The Person of God The Father Session 3

Transcription

1 The Person of God The Father Session 3

2 Who is God? Who is Man? Class Schedule Covenant, Relationship and the Knowledge of God (Session 1) The Trinity Part 1: The Nature of God (Session 2) The Trinity Part 2: The Person of God the Father (Session 3) The Trinity Part 3: The Person of God the Son- Jesus Christ (Session 4) The Trinity Part 4: The Person of God the Holy Spirit (Session 5) The Nature of Man (Session 6)

3 Review of Last Session The Creeds of the Church were developed and refined over the centuries to accurately reflect the orthodox Christian position with respect to the fundamentals of the Faith. The 3 Great Creeds originally emerged as a result of defending the historic points of faith against early Church heretics. The heretics actually helped the Church to become very careful and precise in its declaration regarding the fundamentals of the Faith with specific emphasis upon the nature and person of the Triune God. Scripture teaches that there is only one true God and that this God eternally and necessarily exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three persons are each fully God in and of themselves, not three parts or pieces of the one true God. Nothing in all of creation can fully and accurately represent God except for the very person of Jesus Christ Himself. All other comparisons, representations or analogies fall short of giving true and complete information regarding God in His divine fulness. It is necessary to know God in Christ to have a saving knowledge of Him. God s highest calling and privilege and deepest desire for Man is for Man to know Him.

4 Part 1

5 What is a Person? A person is usually understood as an individual, separate being or entity. All creatures are individual beings within their own person. God is unique in both His person and being since within the being of the one true God there exist three distinct persons. We can think of this in terms proposed by Hank Hanegraaf which are wonderfully simple and clear- When speaking of the Trinity, we need to realize that we are speaking of one what and three who s. The one what is God s being or essence, the three who s are the Father, Son and Spirit.

6 Personal Distinctions As each person has certain characteristics that uniquely identify them, so God has demonstrated certain distinctions that identify each person within the Godhead uniquely. These personal distinctions within the Godhead are evident within the revealed Scriptures. Each person in the Godhead is equal in every way, but there are distinct roles and separate functions that each person fulfills which demonstrate the genuine presence of each particular person within the nature of the true God.

7 The Personal Name of God The Father is identified by many titles in the Scriptures which ascribe to Him very specific attributes, but the Lord only has one proper, personal name. God is identical with His name. The name of God reveals His character and He is jealous for His name- Leviticus 22:32 32 "And you shall not profane My holy name, but I will be sanctified among the sons of Israel: I am the LORD who sanctifies you, Exodus 34: for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God-- The proper name of God is Jehovah (Yehovah) or Yahweh (Yahveh). This name signifies God as The Self-Existent One. The one who alone possesses eternal life and permanent existence.

8 Other Scriptural Names of God I Am that I Am- (derived from the Hebrew verb which means to be ) Elohim- Almighty God (The Creator God) El Elyon- The Most High God (Sovereign) El Roi- The God Who Sees (Omnipresent) El Shaddai- The All Sufficient One Adonai-The Lord (Lord and Master) Jehovah Jireh- The Lord Will Provide Jehovah Rapha-The Lord Who Heals Jehovah Mekoddishkem- The Lord Who Sanctifies You Jehovah Shalom- The Lord Is Peace Jehovah Sabaoth- The Lord Of Hosts Jehovah Raah- The Lord My Shepherd Jehovah Tsidkenu- The Lord Our Righteousness

9 The Role of God the Father Each person within the nature of the Trinity fulfills a distinctive role within the eternal purposes and plan of God. Even though each person is coequal in power and glory, they all work together cooperatively in different ways to accomplish the Father s will. God the Father has a role that is different from God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The role of God the Father is that of the Sovereign, Covenant Lord who decrees all things and causes all things to work together to accomplish His eternal plan.

10 The Father is God Almighty The Father is referred to often as God Almighty. This is a title that describes His absolute power and majesty. Genesis 17:1-7 Genesis 17:1 Now when Abram was ninetynine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. 2 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly." We see that the Father is the one who plans all things from all eternity and that His will shall be accomplished- Isaiah 46: "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

11 The Father Sent the Son The Father planned to send the Son into the world from eternity past to redeem a particular people for Himself. Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. John 3:17 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. John 17:18 18 "As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

12 God s Plan of Redemption God planned and ordained the death and resurrection of Christ from all eternity as the way in which He would redeem His people. Acts 2: "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- 23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 "And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2: "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet."' 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified."

13 God s Predestination of His Elect God chose His elect in Christ before the foundation of the world. He predestined every single person who would be saved purely as an act of grace according to His Own sovereign will with no consideration to any merits within the individual that would cause God to look upon them with favor. Romans 8: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Ephesians 1: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, 8 which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. The Father chooses His Elect, the Son accomplishes redemption for them and the Holy Spirit applies and seals the salvation to each individual Believer.

14 Part 2

15 The Attributes of God God possesses within Himself certain attributes that are only able to belong to God alone. We call these eternal attributes which God alone possesses His Incommunicable Attributes. God also possesses other attributes that He has shared with His creatures. We call these His Communicable Attributes. In considering God s attributes, we need to understand that God is not a composite type of being. God is a single, uniform essence or substance and His attributes are the different aspects of His entire character. We might think of them as many facets on a single gemstone rather than each attribute being its own individual gem.

16 The Omniscience of God God has always known everything and His knowledge is creative in nature. While human beings think reflectively and passively, God s thoughts are creative, active and criterialogical; this means that whatever God thinks is the actual and real criterion or standard of reality. Psalm 139:1-6 Psalm 139:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. 2 Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar. 3 Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, And art intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all. 5 Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, And laid Thy hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Psalm 50: "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all it contains. Isaiah 40: "To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power Not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God "? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. Hebrews 4:13 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

17 The Omnipotence of God God is All-Powerful This attribute is called God s Omnipotence. He can do anything He pleases. Isaiah 40: Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance, And the hills in a pair of scales? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him? 14 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge, And informed Him of the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. 16 Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. 17 All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. 18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? Isaiah 40: Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. 24 Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. 25 "To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power Not one of them is missing.

18 The Omnipresence of God The Scriptures reveal that God is everywhere present simultaneously. There is nowhere that God is not. This attribute is referred to as God s Omnipresence. Psalm 139: Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.

19 The Omnibenevolence of God The attribute of God s being completely Holy or good is described as His Omnibenevolence. Matthew 5:44-6:1 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? 47 "And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

20 The Criticism of God s Omni s Christians declare that the God of the Scriptures is All-Knowing (Omniscient), All-Powerful (Omnipotent) and All-Good (Omnibenevolent). Critics have accused this Biblical conception of God with being logically self-contradictory because of the existence of evil. They hold that any two of these three aspects of God are compatible but to add a third destroys the truth of the description. For example, God can be All-Loving and All-Knowing, but He can t be All- Powerful or else God wouldn t have allowed evil to exist- but it does so He must not have been able to prevent it. God can be All-Powerful and All-Loving, but He can t be All-Knowing or else He would have known that evil would come into existence and He would have prevented it. He must not have known about evil until it was too late to do anything about it, and even now He doesn t know how to eliminate evil; He has the power but not the wisdom to do so. Finally, God can be All-Powerful and All-Knowing, but He can t be All- Loving or else He would have prevented evil since He supposedly loves His creation and a good God wouldn t allow any suffering or evil. Evil and suffering exist, therefore God is not All-Loving. These are very serious charges against God. How are we to respond to the detractors? Is there an answer that is Biblical and yet still able to retain all three of these revealed characteristics of God?

21 The Answer to the Critics Christians respond by stating that God is indeed All-Knowing, All- Powerful and All-Loving. Christians also acknowledge that evil exists. Is this a paradox? Is this a contradiction? No way! The Bible is very clear that God is Love and that He has also planned evil to accomplish His decrees and purposes in history. (cf. Acts 2:23) Proverbs 16:4 4 The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things. Daniel 9: "As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Thy truth. 14 "Therefore, the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice. Romans 9:14 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! Romans 9:18 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 1 John 4:8 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

22 The Reason Evil Exists The reason evil exists is found detailed in Romans 9. Paul tells us that God wanted to glorify Himself by demonstrating the entire spectrum of His character by dealing righteously with both vessels of wrath and vessels of mercy. Romans 9: for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." 13 Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth." 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use? 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory God glorifies Himself in everything including His use of the evil that exists to accomplish His purposes.

23 The Sovereignty of God God is proclaimed to be the absolute Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth. He can do anything He pleases to do. He is not compelled nor influenced by anything outside of Himself. He alone is the Lord- Isaiah 44:24 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone, Isaiah 45:5-7 5 "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; 6 That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, 7 The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these. God is in control of every event in history. He plans and accomplishes all of His purposes- Isaiah 46:10 10 Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Romans 8:28 8 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Ephesians 1:10-11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His own will,

24 The Holiness of God The attribute of Holiness is defined as God s absolute moral purity. He is completely unsullied and unmixed in His moral Excellency. This perfection as none other is solemnly celebrated before the Throne of Heaven by the Seraphim crying Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 6:3) Because God is holy, He hates all sin. He loves everything holy and hates everything unholy. This attribute more than any other demands Justice and punishment for sin. God forgives sinners, but He never forgives sin itself; and sinners are forgiven only on the ground of another who bore their punishment, God the Son.

25 The Independence of God The attribute of God s Independence is defined as the aspect of God being wholly and fully selfsustaining. God has no need for anyone or anything outside of Himself. Nothing and no one can either add to or take away anything from God. God alone is fully and completely independent. Acts 17: "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things;

26 The Infinity of God God possesses the attribute of Infinity. This attribute is only able to be held by God since all creatures are finite beings. God cannot share this aspect of Himself with any other being since no other being is infinite by nature in and of themselves. This attribute is the reason why we refer to God as eternal and never ending- Isaiah 43: "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. 11 "I, even I, am the LORD; And there is no savior besides Me. 12 "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And I am God. 13 "Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" Psalm 90:2 2 Before the mountains were born, Or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

27 The Immutability of God The attribute of Immutability is defined simply that the character, nature, and decrees of God never change. Some critics have challenged that the Scriptures demonstrate God changing His mind. We answer by stating that the writers write from the perspective of the human condition which seems to look like God has changed His mind, but in light of the entire teaching of Scripture and the understanding it provides that God has determined everything that will happen before it actually comes to pass, God has never changed His mind nor His intentions from His own eternal perspective. What He decrees will happen, does happen and it happens according to His own will. (Jonah 3:1-4:11) Matthew 12: Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment, and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Jeremiah 26:13 13 "Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. 1 Samuel 15:29 29 "And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." Malachi 3:6 For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. This is our hope and our assurance in the Lord. He is the Solid Rock, steady and unchanging.

28 The Decrees of God God has decreed whatsoever has and will come to pass from all eternity past. God s decrees do not only entail the end but also all of the necessary means to achieve the ends which He has ordained will come to pass. Isaiah 43: "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And I am God. 13 "Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?" Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 2 Thessalonians 2: But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

29 The Providence of God The Providence of God pertains to God s absolute governing of every detail in all of creation. God created everything that exists and He orders and commands the entire universe as He sees fit. Isaiah 45:12 12 "It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands, And I ordained all their host. Isaiah 45:18 18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, But formed it to be inhabited), "I am the LORD, and there is none else. Matthew 10: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

30 Summary The distinct person of God the Father has a specific role and unique characteristics that distinguish Him from God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God Almighty predestined and ordained everything that would ever happen in eternity past before the foundation of the world and He sent the Son to accomplish His plan of redemption in history. The Holy Spirit seals and applies the work of Christ to each individual believer. God has certain attributes that only He can possess. These are called God s Incommunicable Attributes. God has certain attributes that He has shared with His creatures. These are called God s Communicable Attributes. God is Sovereign over all of creation in every way. He knows everything, He has planned everything down to the smallest detail and He is in absolute control of everything and everyone. God predestines the free choices of people as well as every event, situation and all circumstances. God does not violate Man s free will in ordaining whatever comes to pass. The Scriptures are clear on this, but it is a divine mystery as to the way God brings this about.

31 POP-QUIZ 1. T or F: God planned to save Man after Adam sinned in the garden. 2. T or F: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all share the same nature or essence. 3. T or F: God did not originally plan for evil to exist. 4. T or F: God cannot tell a lie. 5. T or F: Evil exists to glorify God and to allow Him to demonstrate certain aspects of Himself which would otherwise be impossible to show.

32 POP-QUIZ ANSWER KEY 1. FALSE 2. TRUE 3. FALSE 4. TRUE 5. TRUE

33 THANK YOU! We hope that you enjoyed this presentation and learned some new things. Please join us next week when we will continue our in depth study of the Trinity. We will be looking in detail at the person and work of God the Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

34 Who is God? Who is Man? Class Schedule Covenant, Relationship and the Knowledge of God (Session 1) The Trinity Part 1: The Nature of God (Session 2) The Trinity Part 2: The Person of God the Father (Session 3) The Trinity Part 3: The Person of God the Son- Jesus Christ (Session 4) The Trinity Part 4: The Person of God the Holy Spirit (Session 5) The Nature of Man (Session 6)