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1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Study Series
 –
The Existence and Knowledge of Godhttp://particularbaptist.com/ 1
 
1689 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITHSystematic Theology Course 2
Study 7: The Existence and Knowledge of God
 
The two areas of theology known as the existence and knowledge of God obviouslyoverlap. Does God exist? What evidence is there for His existence? From what do we gettrue knowledge of God? Can He be known?We have decided to break into our studies of the
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1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
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at this point to briefly consider these two important areas.
QUESTION:
What do you think; does God exist? Give reasons for your answer.
7.1 Does God Exist?
 Theology assumes the existence of God. This is not merely the thought that there issomething out there, but that there is a self-existent Personal Being that is God, who isthe First Cause of all things. In this, theology is not alone, for it is the basic assumptionof the Bible (Gen 1:1).
QUESTION:
Does everybody know that God exists? Give reasons for your answer (see Psalms 10:4;14:1; Romans 1:18-21).Atheism is not so much the disbelief of the existence of God, as it is the denial andsuppression of the knowledge of God
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s existence. It is an attempt by man to silence anaccusing conscience that is constantly reminding him of his having to do with this Godwhom He is both disobeying and denying.
7.2 The Evidence for the Existence of God
 Over the years theologians have sought to demonstrate the existence of God by various
 
 
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Study Series
 –
The Existence and Knowledge of Godhttp://particularbaptist.com/ 2
 
evidences and proofs. However, it should be noted that until God reveals Himself to aperson, giving the gift of faith (Heb 11:6), these proofs and evidences are of no value tohim.
7.2.1 The Ontological Argument (Because the Idea of God Exists)
 This proof runs along the lines that because man has an idea of the existence of God, asis clearly evident throughout the history of the world, God must therefore exist. In fact,if man had never fallen into sin, the law written upon our hearts may very well havebeen a source of much knowledge concerning God.
7.2.2 The Cosmological Argument (Because the World Exists)
This proof runs along the lines that because the world exists, it must have a cause,therefore there must be a First Cause. This First Cause must be God (Job 12:7; Ps 19:1,2;Rom 1:20).
7.2.3 The Teleological Argument (Because Order Exists)
This proof runs along the lines that because the world reveals harmony, order andpurpose, there must be behind all this an intelligent Being.
7.2.4 The Moral Argument (Because Morality Exists)
This proof runs along the lines that God must exist because of the existence of moralityamong men, for this implies that behind men must be a moral Being.
7.2.5 The Historical/Ethnological Argument (Because Religion Exists)
This proof runs along the lines that because throughout history there has been a senseof the divine in all peoples and tribal groups, there must be an original understanding of God from which this has come.
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