Robby Bell
September 24, 2014
Dr. Dennison
Doctrine I Cause and effect is a basic idea explained in elementary school, but the comprehension of the “first cause” has evaded the knowledge of men for centuries. Every effect can be traced back to its cause, but the cause of life remains anonymous. While many struggle on finding a natural cause for the world, RC Sproul suggests that God’s self-existence is the only sufficient explanation. In his conclusion of the relationship between science and theology, Sproul makes his case for God as the “uncaused cause” of the universe. Sproul asserts the design, personality, and causality of creation is proof that God’s self-existence and intimacy work together. Sproul first attempts to show God as the self-sufficient “first cause” of the universe. He first analyzes existence, stating that because we exist today, something uncaused must have catalyzed our existence; and this catalyst must be either self-created or self-existent. Self-creation is an “uncaused effect” and illogical, but a self-existent, “uncaused cause” is a logical possibility. Sproul describes two characteristics of this “uncaused cause:” it must have the power to exist in and of itself, and it must be eternal. He suggests God fits these characteristics as the eternal and independent Creator of the universe. The universe is filled with design and points to God as the self-existing “first cause,” but Sproul believes God’s self-existence must be coupled with another attribute. Sproul’s larger point in his article is that God’s Aseity, or self-existence, works hand in hand with his intimacy. Not only is God able to be self-sustaining and independent from all else, he is personal and intimate. A self-existing god in itself does not explain how or why the universe is here today. An impersonal, self-existing God would be satisfied to just live and sustain itself, so the creation of the universe and mankind never would have happened. However, we do exist, and we have been created with personality, community, and emotion, in the image of our personal, communal, and emotional God. Our
