The thing that I've come to understand about the Bible, particularly with respect to this line of thinking, is that it assumes the belief of the reader. The Bible makes no attempt at explaining itself except with respect to the mechanics of its teachings. It makes no offer of proof of the veracity of its claims. Everything in it is presented as statement of fact.
There is a central focus in the Bible directly tied to its purpose. No effort is expended in its writing except in that of communicating this focus. Communication of this focus begins largely with example, and ends with what I've come to refer to as "mechanics". The "example" can be found in the Bible's accounts of individual lives and how God interacts with these individuals. The "mechanics" can be found in the letters of the apostles and the counsel they contain. In the course of its communication, there are direct statements made about God and evidence of His existence that occur as statement of fact. Not supposition or proposal. Fact.
With its first statement the Bible begins to present the whole of nature as evidence of the existence of God. And it does so in a fashion that, at the very least, suggests that with this evidence, it's the only conclusion to draw. No suppositions. No proposals. No arguments.
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." - Genesis 1:1, 2
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork." - Psalms 19:1
In the beginning of the book of Romans there is a revelation of God's disposition toward sin where the arena of nature is presented as proof of who God is, that knowledge leaving them without excuse for choosing a life apart from relationship with Him.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." - Romans 1:18-21
In declarations concerning God's justice nature is used, not just as a proof, but as a warning.
"They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?" - Psalms 94:6-9
In the perfomance of their ministry, Paul and Barnabas were grabbed by the people of the town they were in and proclaimed to be gods, much to their dismay. In an effort to recify the situation, they reminded the people of the One they came to preach to them, identifying Him as the Creator. This is just one of a great many instances in the Bible where nature is used as an identifier of God.
"And they called Barnabas Jupiter; and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways." - Acts 14:12-16
One of the reasons why God is referred to as a "personal" God is because of the relationships between God and man. In the Bible, God is shown in relationship with man both on corporate and individual levels. The Bible presents these relationships in a familial context. Familial and interpersonal relationships being a part of human nature, many have pointed to this context of the Bible's presentation of God's interaction with man as evidence of His existence and Creatorship. Again, the Bible makes said presentations, not as suggestions or suppositions, but as descriptions of fact.
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." - Psalms 103:13
"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." - Isaiah 66:13
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" - Matthew 7:11
Now, what has been shared so far is only a small sample of the Scripture that speaks to the Creatorship of God, whether it's in terms of direct statement or declaration or simple identification. And, even if all of the Scripture which speaks to this were shared here, still, only part of the focus of the Bible would be represented, to say nothing of an incomplete representation of its purpose.
That portion of Scripture which discusses or focuses on the Creatorship of God or points to nature as proof of His existence and Creatorship, has been described as a "revelation" of God. It's something like when you see the work of a certain artist. Observing that artist's work, you can discern things about them, things about their personality, preferences, etc. (Some gifted or trained observers are able to discern rather comprehensive detail about who a person is through examination of their work.) Through the observation of nature, some have discerned things about God. But this level of "revelation" is tainted and incomplete at best.
From the very beginning of the Bible, the problem of sin and what it brings is illustrated, discussed and demonstrated in the lives, actions, and testimonies of those with whom God has interacted. The answer to that problem and the central focus of the Bible is Jesus Christ. His life, ministry, death, and the purpose of His death are prophesied in the Old Testament, recounted and explained in the New Testament. His teachings, also recounted in the New Testament, are explained in detail with references to the lives of people in the Old Testament as examples of His teachings applied and experienced. Jesus Christ has also been described as a "revelation" of God. This conclusion is corroborated by Scripture.
"Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." - John 14:8-10
"God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." - Hebrews 1:1-4
In addition to its identification of Christ as the principle active agent in creation in Hebrews 1:1-4 (see above), the Bible, along with its discussion of His unity with the Father, identifies Jesus as God.
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matthew 1:20-23
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." - John 1:1-3
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." - 1 John 5:7
This is by no means the sum total of the Bible's discussion and "revelation" of God through Creation and the life, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. Having read the Bible and all that it has to say on the subject of God Himself, and the way that it says it, where the Bible-believing Christian is concerned, I can't help but wonder. What is the point of getting into an argument or "debate" about the existence of God? The Bible refers to itself as the principle, if not, sole guide on spiritual matters. Most certainly, by its own claims, it's the last word on spiritual matters. If the Bible doesn't render that much attention to this kind of argument, if it forwards no attempt at proving its claims in a fashion that might be directed at one who doubts or even outright denies the existence of God, should Bible-believing Christians be taking up arguments that the Bible doesn't?
There are two passages of Scripture that stand out to me with respect to the responsibility of the Bible-believing Christian. One is Christ's commission to all who follow and serve Him. The other is Christ's admonition concerning those who don't want to hear their message.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:19, 20
"And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." - Matthew 10:14
Given the example of Christ's own ministry, I would think that with the above admonition, there's more than enough on a Christian's plate to preclude the kind of adversarial exchanges I've heard about and witnessed. Christ participated in no such exchanges during His ministry, and they're not called for in His commission to Christians. If you're going to call yourself a Christian as is defined by what is written in the Bible, apart from what's involved in the kind of ministry a Christian is called to, such exchanges should not be happening. If they are, a Bible-believing Christian should not be involved.
And, given the type and direction of the Bible's "revelations" of God, what's shared here is enough to provide anyone with a good look at who God is. And there's more where this came from. There's no need for arguments beyond that. With the Bible's lack of discussion about this specific variety of disbelief, I would think that it would be prudent to proceed as Christ said in Matthew 10:14 (see above). According to Romans 1 (see above), failure to believe is a choice. It doesn't matter what's used to support it.
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