Over a decade ago, I taught the Olney Baptist Church Young Adult Sunday School class. I took the class through a series of apologetics-oriented lessons. One of the young people attending the class was disappointed that I didn’t prove God’s existence to the satisfaction of all the atheists, agnostics, and critics out there.
I tried to explain that:
- we are called to faith, not knowledge, and
- some people will refuse to believe in God no matter how compelling the evidence or how obvious His revelation.
The longer I’ve been in ministry, the more certain I am of both of those answers — especially the latter.
Nevertheless, I understand there are people (including possibly reading this) who want more than just a wish and a hope. They want to know the central claims of the Christian faith are reasonable and substantive — and worthy of their trust. So, for this article, we’ll tackle whether we can prove God.
It all starts with God.
The Bible begins with a simple yet profound statement: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From the very first verse, Scripture assumes the existence of God. There is no long philosophical argument to convince us of God’s existence; it is simply declared. This tells us something important about how God reveals Himself. The Bible does not present God’s existence as something that needs to be proven through human logic. Instead, it presents it as a foundational truth upon which everything else is built.
Indeed, in the Book of Proverbs, we’re told that the “fear of the Lord” is the “beginning” of both “knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7) and “wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). That means, according to King Solomon, you will be stifled in your intellectual growth as well as your pursuit of wisdom without trusting in and worshiping God. In other words, apart from God, you can’t make sense of the world!
1. God Reveals Himself Through Creation
The Bible tells us that creation itself is a testimony to the existence of God. In Romans 1:20, Paul writes: “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.” Here, Paul is saying that the natural world—the complexity, order, and beauty of creation—reveals the invisible qualities of God. In other words, nature itself provides evidence of a Creator.
Likewise, Psalm 19:1 proclaims: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” The Bible teaches that the universe, with its vastness and intricacies, is a reflection of God’s glory. From the stars in the sky to the wonders of the earth, creation points us to the reality of a Creator.
While these statements may appear (to the skeptic) to be mere declarations or assertions, scientific discoveries as well as mathematical pursuits since these words were written only serve to affirm these claims. (I’ll write more on this in future articles).
2. The Witness of Scripture
In addition to creation, God reveals Himself through Scripture. The Bible is God’s self-revelation to humanity. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Through Scripture, God communicates His nature, His purposes, and His will for us. While the Bible is not a scientific textbook designed to “prove” God’s existence, it is a trustworthy source that reveals God’s character and plan for humanity.
The Bible has more manuscript evidence backing its accurate preservation than any other historical piece of literature. What’s more, archeological discoveries continue to verify people, places, and events talked about in the Bible.
Jesus Himself pointed to the Scriptures as evidence of God’s work in the world. In John 5:39, He said: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” The Scriptures testify of Christ, and through them, we encounter the living God.
3. God’s Self-Revelation Through Christ
Perhaps the most direct and personal way that God has revealed Himself is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:15 tells us: “[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” In Jesus, we see God in human form. His life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate revelation of who God is. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:9: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Through Christ, God’s existence and character are made clear.
4. Faith as the Foundation
Finally, we need to acknowledge that belief in God’s existence ultimately requires faith. Hebrews 11:6 says: “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.”
Faith is central to our relationship with God. The Bible tells us that we must believe in Him, even though we cannot physically see Him. Faith is not blind belief, but trust in the evidence God has already provided through creation, Scripture, and Christ.
Do You Trust God?
Scripture teaches us that God has revealed Himself in ways that are undeniable to the open heart: through the majesty of creation, the truth of Scripture, the person of Jesus Christ, and the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, however, we are called to faith.
Faith is not the absence of evidence but trust in the evidence God has already given.
While human reason has its limits, God’s revelation is available to those who seek Him. As Christians, our belief in God’s existence is rooted in the witness of creation, the authority of the Bible, and the life of Christ. And ultimately, it is by faith that we come to know and trust in the God who is there, and who loves us beyond measure.
The greatest confirmation of God’s existence comes in your personal experience with God after you’ve made the decision to trust Him and seek Him with your whole heart.
Will you do that?
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