God Is

This post begins a series of posts from me on the doctrine of God. Over the coming months, we'll move together from this post on "that God is" to posts on "what God is" to posts on "who God is". Put another way, we'll move together from looking at the existence of God (that God is) to the essence and attributes of God (what God is) to the subsistence and persons of God (who God is).

Now, to be clear, this series is primarily for the edification of Christians rather than the refutation of atheists or other false religions. Its primary purpose is not to argue against the errors of unbelievers but to inform the mind and to stir the heart of believers with the truth and knowledge of their amazing triune God.

With that in mind, we begin our series now with the topic of our God's existence: that our God is.

Hebrews 11:6 declares, "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." These words teach that whoever comes to God for salvation must accept and embrace by faith whatsoever God has revealed about Himself as both God and Savior. So, perhaps most fundamentally, we could say that those who come to God must accept and embrace by faith His revelation concerning the most basic of truths about Him: that He is.

Therefore, as believers, we see that our acceptance and embrace of the truthfulness of God's existence is most fundamentally a truth we receive and believe on the authority of God's own word, which He has revealed to us in the holy Scriptures.

God tells us Himself, in Scripture, that He is (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 3:14; Isa. 45:5-7). Further, He tells us that He cannot lie (Tit. 1:2) and that "because He can swear by no one greater, He swears by Himself" (Heb. 6:13). So, not only can God not lie, but He cannot validate, prove, or confirm His word by anything outside or above Himself. He is the ultimate and infallible authority.

Therefore, we cannot, and so should not, subject His testimony in His word concerning His existence to any standard of proof or validation outside of His word. We rather, as we should, simply and humbly believe, accept, and embrace the truth that God is, because God says that He is. There simply is not and cannot be a more sure and firm ground for our faith in God's existence than God's own word on the matter.

But further, concerning His existence, God says in Scripture that even those who do not accept and embrace the truth that He is nonetheless know that He is.

Every person who has ever lived, lives now, and will ever live has and will have a natural knowledge of God. The issue is that they do not acknowledge that knowledge. They rather suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:19).

You see, Scripture teaches that God made every man, male and female, in His image (Gen. 1:27; Acts 17:26-29); that He implanted in every man a natural and inescapable knowledge of Him (Rom. 1:19); that He wrote the works of His law on every man's heart; and that He gave man a conscience that bears constant witness to whether or not he is living in accord with that divine law (Rom. 2:14-15).

This all is why God denies that there are any atheists in the modern sense of those without knowledge of God in the world. This all is why God, in His word, affirms that atheists are rather and simply those without Him in the world (Eph. 2:12; "without God" is in the Greek atheoi). This all is to say that, biblically speaking, an atheist is any non-Christian. Biblically speaking, a Mormon, a Muslim, a Buddhist, etc., are all just different varieties of atheists, for they are all without the one true and living God in the world.

So, while there are plenty of people in the world who profess not to believe that God exists, these are not, biblically speaking, atheists but fools. God says of such in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'." Such a one is a fool, not because he is without knowledge that God is, but precisely because he is with knowledge that God is.

He is a fool, not because he lacks true knowledge, but because he suppresses his true knowledge that God is with the false belief that "there is no God". In this way, he deceives himself, and in time, God gives him over to his folly, sin, and self-deception (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28).

All of this is why we can affirm with God that there are no atheists in the modern sense of those who lack knowledge of God. Nonetheless, we also have no problem affirming that a professed atheist could pass a lie detector test concerning his denial of God's existence. He can absolutely do so because he truly does believe his own lie. He can do so because he is truly self-deceived. He can do so because God has truly given him over, at least for the time being, to truly believe that there is no God.

So, God says in His word that everyone knows that He is. They know that He is from their natural knowledge and conscience inside of them. They know that He is from His works of creation outside of them. They know so clearly that He is, that on judgment day they will be without excuse (Rom. 1:20).

This brings us, however, to our next and last point concerning the truth that God is, namely, that nature shows that God is.

Scripture says that God's existence and attributes are clearly shown, seen, and understood by the things that are made (Rom. 1:19-20), and that the heavens declare His glory and handiwork (Ps. 19:1-4).

One simple yet compelling way that they do so is by their beautiful and orderly clock-like design and function. God says in His word that the sun, moon, and stars were given in part to divide the day from the night, for signs and seasons, and for days and years (Gen. 1:14).

Further, scientists have discovered various features of our universe that are necessary for matter and complex life as we know it to exist. These features, consisting of various laws of nature, are so finely tuned that if they were different by mere fractions of a fraction, life and matter as we know it would not be possible.

All to say, the vast universe that God created and sustains, that we live in, is the most beautiful and finely tuned clock known to man. As such, the heavens bear constant witness to the all-wise handiwork and craftsmanship of their Maker.

As such, day unto day, and night unto night, it shows man what he knows: God is.

In sum, the truth that God is is a truth that believers accept and embrace by faith, and on the authority of God's own word. Further, Scripture declares that even those who do not accept and embrace the truth that God is nonetheless know that He is. In their sin, they simply do not acknowledge their knowledge. Lastly, Scripture teaches that nature shows that God is.

Put another way, in sum, we can say that believers embrace and accept by faith the truth that God is. Unbelievers know but suppress the truth that God is. Nature shows and declares to all that God is.

So, dear Christian, hold fast and hold forth the truth that God is. Fear not any who would challenge that truth, for you know that in truth they know that God is.

Yet, if as a Christian you struggle with doubts and questions about this truth, such doubts and questions are not unforgivable sins. Even in light of everything said above, it remains true that Christians are surrounded by enemies who seek to influence us against the truth, and who at times can succeed to varying degrees. Additionally, we can all struggle in ourselves with unbelief.

So, if you are such a Christian, pray for God to help your unbelief, and please take your questions and struggles to your pastor and elders, or to other mature Christians who should be more than willing to help you work through them.

Blessings!