The Argument Stated
This argument asserts first of all the moral nature of man. That is, we have a sense of right and wrong – what we ought and ought not to do. We feel justified when we do what we think is right and condemned when we do what we think is wrong.
Since we follow moral law, it can be inferred that there must be a Lawgiver. We believe this Lawgiver is God – the God revealed in the Bible.
The Argument Applied
Where did this moral law come from – we should not steal, murder, lie and so on? If it did not come from a Divine source (source outside of ourselves) did it come from an individual, group of individuals or from some Supreme Matter?
How would we decide what is right and wrong if the is no God and no Divine Law? All of us, whatever our moral judgments, would be “right” in our conclusions about what is good behavior. Our morals would be “relative” dependent on the times rather than eternal principle.
Many times those who do not believe in God will boldly assert that there is no such thing as absolute moral truth. But, when they do this, they catch themselves in a self contradiction which says, “The absolute truth is that there is no absolute truth!”
We believe God is the Giver of moral Law to mankind. And, all of our problems have come about because we have violated that moral Law (sinned).
The Scriptures
ROM 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
ROM 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
ROM 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
ROM 1:24 ¶ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.
ROM 1:25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
ROM 1:26 ¶ For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
ROM 1:27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
ROM 1:28 ¶ And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
ROM 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
ROM 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
ROM 1:31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
ROM 1:32 and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
By Gary Hunt
