1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1–2 (ESV)
Not only is there evidence for God’s existence from biblical revelation but there are also the philosophical arguments supporting the concept of God’s existence. Admittedly, these arguments may not convince those antagonistic to the Christian faith of its validity. However, they do provide a thought provoking response to those who contend that Christianity does not contain any assemblage of reasoning or logical thought.
What then are the philosophical arguments for God’s existence? They include the ontological argument, the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, the moral argument, the anthropological argument, the religious experience argument and the argument from the existence of miracles: most notably Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
The Moral Argument is the argument from the existence or nature of morality to the existence of God. Two forms of moral arguments are distinguished: formal and perfectionist.
The Formal Moral Argument takes the form of morality to imply that it has a divine origin: morality consists of an ultimately authoritative set of commands. Where can these commands have come from but from a commander that has ultimate authority?
The Perfectionist Moral Argument sets up a problem: how can it be that morality requires perfection of us, that morality cannot require of us more than we can give, but that we cannot be perfect? The only way to resolve this paradox, the argument suggests, is to conceive the existence of God. The Bible sets forth this truth in succinctly in Micah 6:6-8:
With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8, ESV)
The Moral Argument is unconsciously set forth by the “so-called” mainstream media each and every time a random shooting occurs at a school or other social setting. Especially when children are victims of violence, media commentators will state that the actions of the perpetrator were evil. The question then is how can anything be called evil if there is no contrasting standard which we recognize as the ultimate good, right or non-evil?
In order to call anything evil implies a righteous standard by which any act can be defined as evil. The righteous standard which defines, and is in contrast to evil, is God and His righteousness. Therefore, whenever society calls something good or evil, it implies an objective standard which can define something as either good or evil. This inherent sense of right and wrong comes from God. Scripture sets forth this truth.
- Then Pharaoh sent and called Moses and Aaron and said to them, “This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.” (Exodus 9:27 ESV)
Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The LORD is righteous. (2 Chronicles 12:6 ESV)
The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous—you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. (Psalm 7:8-11 ESV)
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. (Psalm 116:5 ESV)
The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked. (Psalm 129:4 ESV)
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. (Psalm 145:17 ESV).
The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and see my suffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity. (Lamentations 1:18 ESV)
To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. (Daniel 9:7 ESV)
Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. (Daniel 9:14 ESV)
Pray for our nation which has cast off the moral righteousness of God for the immoral unrighteousness of sin.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 