THE SELF-PROCLAIMED ATHEIST

 

No such animal

Right from the start, I want to make it clear that there is no such thing as an atheist. I shall explain this in the following pages. A man may claim that he is atheist, but in reality he is a man in rebellion against God. He refuses to come to God on God’s terms.

In order to give his rebellion respectability among his peers, a man attaches a fictitious title of ‘atheist’, claiming that he believes there is no God, knowing most people will believe him.

The Bible is absolutely clear on this subject. I shall continue.

 

Let’s begin with the basics - sin

 The Bible tells us that all are sinners. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, “ .  (Romans 3:23)*  Everyone Text Box: ... The fool has said in his heart,
"There is no God." … 
(Psalms 14:1)
 
sins. All men on earth are sinners. Everyone. Scripture says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God   (Romans 3:23). And, the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death.  “For the wages of sin is death …  (Romans 6:23)

God is a Holy God.  We are by nature sinners.  The definition of sin is to ‘miss the mark’. That means missing God’s standard, contained in His law, the Ten Commandments, if you will.  The Commandments were given to man, not so he would obey, but to show that he can’t obey.  No man can follow them perfectly. Most people reject this truth.  They call what is really their sin as faults, failures, mistakes, etc.  But, the Bible calls it sin.  And it is our sin that separates us from God.

 When I was a child, I would run out into the street, unaware of the danger I imposed on myself.  However, I was free to do so because I was never told otherwise.  One day, my Mom told me, “Do not run out into the street!” At that point, my mother’s command (her law) was in effect.  From that time on, if I ran out into the street, I was breaking her law, and because of that, punishment was going to follow. I was not longer innocent.  However, as severe as the punishment might have been, I found myself wanting to run out into the street when she was not looking.  That is what we do with God.  By nature, although we know His commandments, we want to do things our way anyhow.

 The Bible tells us, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.”  (James 2:10) That is, if someone where able to live what one would consider a perfect life, from cradle to grave, but in that time tell only one lie, have one impure thought, cheat only one time, etc., then they are guilty of violating all of God’s laws. In God’s eyes, they are as the most vile person. That pretty much includes us all.

 Regardless how men present themselves before other men, all are sinners needing salvation.  Buddha was a sinner, Mohammed was a sinner, Joseph Smith was a sinner, Charles Russell, founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was a sinner in need of salvation.  The Pope of the Roman Catholic religion is a sinner needing salvation.  All men, regardless of their position in life, are sinners needing salvation.  And, their good works will not do.

 Our sin separates us from God. Scripture says, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness …  (Habakkuk 1:13)  God is holy, we are sinful, and there lies a large gulf, a huge separation, which can never be bridged by our good works.

 

 Man by nature is in rebellion against God

Because of sin, man by nature runs from God. In the story of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis, Adam and Eve tried to hid from God after they sinned.  And, man has been doing so ever since. Man does so because he is in rebellion against God. He does not draw himself to God, but runs from Him.

 A man’s rebellion isn’t quite so obvious. It’s subtle, but there just the same. “Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, ‘You will not require an account.’ "   (Psalms 10:13)

They often will become very religious, involving themselves in a religion that is nothing more than a cult.  They may become involved in an organization of some kind, hiding from the fact that they are in a spirit of rebellion.

 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.  (Psalms 14:1-3)

 In this passage, God says that a man who calls himself an atheist is a fool.  Then, He says they have all turned aside, that is, they have turned from Him.

 

All men know of God’s presence

The Bible tells us that God places in the heart of every man a knowledge of His presence, and displays himself everywhere.

 God’s internal revelation - The Bible tells us, “... what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. “ (Romans 1:19) God has placed an awareness of Himself in the heart of every person.  That is, He has revealed himself to them.

 God’s external revelation - We are told, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20) God has revealed Himself in His creative order.  Those that refuse to see Him are without excuse.

 A man who fails to recognize God, has become a fool. although they knew God, they did not glorify  Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, “ (Romans 1:21-22) It says here that such men become futile in their thoughts, their foolish hearts become darkened, and although they come across to themselves and others as wise, they are in reality fools.

 

Man’s pride gets in the way

A man’s pride and love for himself will keep him from acknowledging God. Pride is what caused Adam and Eve to fall in the beginning, and keeps men from coming to God today.  Let’s see what the Bible says.

 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.”  (Proverbs 8:13)

 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

 A proud and haughty man--"Scoffer" is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.  (Proverbs 21:24)

“ A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”  (Proverbs 29:23)

“When God lists six things that He hates, He lists pride first. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (Proverbs 6:16-17)  God hates a proud look. 

 Pride is the primary sin that keeps a man from coming to God.  The hardest three words for a man to say is, “I have sinned”.  He will go to church, practice a religion, formulate theology, whatever, to keep from humbling himself with those words.

 

Man must come on God’s terms

Man must humble himself and come to God on His terms.  Through His Son, He provided a way that one can be saved.  Jesus shed his blood on the cross in payment for our sins.  He died in our place.

 A simple question was asked in the Bible by a jailer who wanted to be saved.  “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ....”  (Acts 16:31)

 In regard to sin, it says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)  That is, when one comes confessing his sin, and puts his faith in Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for their sins, he will be saved.

 

The conclusion of the matter

The reader of this booklet may be a self-proclaimed ‘atheist’, but in reality may have come to the conclusion that you are in rebellion against God, pure and simple.  If that is the case, it is this author’s hope that you will humble yourself and in humility, come to Christ.

 

 

How can I be saved?

Some truths first:

Everyone sins- for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  (Romans 3:23)

The consequence of our sin is death - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:23)

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins - … Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures … (1 Corinthians 15:3)

The Lord wants us to repent of our sins and turn to Him - The Lord is … not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ will gain eternal life - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Get alone with God and in prayer:

·         Confess that you are a sinner and that you repent of your sins.

·         By faith, receive Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as payment for your sins.

·         Invite Jesus Christ into your heart and receive Him as your personal Lord and Savior.

·         Thank Him for saving you and for giving you eternal life.

 

If you prayed with a sincere heart conviction, you have been saved, based on God’s unchangeable promise. He has recreated you in Christ Jesus, all things have become new.

Follow-up:

Find a local Bible believing church to attend if possible.

If you have access to one, begin reading the Bible, starting in the New Testament.

E-mail us (director@orrministries.com) and let us know of your decision, and how we can help you.

 

God bless you in your life’s journey with Him!

 

 

 


* All Bible references are from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted.