Theology Proper (Doctrine of God): Existence of God and the Proofs for Belief
The existence of God is the foundation of theology proper, the doctrine of God. Without the reality of God, the Bible’s testimony, the church’s worship, and the Gospel’s message would all collapse. While Scripture does not set out to prove God’s existence through formal logic, it consistently assumes his reality. From the opening words—“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)—the Bible presents God as the living Creator.
Throughout history, Christians and philosophers have offered arguments and proofs to show that belief in God is both rational and necessary. These arguments are not ultimate demonstrations but aids to faith, highlighting that the world makes more sense with God than without him. At the same time, theologians have reminded us that true knowledge of God comes not merely through reason but through revelation, fulfilled in Christ and the Gospel.
This article considers the existence of God from multiple angles: the assumption of Scripture, the classical arguments, the limits of reason, the necessity of revelation, and the relevance of God’s existence for the Gospel and the last days.
1. Assumption of Scripture
Unlike philosophical systems, the Bible does not attempt to prove God’s existence. Instead, it begins with God as the unquestioned reality behind all things: “In the beginning, God” (Genesis 1:1). The psalmist declares, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1), treating unbelief not as neutral reasoning but as moral rebellion.
This biblical pattern reveals two important truths:
God’s existence is a first principle, not a conclusion of human logic.
The denial of God stems not from lack of evidence but from the suppression of truth (Romans 1:18–20).
Paul teaches that God’s “eternal power and divine nature” have been clearly seen in creation so that all people are “without excuse.” The Bible assumes God not because he is unknowable but because his reality is evident to all, leaving unbelief as culpable blindness rather than intellectual neutrality.
2. Classical Arguments
Over time, Christian thinkers have developed arguments to clarify why belief in God is rational. While none of these stand as mathematical proofs, they demonstrate that the world itself points toward its Creator. Four of the most significant arguments are:
Cosmological argument: Everything that exists has a cause; the universe itself must have an ultimate cause, which is God.
Teleological argument: The order and design of the universe point to a purposeful Designer. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).
Ontological argument: The very concept of God as the greatest possible being implies that he must exist, for a God who does not exist would not be the greatest conceivable being.
Moral argument: The existence of objective moral laws and human conscience points to a moral Lawgiver who defines right and wrong.
These arguments aim to show that denying God leaves reality fragmented, while acknowledging God provides coherence to creation, morality, and human purpose.
3. Limits of Human Reason
While arguments for God’s existence have value, Scripture also warns against placing too much confidence in human reasoning. God surpasses human imagination: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8). Philosophical proofs can point toward God but cannot comprehend his essence.
Paul recognized this limitation in Athens when he told the philosophers that God “does not live in temples made by man” and “is actually not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:24, 27). Human minds cannot climb up to God unaided. At best, natural reason prepares the way by showing the necessity of God; it cannot provide the saving knowledge of his character or will.
The danger arises when reason is mistaken for faith. Knowledge of God cannot be reduced to intellectual deduction; it requires the work of the Spirit and the light of revelation.
4. Necessity of Revelation
True knowledge of God comes through his self-revelation. While creation declares his glory (Psalm 19:1–4; Romans 1:20), it is through Scripture and ultimately through Christ that God is made known. “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18).
Divine revelation provides what natural reason cannot:
The personal name and covenant character of God (Exodus 3:14).
The redemptive plan accomplished in Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
The promise of a kingdom that endures beyond this present age (Daniel 7:13–14).
Arguments may prepare the soil, but revelation plants the seed. Without revelation, people may sense God’s existence but remain in darkness about his will. With revelation, God not only shows that he exists but also that he saves.
5. Relevance for the Gospel and the Last Days
The question of God’s existence is not merely philosophical but profoundly practical. The Gospel depends on the reality of the living God who raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 17:31). If God does not exist, then the message of the cross and the resurrection is meaningless. But because he does, the Gospel provides hope, forgiveness, and new creation.
In the last days, Scripture warns that many will reject the truth of God and follow their own desires (2 Timothy 3:1–5; 2 Peter 3:3–4). Belief in God’s existence guards the church against despair and grounds its mission. Christians confess not only that God exists but that he reigns, judges, and redeems.
The existence of God is therefore not an abstract question but the foundation of faith, worship, and perseverance until Christ returns.
Conclusion
The existence of God stands at the center of theology proper. The Bible assumes his reality, classical arguments point toward him, reason acknowledges its limits, revelation makes him known, and the Gospel confirms his saving presence.
Arguments for God’s existence may persuade the mind, but only God’s revelation in Christ transforms the heart. To affirm the existence of God is not simply to accept a proposition but to confess the living Lord who reigns over history and promises eternal life to his people.
Bible Verses on the Existence of God
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Psalm 14:1 – “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Isaiah 45:5 – “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God.”
John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”
Acts 17:24 – “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man.”
Romans 1:20 – “His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.”
Hebrews 11:6 – “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
1 Corinthians 8:6 – “For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist.”
Revelation 4:11 – “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things.”
