Proving the existence of God

[JamesSuth]

I was asked by someone about whether God exists and why I believe there is a God. My answer was that I can’t prove that God exists, and nor do I think that is the desired thing to do. I think of Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” I think of it like a relationship with a loved one. If I have to prove that I love my brother, its no longer a loving relationship. A true relationship requires faith in each other, and so it is with God.

That being said, if someone wants to believe in God why do I believe that He exists? My answer is that as I read the Bible it seems to be entirely about the sin of humanity and that Jesus came to forgive sinners, like me. I would invite anyone to take a casual (or better still serious) read of the Bible and tell me if the overall theme is of something other than the sin of humanity. When I look around me the evidence that I see confirms what I read in the Bible. And when I look inside myself, all I see is sin. There is nothing good inside me and I am desperately sorry for all that I am.

Jesus said that he came for those like me (Matthew (9:12) "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 says “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them” and we are told in the famous verse of John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” All I can say is that in my life, in my heart, I have gone to Christ for forgiveness and I found it. I am not guilty any more and I’ve been set free from all of that evil in my own life.

That is why I believe in Christ, in God, that He is real and that all he says about the world, sin, forgiveness and heaven is true. I encourage anyone who might read this to pray to Jesus for forgiveness and He will answer your prayer. When they do, that is only the beginning. There is so much life to come in this life, and in eternity to come.

 

[Moonlight]

Before you read this, understand that I'm trying to help you with this and that I don't mean to sound rude.


I disagree. I don't think that having a proof for God's existence is undesirable at all.
Biblical faith is not unfounded, it is a reasoned belief


Let me separate some definitions.

Faith can be reasoned belief
and
Faith can also be faithfulness, (trust, loyalty, etc...) to someone/something


It's important to defend your position against the skeptic to give people an answer for your belief. It's not being unfaithful to have a sound reason to believe in God. He is a logical God after all, and we are to reason.

If you do indeed love your brother, then you don't have to prove it to yourself. However to someone else who wonders that, you can show them that you do.
Explaining why you are faithful to God does not make you unfaithful to Him or diminish your relationship.

None of this degrades a persons faithfulness to God, as a person's faithfulness (loving loyalty) to God and his faith, (justified belief) connect and help each other.
A person can have complete faith in God's existence and His Word, yet still reject Him, as justified belief does not equate to loving loyalty.

Don't equate giving a defense for your belief as putting God on trial, as the ultimate defense for our belief upholds God as the Ultimate authority.

Here is my explanation of the foundation of the Ultimate Proof:
https://www.raptureforums.com/forums/threads/im-not-100-in.154949/page-3#post-842986204

 

[DanLMP]

If you are interested in reading about other peoples reasoned faith, try reading some Christian apologists.

There are many good ones but I just got done rereading two books by J Warner Wallace. He is a cold case investigator and was an avowed atheist before he accepted Christ.

The part about him being a cold case investigator is important because he used his investigative tools, which rely heavily on logic and reasoning, to do a cold case investigation of Jesus' death and the claims made about Him.

Also, when faced with a person who has decided that they don't believe in God, my first question is:

Which do you feel has the higher probability of being true:
1) Absolutely no one used absolutely nothing to make absolutely everything.
Or
2) Someone used something to make everything.

If they answer "1" you are not dealing with someone who is logical or reasonable, and/or they are intentionally denying the truth.

 

[Goodboy]

"Whether God exists and why I believe there is a God"

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Romans 1:20 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 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

 

[Spartan Sprinter 1]

The bible says that no one will be without excuse to deny his existence and that creation itself is a witness of his existence as well

 

[JamesSuth]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, really helpful . Sorry if my OP was not worded very well, faith is important but we also need to articulate why we believe God exists. My faith is not wishful thinking but a result of the evidence, part of which is that what the Bible says about sin and forgiveness is true.

 

[Goodboy]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, really helpful . Sorry if my OP was not worded very well, faith is important but we also need to articulate why we believe God exists. My faith is not wishful thinking but a result of the evidence, part of which is that what the Bible says about sin and forgiveness is true.

You may want to read this thread I started a while back.
https://www.raptureforums.com/forums/threads/who-walks-by-faith.143346/

 

[DanLMP]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, really helpful . Sorry if my OP was not worded very well, faith is important but we also need to articulate why we believe God exists. My faith is not wishful thinking but a result of the evidence, part of which is that what the Bible says about sin and forgiveness is true.

You know, it doesn't really matter if you needed all the information that was provided, someone else may.

 

[TheRedeemed]

The bible says that no one will be without excuse to deny his existence and that creation itself is a witness of his existence as well

Yes indeed!

For most of the 20th century when remote and unknown tribes and communities were discovered, when contact was made with them, almost all of them had 2 distinct commonalities.

Firstly, almost all of them no matter where in the world has an ancient flood story in their history that they all alluded to, and secondly they all had a 'god' or 'gods' that they honoured.

Without any contact from or by the civilised world, they all had a god!

This is demonstrative of man's God shaped hole in his make up, why would a society that never heard the Word of God, believe that there is one (or two)?

As the OP said above, God says in His word that everyone will be excuse-less, and for those who never heard His word, or knew His laws and the Gospels, these will be judged on creation.

 

[Chris]

I was asked by someone about whether God exists and why I believe there is a God. My answer was that I can’t prove that God exists, and nor do I think that is the desired thing to do. I think of Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” I think of it like a relationship with a loved one. If I have to prove that I love my brother, its no longer a loving relationship. A true relationship requires faith in each other, and so it is with God.

That being said, if someone wants to believe in God why do I believe that He exists? My answer is that as I read the Bible it seems to be entirely about the sin of humanity and that Jesus came to forgive sinners, like me. I would invite anyone to take a casual (or better still serious) read of the Bible and tell me if the overall theme is of something other than the sin of humanity. When I look around me the evidence that I see confirms what I read in the Bible. And when I look inside myself, all I see is sin. There is nothing good inside me and I am desperately sorry for all that I am.

Jesus said that he came for those like me (Matthew (9:12) "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 says “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them” and we are told in the famous verse of John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” All I can say is that in my life, in my heart, I have gone to Christ for forgiveness and I found it. I am not guilty any more and I’ve been set free from all of that evil in my own life.

That is why I believe in Christ, in God, that He is real and that all he says about the world, sin, forgiveness and heaven is true. I encourage anyone who might read this to pray to Jesus for forgiveness and He will answer your prayer. When they do, that is only the beginning. There is so much life to come in this life, and in eternity to come.

This thread in our library maybe helpful for you.

https://www.raptureforums.com/forums/threads/proving-the-existence-of-god.4133/

God bless.

 

[Brother Albert R.]

I was asked by someone about whether God exists and why I believe there is a God. My answer was that I can’t prove that God exists, and nor do I think that is the desired thing to do. I think of Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” I think of it like a relationship with a loved one. If I have to prove that I love my brother, its no longer a loving relationship. A true relationship requires faith in each other, and so it is with God.

That being said, if someone wants to believe in God why do I believe that He exists? My answer is that as I read the Bible it seems to be entirely about the sin of humanity and that Jesus came to forgive sinners, like me. I would invite anyone to take a casual (or better still serious) read of the Bible and tell me if the overall theme is of something other than the sin of humanity. When I look around me the evidence that I see confirms what I read in the Bible. And when I look inside myself, all I see is sin. There is nothing good inside me and I am desperately sorry for all that I am.

Jesus said that he came for those like me (Matthew (9:12) "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 says “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them” and we are told in the famous verse of John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” All I can say is that in my life, in my heart, I have gone to Christ for forgiveness and I found it. I am not guilty any more and I’ve been set free from all of that evil in my own life.

That is why I believe in Christ, in God, that He is real and that all he says about the world, sin, forgiveness and heaven is true. I encourage anyone who might read this to pray to Jesus for forgiveness and He will answer your prayer. When they do, that is only the beginning. There is so much life to come in this life, and in eternity to come.

Where is God?

On the Nextdoor website this question was asked. When my friend read it he quickly learned that the person who asked it wasn't interested in the answer to this question. Instead he was more interested in railing against God for all the evil in the world, as though it was Gods’ fault. Nevertheless, I am glad the question was asked. But perhaps we should first ask another very important question before answering this one. The first question that should be asked is this “Where have we placed God?”. We have always been by nature a religious people even before the inception of our country. However, for the last 50 years or so there has been a chilling climate change. Not a change in temperature as much as a change in our joyful connection to our Creator and in our desire for God to be a real presence in our lives. God has not forsaken us, rather we have left God. In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that school sponsored prayer was to be forbidden, the teachers could no longer lead the children in prayer to God in their public schools. It was not too long after that in 1963 the Supreme Court ruled that school sponsored bible reading was not to be tolerated, so the children could no longer collectively learn about God in their public schools. Now it even seems that God cannot be viewed, in our public-school science classes, as the Intelligent Designer of His own creation as He was most definitely viewed before. Darwinian Evolution has replaced God as the cause and origin of mankind as well as being the Creator of all life that we see around us today.
Before 1985 we enjoyed the Christmas season with the birth of Jesus as the central theme. It would be a common site around town and in front of our city halls and public parks to see the Nativity Scene of Jesus' birth with the wise men, angels and animals gathered together to see this newborn King laying in a manger. But not so much anymore because of the fear mongering by those who want to impose their particular view on the separation of church and state… “Really!”. On government owned land (our land), we are not allowed a moment in time, as a people, to even publicly acknowledge and celebrate the birth of Gods' Son into the world that He Himself had created. During the Christmas season we no longer feel comfortable to say with cheer “Merry Christmas” out of fear that we might offend someone, so we settle for a homogenized “happy holidays”. Some of us have even forgotten that our current calendar is based on the birth of Jesus Christ (2020 years ago as of this writing). I enjoy thanking God for the food that He has given me, most of us know that this prayer is often called “Saying Grace” or “Giving Thanks” as practiced in many homes on Thanksgiving. There are a couple of restaurants that my wife and I frequent and before every meal we say grace. I can feel many eyes upon us from fellow patrons as we pray, for to them it must seem rather archaic and unnecessary. Climate change..yes...and yet the original question was asked “Where is God?”
Well, God is exactly where we have put Him, outside of our lives and daily activities. He has not really gone away, He is only harder to find, especially by people who do not really want Him nor expect to find Him but would rather rail against Him. God is both patient and gracious, never pushy or rude. He does not go where He is not invited...but He keeps standing outside the door knocking (Rev.3:20), waiting to be invited in. He isn’t just being a procrastinator about His promised return, even though it sometimes feels that way But He is waiting, because He is not willing that anyone should perish, and He is giving more time for sinners to repent (2Pet.3:9). For this is how God loved the world: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but to save the world (John3:16-17). Where is God...well, that all depends on where you left Him, is He outside of your life or Inside. Why not invite Jesus into your heart, He said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt.11:28). Believe me when I say that “You will find God when you seek for Him with all your heart” (Jer.29:13). So, it is only then you will understand the answer to the question asked...” Where is God?”
https://www.raptureforums.com/forums/threads/where-is-god.158830/post-843003031

 

[cheeky200386]

I've found Bible Prophecy as excellent evidence for God's existence. Especially all that has already come true. That cemented my faith when I first accepted Jesus Christ.

 

[Rocky R.]

Use E = mc^2, energy equals mass multiplied by the speed of light squared. It means that all the energy in the universe equals the entire mass of the universe multiplied by the speed of light squared. One law of physics states that the cause is always greater than the effect. If the universe is the effect, this means that the Cause MUST HAVE more power (energy) than there is available (and running out) in the entire universe! Therefore, the universe could not come into existence by itself, but it had a Creator who is omnipotent.