Why We Need God, and Why It Must Be the God of the Bible

Editor’s note – We’re running this piece because it asks the question most worldview conversations eventually circle back to: not merely whether God exists, but whether we personally need Him, and which God is actually there to be known. The author works through Christianity’s central paradoxes, its exclusive claim to Truth in Christ alongside its wide-open invitation to anyone who calls on His name, and lands on the resurrection as the hinge the whole case turns on. What follows is one believer’s own reasoning, offered plainly and personally.

The Paradoxes of Christianity

Christianity is full of paradoxes. It is both exclusive and inclusive. Exclusive, because Jesus Christ boldly declared that the only way to God is through Him.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [John 14:6]

In this statement, Jesus claims to be Truth itself. He embodies Truth, and as God Himself, He is the source of Truth. Truth, by its very nature, is exclusive. For example, all of the following statements are true with only one correct answer.

The password to my online bank account is: ________________________.

2 + 2 = 4.

Water boils at exactly 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).

Other paradoxes in Christianity (and there are many more than these) include: the concept of the Trinity (one God in Three Persons), Jesus Christ as both the Lion and the Lamb, the principle of losing one’s life in order to find it (the world says, “put yourself first”, but Jesus said, “die to yourself” to find real life), the apostle Paul said that when he was weak, he was actually strong (see 2 Corinthians 12:10). By this he meant that God uses human weakness to display His power, and that dependence on God is the true source of strength, not self-sufficiency.

Christianity is also inclusive because Jesus Christ offers salvation to everyone who believes, regardless of their past, background, or failures. The main theme of the book of Romans is that everyone has sinned and is separated from God, but God knew this would happen because of mankind’s free will, and He created a plan to solve this problem from the beginning of the world.

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [Romans 10:12-13]

These paradoxes humble us and cause us to realize that God’s wisdom far surpasses ours. The God of the Bible isn’t distant or indifferent. He is personal, loving, and relentlessly pursues us! He loves us so deeply that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could be reconciled to Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

Editor’s note – The password-and-boiling-point illustration is a simple but effective one: truth, by definition, narrows things down to one right answer, and that’s exactly the kind of claim Jesus makes about Himself. It’s worth sitting with the Trinity and Paul’s “strong when weak” paradox here too – Scripture doesn’t resolve every mystery about God, it asks us to trust the One who does.

Why Do We Need God?

Every human being senses a deep longing for meaning, purpose, and connection. We wrestle with questions of origin, purpose, and destiny because we were created by God in His image (Genesis 1:27). We aren’t mere cosmic accidents, nor the result of millions of years of unguided processes coming together to produce us. God breathed His life into humanity (Genesis 2:7) and gave us an immortal soul that will live forever somewhere. He also gave us free will to decide whether we will live with Him or apart from Him.

Without God, life becomes a fleeting pursuit of temporary pleasures. We may fill our days with distractions, but our souls remain restless. Augustine famously said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

As mentioned above, our sin has separated us from God (Romans 3:23). We can’t help but sin because our nature is bent away from God. Because God is perfectly just, sin must be punished. If God didn’t punish sin, He wouldn’t be loving. But because He is perfectly loving, He took that punishment upon Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.

Why the God of the Bible?

There are many religions in the world, but only one offers a Savior who died for His followers and rose again. Religious figures such as Buddha, Muhammad, and Confucius never claimed to be God incarnate or to have conquered death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central evidence of His divine authority and the foundation of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Here is a well-researched article that examines the resurrection of Jesus using historical, eyewitness, and scientific evidence: Resurrection of Jesus: A Scientific Review of the Evidence.

Christianity is unique from other religions because it doesn’t require rituals or works to earn salvation. It’s not about human effort reaching up to God; it’s about God reaching down to humanity. Salvation is a gift received by faith, not a reward earned by deeds (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Editor’s note – The author links out to a longer piece examining the historical case for the resurrection; we haven’t independently vetted that source, so weigh it the way you would any outside apologetic resource. The core claim underneath it stands regardless: Christianity doesn’t ask us to climb toward God through ritual or merit, but to receive what He has already done.

The Reality of Heaven and Hell

Jesus spoke plainly about both Heaven and Hell. Heaven is the eternal home of those who love and trust Him. It’s a place of unending joy, peace, and fellowship with God. Hell, by contrast, is the eternal separation from God, created originally for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

Many people reject the idea of Hell, but disbelief doesn’t erase reality. Just as gravity operates whether we acknowledge it or not, so does God’s moral law. To deny Hell is to deny the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God.

God wants everyone in the whole world to be saved and live in harmony with Him forever. People use their free will to choose to accept or reject His offer of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]

Editor’s note – Hell is the hardest of these claims to sit with, and the author doesn’t soften it. That restraint is worth noting: Scripture doesn’t present God’s justice as arbitrary cruelty but as the necessary flip side of His holiness. Whatever you make of that tension, it deserves more than a shrug.

The Benefits of Knowing God

Choosing to follow Jesus isn’t merely fire insurance to avoid judgment; it’s about showing Him how much you love Him and appreciate His sacrifice for you. When you make Him Lord of your life, you promise to take up your cross daily and follow Him, which means committing to obey His teachings. When you accept His free gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit enters your heart, and He will empower you to live a new life and obey God. (Romans 8:11).

The Christian life brings peace, joy, and purpose. It gives us a community of believers who support, encourage, and challenge us to grow. Real faith isn’t stagnant; it grows as we love and trust (see Ephesians 1:15-16). God loves us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way.

The Bible becomes our guide, offering wisdom, comfort, and direction. The Spirit gives us strength to overcome temptation and courage to face trials. And above all, we gain the assurance of eternal life with the One who created and redeemed us.

Why I Choose to Worship the God of the Bible

I choose to worship the God of the Bible because He alone is worthy. He is the Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of life, and the Redeemer of souls. I love Him because His love for me is unconditional and because He first loved me (1 John 4:19).

I worship Him because He is the Truth. In a world full of shifting opinions, moral relativism, and confusion, God’s Word stands firm. His promises never fail. His character never changes.

I worship Him because He gives my life meaning and purpose. I worship Him because He has revealed Himself in the Bible as one God manifested in three persons. He is a personal God, not an abstract force. He is the God who made Himself known by entering history, suffering, and overcoming death for our sake.

Conclusion

So, do you need God? Yes, I believe so because you were made by Him and for Him. Why the God of the Bible? Because He alone is real, loving, and powerful enough to save. Which one should you pray to? Pray to the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Believe in the one true God who invites you into eternal fellowship with Himself. Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart. The question is, will you open the door to Him?

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. [Revelation 3:20]

A Word from the Editor
Whether or not you agree with every argument laid out here, the author is right about the shape of the invitation: God isn’t waiting for us to earn our way to Him. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock” (Revelation 3:20) is not a threat, it’s a knock from Someone who already knows what it costs you to answer. The only real question left is the one the author ends on – will you open the door?

Editor Comment: The password-and-boiling-point illustration is a small stroke of teaching skill – it makes the exclusivity of truth tangible before Christ ever enters the argument, so the theological claim that follows lands as reasonable rather than arbitrary. The closing turn to Revelation 3:20 gives the whole piece a gentle, personal landing point rather than an abstract conclusion.

This article appeared on Medium and is reprinted with modifications and by permission.