Atheists Know God Exists – A Gospel Opportunity!

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  (Romans 1:18-21 NKJ)

In these verses we understand that sinners don’t need to be persuaded of God’s existence – they already know He exists. It is because of the darkness of the sinner’s soul; the pride, rebellion and hatred toward God the sinner’s eyes are blinded to the truth. In that blindness he or she suppresses the truth that God exists. Though the sinner loves his sin, there are consequences to sin, both in this life and in the life to come. The wrath of God will come upon all who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”  No matter how passionately and convincingly the atheist denies the existence of God, he or she knows that God exists. In fact, every human being knows deep down that God exists but refuses to acknowledge what he or she already knows to be true. The sinner only suppresses the truth in order to justify his or her sinful, wicked ways; their unrighteousness. According to their sin nature they will always reject the existence of the true and living God, who made the heavens and earth in six ordinary days by the power of His word. Any gods they have made up in their own imaginations they know deep down are not real. Yet, they cannot but hang on to these false gods being slaves to their own wants and desires. Nonetheless, there is good news!

The apostle Paul declared in verse 16 that the Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation. However, in order to fully comprehend and appreciate the magnitude of God’s saving grace in the gospel the sinner must first understand his or her hopeless state and helpless condition before the God they deny exists. We do that by helping them understand that their arguments are nonsensical, and their justifications are foolishness. In a sense, we tear down their “strongholds” exposing them for what they are; weak barriers to justify their sinful lifestyle, their rebellion and blindness (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Every argument the unbeliever gives to justify his or her unbelief can be torn down by the word of God. According to these verses, we can also tear down their arguments by using general revelation. All of creation, both the visible and invisible things, screams the existence of God! (Psalm 19:1) We can say, in fact that science, or nature, is the evidence that what Scriptures teach us is true from Genesis Chapter 1 to Revelation Chapter 22. It can reasonably said that no element of the historical record in the Bible could ever be shown to be false by science, though many scientists have said it does according to their interpretation of it. The historical accounts in the Bible are true from the Creation account in Genesis to the fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve; to the worldwide flood and Noah’s ark; to the crossing the Red Sea by the Israelites on dry land; to the virgin birth of Jesus Christ; to His death and resurrection. The God who made all that exists is the same God who moved men by the Holy Spirit to write down everything that He did; when He did it and how He did it – to deny any element of Scripture is to call God a liar; and if a liar, He is not God and random chance is all that there is.

Note: contrary to popular belief, special revelation defines and gives us the correct interpretation of general revelation (science or reality) – never the other way around. (It is a basic rule of interpretation under any discipline.)  Otherwise, you end up with fantasy theories, such as evolution. Do you really believe that slime, plus time, plus random chance made all that there is? How can random chance create laws of nature? Nothing could be more absurd. Think about it . . . In a universe governed by random chance operational science could not possibly exist. In fact, it would be nonsensical to even be considered. Random chance demands different outcomes every time an experiment is conducted (the same is true of mathematics). Computers would be impossible in a universe governed by random chance. Common logical sense ought to tell a person that what random chance creates, it destroys . . . immediately.  Moreover, in a universe of random chance morality and truth would change from day to day. What was true yesterday would not necessarily be true today or tomorrow. Right and wrong would change whenever it is decided by someone or group of people in order to maintain control over the masses. What is good one day; could be said to be evil the next. Yet, we don’t live a universe that is random. We observe that it is structured; it is purposeful and well ordered with natural unbreakable laws. These natural laws have been established by the Creator of the universe. Even the casual observer would come to that most obvious conclusion, if not for sin darkening man’s mind and hardening his heart. Thus, the person who holds to the thinking that evolution is the basis for understanding special revelation (i.e., the creation account) is a person that is said to be one who professes to be wise; yet, in the end becomes the fool (Romans 1:22; Psalm 14:1).

Therefore, we can reasonably presuppose that all that God has revealed to us in the Bible is true; and science, or the universe and the things in it, supports what Scriptures tells us concerning the origins of life and all that followed to the present; a period of about 6,000 years. Not only that we can see that science cannot be used to prove that God doesn’t exist. The very best it can do is provide us with sufficient evidence that He does exist.

Though the evidence is clear, science will not convince the atheist to believe God exists. Only by the operation of the Holy Spirit working grace in the heart of the sinner will he or she believe the truth revealed in the Bible. Only through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit making the sinner, the atheist, alive from being dead in trespasses and sin, will he or she understand the truth that God exists. Moreover, as the Holy Spirit give the sinner faith to believe will he or she embrace with a believing heart all the benefits obtained by Jesus Christ in one atoning death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead; that is, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, salvation, and everlasting life. Therefore, be bold; be prayerful; and be humble as you declare the gospel of Jesus Christ in thankfulness to Him with a love for God and for our neighbor.

One area of science that is growing in its support of the biblical account of the history of man is genetics.  Genetic research is showing more and more that evolution is an impossible theory. Genetics is proving to be the dead blow to evolution. On the other hand, it has become more and more evident that the best explanation to what is being discovered in genetics is found in the Scriptures, in the Bible. It is also strong evidence that the God of the Bible exists, who is the Creator of universe and all that is in it.

Reformation Gospel Ministries has organized and is sponsoring a conference, “It’s in the Genes.” The conference speaker will be Dr. Robert C. Carter, a research geneticist of Creation Ministries International. It will be held on August 21, 2021 in Sioux Center, IA. For more information and to register for this free conference, click on the link below:

The 2021 Annual Conference on Biblical Creation – “It’s in the Genes” – Saturday, August 21, 2021 – Reformation Gospel Ministries

Soli Deo Gloria!