Not yet settled in your mind if God exists and should matter to you? Or maybe you’re a Christian, but you want a better defense for God’s existence before friends and family.
If we go the Bible, it’s easy to make an answer. Genesis 1:1 alone says, “In the beginning, God…” There’s no more explanation where God came from; it doesn’t try to prove God’s existence. Rather, it presupposes that God exists even before time began.
There are other Scriptural proofs for the existence of God. But sometimes, the testimony of the Scripture is not convincing enough to some of us—especially to those opposed to the truth.
So let me give you seven best reasonable arguments that God exists. (Don’t get intimidated with the technical terms. Trust me, they’re just terms)
1. Ontological argument
Since man has a natural idea of a perfect and supreme being, the idea must be real. A concept of a “God” in our minds must be proof enough of such reality.
But we know we can’t conclude real existence from every theory or thought. A person may believe in “aliens” and “multiverse,” but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re real.
Still, it’s one of the arguments that theologians and philosophers in history used to prove God exists.
2. Cosmological argument
Everything that exists must have an ultimate cause. The law of cause and effect affirms that nothing exists or moves unless something or someone else causes it.
So if we look around us, we can ask, “Where did all these come from?”
Some may say, it’s evolution or a Big Bang. But even if such theories were true, who caused the explosion? Who initiated evolution? It must be God!
If we dare to ask, “Then, who made God?”… the question won’t apply. Should there be someone who created this being whom we call “God,” then that someone else would be the real “God” who is the uncreated source of all things.
The point is, that existence and reality must have an ultimate and absolute cause—a Supreme Being above all, who bears the title of being God.
3. Teleological argument
Intelligence, order, beauty, and purpose in nature implies the existence of an intelligent and purposeful being who created such world. This is a reason it’s hard to believe in evolution or a cosmic explosion. When we look at ourselves and surrounding nature, it’s hard to believe we came out of luck or indefinite process of time.
Consider the human body. Every single muscle, joint, organ, vein, and cell has a function and purpose.
Consider the planets. Experts believe that even the slightest distortion or misplacement of any planet in its orbit would result in total chaos.
In everything, there is intelligent design, which suggests nothing less than this: There must be a Supreme Being who has consciously and purposefully put everything in its place.
4. Moral argument
Man’s common judgement and understanding of good and evil implies that someone who is the ultimate Judge and Lawgiver placed it in man’s consciousness. Even among uncivilized communities, people have a common conviction that taking someone’s life unjustly is murder and stealing somebody else’s property is theft.
Our common conscience over what is morally good and evil must be purposefully placed by a Supreme Being who is Judge over all.
5. Ethnological argument
(Some theologians call this historical argument, but I’d rather use that word for another argument later).
Religious worship is universal. In every generation, race, and culture, people have an inherent desire to worship someone or something. So there must be someone who designed us to be religious beings, wired to render service and adoration.
6. Historical argument
History and science—especially archeology—can also affirm that the things recorded in Scripture happened in history. For instance, there is little to no doubt that the exodus of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt during the time of Moses was true.
Scripture gives an account of the miracles in the sight of people, which led to the exodus of a whole nation and the defeat of other nations until Israel was established in their land. If it wasn’t true, if Moses was lying in his writings, then Israel would deny it. If it wasn’t true that God was evidently with Moses, then a great host of men, women, and children wouldn’t have followed him.
But history affirms the historicity of the Bible events. And it proves that there is a God who works wonders and intervenes in the affairs of men.
The controversial argument
Now despite these rational proofs of the existence of God, most people who question God’s existence argue this way, “If God exists, why is there evil and suffering? If God exists, why is there injustice and poverty? Why did I have to lose my loved one?”
These are valid questions and struggles within our hearts. It’s hard to believe in a good and powerful God, while personally experience and witness the pains and hardships of this world.
And yet, evil and suffering in and of themselves do not invalidate the existence of God.
Think of a crumbled paper, covered with used oil, and left on the floor. It’s messy; it’s ugly. But it doesn’t mean no one is responsible for it. Somebody did it; somebody created that situation. We just don’t know why.
The same thing with God. The existence of evil and suffering doesn’t mean there’s no Creator and Supreme Ruler. Rather, it only raises the question, “Why would God allow evil and suffering in His creation?”
It’s not a matter of God’s existence, but a matter of His purpose and character—which we hope to look into some other time.
The point is: Considering all things, God exists and must exist.
The heart of the issue
So why do many people question the existence of God?
The heart of the issue is this: It’s not because there’s little evidence that God exists. We simply don’t want the God who exists. We prefer a God after our preferences and ideas. A God who will grant all our wishes, make everything easy for us, and will not judge us for however we want to live.
In one interview of an atheist professor, she was asked, “Why do you still teach evolution rather than intelligent design by God?” She replied, “We will teach whatever we want to teach.”
That’s our sinful nature. We want a god of our own. Or we may say, we want to be god ourselves—determining whatever we want to be true.
And so this leads us to the final and strongest argument for the existence of God…
7. The inward testimony of God’s Spirit
Even the rational arguments above won’t convince unless God Himself bears witness in our hearts that He exists and is true.
Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit [of God] bears witness with our spirit…” God Himself gives us believers the assurance that what we know and believe about God is true.
Yes, we know God ultimately through Scripture. And it is enough testimony for us. But it’s not blind faith. It’s a faith based on evidence; based on reality.
As we read God’s Word and witness reality—in us and the rest of creation—the Spirit of God Himself testifies and seals in our hearts the truth that He is real. That He is the God who is there and the God who is our God.
So if you know and believe God, be thankful. You’re blessed.
And as He said, “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD…” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
[…] is a God. While many people deny God’s existence, Christians believe that there’s plenty of evidence that God exists. But although nature is enough proof that God exists, the strongest evidence for God is the […]