Following Jesus 181

What is the first core truth of the Gospel? It is that God exists! This is the God of the Scriptures. The God of the Bible. The One, True God.

To begin with, God’s Existence is revealed in the reality of worship by Creation. Vs. 1a. The heavens declare the glory of God, 19:1a.

Not only is God’s existence revealed in the reality of worship by creation, but God’s existence is also revealed by the reality of cause and effect in creation. Vs. 1b. “And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. This is what we refer to as the Cosmological Argument for the existence of God.

The text specifically says the expanse of the heavens, referring to its power and control or its functioning, is announcing and providing an explanation of the work of God. This work is likened to the work of a person’s hands in beating a metal plate into the shape which the workman desires.

The evidence for the existence of God referred to as cause and effect states that we see the effect of someone’s work in creation. Creation declares this truth each and every day. What the psalmist is saying is that God is the cause for this effect which we see in creation. In fact, God is the only one who is uncaused. Everything else exists as an effect of God’s prior causing.

This is attested to as truth throughout the Scriptures. This is certainly taught throughout Genesis 1 & 2. However, there are other biblical passages which compliment this truth as the work of God and attributes the reality of creation as a work of Triune God alone.

• John 1:1-5; 10. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

• Colossians 1:15-16. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

• I Corinthians 8:6. Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

• Hebrews 1:1-4. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals is member supported and operates only by your faithful support. Thank you.