Over the course of my previous chapters, I have laid out evidence for the existence of God. If this were a courtroom trial, how would a jury weigh the case?

THE ‘PLAYERS’

Atheists deny God exists. They outline a compelling case. Their position leaves them with no hope beyond death. They expect to not be disappointed. Many of them believe that science will “answer all of the gaps” over time. Agnostics remain undecided, waiting for more evidence. Many others avoid the question altogether, finding religious discussions uncomfortable or inconvenient. Still others object: how could a loving God allow suffering and disasters? But no one promised this life would be perfect—we live in a world we cannot ultimately control; and atheism does not appear to offer a solution to these matters.

Believers have faith in a loving and merciful God and look forward to an enduring relationship with God for all eternity.

Despite doubts, history shows both despots and merciful rulers, but Scripture assures us that one day all will be judged by God.

POINTERS TO THE GOD OF THE BIBLE’S EXISTENCE

Consider the following:

• The design, fine-tuning, order and control of the universe, inferring the presence of an intelligent designer.
• Life’s intelligence pointing back to this having to have been developed via a greater intelligence than evolution.
• The miracle of DNA—billions of characters in a precise coding sequence. Where could the origin of such biological information have come from? Information such as this, implies a ‘writer’.
• The necessity for a prime mover from which everything originates. One that has always existed.
• The enduring witness of Scripture, from creation (the spreading out of the heavens) to fulfilled prophecy.
• Jesus’ acceptance of His fate, when He could have denied His divinity.
• The bold testimony of the apostles, grounded in their experience of the risen Jesus.
• The need for a law-giver to establish morality. Our conscience reminds us of what is right and what is wrong.
• The transformations of those healed and unexplained near-death experiences.
• The mystery of consciousness, reasoning and memory. Why does subjective consciousness exist at all, and how does conscious experience arise from physical matter? What are the chances anything evolved on its own account without intervention?
• The fact that creation arose from nothing. Anything that begins requires a beginner.
• The harmony of science with both reason and faith.
• The conversion and advocacy of Saint Paul, who was an avid persecutor of Christians until he encountered the risen Jesus.
• The teachings of Jesus and the fact that Jesus declared Himself, the Son of God. “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (John – 14.11). If this was true, then logically God exists.
• The early eyewitness declarations of the resurrected and ascended Jesus; His empty tomb confirmed by the Roman authorities.
• The testimonies of the gospel writers, who gave their own lives for the faith.
• The impact of the enduring story of Jesus upon billions of people.
• The Old Testament documents the interactions between God and His chosen people over centuries of time. It provides a remarkably coherent account of encounters with God, culminating in expectations of the coming Messiah. The detailed catalogue of history over such a long period doesn’t prove God exists but it certainly provides a cumulative case towards its authenticity.

Perhaps these are my key pillars of ‘proof’ for the existence of God?

THE REALITY OF GOD

Most importantly, Jesus told us that God exists. God is not “a being” with boundaries. God is. He always was and always will be. God is not remote or distant but is the very reality in which we live and move.

God is the essence of Being Itself. There has to be a first Creator that always existed; otherwise, we would continue on into infinity seeking that entity. God is all powerful and is way beyond our comprehension.

There is no cosmic distance immersed in God’s reality. God is the living reality of where we dwell. We are a part of God’s existence. He is not elsewhere; He is here with us. He has a plan for us.

THE QUESTION

There is no downside in believing in God. If He exists, we lose nothing and gain everything; whereas those who do not believe in God, gain nothing and lose everything.

The evidence is before us. We can put aside all the perceived discrepancies and potential historical inaccuracies in the bible. For now:

God either exists or he doesn’t! It is really that simple.

The verdict rests with you.

Mike.

mike@acaseforgod.com

Post 32A of a 33-part series exploring the evidence for the existence of God.

WHERE TO FROM HERE? Please read my next blog.