Austin Bible Church
Ontological Reason
The human mind has the concept of an absolute being and therefore, such an absolute being must exist. The human mind is relative. Therefore, if a relative factor can find an absolute factor and believe in its existence and find reality in it, then such an absolute factor must exist. Therefore, God must exist.
Religious Reason
God exists because men universally believe in His existence, the religious instinct. By hearing other people speak of God, you become aware of His existence. Therefore it is worth investigating. This does not often occur, but it does happen. Psalms 42:1-2; Acts 17:27.
" For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?" (Psalms 42:1-2, NASB)
"that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;" (Acts 17:27, NASB)
Moral or Anthropological Reason
Man possesses a conscience with the urge to choose between right and wrong, preferring right, indicating that behind it is an absolute norm and standard of what is right and wrong. A material ungoverned universe would know nothing of moral values and distinctions, therefore since moral values and distinctions exist in government, in individuals with a conscience, obviously there must be some supreme being as an instigator behind these concepts.
Philosophical Reason
The mind possesses a concept of something perfect and absolute - something beyond the relative pattern. Therefore, there must be a pre-existent, infinitely existent. Descartes used this philosophy through rationalism.
Teleological Reason
The structure of the universe from atoms to galaxies demands an absolute being as master designer. Who is the designer? Jesus Christ. Rom. 1:20.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20, NASB)
Cosmological Reason
The intuitive (perceived by the mind immediately) law of cause and effect demands the existence of God. The universe is not its own cause. Here is an effect, what caused it?
All of these reasons have thinking in common. As you think, you become aware of the existence of God. At that point, your volition goes into operation. After an elapse of time, information will be provided by God the Holy Spirit whereby you can make a decision. John 7:17.
" "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. " (John 7:17, NASB)
The best you can do with the systems of rationalism and empiricism is to say that someone exists, but I don’t understand them. Faith is the only bona fide system of perception for understanding spiritual phenomena.