Belief in God is for the simpleminded and uneducated?
“Everyone who is seriously interested in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe – a spirit vastly superior to man, and one in the face of which our modest powers must feel humble.” (Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist)
“I can prove God statistically; take the human body alone; the chance that all the functions of the individual would just happen, is a statistical monstrosity.” (George Gallup, American pioneer of Survey sampling techniques, and inventor of the ‘Gallup poll’)
“The vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator. I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science.” (Wernher von Braun, father of Space Science)
“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being.” (Sir Isaac Newton, Mathematician, Astronomer, and Physicist)
1. Are you SURE you are an Atheist? The Absolute Knowledge Challenge
Are you absolutely sure you are an atheist? To say, ‘There is no God’ is what is known as an absolute statement. If you profess to hold to that statement, then you would require absolute knowledge, and having all that knowledge laid out before you, then reach the conclusion that there is no God. The statement becomes false, even if one shred of evidence for the existence of God is found.
Think of it this way. If someone said, ‘There is no gold in China’, in order for their statement to be true they would need to have absolute knowledge of China and find no evidence of any gold anywhere in that land. Even if one speck of gold was found then their statement would become false. To make such a bold and sweeping statement like that, one would need to have all the facts, or risk being made out to be very silly. The same applies for atheism. If you are quite prepared to say, ‘There is no God’, then you better have the evidence to prove it, or concede that you believe there is no God by faith.
Let me ask you, how much knowledge of the entire universe do you actually have? Would you agree you know probably less than 1% of everything there is to know? Think about it, I’m talking about all the knowledge of EVERYTHING! How many hairs are on your head? How many hairs are on each person’s head alive today? Could you name all the stars? How much of Encyclopaedia Britannica do you know off by heart? Get the point? However, let us suppose that you do know a whopping 1% of all the knowledge in the universe. If you say, ‘There is no God’, how do you know that statement is true if you don’t know the other 99% of all the knowledge that is out there? You may say, ‘Well based on the limited evidence I have, I believe there is no God’. But could evidence for God be found in the other 99% of knowledge you don’t yet know?
To be reasonable, you would have to say, ‘Based on the very limited knowledge I have, I believe there is no God, but really I just don’t know.’ If that is your conclusion, then you would be more like an agnostic – someone who is not sure if there is a God or not.
You see, you can’t be an atheist based on facts; because you don’t have all the facts. Think of it this way. You set off to China to prove there is no gold in China. After searching a mere 1% of the land you come to the conclusion there is no gold in China because you haven’t found any so far. Can you see how ridiculous a position that is? Wouldn’t it be far more reasonable to say, ‘I have found no gold in China so far, but it could still be out there’?
To say for sure, ‘There is no God’ you would need ALL the facts for your statement to be true. The problem is that you do not have all the facts, so to be an atheist must therefore require FAITH – faith that the other 99% of knowledge in the universe also proves there is no God. Can you see that to say, ‘There is no God’ is totally illogical? How can you say that with any amount of confidence? Does it make more sense to say, ‘I believe there is no God, but I don’t know for sure’?
Are you still prepared to cling on to your belief that there is no God for sure? Please read on, for in the next section I will provide overwhelming evidence for the existence of God.
Conclusion:
1. You do not have absolute knowledge.
2. You probably know less than 1% of all the knowledge in the universe.
3. In the other 99% of knowledge you do not know, there could be overwhelming evidence that proves God’s existence.
4. Therefore, because you do not know all there is to know, you CANNOT say for sure, ‘There is no God’.
5. If you are reasonable, you should say, ‘With the very limited knowledge I have I believe there is no God, but really I JUST DON’T KNOW’.
6. If you still profess to be an atheist, you do so based on faith. You say there is no God, but have no way of proving it.
2. The Knockdown Evidence for the Existence of God
There is no need to have doubts about the existence of God. You can be totally satisfied that God does indeed exist. I would like to share with you a passage of the Bible taken from the New Testament Book of Romans. If you have a Bible I would encourage you to open it and read it directly from there (we recommend you use the Authorized King James Version of Scripture). Verse 16 of Romans Chapter 1 is where we will begin. The Bible reads (the Apostle Paul is speaking here)…
“16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.”
Notice in verse 18 the Bible is saying that mankind has the truth, but they hold it, ‘In unrighteousness’. It is like we have the truth right before us, but because of our unrighteousness (our sin and lawlessness) the purity of God’s truth has become corrupted in us. Something is preventing us from seeing the truth clearly.
Now look at verse 19. According to the Bible the knowledge of God is ‘Manifest’, or ‘Made known’ in ALL mankind because God has, ‘Shewed it unto them’. Yes, God has NOT hidden Himself. Far from it. He has given EVERY person the knowledge of Him. So when an atheist says something like, ‘Well God has never revealed Himself to me’, they contradict the Bible when it says that, ‘God hath shewed it unto them’.
Now consider verse 20 of Romans 1:
“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.”
If you are an atheist, here is your evidence for the existence of God. God is invisible, this is true, but God’s creation is, ‘Clearly seen’ as verse twenty says. The visible creation that surrounds us reveals to us the invisible God. It is like looking at a great work of art and concluding there must be an artist, or considering the complexity of a computer system and concluding there must have been a designer.
Verse 20 goes on to say that the evidence for God found in creation is, “Understood by the things that are made”. That includes you! According to the Bible, you know there is a God, and you know He made the world. When you look up into a night sky and see the wonders of the Heavens you KNOW there is a God. When you consider the amazing design of the human eye you KNOW there is a God. When you consider the design and complexity in the animal kingdom, the solar system, cellular structure, DNA, and so on, you KNOW there is a God. You KNOW there is a MAKER of Heaven and earth! You may still maintain, ‘I do not believe in God’; but the Bible teaches, ‘Oh yes you do!’.
According to the Bible your professed Atheism is a front, a farce, a smokescreen, to conceal your deep down belief in God. On the outside you may state your adamant denials of the existence of God, but, according to the Bible, in your heart of hearts, you know God exists.
There is more. Verse 20 goes on to say that not only do you know and understand that a ‘god’ of some kind made the world, but that you even understand, ‘His eternal power and Godhead’. So specifically, the God you know exists, isn’t just any god, but rather the Almighty God of the Bible, revealed to mankind in the Godhead; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
Lastly in verse 20 we read that, ‘They are without excuse.’ Because creation speaks so strongly of a Creator, according to the Bible you have absolutely no excuse for denying His existence, and no excuse for not knowing which god is the true God. Psalm 19:1 declares: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” The claim that, ‘There is no evidence for the existence of God’ is quite frankly, total nonsense. According to the Bible we are literally surrounded by knockdown evidence for the existence of God.
Conclusion:
1. God has revealed the truth of His existence to you, but your lawlessness and sin has corrupted it.
2. The Creation that surrounds you is overwhelming evidence of a Creator.
3. Any outward affirmations you may show of your atheism are a smokescreen to cover the fact that deep down you know God exists.
4. You know the true God is the God of the Bible – the Almighty God, revealed to us as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
My atheist friend, why on earth would you deny the existence of the God you know exists? What would be your motive for doing such a thing? Read on, as we cover your motive next.
3. The Atheist’s Motive Revealed – Getting to the root of the problem
or atheism’s root cause exposed
“There are only two possibilities as to how life arose. One is spontaneous generation arising to evolution; the other is a supernatural creative act of God. There is no third possibility. Spontaneous generation, that life arose from non-living matter was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others. That leaves us with the only possible conclusion that life arose as a supernatural creative act of God. I will not accept that philosophically because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore, I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible; spontaneous generation arising to evolution.”
(Nobel Prize Winner George Wald PhD, Harvard University, “Innovation and Biology”, Scientific American, Vol. 199, Sept. 1958, p. 100.)
Interesting words there from Nobel Prize Winner George Wald. It gives us a little insight into the possible motive an atheist may have for denying God’s existence. Consider now, as we continue reading on in Romans Chapter 1 verse 21 onwards, what happens to the heart of someone who rejects the evidence for the existence of God in the Creation that surrounds them:
“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.
22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”
If you are an atheist reading this, the verses you have just read are talking about you and what has happened to your heart. The Bible is saying that because you have not acknowledged the true God as the Creator of all things your foolish heart has become, ‘Darkened’. It is like a darkness, a fog, a blindness has entered your heart, preventing you from seeing clearly. You may see yourself as very wise, having ‘Weighed up all the evidence’, not believing in ‘Fairy tales’ and ‘Mythological religions’, but in fact the Bible concludes you have become a fool.
‘So the Bible is saying that I am stupid?’ you may ask. Not at all. Your intelligence is not being questioned here. To be a fool means something else.
Let us say you are driving a car though a village and you see a clear sign that says, ‘Speed Limit: 30mph’. Let us say you then decide to ignore that speed sign and continue on through that village at 50mph. If the police later catch you, and fine you for speeding, you would be a fool. Not a fool because you are stupid, but a fool because you clearly saw the 30mph sign but chose to ignore it.
Likewise, when you see the evidence of God’s existence, combined with your knowledge that He exists, and yet still choose to deny His existence, then just like ignoring the 30mph speed sign, and getting caught, you qualify yourself as a fool. A fool for denying the existence of the God you KNOW exists! This foolishness does not stem from a problem with your brain. The truth is that the heart of your problem is…your heart!
The Bible says in the Old Testament Book of Psalms Chapter 53 verses 1-3:
“1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
As mentioned earlier, something is preventing you from seeing the truth clearly. That something, the Bible reveals, is sin. Now read on in Romans Chapter 1 to see what those who reject the true God end up doing. Are the following verses describing aspects of your life?
“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.
24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.”
Makes dismal reading doesn’t it? This is the tragic downward spiral of mankind when he turns away from the True Creator, the Almighty God. Think of your own Atheism and how grievous it is to the true God. Let us say you walk into a room and someone else you know walks in. You look at them, they look at you, and just as you are about to greet them they blank you and walk straight past. It is not a pleasant experience when someone ‘blanks’ you. They know you are there, but treat you as if you don’t exist. It is the same with your atheism in the sight of God. You know He is there, but instead of acknowledging Him, you have chosen to blank Him. You have chosen to act like He does not exist. Let us consider one more verse now from Romans Chapter 1 talking about those who have chosen to reject the True God…
“32. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Now we have got to the root of the problem. Your atheism is not based upon facts, science, and reason. No, but rather you profess atheism because it suits your lifestyle. You are an atheist because you love your sin. As verse 32 says here, it brings you, ‘pleasure’. Think about the freedom atheism offers. No God telling you what to do. No accountability. Choose what morals you want…or indeed you don’t want! Even invent a ‘god’ that ‘Could be out there’, but conveniently you never can seem to find.
This philosophy of life seems a very ‘liberating’ way to live, but wait, look at verse 32 again. The first part reads, “Who knowing the judgment of God”. That ‘who’ is YOU! According to the Bible, not only do you know that God exists, and not only do you know Who the True God is, but you also know that God will one day judge this world. According to the Bible, you know, deep down, that Judgment Day is coming.
Conclusion:
1. By not acknowledging God as Creator and claiming to be an atheist, your heart has become ‘darkened’ as the Bible says.
2. You qualify yourself as a fool, not because you are stupid, but because you are denying the existence of the God you know exists.
3. Your motive for denying God’s existence is your love of sin, and the freedom to do and say as you want.
4. Not only do you know God exists, but according to the Bible, you know that one day you will stand before God on the Day of Judgment.
The Bible says in Romans Chapter 14 verse 12, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” I don’t need to ask you if you believe Judgment Day is coming. I know, deep down, you do believe. A better question to ask is, Are you ready to face God when that day comes?
Consider these verses from the New Testament book of 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verses 7-9: “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power”. My friend, don’t take this lightly!
The Bible teaches quite clearly that you have two basic options when it comes to facing God on Judgment Day. The first option is that you can face Him alone. Not a good situation to be in. On the Day of Judgment your every thought, word and deed will be meticulously scrutinized by a righteous, Holy and perfect God. No stone will be left unturned, and every secret sin will be revealed. The utterly perfect, sinless, and pure nature of God will mean that He CANNOT turn a blind eye to your sin, or simply let you off if you say sorry and ask to be forgiven. Look up Exodus Chapter 20 in the Old Testament, and take a look at the Ten Commandments (God’s standard of right and wrong) and honestly ask yourself, ‘Have I kept all of these?’ Then look at Romans Chapter 1 verses 23-31 again and see if you are also guilty of any of the sins that we read about earlier.
The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. The truth is that you, me, and everyone else falls into the same category of being lost sinners before a holy God. Do you agree with this? Do you see yourself as a sinner in the sight of God? Listen to the voice of your conscience – that God given sense of right and wrong that God has given to every man (Romans 2:15).
It is too late to turn over a new leaf and try to reform your life, as that can never wipe away the crimes that you have already committed. What is done is done. The New Testament book of Revelation chapter 20 verses 11-15, describes the scene on Judgment Day (the Apostle John speaking here, after he was given a vision of that great and terrible day), “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
It ought to horrify you that this could well be your destiny if you continue to cling to the lunacy of your atheism. Is your freedom to do and say what you want in this life really worth it? Can you see that your denial of God’s existence is only temporary, and that the pleasures of sin will only last for a short season? Listen to sense! You know there is a God, and you know Judgment Day is coming, so I plead with you, please consider your second option.
We read earlier in Romans chapter 3 verse 23 about how, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. Consider now what the very next verse has to say, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (verse 24).
Not only has God revealed His creation to you, but He has also provided a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says in the New Testament book of Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. You do not get to Heaven by working your way there. We are nothing but lawless criminals in the sight of God, unable to earn our way to Heaven. Salvation instead comes through faith alone. Faith alone in the Saviour of mankind, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to this earth two thousand years ago, He was God manifest in the flesh, He lived a perfect life, and died on the cross for our sins (See 1 Timothy 3:16, Romans 5:6-9). The Bible says, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). It is like all of God’s judgment for our sin was poured out upon His own beloved Son. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).
Jesus took the punishment for our sins upon Himself so that we could be saved from the judgement of God. Perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, the New Testament book of John chapter 3 verse 16 explains it so clearly, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Are you willing to turn from your atheism, acknowledge the God you know exists, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved? My friend, God offers you everlasting life and total forgiveness of sins, if only you will come to Him in simple faith. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Perhaps the notion of coming to faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sins is totally alien to you. Not to worry, you don’t need to have a vast knowledge of the Bible or Christian things in order to be made right with God. If it is your heart’s desire to trust in Christ alone for salvation, and you see your need to be made right with God, then here are some words that you could repeat in a prayer directly to God. There are no exact words to say, but this prayer may help as a guide.
“Lord, I acknowledge all my sins before you (confess each if you wish). I realise they condemn me before a Holy God. I realise that I deserve only your judgment and condemnation in Hell. But I believe that Jesus Christ came in to the world to save sinners like me. I believe He has paid the price for my sin on the cross with His blood, and I believe He rose from the dead on the third day. Now Lord, help me to turn from my sins, grow as a Christian, and become more and more like You each day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”
Trusting in Christ alone for salvation is just like trusting a parachute to save you if you had to jump from an aeroplane. You cannot save yourself, only that parachute can get you to the ground in safety. It is the same with faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Him and what He has done is the ONLY thing that can get you to Heaven when you die. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Cling on to this fundamental truth as long as you live! I would really encourage you to read God’s Word, the Bible, and pray every day so that you can grow in the faith and be a faithful witness to others. Also, seek fellowship with other believers in a good, sound, Bible believing church, where Bible teaching and the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ is held central to all that goes on. Contact us if we can be of any help. May God, rich in mercy, lead you to genuine saving faith in Jesus Christ, Who is, “The way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Amen.