THE NATURAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

By Gary Ray Branscome

The Bible tells us that God “Alone is immortal, dwelling in the light that no man can approach; whom no one has ever seen, or can see” (1Timothy 6:16). And, because “no one has ever seen, or can see” God, apart from divine revelation, no human being can know that He exists, or know anything about Him. However, the words, “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,” tell us that God has revealed Himself to men through the things that He created (Romans 1:20). And, that raises the question: Why do men fail to see the evidence?

The words, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” tell us that men are more likely to deceive themselves than face the truth (Jeremiah 17:9). And, the words, “When they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made to resemble corruptible man, and birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things,” tell us that when it comes to God self-deception seems to be the rule (Romans 1:21-23).

Has anything changed since those words were written? No! Not at all. Utah is full of people who have “Changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made to resemble corruptible man,” and idolatry is still widespread (Rom. 1:23). But, what about the atheists? The atheist professor Richard Dawkins answers that question with the words, “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose”. (“The Blind Watchmaker” page 1, paragraph 2.) Those words tell us that he sees the evidence even if he chooses to deny it.

However, consider carefully his words, “Things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose”. Ask yourself: Do those things appear to a dog or a horse like they have been designed for a purpose? Of course not! It is our reason that tells us that they have been designed, and reason also tells us that for every design there is a designer. Dawkins has simply rejected reason preferring to deceive himself. And, the words, “The heart is deceitful above all things,” tell us why he prefers darkness to light, and why the knowledge of God revealed in nature is not enough to save souls (Jeremiah 17:9).

The words, The “Lord of heaven and earth… has made of one blood all nations of men to live on all the face of the earth, and has determined their appointed times, and the boundaries they live in, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, and find Him, although He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; and some of your own poets have said, We are His offspring,” also testify to the witness of God in nature (Acts 17:26-28). However, the words, “He [God] did not leave Himself without witness, in that He has shown kindness, and given us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, satisfying our hearts with food and gladness,” tell us that men not only should see the evidence of God in nature, but should see His goodness in the fact that He provides them with rain, good crops and food (Acts 14:17). Sadly, however, the words, “But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” explain why sinful man is blind to the evidence (1Corinthians 2:14).

The words, “When the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, they, not having the law, are a law to themselves: Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another,” tell us that the Law of God written on the heart [although blurred by sin] is a third way that God reaches out to the lost (Romans 2:14-15). And, the words, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that those who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them,” tell us that men are more likely to ignore or excuse sin than cry out to God for forgiveness (Romans 1:32). Moreover, if they have rejected the True God for an idol, even if they do cry out their cries will be to a god who cannot hear (Jeremiah 2:28).

The Natural Knowledge of God is not Enough

The words, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved [than Jesus Christ],” tell us that the natural knowledge of God is not enough to save the lost (Acts 4:12). The words, “The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned,” tell us why the natural knowledge of God is not enough (1Corinthians 2:14). The words, “The fleshly mind is hostile to God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be,” tell us that our sinful mind is by nature in opposition to the things of God (Romans 8:6). And, the words, “Since… the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching,” tell us that because the natural knowledge of God is not enough, the only way to save people is through preaching the gospel (1Corinthians 1:21). As it is written, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

The reason that the natural knowledge of God is not enough is this. Even if a lost person came to believe in the God who created all things, and earnestly desired His forgiveness, that person could not be saved unless God revealed to him the promise of forgiveness in Christ. The words, “Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise might be given to those who believe, through faith in Jesus Christ,” tell us that all who trust in Christ are trusting in that promise (Galatians 3:22). The words, “If the inheritance comes by the law, it is not given by promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise,” tell us that Abraham was saved through faith in that promise (Galatians 3:18). The words, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it will bruise your head, and you will bruise His heel,” gave Adam and Eve that promise of a deliverer (Genesis 3:15). And, the words, “That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed… from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias,” tell us that Abel was a prophet, and, therefore, (like Abraham) one who had God’s promise of forgiveness in Christ (Luke 1:50-51).

But The Natural Knowledge of God is Still Useful

Even though the natural knowledge is not enough to save the lost, it still has a purpose in God’s plan. First of all, the Law of God written on the heart is often the basis of civil law. Secondly, that law (in our conscience) is often what convicts the lost of sin, preparing them to receive the gospel. The following dialogue by the Apostle Paul gives us an example of how he used the natural knowledge of God as a tool for evangelism.

“As I passed through, and saw your objects of worship, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore I proclaim to you, the one whom you worship in ignorance. The God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; Nor is He served by men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, since He Himself gives to everyone life, and breath, and everything else; And has made of one blood all nations of men to live on all the face of the earth, and has determined their appointed times, and the boundaries they live in; So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him, and find Him, although He is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:23-27).

However, as useful as this may be in evangelism, whenever we do not define who God is, Satan is quick to introduce a false definition, and thus a false god. For that reason, in describing God it is always important to describe Him as the God who has revealed Himself in Scripture, the one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.