Can an Intellectual Believe in God?

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Psalm 19Can an intelligent man or woman believe in God? It may surprise us to realize that intellect has nothing to do with it. If a man doesn’t believe in God, it is not because of intellectual difficulties, rather it is because of moral difficulties.Psalm 19 gives us three distinct reasons for intellectual belief in God, and how He has spoken of His own existence.First, God has declared His glory in the skies.“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).The heavens declare God’s greatness. The vastness of the Universe, along with its small intricacies, demonstrate God’s power.The heavens declare the goodness of God: “Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge” (Psalm 19:2). It is God who daily maintains the fixed order in the Universe and provides everything it needs to give us life. His mercies are new every morning (see Lamentations 3:23).Second, we can believe in God because of the revelation of the Scriptures.God speaks to us through His written Word. We have access to Scripture, the teachings of God, full of many virtues. It is inerrant, infallible, foundational, and full of God’s promises.The Scriptures are more precious than gold (Psalm 19:10).They are protective, for “By them your servant is warned…” (Psalm 19:11).They are profitable, for “...in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11).If we want true and lasting wisdom, we can find it in the Word of God. The Scriptures are pure, clean, right, and righteous, and they endure forever.Finally, we can know God through the illumination of the Spirit.Through the Holy Spirit in our hearts, the Scriptures we read can become real.Psalm 19:12 says, “But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.”The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins and cleanses us. When we hand our control over to the Spirit, He brings us into communion with the Father.Adrian Rogers says, “You don’t come to God because of intellect. You come to God because He first loved us."Apply it to your lifeBy the Word of God in the heavens, in our hands, and in our hearts, we can know God. Spend time in His Word, marvel at His work in the Universe, and ask the Holy Spirit to commune with you.