Is God the first cause?

TL;DR:

God is the uncaused first cause who brought the universe into existence, confirmed by the Bible, philosophy, and modern science. God’s eternal power, intelligence, and creativity reveal Him as the ultimate source of everything we see and know.

what does the bible say?

The cosmological argument states that anything that begins to exist must have a cause. Astronomical observations in the last century prove that the universe had a beginning. Since the universe began to exist, it has a cause. The Bible confirms that our Creator God is the cause (Genesis 1:1).

Thomas Aquinas argued that an infinite regress of causes is impossible, and thus, there must be a first cause, or an uncaused cause, which is God. Aquinas's philosophical argument is based on the principle that there cannot be an infinite chain of causes and effects, as each effect must have a prior cause. This chain of causes must ultimately lead to a first cause that is, itself, uncaused and necessary.

By observing the natural world, we know the first cause must have certain characteristics. The first cause must be powerful, eternal, necessary, changeless, intelligent, and creative. These are attributes of the God of the Bible, as shown below.

from the old testament

God is the ultimate source of all life and existence. He created time, space, matter, energy, and all life forms (Genesis 1).
God is more powerful than we can imagine (Job 38–39).
The eternal God existed before creation (Psalm 90:2).
God's intelligence far exceeds our own (Isaiah 55:8–9).
God has not changed from the beginning of time (Malachi 3:6).

from the new testament

God is necessary. To be the first cause, His existence is not contingent on anything else (John 1:1–3; Exodus 3:14).
The created universe is a testament to God's eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20).

implications for today

Scientist Stephen C. Meyer wrote Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe (HarperOne, 2021). In that book, Meyer provides scientific evidence and logical arguments that the designer and first cause of the universe is the God of the Bible. Observational evidence for the beginning of the universe includes the expansion of the universe according to Hubble's law (as indicated by the redshifts of galaxies), discovery and measurement of the cosmic microwave background, and the different appearance of distant (early) galaxies. If the universe had a beginning, then it must have a cause, and Meyer establishes the cause as God.

Not only is God the first cause of creation (Genesis 1:1), but He is also the first cause of our salvation. He took the first step in forming us, and He took the first step in having a relationship with us: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

understand

God is the uncaused first cause who created the universe.
The world having a first cause is confirmed by the Bible, philosophy, and science.
God is not only the Creator, but also the initiator of our salvation and relationship with Him.

reflect

How does knowing God is the uncaused first cause shape your understanding of life and purpose?
In what ways does God’s eternal and unchanging nature impact how you trust Him in your daily decisions?
How do you respond personally to the truth that God took the first step in forming your relationship with Him?

engage

How does God as the first cause influence your view of science and faith working together?
What challenges or questions arise for you when considering that God is both Creator and the initiator of salvation?
How might understanding God’s attributes as eternal, intelligent, and changeless affect the way we live out our faith in today’s world?