WHY MUST GOD BE THE FIRST CAUSE?
If you’re not new to apologetics, you’re probably already familiar with the Cosmological Argument: Everything that has a beginning has a cause. The universe had a beginning. Therefore, the universe had a cause. If everything with a beginning has something that caused it, then we can also say that the universe must have a cause, since it has been proven both scientifically and philosophically that it had a beginning (take time to research this further). We use this argument to demonstrate that there is a God. Because for us theists/Christians, we assert that God is the best explanation for the origin of the universe; in other words, God is the First Cause.
Why do we believe that the Lord must be the First Cause? Why can’t it be that the universe simply made itself? We have good reasons for our position:
If space, time, and matter had a beginning, it means that whatever caused them must transcend them. Why? Because the First Cause brought space, time, and matter into existence, so naturally, He cannot be bound by them—He must already exist prior to them! In other words, the First Cause must be spaceless, timeless, and immaterial. Also, the First Cause must be immensely powerful to create the universe out of nothing. Even if the First Cause were spaceless, timeless, and immaterial, if it lacked the ability to create the universe out of nothing, then it would be meaningless. And finally, the First Cause must be a personal agent—meaning, capable of choosing to create—because an impersonal force has no capacity to choose to bring anything into existence.
Spaceless. Timeless. Immaterial. Powerful. Personal.
The First Cause must have these qualities in order to bring about everything that exists. Some atheists argue that natural laws can explain the origin of the universe. The difficulty with this claim is that natural laws only govern what already exists—they do not have the ability to make decisions (or choose to create). For example, gravity is an impersonal force, since it simply does the same thing over and over again. We cannot expect it to do something unique and new, such as creating the universe or anything else, because it has no capacity to think.
Some say, “the universe created itself.” We don’t need a high IQ to see how mistaken this view is. In principle, it is impossible! It’s like saying that a person could give birth to his own mother, or even give birth to himself! Others claim that there’s no need for a First Cause, that the universe could have just popped out of nothing. But such an explanation goes against common sense, for we know that nothing cannot create something. Things don’t just pop into existence out of nowhere. Every suggestion offered by atheists/agnostics breaks down under examination. When we look carefully at all possible explanations, the theistic view still stands as the best.
Spaceless. Timeless. Immaterial. Powerful. Personal.
If you are a believer, you know that these descriptions perfectly match what we know about God. He is spaceless/omnipresent, timeless/eternal, immaterial/Spirit, powerful/omnipotent, and yet personal. He must be the First Cause! The Bible does not attempt to prove His existence; it simply assumes this reality: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1). Stay Curious.
Geisler, N. (1999). “Casuality, Principle of.” ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฏ๐ค๐บ๐ค๐ญ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ข ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ณ๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ช๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ค๐ด. Baker Books
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