Knowing
God is necessary if one is to do more than stumble through life
from one ordeal to another. One needs purpose and direction. God
gives us reason to live and reachable goals to attain.
GOD
EXISTS
Everything has a
cause. Science calls this the "law of cause and
effect". Nothing in our universe can be the cause of its
own existence, therefore we must look beyond this physical realm
to find the Ultimate Cause of all things. The universe is like a
huge clock that is winding down. The question is WHO "wound
up the clock" in the beginning?
(Genesis 1:1) In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Revelation
4:11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure
they are and were created.
When we buy a
watch we recognize that there must have been a watchmaker. If we
admire a painting we understand that there must have been an
artist. Likewise, the universe tells us of its Maker. We see
design all around us. The human eye is much more effective than
the finest camera and no one would seriously suggest that a
camera came into existence by accident instead of by plan. It
makes even less sense to deny the existence of the Designer and
Creator of the eye!
(Psalms 19:1-2)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth
his handiwork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto
night showeth knowledge.
(Psalms 139:14)
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Also, the nature
of man tells us much about his origin. Human beings are moral,
rational and spiritual creatures. We ponder our existence asking
"how" and "why"; and these very questions
point us in God's direction! It is foolish to deny His
existence.
(Psalms 14:1)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are
corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that
doeth good.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF GOD
How does one
describe God? Words are inadequate and yet they are all we have.
The best approach is to see how God has revealed Himself to us.
Our God is
majestic. He is all powerful. His glory surpasses anything else
in human experience.
(1 Timothy
6:15-16) Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed
and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who
only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be
honour and power everlasting. Amen.
Our God is wise.
He knows His universe down to the smallest detail. He knows the
heart. He knows what is best for us.
(Psalms
33:13-15) The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the
sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon
all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts
alike; he considereth all their works.
(Romans
11:33-34) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his
ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the
Lord? or who hath been his counselor?
Our God is
jealous. This is not to be confused with anything like the petty
jealousies of man. It simply means that God demands loyalty from
those He loves and redeems.
(Exodus 20:5)
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I
the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me;
Our God is love.
Our well being is His concern and He has acted in our behalf.
(John 3:16) For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
(Hebrews 4:16)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Our God is also
capable of wrath. He is the righteous judge of a wicked world.
His wrath is perfectly dispensed; none will pay an unjust
penalty. Also, it must be noted that Divine wrath is what men
choose for themselves when they retreat from the light which God
has provided.
(2 Thessalonians
1:8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God,
and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(John 3:18) He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.
NAMES
OF GOD
There are several
names that God uses in identifying Himself. They also tell us
something of His nature. We will look at two of these names.
"Jehovah"
is the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses from the
burning bush. This name continued to be used by God's people
throughout history. A shortened form of the name is used in the
word "hallelujah" which means "praise to
Jehovah". The name "Jehovah" is from the Hebrew
language and means "I AM". It shows God's eternal
nature; that He has no beginning or end.
(Exodus 3:14)
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt
thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto
you.
"Elohim"
is a name which signifies might and power. It is this Hebrew
word that is translated "God" in the very first verse
of the Bible.
(Genesis 1:1) In
the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
GODHEAD
Most are familiar
with the concept of three persons in one God. Some refer to this
as "the Trinity." But what does the Bible teach?
There is one
God. There are not two, three or more. However, we have already
noticed the use of the word "Elohim" as one of the
names used by God. The interesting thing is that "Elohim"
is plural! This certainly helps to explain Genesis 1:26;
"And God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our
likeness.". The one God of the Bible is revealed to be a
unity of three Persons. All three are mentioned together several
times in the scriptures.
(Matthew
3:13-17) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to
be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need
to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus
answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of
the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
(Matthew
28:18-20) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(2 Corinthians
13:14) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
God, the Father,
is separate and distinct from the Son and the Spirit, and yet
one with them.
(1 Peter 1:2)
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied.
Jesus, the Son,
is referred to in the scripture as God. He also accepted being
addressed as God. He was also willing to be worshipped after
saying that it was only proper to worship God and no other!
(Please compare)
(Matthew 4:10)
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve.
(Matthew 28:9)
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them,
saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him.
Also
notice...
(Matthew 1:23)
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a
son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us.
(John 1:1-3) In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All
things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made.
(John 1:14) And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of
grace and truth.
(John 1:17) For
the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
(John 20:26-29)
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas
with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in
the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to
Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not
faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto
him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas,
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they
that have not seen, and yet have believed.
(Titus 2:13)
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The Holy Spirit
is revealed in the Bible as being both a living being and Deity.
The personal pronoun "He" is used to refer to Him. He
is said to love, speak and grieve. He has a mind. If one lies to
the Spirit, he has lied unto God!
(John 14:16-18)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you.
(Acts 5:3-4) But
Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to
the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was
sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived
this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto
God.
(Romans 8:27)
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the
Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according
to the will of God.
(Ephesians 4:30)
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption.
We find examples
of the Lord God making statements in the Old Testament and then
discover that the New Testament quotes those same statements and
attributes them specifically to the Holy Spirit. This certainly
shows that the Holy Spirit is one of the Godhead. Compare the
following...
(Isaiah 6:8-10)
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send,
and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And
he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but
understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the
heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut
their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be
healed.
(Acts 28:25-27)
And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after
that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by
Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this
people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not
understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For
the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand
with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal
them.
CONCLUSION
It is important to
know our God. Not just to know about Him but to know Him as God.
In this universe and in eternity, when all has been said and
done, man cannot fail more seriously than to live out his life
estranged from his Creator. On the other hand, there cannot be a
brighter success story than that of a man or woman who walks
with God.
Lesson #2 is
entitled "GOD HAS SPOKEN" and shows the Bible itself
as God's word. How do we know that the Bible is God's word? What
does "inspiration" mean? What is the difference
between the Old and New Testaments? Can one really understand
the Bible? These and other questions will be dealt with in
Lesson #2. (Submit answers to the following questions in order
to receive the next lesson)
CAN
YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Using this
lesson and your Bible, please look up the passages cited, then
answer the following questions.
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Last revised:
February 22, 2007 . |
