ken Outwitgod: “No. I will repent just before I die. The thief on the cross did.” Christian: “So you know about the cross?” Ken Outwitgod: “Yes. I used to go to Sunday school.” Christian: “Do you know what your problem is?” Ken Outwitgod: “What?” Christian: “Idolatry.” Ken Outwitgod: “What’s that?” Christian: “You have the concept of a god that you think can be fooled; your god isn’t too bright. In doing so, you have made a god to suit yourself. That’s called ‘idolatry,’ and it’s a transgression of the Second of the Ten Commandments.” Ken Outwitgod: “I didn’t know that.” Christian: “What you are saying is that you think your Creator will let you do things that greatly offend Him, and then allow you to repent at

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the last minute. However, He may just kill you before you repent, and then you will end up in hell...for eternity.” Ken Outwitgod: “God doesn’t kill people.” Christian: “Your non-existent god doesn’t, but the God of the Bible does, and He’s the God you must face on Judgment Day. Didn’t they tell you that in Sunday school?” Ken Outwitgod: “No.” Christian: “He killed a man in Genesis 38, because He didn’t like what he did sexually. He also killed a man and his wife in the Book of Acts, because they told one lie. Ken Outwitgod: “I didn’t know that.” Christian: “You do now. There is no way you can fool God, Ken. He has seen every sin you have ever committed. He has even seen your thoughtlife. He’s been patient with you up until now by not treating you according to your sins. Isn’t that true?” Ken Outwitgod: “I guess He has.”

FEATHERS FOR ARROWS Many years ago, I ran a children’s club. At the end of the club I told about one hundred kids to line up for some candy. There was an immediate rush, and the line sorted itself into what I saw as a line of greed. The bigger, selfish kids were at the front, and the small and timid ones were at the back. So I did something that gave me great satisfaction. I instructed them to do an about-face and to stay where they were. I then took great delight in going to the other end of the line and giving the candy to the smaller, timid kids first. In a world where the rich get richer and the poor get stomped on, we are informed that God has gone to the other end of the line with the message of everlasting life. How has He done that? Simply by choosing that which is weak, base, and despised. You can see this by asking a skeptic, “Do you believe that the following biblical accounts actually happened?”

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Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark, Jonah and the whale, Joshua and the walls of Jericho, Samson and his long hair, Daniel and the lion’s den, Moses and the Red Sea

Memory Verse “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world 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

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Of course he doesn’t. To say that he believed such fantastic stories would mean that he would have to surrender his intellectual dignity. Who in his right mind would ever do that? The answer is simply those who understand that God has chosen foolish, weak, base, and despised things of the world to confound those who think they are wise. Last Words Perigood-Talleyrand (1754–1838), the renowned French statesman best remembered as Foreign Minister under Napoleon and later Foreign Minister to Louis XVIII, was likewise known for his infidel leanings. At his deathbed, King Louis asked Talleyrand how he felt. He replied: “I am suffering, Sire, the pangs of the damned.”