48 Question 3

The Bible doesn’t really try to prove the existence of God.  The Bible just plainly states that God is real.  Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God…”  The Bible does speak of some of the evidences of the existence of God.  Psalms 19:1-4 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.”  We also read in Romans 1:19-21, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  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:  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.”  We see from these two verses that the Lord is made known through the things He has made.  All things that God created are proof of His existence if we have the eyes to see it.

The Lord Jesus used nature as an example of His own death and resurrection in John 12:24 where He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”  He was using nature to show that through His death, there would be much fruit.

If someone does not believe that the Bible is the Word of God, it is hard to reach them.  It is by faith that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  What is faith?  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Faith is believing in the God that we cannot see or touch.  When we truly have faith, it produces substance; it gives evidence of the things we can’t see.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  So to come to the Lord we must have faith that He exists and will reward those that look for Him.  Where does faith come from?  Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  It takes the Word of God to produce faith.  The truths of the Bible are necessary for salvation.  In speaking to Thomas, the Lord said to Him in John 20:29, “…Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”  We must have the faith that is produced by the Word of God.  The Apostle Paul said of the believers in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”  If we open our hearts to truly hear from God, His Word will validate itself, that it is indeed the perfect, infallible Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 tells us of the power of God’s Word.  It says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  God’s Word is powerful.  Psalms 19:7 says that, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

We sometimes think that if only the Lord would perform some incredible miracle then people would believe on Him.  Throughout his life on earth, the Lord Jesus performed many incredible miracles, yet the people still rejected Him.  John 1:10 says, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”  But what if someone came back from the dead and told us about the Lord, surely people would believe on Him then.  Right?  That’s what the rich man in Luke 16 thought.  Most of us are familiar with the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  From the very depth of Hell, the rich man asked that Lazarus be sent back to earth to warn his unsaved brothers about the tragedy of Hell.  Let’s read Luke 16:27-31, “Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”  The term, “Moses and the prophets”, is speaking of the writings of Moses and the prophets; in other words it refers to the Old Testament writings.  If people will not listen to what the Word of God says, they won’t listen even if someone rose from the dead and told them about the Lord Jesus.

I encourage you to keep the Word of God before your friends.  Remember, it is living and it is powerful.  When we share God’s Word, the Spirit of God is able to take that Word and use it to convince people that it is true.  We read in John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

It’s not your job to prove that God exists.  It’s not even your job to prove that the Bible is true.  Both of these are works of the Lord, Himself.  Just be faithful in telling others what the Bible says.  The Holy Spirit will take that faithful word and use it to guide men into truth.  I’ll be praying for you.  (48.3)