Foundations We Believe in One God September 27 & 28, 2014 Agnosticism: We can t really know about God. Atheism: There is no God. Polytheism: There are many Gods. Deism: God is uncaring/detached. Pantheism: Everything is God and God is everything. Relativism: God is whatever you think He is. Monotheism: There is only one God. below; there is no other (Deuteronomy. 4:35,39). Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me (Isaiah 44:6). This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time (1Timothy 2:3-6). God is knowable, yet He exceeds our comprehension. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3). And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18,19). Foundations We Believe in One God September 27 & 28, 2014 Agnosticism: We can t really know about God. Atheism: There is no God. Polytheism: There are many Gods. Deism: God is uncaring/detached. Pantheism: Everything is God and God is everything. Relativism: God is whatever you think He is. Monotheism: There is only one God. below; there is no other (Deuteronomy. 4:35,39). Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me (Isaiah 44:6). This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time (1Timothy 2:3-6). God is knowable, yet He exceeds our comprehension. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable (Psalm 145:3). And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18,19).
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). God s Incommunicable Attributes (those He along possesses). Self-existence, Self-sufficiency, Transcendence, Sovereignty, Immanence, Perfection, Immutability, Infinite, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience Eg: God s Omnipresence becomes our source of comfort. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you (Psalm 139:7-12). Eg: God s Omnipotence becomes our source of strength. As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God, the God who girds me with strength and makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds feet, And sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great (Psalm 18:30-35). Eg. God s Immutability becomes our source of security. For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed (Malachi 3:6). If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13). The Lord s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him (Lamentations 3:22 (Lamentations 3:22-24). Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). God s Incommunicable Attributes (those He along possesses). Self-existence, Self-sufficiency, Transcendence, Sovereignty, Immanence, Perfection, Immutability, Infinite, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience Eg: God s Omnipresence becomes our source of comfort. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you (Psalm 139:7-12). Eg: God s Omnipotence becomes our source of strength. As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God, the God who girds me with strength and makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds feet, And sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand upholds me; and Your gentleness makes me great (Psalm 18:30-35). Eg. God s Immutability becomes our source of security. For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed (Malachi 3:6). If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2Tim. 2:13). The Lord s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him (Lamentations 3:22 (Lamentations 3:22-24).
God s Communicable Attributes (those He shares with us). Love, Personal, Grace, Righteousness, Wisdom, Goodness, Holiness, Justice, Truthfulness Eg. God invites us to love as He loves. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1John 4:7-11). Eg. God invites us to forgive as He forgives. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Eg. God invites us to be holy, as He is holy. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy (1Peter 1:14-16). God s Communicable Emotions (those He shares with us) Anger, Sorrow, Jealousy, Joy, Compassion/Pity Eg. Righteous anger jealousy reflects God s anger against evil. My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you (Galatians 4:19,20). Eg. Godly sorrow reflects God s sorrow over sin. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you... (2Corinthians 7:10,11). God s Communicable Attributes (those He shares with us). Love, Personal, Grace, Righteousness, Wisdom, Goodness, Holiness, Justice, Truthfulness Eg. God invites us to love as He loves. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1John 4:7-11). Eg. God invites us to forgive as He forgives. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32). Eg. God invites us to be holy, as He is holy. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy (1Peter 1:14-16). God s Communicable Emotions (those He shares with us) Anger, Sorrow, Jealousy, Joy, Compassion/Pity Eg. Righteous anger jealousy reflects God s anger against evil. My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you (Galatians 4:19,20). Eg. Godly sorrow reflects God s sorrow over sin. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you... (2Corinthians 7:10,11).
Eg. Godly jealousy reflects God s righteous desire for us. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2Corinthians 11:2,3). The Greatest Commandment: LOVE GOD with all of your being. Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deut. 6:4,5). I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments (Exodus 20:1-6). Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. Augustine Eg. Godly jealousy reflects God s righteous desire for us. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2Corinthians 11:2,3). The Greatest Commandment: LOVE GOD with all of your being. Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (Deut. 6:4,5). I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments (Exodus 20:1-6). Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. Augustine
We Believe in One God Summary Statement Christianity is a monotheistic religion. We believe that there is one God, who consists of three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is at the same time both knowable and yet beyond our capacity to fully understand. He created us for a relationship with Himself. below; there is no other (Deut. 4:35,39). God has both communicable attributes (those He shares with us) and incommunicable attributes (those He alone has). We are made in God s image, so in some senses we are miniature replicas of God Himself. In other senses, He is entirely unique. God s Incommunicable Attributes Self-existence: God is not caused to exist, as is everything else. His existence is intrinsic to Himself. It is His very nature to exist (Gen. 1:1; Exod. 3:14; John 5:26). Self-sufficiency: God possesses within Himself every quality in infinite measure. Nothing comes from outside of Him, nor is He in need of anything (Isa. 40:12-17; 66:1,2; Acts 17:24,25; James 1:17). Transcendence: God transcends space and time. He is not dependent on them, nor affected by them. He is over all things (Rom. 11:36; Psalm 90:4; 2Peter 3:8). Sovereignty: God is King over all. He has the absolute right to accomplish His will with His creation (Isa. 46:10; 1Tim. 6:15; Psalm 115:3). Immanence: God is active in every aspect of our daily lives. He cares deeply about our existence and stoops low to be involved with us (Matt. 6:25-33; Psalm 18:35; 138:6). Perfection: God is perfect, without flaw and without sin (Isa. 6:3; 1Pet. 1:16). Immutability: God is unchanging, the same forever and ever (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; James 1:17). Infinite: God is without limit in scope or duration (1Tim. 1:17; Psalm 90:2; Isa. 40:28; Deut. 33:27; Job 11:7-9). Omnipotence: God is all-powerful. He can do anything that does not contradict His own nature (Isa. 40:25,26; Psalm 33:9; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37). Omnipresence: God is everywhere present, in all places and in all dimensions simultaneously (Psalm 139:7-12; Jer. 23:24). Omniscience: God has perfect, complete knowledge (Rom. 16:27; Heb. 4:13; Isa. 40:28; 1John 3:20). We Believe in One God Summary Statement Christianity is a monotheistic religion. We believe that there is one God, who consists of three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is at the same time both knowable and yet beyond our capacity to fully understand. He created us for a relationship with Himself. below; there is no other (Deut. 4:35,39). God has both communicable attributes (those He shares with us) and incommunicable attributes (those He alone has). We are made in God s image, so in some senses we are miniature replicas of God Himself. In other senses, He is entirely unique. God s Incommunicable Attributes Self-existence: God is not caused to exist, as is everything else. His existence is intrinsic to Himself. It is His very nature to exist (Gen. 1:1; Exod. 3:14; John 5:26). Self-sufficiency: God possesses within Himself every quality in infinite measure. Nothing comes from outside of Him, nor is He in need of anything (Isa. 40:12-17; 66:1,2; Acts 17:24,25; James 1:17). Transcendence: God transcends space and time. He is not dependent on them, nor affected by them. He is over all things (Rom. 11:36; Psalm 90:4; 2Peter 3:8). Sovereignty: God is King over all. He has the absolute right to accomplish His will with His creation (Isa. 46:10; 1Tim. 6:15; Psalm 115:3). Immanence: God is active in every aspect of our daily lives. He cares deeply about our existence and stoops low to be involved with us (Matt. 6:25-33; Psalm 18:35; 138:6). Perfection: God is perfect, without flaw and without sin (Isa. 6:3; 1Pet. 1:16). Immutability: God is unchanging, the same forever and ever (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; James 1:17). Infinite: God is without limit in scope or duration (1Tim. 1:17; Psalm 90:2; Isa. 40:28; Deut. 33:27; Job 11:7-9). Omnipotence: God is all-powerful. He can do anything that does not contradict His own nature (Isa. 40:25,26; Psalm 33:9; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37). Omnipresence: God is everywhere present, in all places and in all dimensions simultaneously (Psalm 139:7-12; Jer. 23:24). Omniscience: God has perfect, complete knowledge (Rom. 16:27; Heb. 4:13; Isa. 40:28; 1John 3:20).
God s Communicable Attributes Love: God IS love (1John 4:8,10; John 3:16). He invites us to love Him above all others, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40; 1John 4:7-11). Personal: God is a relational being, both within His own triune nature (John 1:1,2; John 17:22-24) and in His disposition toward humanity (John 17:3; Jer. 9:24). From the beginning, it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). Humans are hard-wired for relationship with God and with other human beings. Grace: God brings unmerited favor to mankind (Rom. 3:23,24; Eph. 2:8,9). He asks us to extend grace to one another (Matt. 18:23-35; Eph. 4:32). Righteousness: God always acts in accordance with His own moral laws (Deut. 32:4; Psalm 145:17). He wants us to live righteously (Matt. 5:6; 5:20; Rom. 6:13). Wisdom: God is the embodiment of Wisdom (Job 12:13). He invites us to cherish wisdom, seek it diligently and display it in our daily lives (Prov. 4:5-9; James 3:13-18). Goodness: God s very nature is to seek the well being of others (James 1:17; Psalm 119:68; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 34:8). He desires that we know His goodness (1Peter 2:3) and to display goodness/ kindness to others (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 4:32). Holiness: God is the embodiment of holiness (Isa. 6:1-3; 1Sam. 2:2). He desires to conform us to His holiness (Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2; 1Peter 1:16; Matt. 5:48; Heb. 12:10). Justice: God always deals with His creatures in perfect uprightness (Gen. 18:22-33). He loves justice (Psalm 37:28) and asks us to preserve justice on earth (Psalm 82:2-4; Prov.21:3; Micah 6:8). Truthfulness: God cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Isa. 45:19). He desires that we know the truth (John 14:6; John 8:31,32); walk in the truth (3John 1:4) and speak truth to one another (Eph. 4:15,25). God s Communicable Emotions Anger: God has righteous anger against evil and sin (Joshua 23:16; Psalm 7:11; Romans 1:18). When we feel righteous anger we are expressing God s opposition to evil (Eph. 4:26). Sorrow: God experiences sorrow (Gen. 6:6,7). He can be grieved (Psalm 78:40; Eph. 4:30). When we experience godly sorrow over the impact of sin, we are reflecting God s own heart (2Cor. 7:9-11). Jealousy: God is rightly jealous for our devotion (Exod. 20:1-6; James 4:4,5). We reflect divine jealousy when we strongly desire to protect a relationship that is rightfully ours to protect (2Corin. 11:2,3). Joy: God experiences joy and delight over His creatures (Zeph. 3:17). He can be pleased over certain things (1Kings 3:10). When we experience joy over the right things, we are reflecting divine delight (Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22). Compassion/Pity: God has compassion toward humanity caught in the grip of sin (Exod. 34:6; Judges 2:18; Psalm 116:5; Isa. 63:7). He invites us to embody His compassion toward others (Matt. 12:7; Luke 10:32-34; Col. 3:12). God s Communicable Attributes Love: God IS love (1John 4:8,10; John 3:16). He invites us to love Him above all others, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40; 1John 4:7-11). Personal: God is a relational being, both within His own triune nature (John 1:1,2; John 17:22-24) and in His disposition toward humanity (John 17:3; Jer. 9:24). From the beginning, it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). Humans are hard-wired for relationship with God and with other human beings. Grace: God brings unmerited favor to mankind (Rom. 3:23,24; Eph. 2:8,9). He asks us to extend grace to one another (Matt. 18:23-35; Eph. 4:32). Righteousness: God always acts in accordance with His own moral laws (Deut. 32:4; Psalm 145:17). He wants us to live righteously (Matt. 5:6; 5:20; Rom. 6:13). Wisdom: God is the embodiment of Wisdom (Job 12:13). He invites us to cherish wisdom, seek it diligently and display it in our daily lives (Prov. 4:5-9; James 3:13-18). Goodness: God s very nature is to seek the well being of others (James 1:17; Psalm 119:68; Psalm 16:11; Psalm 34:8). He desires that we know His goodness (1Peter 2:3) and to display goodness/ kindness to others (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 4:32). Holiness: God is the embodiment of holiness (Isa. 6:1-3; 1Sam. 2:2). He desires to conform us to His holiness (Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2; 1Peter 1:16; Matt. 5:48; Heb. 12:10). Justice: God always deals with His creatures in perfect uprightness (Gen. 18:22-33). He loves justice (Psalm 37:28) and asks us to preserve justice on earth (Psalm 82:2-4; Prov.21:3; Micah 6:8). Truthfulness: God cannot lie (Num. 23:19; Isa. 45:19). He desires that we know the truth (John 14:6; John 8:31,32); walk in the truth (3John 1:4) and speak truth to one another (Eph. 4:15,25). God s Communicable Emotions Anger: God has righteous anger against evil and sin (Joshua 23:16; Psalm 7:11; Romans 1:18). When we feel righteous anger we are expressing God s opposition to evil (Eph. 4:26). Sorrow: God experiences sorrow (Gen. 6:6,7). He can be grieved (Psalm 78:40; Eph. 4:30). When we experience godly sorrow over the impact of sin, we are reflecting God s own heart (2Cor. 7:9-11). Jealousy: God is rightly jealous for our devotion (Exod. 20:1-6; James 4:4,5). We reflect divine jealousy when we strongly desire to protect a relationship that is rightfully ours to protect (2Corin. 11:2,3). Joy: God experiences joy and delight over His creatures (Zeph. 3:17). He can be pleased over certain things (1Kings 3:10). When we experience joy over the right things, we are reflecting divine delight (Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22). Compassion/Pity: God has compassion toward humanity caught in the grip of sin (Exod. 34:6; Judges 2:18; Psalm 116:5; Isa. 63:7). He invites us to embody His compassion toward others (Matt. 12:7; Luke 10:32-34; Col. 3:12).