Introduction

Last time we considered the first question and answer of the Baptist Catechism: Who is the first and greatest of beings? God is the first and greatest of beings. Now we will consider the second question and answer.

Body

Question and Answer

Q. 2. Should everyone believe there is a God?

A. 2. Everyone should believe there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not (Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 14:1).

1. Everyone should believe there is a God.

A. Exposition: Seven considerations

i. Consider creation.

God created all things (Genesis 1:1-2:3). He made them in such a way that they evidence His existence, proclaim His glory, and imply a number of His attributes (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-21). Thus, all who deny His existence are left without excuse, utterly foolish, and desperately wicked. Their condemnation is sure (Romans 1:22-32).  

ii. Consider reason.

God created man in  His image, giving Him not only a soul or animating principle but a rational soul with intellect and will (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:7). Thus, man has a faculty that we call reason by which he may gather evidence, draw conclusions, evaluate and make arguments, and come to understand himself, others, nature, and what God requires him to know about God (Job 32:8; Proverbs 20:27). Though marred in the fall, this capacity is not altogether destroyed and can be redeemed in Christ (Acts 17:22-29; Romans 1:18-32; Colossians 3:10). This reason man has and the laws it naturally follows logically assume the existence of a Law Giver. We call Him God.

iii. Consider natural law.  

In addition to reason, God has created man and all other things to pursue and fulfill certain ends. Namely, as God’s image-bearer, man should reflect God’s character in a creaturely way to the rest of creation (Genesis 1:26-28; 9:6; James 3:9). In so far as man pursues and fulfills these ends, they will flourish. We call these ends natural law or the laws of nature. Put differently; natural laws are those rules that direct created things towards their created ends.

It is from this law that we derive our understanding of right and wrong or good and bad. This law is summarized within the two great commandments and the ten commandments. It is used by Jesus to rebuke the flippant divorce practices of His day. It is seen in other created things like the Sun that runs its course, the course God set (Psalm 19:4-6). Also, Paul explicitly states God has written a law upon the hearts of all people. It is verifiable by their conformity to the moral law without having it given to them via special revelation (Romans 2:12-16). This law bears witness to the lawgiver, God.

iii.  Consider salvation.

Though we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, it needs to be said that one must believe certain things in addition to believing in Christ, or else they cannot believe in Him. Regarding the present subject, a person must believe God exists and even some things about Him if they are to draw near to Him and please Him (Hebrews  11:6). Indeed, Jesus even defines eternal life as knowing His Father, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent (John 17:3).

iv.  Consider comfort.

If a man is to have comfort in life and death, He must know and believe God exists. For if there is no God, there is no certainty justice will be executed (Psalm 58:11). If there is no God, there is no certainty that things good or bad will work together for good (Romans 8:28). 

v. Consider history. 

Adam and Eve believed God existed (Genesis 3:10). Their descendants likewise believed in God (Genesis 4:26). Even making idols and the diversity of religions among mankind is evidence that man knows there is a God who is beyond them (Romans 1:18-21). Even religions with multiple deities cannot help but see one as supreme and superior to the rest (Acts 17:22-34).

History shows that mankind from the beginning to the present has an inescapable desire for a higher and transcendent power, a principle beyond them that endows life with meaning and hope. Men desire those things which are real. Thus, this principle, this transcendent power, this God must exist. As Solomon says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Though a saving knowledge of God cannot be attained through reason or seen among every people throughout history, there is an innate desire for and pursuit for this God. Thankfully, what could not be achieved by fallen reason or peoples throughout history has been done by God in the revelation of Himself through the sending of His Son and has been described and explained in the Bible for our salvation.

vi. Consider angels.  

Holy Angels clearly believe God exists as they submit to Him and continuously praise His glorious character (Isaiah 6:3; Luke 2:13; Revelation 4:8).

vii. Consider demons.

Even the demons, unholy and fallen angels, believe God exists, cowering to Him (James 2:19). The demons throughout the Gospels cry out in terror as they encounter the God the Son Incarnate, Jesus Christ (Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24; 5:7; Luke 4:33, 34). They confess His identity and the God who sent Him. They are subdued and cast out by His powerful word. One woman with an unclean spirit followed Paul and his companions, crying out that they “are servants of the Most High God” (Acts 16:17). When Jewish exorcists tried to cast out a demon invoking Paul and Jesus’ names, the demon mentioned his knowledge of Jesus, the Son of God Incarnate (Acts 19:15).

When you consider creation, reason, natural law, salvation, comfort, history, angels, and demons, it is rather obvious that you and everyone should believe there is a God.

B. Uses:

i. Believe and proclaim that God exists without shame.

ii. Pursue a greater knowledge of God.

2. It is great sin not to believe there is a God.

A. Exposition:

i. Denial of God’s existence is willful ignorance.

The fact of the matter is that everyone, even the self-professing atheist or agnostic believes God exists. The ignorance of the agnostic is willful ignorance. The corruptions and delusions of idolators are likewise willful ignorance. It is a rank and high-handed sin of men and women who have no excuse (Romans 1:18-32).

ii. Denial of God’s existence inspires gross immorality.

Not only is the denial of God’s existence willful ignorance and high-handed sin, but it also inspires other gross and wicked immorality. The one who denies God’s existence in his heart or with his words will also deny God with his actions (Psalm 14:1).

Does not the book of Judges confirm this idea? When the generation of Israel that knew God, who lived under Joshua, died, a new generation arose that did not know God or His works (Judges 2:10). This not knowing God led to cycles of idolatry, immorality, judgment, and salvation (Judges 3:7-16:31). By the end of Judges, the deeds in Israel are like those done in Sodom and Gomorrah, resulting in the near extermination of the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 19-20; Genesis 19:1-29). A repeated refrain in Judges illustrates the point that denial of God’s existence inspires gross immorality. It goes like this: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). In other words, if you deny God as king or that He exists, then immorality will follow (Also see Romans 1:18-32).

B. Uses:

i. Your actions reveal what you truly believe.

ii. Guard your heart and inform your mind by all the means God has given you.

3. It is great folly not to believe there is a God.

A. Exposition:

i. To deny God exists when you know He exists is the definition of folly.

There is no excuse for those who deny God’s existence (Romans 1:20). They are foolish because they deny that God exists when they know that He exists (Psalm 14:1). They know He exists by observing His works, the use of their own reason, and the existence of their own morality (Romans 1:19; 2:12-16). They make idols in hopes of deadening their longing for the only true God and only descend into more madness.

The law on man’s heart (Romans 2:12-16) that shows itself in the moral judgments and laws made by men and civilizations throughout time is a creation evidence of God’s existence and holiness. These standards of morality, these laws, came from somewhere, namely a lawgiver. The same can be said with scientific laws drawn from observing phenomena. Laws are given by lawgivers. That lawgiver is God, who made man with morality and created the universe with regularity and order. Thus, by submitting to the laws of morality or science, the unbeliever submits to the lawgiver who they deny exists. What else is this other than folly?

ii. To deny God exists is to cut yourself off from true wisdom.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). One cannot fear what he denies exists. Therefore, the one who denies God’s existence denies the source of true wisdom. All true knowledge they may acquire is inconsistent with this denial of God’s existence. Their insights are always corrupted. Indeed, their “wisdom” will never lead to eternal life. Their “knowledge” will not help them escape the snare of death (Proverbs 14:27).

Without faith seeking understanding, no one will even scratch the surface of pure wisdom. One must start with and end with God to have wisdom that benefits them in this life and gets them into the next. Indeed they must know the one who is the Wisdom of God (Proverbs 8:22-31; John 1:1-4). They must know Christ (1 Corinthians 1:22-25, 30; Colossians 2:3; John 1:14-18).

B. Uses:

i.  If you want true wisdom, you must first believe God exists.

ii. If you want true wisdom, you must believe in God’s Son.

Conclusion

Q. 2. Should everyone believe there is a God?

A. 2. Everyone should believe there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not (Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 14:1).

You have all either in your heart, through your words, or by your actions denied that God exists. Sin all stems from an unbelieving heart. If you believe God exists and you believe in Jesus Christ, whom He sent, you will have eternal life and salvation. So believe in God and Christ.