HOW ALL PEOPLE KNOW GOD

Have you ever wondered why we believe in a God, or should I say “THE GOD”? And did you know that every culture, country, tribe, race, and peoples ALL believe in a god? Why is that? How does God, THE GOD, manifest Himself to each individual and woo us to Him? These are all important questions to ask. Today we will just skim the surface of understanding HOW ALL PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS A GOD.

Our “Big Table” Bible Study group is studied the book of Romans not long ago. It’s a magnificent book! A deep book!  Abook that tackles topics like, salvation, sin, election, justification, sanctification, redemption, righteous, judgment, glorification and so much more. It is my very favorite book of the Bible (at least at this time). 

Romans was written by God through the apostle Paul, a brilliant Jew who the risen Jesus knocked off a horse to introduced Himself . Paul became a great disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and a missionary to the non-Jewish world.

Here is what Paul says about the gospel…

FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO (for) SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.

FOR IN IT (the Gospel)  THE RIGHTEOUS (perfectly right) OF GOD IS REVEALED (made know, shown) FROM FAITH TO FAITH AS IT IS WRITTEN (in the old testament) “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH”. Romans 1:16-17

Paul tells us that he is not ashamed of the good news that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, God in the flesh, our Redeemer and Savior.

That it is the gospel that has the power to save. To take every person in the world past, present, and future from the family of sin and death and Satan into the state of purity, no sin and the family of God.

And that this gospel that saves us is offered to everyone.

These verses tell us that Jesus Himself was born into the Jewish nation and preached salvation to them by His life and death and resurrection. But salvation was not just for the Jew alone. It also offered to all men. Salvation is offered as a gift to the whole world.

In the gospel, the written and oral news about Jesus, God’s righteousness is shown. His perfect and total truth and being right.

And it is what leads us to saving faith from the first time we believe.

This verse says the gospel continues to show us God’s righteousness as we continue in our faith.  

From old, God has told us that the righteous (in right standing with God, not self-righteous) man lives by faith (believing in Jesus and bowing to His authority in our lives).

WOW! No wonder I love the book of Romans. Just in two verses God reveals so much about Himself!

In the same chapter, God also tells us why we all believe in Him. Even people who deny God still believe. They make themselves to be a god. The ultimate ruler of their lives.

But since ages old God tells us…

BECAUSE THAT WHICH IS KNOW ABOUT GOD IS EVIDENT WITHIN THEM: FOR GOD MADE IT EVIDENT TO THEM. Romans 1:18b

Right there in Romans chapter one we see that God Himself, when he created us, put the knowledge of Himself in us. We were made to seek God. There is something hot wired in our conscience that makes God known. 

God loves us so much that He puts the desire to have a relationship with Him inside us.

God is all about a relationship.

When we accept God’s free gift of salvation He actually comes and resides inside us to help us. Amazing!

God also says…

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 WE ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. Romans 1:19 

Since God created the world He has shown us who He is.  EVERYONE can clearly see the spiritual reality of who God is and His amazing power, His creative power,by all the things He has made.

That includes EVERYTHING in and of ourselves, living and non living things, homes, communities, towns, counties, countries, continents, world, air, water, trees, animals, universe and beyond. Everything He created shows us who He is and His magnificent power!

You might ask me, “Then why don’t all people believe in the God of the Bible”?

A great and very deep question. God answers this question perfectly as only God can. He says…

FOR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW GOD THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD OR GIVE THANKS: BUT THEY BECAME FUTILE IN THEIR OWN SPECULATIONS, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WERE DARKENED. Romans 1:20

God clearly tells us that everyone knows there is a God and who God is because He put that knowledge inside us and all around us. The problem is pride.

Our own broken nature wants to have it’s own way and does not want or acknowledge or submit to God. So we don’t honor God for who He is or give Him thanks for all He has done.

Did you know that a fully functioning 747 jet has a better chance being produced by a tornado going through a town than creation happening by accident?

Or the chance of a  ribozyme, a catalyst and carrier of genetic information in cells, being assembled by chance are so huge that in the 13 billion years science estimates the age of the earth it is a total impossibility. 

There are thousands and thousands of facts that point to God as Creator! But, man in his foolishness prefers his own speculation!

So, because of us not wanting to submit to God we think up our own reasons for creation and our own ideas about who and what God is.

And because of this, we don’t move closer and closer to the real God, but farther and farther away. We move away from the truth and light of God.

And when we move further away from God we move more and more into the darkness of speculation and sin.

The rest of Romans 1 tells us what happens when people and society move away from believing in the true God.  It is a downward spiral. Read it! It is amazingly true!

It is clear from Romans 1 that we all really know there is a God and that our great God boldly shows us who He is. What an amazing God we serve! God’s creation, including you, is like a big love poem to us letting us know who He. 

He’s calling you, do you hear Him?

This is a beautiful scripture verse to tuck into your heart this week… 

FOR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF CONFUSION BUT OF PEACE.  1 Corinthians 14:33