Why should we care if God exists?

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TL;DR:

Caring if God exists has eternal consequences. We should care if God exists because His existence affects every aspect of our existence.

from the old testament

  • We should care if God exists because He is our Creator (Genesis 1:1).
  • As the Creator of all things, God gives purpose to our existence, and living in this purpose brings us fullness of joy (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 16:11).
  • God did not give a bare or minimal existence, but He has blessed us greatly in what He has made us (Psalm 8:5–6; 139:14).
  • Besides creating us, God is also our Judge (Psalm 7:11–13; 50:6; 58:11; Ecclesiastes 12:14). He created man and woman with the ability to freely obey or disobey Him, and He promised deadly punishment would follow disobedience (Genesis 2:16–17). Because of Adam and Eve’s sin (Genesis 2:17), we are born in a state of separation from and hostility toward our Creator (Genesis 3:23–24; Psalm 51:5). We should care if God exists because we will face the consequences of our rebellion if we continue in it.
  • We should care whether God exists because salvation can only be found in Him (Psalm 3:8).

from the new testament

  • If the triune God of the Bible did not exist, then neither would we (1 Corinthians 8:6). We live only because He has given us life (John 1:3–4).
  • God is also the Sustainer of all living things, including you and me (Colossians 1:16). It is in God that "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). It is God who upholds and sustains our existence, as well as the existence of the entire cosmos (Hebrews 1:3).
  • Knowing our Creator provides us with the purpose for our existence, which is to know, love, enjoy, serve, and glorify God forever (1 Corinthians 8:3; 10:31; Matthew 22:37–40).
  • The New Testament confirms that God is our Judge (Acts 10:42; Romans 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 20:11–15). Because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, we have fallen under the curse of sin and death (James 1:15). We have inherited a rebellious nature, and we act in accordance with it (Romans 5:12). We are born in a state of separation from and hostility toward our Creator (Colossians 1:21; Ephesians 2:1–3). We are all guilty before God and are deserving of His just wrath (Romans 1:18; 3:23; Colossians 3:5–7; Ephesians 5:6). God's judgment is just since He has given us compelling evidence of His existence, as well as a conscience and law through which we know right from wrong (i.e. what pleases Him from what displeases Him) (Romans 1:19–21; 2:12–16).
  • Despite our willful rebellion against His sovereign rule, God has loved us and given His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sin (Romans 5:8). Indeed, there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Through believing in and receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are forgiven of our sin because He suffered the wrath of God in our place (Romans 4:25).
  • We should care if God exists because He promises to restore all that sin has broken, offering us reconciliation and right standing through faith in Christ (Romans 3:21–26; Romans 5:10). By accepting this salvation, we are redeemed, justified, and destined for eternal life with God, free from suffering and full of joy (Revelation 21:3–4). However, rejecting this salvation results in enduring God’s just wrath and eternal separation (John 3:18).

implications for today

Caring about whether God exists is fundamental because it shapes our understanding of purpose, morality, and destiny. If God exists, there is purpose and meaning to our lives. What He says about the consequences of our sin is true, as is the truth that He gave Himself, so we could be made right with Him and saved from the consequences of our sin. Not caring about God’s existence means we willingly ignore who He is and what He has said, and that has eternal consequences. Caring if God exists also impacts our morality and our perspective on life. Life without God would be life devoid of goodness, purpose, and meaning. Think of a place with no love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That’s what a life without God would be like. Also, without God, morality becomes subjective, potentially leading to a relativistic view, where ethical standards are inconsistent and grounded in personal or societal preferences, rather than an objective truth. Caring if God exists leads us to redemption and eternal joy and away from the consequences of separation and judgment. Ultimately, caring if God exists affects every aspect of our existence, from our daily actions to our eternal hopes.

understand

  • Caring if God exists and recognizing Him as our Creator gives our lives meaning and fullness of joy.
  • God's existence provides objective moral standards; without Him, morality becomes subjective.
  • Belief in God and Christ offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and salvation, while ignoring Him leads to eternal separation and bearing the consequences of our sin.

reflect

  • How does the truth that God exists impact your sense of purpose and joy in daily life?
  • How does understanding God’s existence shape your personal decisions and view of sin?
  • How would your daily actions and priorities change if you fully embraced the idea that God is the ultimate source of meaning and purpose?

engage

  • How can the concept of eternal consequences for ignoring or embracing God’s existence affect the way we approach sharing our faith with others?
  • How does the belief or disbelief in God's existence impact the way society approaches moral and ethical issues?
  • What aspects of life today are challenged by the truth that God exists? What would these areas look like if people cared that God existed?