How does the moral argument support the existence of God?

TL;DR:

Objective moral values and duties exist, and their existence points to a moral lawgiver—God. Without objective moral law there can be no sense of right and wrong.

The moral argument asserts that objective moral values and duties exist, which points to the existence of a moral lawgiver—God. The Bible affirms this in passages like Romans 2:14-15, where it explains that all humans have an inherent sense of right and wrong. This moral law implies a higher standard or law, which requires a lawgiver. Without God, there is no foundation for objective moral values, and denying God means denying any real sense of right or wrong. Arguments that attempt to separate morality from God fail, as evolutionary theory cannot adequately explain the binding nature of moral law or the concept of moral accountability.

from the old testament

The Bible takes the existence of God for granted, starting with the first verse "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Outside the Bible, many logical, philosophical and scientific arguments have been developed to prove God's existence, including the moral argument.
The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) are foundational to moral law.

from the new testament

The Apostle Paul tells us, in Romans 2:14-15, that our decisions have consciences, even if we have not heard or read about them in the Bible. People inherently know that some things are right, and some things are wrong, whether they believe in God or not. When we argue over right and wrong, we appeal to a higher law that we assume everyone knows about. Right and wrong imply a higher standard or law, and law requires a lawgiver. Because the moral law transcends humanity, this universal law requires a universal lawgiver. This, it is argued, is God.
The Bible calls us to understand arguments that support the existence of God: "in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

implications for today

The moral argument, popularized by C. S. Lewis, may be stated simply as:

If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist.

Objective moral values and duties do exist.

Therefore, God exists.

Objective moral values and duties cannot exist without God. To deny God, one must also give up the idea that anything is actually right or wrong in any real sense.

An atheist may object and claim that objective moral values don't actually exist, that morals are a social construct and that nothing is actually good or evil. However, these are merely subjective human judgments and should not be taken seriously. There is no definitive proof that objective moral standards do not exist. Further, the atheist may also object that morality can exist on its own without God. The problem here is there is no clear reason why this would be so. If morality is mere instinct, then it is not objective. The person who denies the existence of objective moral laws leads a very contradictory life - denying its reality, yet living by its standards.

Evolutionary theory fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for moral law, as it cannot account for the binding nature of moral obligations, the concept of moral accountability, or the justification of moral truths. There simply is no rational ground that has ever been offered for real, objective morality outside of a personal God.

understand

Objective moral values and duties exist, pointing to the necessity of a moral lawgiver—God.
The Bible affirms that humans inherently know right and wrong, implying a higher moral law that requires a lawgiver.
Without God, there is no foundation for objective morality, and any attempt to separate morality from God fails to explain moral obligations or accountability.

reflect

How do you personally recognize objective moral values in your life, and how do you explain the source of those values?
How have you seen the moral law—right and wrong—apply in situations where no one directly taught you?
How does understanding that morality requires a lawgiver impact your view of God and His relationship with humanity?

engage

How can we engage with those who argue that moral values are purely social constructs rather than being based on a higher power?
How can the moral argument be used to support the existence of God in conversations with non-believers?
What challenges or objections might we encounter regarding the moral argument, and how can we respond biblically to them?