Why Ask Where We Came From?

In every heart beats a question that transcends culture, generation, and language: “Where did everything come from?” Whether whispered in a classroom, shouted in a crisis, or pondered in solitude, this question drives us to examine the very foundations of reality. It’s not just a scientific question—it’s a deeply spiritual one.

The Cosmological Argument offers a compelling, rational pathway to affirming the existence of God. Rooted in logic and supported by Scripture, this argument insists that everything that begins to exist has a cause—and ultimately, that cause must be uncaused, eternal, and necessary. In other words: God.

Let’s unpack this argument step-by-step and explore how the Bible not only supports it but deepens it through divine revelation.

I. The Logic Behind the Cosmological Argument

Step-by-Step Outline:

1. Things exist.
   You, the screen you’re reading on, the stars above—all are real. Existence is self-evident.

2. It is possible for these things to not exist.
   The world, as we know it, could have failed to come into being. That means its existence is not necessary—it’s contingent.

3. Whatever is contingent must have a cause.
   Something that might not have existed—but does—must owe its existence to something outside itself.

4. There cannot be an infinite regression of causes.
   If every cause had a prior cause, with no beginning, then the entire sequence would never start. You cannot finish an infinite sequence of causes, just like you cannot count to infinity and stop.

5. Therefore, there must be a first cause—an uncaused cause.
   Something outside the chain of causes, eternal and necessary, that caused everything else to be. This is what we call God.

II. Thomas Aquinas and the Argument from Motion

The 13th-century philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas gave this argument classical form in his “Five Ways” to prove God’s existence. His Argument from Motion states:

“Whatever is in motion must have been put in motion by something else. This cannot go back infinitely, so there must be a first mover, unmoved and eternal—this is God.”

Biblical Confirmation:

• Acts 17:28 – “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
  Paul affirms that God is the source of all motion and life.

• Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
  Scripture begins not with a debate, but a declaration: everything starts with God.

III. What the Bible Says About God as First Cause

A. God is Self-Existent (Aseity)

Unlike creation, God depends on nothing.

• Exodus 3:14 – “I AM WHO I AM.”
  God identifies Himself not by comparison, but by self-existence.

• John 1:3 – “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”
  Jesus (the Logos) is the divine agent of creation—unmade, eternal, and all-powerful.

B. God Exists Outside of Time and Space

The cause of time, matter, and space cannot be bound by them.

• Psalm 90:2 – “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
  Eternality is a divine attribute. God is not created; He is the Creator.

• Isaiah 46:10 – “Declaring the end from the beginning…”
  God’s perspective includes all time—past, present, future—as one continuum.

IV. Strengths of the Cosmological Argument

1. Simplicity

It appeals to the everyday experience of cause and effect.

2. Universality

It works across cultures and belief systems. Every worldview must explain the cause of existence.

3. Alignment with Scripture

It confirms what the Bible affirms: the world is not self-made, but God-made.

V. Common Objections and Responses

Objection 1: “If everything needs a cause, who caused God?”

Answer: The argument never claims everything needs a cause. Only things that begin to exist need a cause. God, being eternal, never began to exist. He is uncaused and necessary.

Objection 2: “Couldn’t the universe be eternal?”

Answer: Scientific evidence points to a beginning (Big Bang, entropy). Philosophically, infinite past time is impossible—it leads to logical contradictions. Even secular cosmologists like Alexander Vilenkin acknowledge:

“All the evidence we have says the universe had a beginning.”

VI. Biblical Illustration: Creation and Covenant

Consider Genesis 15—God makes a covenant with Abraham under the stars. The stars themselves—unfathomably distant and ancient—are witnesses to the One who spoke them into existence. God’s creative power is not only cosmological but deeply relational.

Hebrews 11:3 – “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.”

Faith and reason unite—not blind faith, but trusting the One whose fingerprints are on creation.

VII. Living Implications: Why This Matters

1. It gives us security.

We’re not cosmic accidents. Our lives have meaning and design.

2. It inspires worship.

The One who causes galaxies to spin is the same One who knows your name.

3. It strengthens witness.

You don’t have to abandon logic to believe. Christianity is intellectually and spiritually satisfying.

Conclusion: The Cause Behind the Cosmos

The Cosmological Argument does more than prove a cause—it points to a personal Creator. This Creator is not merely a force but a Father, revealed in Jesus Christ, who not only made us but loves us.

We exist because He spoke. And we’re sustained because He still speaks.

Summary:

The Cosmological Argument provides a powerful, logical framework for understanding God’s existence. It aligns with Scripture, supports Christian worship, and offers a compelling witness to a skeptical world.

Key Takeaways:

• All things that begin must have a cause. The universe had a beginning—therefore, a cause.

• God is the uncaused Cause—eternal, self-existent, and powerful.

• Biblical revelation supports and deepens the logic behind this argument, uniting faith and reason.

Engaging Question:

Have you ever wrestled with the question of existence—and how does knowing God as the ultimate Cause bring peace or clarity to your life?