God is...
The Mustard Seed newsletter, Campus Ministry column
September 2011 - May 2012
Pastor Ron Friedrich
September 2011 - May 2012
Pastor Ron Friedrich
Part 1
Back when Moses had his first conversation with God, Moses felt afraid and confused. Moses saw that the world offered many conflicting ideas about God; indeed, the world offers many "gods." Moses want clarity about just which of these "gods" was talking to him.
Back when Moses had his first conversation with God, Moses felt afraid and confused. Moses saw that the world offered many conflicting ideas about God; indeed, the world offers many "gods." Moses want clarity about just which of these "gods" was talking to him.
Moses said to God, "When I go to the Israelites, I will say to them, 'The God of your fathers sent me to you.' What if the people say, 'What is his name?' What should I tell them?”
Then God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. When you go to the people of Israel, tell them, 'I AM sent me to you.' " (Exodus 3:13-14 NVC)
"I AM" is the meaning of the holy Name of God which we find in the Hebrew Bible -- our Old Testament. In our English Bibles this holy name is most often translated as LORD, in all uppercase letters. A few places it may be transliterated as "Jehovah" or a footnote in your Bible may show it as "Yahweh."
God says that HE IS. This answers "the fool" who says, "There is no God!" (Psalm 14:1) And this is in sharp contrast to all the other "gods" people have invented for themselves. God said many times and in many ways, "The gods of the nations are nothing! There are no other gods." HE IS and THEY ARE NOT. (Deuteronomy 32:39; Jeremiah 2:11).
But knowing that "God is" and knowing God personally are two different things. I may know who is the President of the United States, but I don't know him personally, nor does he know me and he probably never will. God is so much greater than the President. Is it possible for us to know Him personally? Is it possible for us to know what He is really like? The answer to both questions is "Yes." But we cannot know what God is really like until first we know Him personally.
The Bible says, "God's whole nature is living in Christ in human form." (Colossians 2:9 NIrV). Another version translates it this way: "All of God lives fully in Christ (even when Christ was on earth)" (NCV). When you know Christ Jesus, you know God. Indeed, Jesus said that He is the only way that we can truly know God (John 14:6-9).
How can you know Christ personally? It's really simple. Just ask Him. Expose your heart to Him, confessing your sins and rebellion. Know that when He died on the cross, He died there for you, taking for Himself the punishment that your sins deserve. Know that He paid your debt in full, that He forgives you, He adopts you as His own, and that He comes to live in you (Ephesians 3:17).
Once we know God personally, then we can learn more about what He is like. For that, we must examine what God has said about Himself in the Bible. And this will be the focus of our campus fellowship study this year.
God says that HE IS. This answers "the fool" who says, "There is no God!" (Psalm 14:1) And this is in sharp contrast to all the other "gods" people have invented for themselves. God said many times and in many ways, "The gods of the nations are nothing! There are no other gods." HE IS and THEY ARE NOT. (Deuteronomy 32:39; Jeremiah 2:11).
But knowing that "God is" and knowing God personally are two different things. I may know who is the President of the United States, but I don't know him personally, nor does he know me and he probably never will. God is so much greater than the President. Is it possible for us to know Him personally? Is it possible for us to know what He is really like? The answer to both questions is "Yes." But we cannot know what God is really like until first we know Him personally.
The Bible says, "God's whole nature is living in Christ in human form." (Colossians 2:9 NIrV). Another version translates it this way: "All of God lives fully in Christ (even when Christ was on earth)" (NCV). When you know Christ Jesus, you know God. Indeed, Jesus said that He is the only way that we can truly know God (John 14:6-9).
How can you know Christ personally? It's really simple. Just ask Him. Expose your heart to Him, confessing your sins and rebellion. Know that when He died on the cross, He died there for you, taking for Himself the punishment that your sins deserve. Know that He paid your debt in full, that He forgives you, He adopts you as His own, and that He comes to live in you (Ephesians 3:17).
Once we know God personally, then we can learn more about what He is like. For that, we must examine what God has said about Himself in the Bible. And this will be the focus of our campus fellowship study this year.
Part 2
What is God like? How would you describe Him? This is the challenge before us as we examine the Bible's description of God and His character.
My father once cautioned me, "Don't ever think that you have God figured out. You can no more understand God than a puppy dog can understand Einstein." Those are wise words. We approach this study, humbly aware that God is beyond our understanding. We are like the proverbial group of blind men trying to describe an elephant by feeling different parts of the great beast.
We must also be careful to check our source of information about God. Often we are tempted to say, "I think that God is like..." or "God feels that..." then we go on to describe ourselves, foolishly believing that God is just like us! In our study we want to be careful to see what God has said about Himself.
When Jesus once met a Samaritan woman who was famous in her little town, famous for her wild life, He started a conversation with her. As He began to show the woman her own need for forgiveness, healing, and a relationship with God, she tried to change the subject. One of her tactics was to start a debate about religious rules, rituals, and "the right place" to worship God. She said, "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where people must worship."
Jesus answered, "Believe me, woman. The time is coming when neither in Jerusalem nor on this mountain will you actually worship the Father... God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:20-24 NCV)
God is Spirit.
That means... what? First of all it means that God is not limited with a physical body as we are.
The Bible describes three kinds of spirits:
(1) our human spirits
(2) angelic spirits, both good and evil
(3) God Himself, the Holy Spirit
God as Spirit is distinctly different than our human spirits and angelic spirits. He is the Creator; we are His creatures. He made us. We and the angels are limited in time and space, but God has no such limitation. Indeed, He created time and space. (See 2 Chronicles 6:18)
Second, notice how Jesus told the Samaritan woman that because God is Spirit, our relationship with Him must be "in spirit and in truth." Jesus' point is that this doesn't happen when we obey certain rules or practice certain rituals. Instead, the Bible says, "The Holy Spirit Himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children." (Romans 8.16)
Even though God created us to have an eternal spirit, the Bible says that our spirits are dead because we sin. We have no goodness or power on our own to approach Holy God. So He came down to us, coming in as a human, Jesus, to take our sins. Now He gives us His Holy Spirit which breathes His life into our dead spirits, giving us a faith relationship with Him. It is God's Holy Spirit, not our mere human efforts, which does God's work in us and through us in the world.
Notice that Jesus said that we must worship Him not only "in spirit," but also "in truth." The world offers us so many spiritual counterfeits -- religious and spiritual experiences which are mere human inventions (or worse). The Bible warns us many times and in many ways not to fall for those deceptions. Rather, we must be careful to seek God as HE has decided to show Himself to us in His Word.
To learn more about God's Spirit, please read Genesis 1& 2; John 4; Acts 1 & 2; and Romans 8.
What is God like? How would you describe Him? This is the challenge before us as we examine the Bible's description of God and His character.
My father once cautioned me, "Don't ever think that you have God figured out. You can no more understand God than a puppy dog can understand Einstein." Those are wise words. We approach this study, humbly aware that God is beyond our understanding. We are like the proverbial group of blind men trying to describe an elephant by feeling different parts of the great beast.
We must also be careful to check our source of information about God. Often we are tempted to say, "I think that God is like..." or "God feels that..." then we go on to describe ourselves, foolishly believing that God is just like us! In our study we want to be careful to see what God has said about Himself.
When Jesus once met a Samaritan woman who was famous in her little town, famous for her wild life, He started a conversation with her. As He began to show the woman her own need for forgiveness, healing, and a relationship with God, she tried to change the subject. One of her tactics was to start a debate about religious rules, rituals, and "the right place" to worship God. She said, "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where people must worship."
Jesus answered, "Believe me, woman. The time is coming when neither in Jerusalem nor on this mountain will you actually worship the Father... God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:20-24 NCV)
God is Spirit.
That means... what? First of all it means that God is not limited with a physical body as we are.
The Bible describes three kinds of spirits:
(1) our human spirits
(2) angelic spirits, both good and evil
(3) God Himself, the Holy Spirit
God as Spirit is distinctly different than our human spirits and angelic spirits. He is the Creator; we are His creatures. He made us. We and the angels are limited in time and space, but God has no such limitation. Indeed, He created time and space. (See 2 Chronicles 6:18)
Second, notice how Jesus told the Samaritan woman that because God is Spirit, our relationship with Him must be "in spirit and in truth." Jesus' point is that this doesn't happen when we obey certain rules or practice certain rituals. Instead, the Bible says, "The Holy Spirit Himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children." (Romans 8.16)
Even though God created us to have an eternal spirit, the Bible says that our spirits are dead because we sin. We have no goodness or power on our own to approach Holy God. So He came down to us, coming in as a human, Jesus, to take our sins. Now He gives us His Holy Spirit which breathes His life into our dead spirits, giving us a faith relationship with Him. It is God's Holy Spirit, not our mere human efforts, which does God's work in us and through us in the world.
Notice that Jesus said that we must worship Him not only "in spirit," but also "in truth." The world offers us so many spiritual counterfeits -- religious and spiritual experiences which are mere human inventions (or worse). The Bible warns us many times and in many ways not to fall for those deceptions. Rather, we must be careful to seek God as HE has decided to show Himself to us in His Word.
To learn more about God's Spirit, please read Genesis 1& 2; John 4; Acts 1 & 2; and Romans 8.
Part 3
One of the greatest scientists who has ever lived was Isaac Newton. His fundamental observations in physics, optics, astronomy, and mathematics still serve as the core of today's science textbooks. Newton was also a devout Christian who saw in his scientific discoveries evidence of God's greatness. Many times in many ways Newton affirmed what Israel's King David expressed 2,500 years earlier:
One of the greatest scientists who has ever lived was Isaac Newton. His fundamental observations in physics, optics, astronomy, and mathematics still serve as the core of today's science textbooks. Newton was also a devout Christian who saw in his scientific discoveries evidence of God's greatness. Many times in many ways Newton affirmed what Israel's King David expressed 2,500 years earlier:
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship." (Psalm 19:1 NLT)
God is the maker and master of not only the physical universe, He is also the ruler of an even greater unseen spirit world.
Theologians like to describe God's greatness with three words that all begin with "omni" -- omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.
God is omnipotent
This means that God is all powerful. He is almighty. We can see His power in creation. Isaac Newton said, "In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence."
Throughout the Bible, when people personally encountered the Creator and Ruler of the universe, they freaked out.
Is there anything that God CAN'T do? Yes! He cannot and He will not do anything that goes against His own character, because in doing so He wouldn't be God any more. For example, God is truth; therefore He cannot lie.
God is omnipresent
This means that God is everywhere. Long ago King David prayed,
Theologians like to describe God's greatness with three words that all begin with "omni" -- omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient.
God is omnipotent
This means that God is all powerful. He is almighty. We can see His power in creation. Isaac Newton said, "In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence."
Throughout the Bible, when people personally encountered the Creator and Ruler of the universe, they freaked out.
- Moses: "I have seen God and I didn't die!"
- Job: "I repent in dust and ashes!"
- Peter: "Please leave me, because I am a sinner."
- Jesus' Disciples asked: "Who is this that even the wind and waves obey Him!?"
Is there anything that God CAN'T do? Yes! He cannot and He will not do anything that goes against His own character, because in doing so He wouldn't be God any more. For example, God is truth; therefore He cannot lie.
God is omnipresent
This means that God is everywhere. Long ago King David prayed,
"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!" (Psalm 139:7)
Do we really believe that? If we do, then why do we think that we can sin in secret?
I know of one high school student who told her pastor, "God doesn't know that my boyfriend and I are having sex because we use condoms." She was shocked when her pastor told her that God is everywhere and sees everything. King David confessed,
I know of one high school student who told her pastor, "God doesn't know that my boyfriend and I are having sex because we use condoms." She was shocked when her pastor told her that God is everywhere and sees everything. King David confessed,
"Even in darkness I cannot hide from you." (Psalm 139:11)
God is omniscient
This means that God knows everything. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing is a mystery to Him. Nothing is beyond His understanding.
We know and understand so little of the physical universe. He knows it all, because He designed it. King David prayed,
"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts... You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and You follow me... Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!" (Psalm 139:1-6)
Often young Deaf children are surprised to learn that God knows ASL!
What is our response?
First, with Job, we are struck with awe. "I repent in dust and ashes!"
Second, this gives us great comfort. He knows our every sin and offense, and still He loves us. He takes each offense to the cross. He knows our hurts and needs. He is with us in every situation. He is able to hold us up through every difficulty. No problem is too hard for God.
Third, we thank and praise Him. We trust and obey Him.
What is our response?
First, with Job, we are struck with awe. "I repent in dust and ashes!"
Second, this gives us great comfort. He knows our every sin and offense, and still He loves us. He takes each offense to the cross. He knows our hurts and needs. He is with us in every situation. He is able to hold us up through every difficulty. No problem is too hard for God.
Third, we thank and praise Him. We trust and obey Him.
Part 4
In Part 3 we examined those attributes that describe His power and majesty:
God is Holy
"Holy" is an adjective which the Bible often uses to describe God. But what does the word "holy" mean? We rarely see it used in every day conversation except in a religious context, chiefly when our Muslim friends refer to their scriptures as "the Holy Quran." We Christians still print "Holy Bible" on the cover of our scriptures, but I seldom hear or see that phrase used in conversation.
My first look in a dictionary for a definition of "holy" is disappointing. All of the definitions focus on earthly things which are "set apart to the service of God." What about God Himself? What does the Bible mean when it calls Him "holy"? My 48-year old Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary got it right:
In Part 3 we examined those attributes that describe His power and majesty:
- Omnipotent (all powerful)
- Omnipresent (in every place simultaneously)
- Omniscient (knowing everything).
God is Holy
"Holy" is an adjective which the Bible often uses to describe God. But what does the word "holy" mean? We rarely see it used in every day conversation except in a religious context, chiefly when our Muslim friends refer to their scriptures as "the Holy Quran." We Christians still print "Holy Bible" on the cover of our scriptures, but I seldom hear or see that phrase used in conversation.
My first look in a dictionary for a definition of "holy" is disappointing. All of the definitions focus on earthly things which are "set apart to the service of God." What about God Himself? What does the Bible mean when it calls Him "holy"? My 48-year old Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary got it right:
HOLY: ...characterized by perfection and transcendence, commanding absolute adoration and reverence (as in 'the Holy Lord God Almighty'); spiritually pure."
This is what we mean when we pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Holy is Your Name."
We often see this description of God in the Psalms. For example:
We often see this description of God in the Psalms. For example:
The Lord rules.
Let the nations tremble.
He sits on His throne between the cherubim [angels].
Let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion.
He is honored over all of the nations.
Let them praise His great and wonderful name.
He is holy.
The King is mighty. He loves what is fair.
He has set up the rules for fairness [justice].
He has done what is right and fair
for the people of Jacob.
Honor the Lord our God.
Worship at His feet.
He is holy. (Psalm 99:1-5 NIrV)
When the Bible describes God as "holy," it means that He is morally perfect. This is a characteristic of God which our culture today prefers to ignore, or even scorn.
Contrast God's holiness to the misbehavior of "gods" in Greek and Roman mythology, who were, according to their legends, constantly committing adultery, murder, and all kinds of malicious mischief against one another. The gods of the Greeks and Romans were more like us!
The prophet Isaiah understood the difference when he saw a vision of heaven.
Contrast God's holiness to the misbehavior of "gods" in Greek and Roman mythology, who were, according to their legends, constantly committing adultery, murder, and all kinds of malicious mischief against one another. The gods of the Greeks and Romans were more like us!
The prophet Isaiah understood the difference when he saw a vision of heaven.
I saw the Lord. He was seated on His throne. He was highly honored. Above Him were angels They were calling out to one another. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all! The whole earth is full of His glory!"
"How terrible it is for me!" I cried out. "I'm about to be destroyed! My mouth speaks sinful words. And I live among people who speak sinful words. Now I have seen the King with my own eyes. He is the Lord who rules over all."
An angel flew over to me. He was holding a hot coal. He had used tongs to take it from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal. He said, "This has touched your lips. Your guilt has been taken away. Your sin has been paid for." (Isaiah 6:1-7, NIrV condensed)
When I told a class of Deaf youth, "God is holy; He can't let sin into His heaven," one student was struck with a look of panic, as he raised his hand to ask, "Why not!?"
I answered, "If our sin were there, heaven would not be holy any more." The lad had good reason to be concerned. He understood that he wasn't holy and that his sin disqualified him for heaven. But then I went on to tell the class about what God has done through Jesus Christ to remove our sin and make us holy in His sight so we can be with Him forever in heaven. (See christdeaf.org/witness, then click the link to "Bad News, Good News.")
I answered, "If our sin were there, heaven would not be holy any more." The lad had good reason to be concerned. He understood that he wasn't holy and that his sin disqualified him for heaven. But then I went on to tell the class about what God has done through Jesus Christ to remove our sin and make us holy in His sight so we can be with Him forever in heaven. (See christdeaf.org/witness, then click the link to "Bad News, Good News.")
Part 5
"Not fair!" This is a familiar complaint expressed by many school-age children when they feel that someone else got a better deal than they did. I am sure that many adults express that same complaint to God -- "Not fair!"
God is not "fair," as we measure fairness. God is just as He defines justice.
Justice means that God gives us what we deserve. When we do wrong, we receive the consequences of our actions, which ultimately includes punishment. And when we do right, again we receive the consequence for our actions, which may include reward. Keep in mind that simply "doing right" does not earn us extra credit, because in doing what is right, we are only doing what we are suppose to do. Justice compares our performance only against God's absolute standards of perfection, without any regard to what other people say, do, or receive.
Fairness, on the other hand, measures what we receive as compared to what other people receive, without regard to God's standards. Justice is a vertical measure; fairness is a horizontal measure.
Most folks get justice and fairness mixed up. A popular phrase among Christians nowadays is "social justice." But when you ask them to define that, what they give you is a description of social fairness. Or when I ask people why God should let them into heaven, the most common answer I get is, "I try to do what is right. I live by the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. And in the end when God judges me, He will see that I am not as bad as other people." I'm sorry, but God does not grade on a curve.
God is holy and we are not. And if we all received what our sins truly deserve, none of us could stand before Holy God.
"Not fair!" This is a familiar complaint expressed by many school-age children when they feel that someone else got a better deal than they did. I am sure that many adults express that same complaint to God -- "Not fair!"
God is not "fair," as we measure fairness. God is just as He defines justice.
Justice means that God gives us what we deserve. When we do wrong, we receive the consequences of our actions, which ultimately includes punishment. And when we do right, again we receive the consequence for our actions, which may include reward. Keep in mind that simply "doing right" does not earn us extra credit, because in doing what is right, we are only doing what we are suppose to do. Justice compares our performance only against God's absolute standards of perfection, without any regard to what other people say, do, or receive.
Fairness, on the other hand, measures what we receive as compared to what other people receive, without regard to God's standards. Justice is a vertical measure; fairness is a horizontal measure.
Most folks get justice and fairness mixed up. A popular phrase among Christians nowadays is "social justice." But when you ask them to define that, what they give you is a description of social fairness. Or when I ask people why God should let them into heaven, the most common answer I get is, "I try to do what is right. I live by the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. And in the end when God judges me, He will see that I am not as bad as other people." I'm sorry, but God does not grade on a curve.
God is holy and we are not. And if we all received what our sins truly deserve, none of us could stand before Holy God.
No one is right with God, no one at all... Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory." (Romans 3:10,23 NIrV)
Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. God is not only just; He is also merciful. The Bible says that God hates sin, but He loves sinners.
From our perspective, it appears that God's justice and God's mercy are conflicting attributes, and that He must choose which He will ignore and which He will follow. But God has made a way that satisfies both His justice and His mercy.
But now God has shown us how to become right with him... Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free. God gave him as a sacrifice to pay for sins. So he forgives the sins of those who have faith in his blood. (Romans 3:21-25 NIrV)
When God our Heavenly Father offered His sinless Son, Jesus Christ, on the cruel cross, Jesus suffered the full punishment that our sins deserve. This satisfies God's justice. Now, because Jesus has paid our debt, He can fully forgive us and open heaven to us. This satisfies God's mercy. And this gift is yours. Receive it by faith, trusting Him.
Back in the Middle Ages, the church emphasized God's justice and neglected to teach much about God's love and mercy. Today we see the opposite happening. God's justice is so politically incorrect in our current culture, we fear mentioning it. But without justice, mercy means nothing. Why do we do that? Our consciences tell us that God is just, and that makes us afraid. We vainly try to quiet our fear by either locking ourselves into a regimented life of religious rules hoping that we can measure up to God's standard of holiness, or we try to silence our conscience by denying that God is holy and just. How foolish we are! Let's simply take the gift that Jesus offers.
While the focus of this study is God's attributes, this month's topic sparks another debate about how we also ought to relate to other people with justice and mercy. For that discussion, please look online at christdeaf.org/bible and scroll down to the topical study on "Justice and Mercy."
Back in the Middle Ages, the church emphasized God's justice and neglected to teach much about God's love and mercy. Today we see the opposite happening. God's justice is so politically incorrect in our current culture, we fear mentioning it. But without justice, mercy means nothing. Why do we do that? Our consciences tell us that God is just, and that makes us afraid. We vainly try to quiet our fear by either locking ourselves into a regimented life of religious rules hoping that we can measure up to God's standard of holiness, or we try to silence our conscience by denying that God is holy and just. How foolish we are! Let's simply take the gift that Jesus offers.
While the focus of this study is God's attributes, this month's topic sparks another debate about how we also ought to relate to other people with justice and mercy. For that discussion, please look online at christdeaf.org/bible and scroll down to the topical study on "Justice and Mercy."
Part 6
In Part 5 we looked at two characteristics of God which appear to be opposites of each other -- God's justice and His mercy. However, we also saw that without justice, mercy is meaningless. And we saw that both God's justice and mercy were satisfied by Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross.
God's justice is an expression of His holiness. In the same way God's mercy is an expression of His love. The Bible says, "God is love" (1 John 4:8 & 16), and the Bible describes other attributes which flow from His love: God is gracious, kind, patient, good, etc.
The English word LOVE can mean many different things:
(1) romantic or sexual attraction
(2) a parent's love for his/her child
(3) the love between friends
(4) God's love for us
The Greek language -- the language in which the New Testament was written -- offers distinctly different words for each of these four kinds of love. When the Bible talks about God's love, it uses the Greek word AGAPE, which we pronounce as "ah-GAH-pay".
When I ask couples who are "in love" to tell me what the word "love" means, most of them describe their warm feelings. The chief problem is that feelings come and go. When feelings fade, that shallow kind of love dies. However, true love shows itself in action and in commitment, no matter how we feel. Jesus Christ did not experience warm feelings while He suffered on the cross for us. But, the Bible says, He endured that torture because He loved us.
In Part 5 we looked at two characteristics of God which appear to be opposites of each other -- God's justice and His mercy. However, we also saw that without justice, mercy is meaningless. And we saw that both God's justice and mercy were satisfied by Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross.
God's justice is an expression of His holiness. In the same way God's mercy is an expression of His love. The Bible says, "God is love" (1 John 4:8 & 16), and the Bible describes other attributes which flow from His love: God is gracious, kind, patient, good, etc.
The English word LOVE can mean many different things:
(1) romantic or sexual attraction
(2) a parent's love for his/her child
(3) the love between friends
(4) God's love for us
The Greek language -- the language in which the New Testament was written -- offers distinctly different words for each of these four kinds of love. When the Bible talks about God's love, it uses the Greek word AGAPE, which we pronounce as "ah-GAH-pay".
When I ask couples who are "in love" to tell me what the word "love" means, most of them describe their warm feelings. The chief problem is that feelings come and go. When feelings fade, that shallow kind of love dies. However, true love shows itself in action and in commitment, no matter how we feel. Jesus Christ did not experience warm feelings while He suffered on the cross for us. But, the Bible says, He endured that torture because He loved us.
This is how God has shown His love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
The Bible describes God's love as unconditional. This means His love is one-way, from Him to us. He loves us no matter how we respond back.
What is love? It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. (1 John 4:10 NIrV)
The Bible says that Christ died for all people, including those who reject Him. In rejecting Him, they also reject His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life -- how this grieves Him! Once, while Jesus was looking over the city of Jerusalem, He said,
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you did not let me." (Matthew 23:37 NCV)
Another expression of God's love is His GRACE. The most popular definition for "grace" is "God's unmerited favor," i.e. His love which we don't deserve. Dr. D. James Kennedy offered this definition as an acrostic:
GRACE is
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense.
Here is my definition:
Grace is what you get from God, that you wouldn't give if you were God.
We can better understand God's attributes of justice, mercy, and grace when we look at them together like this:
JUSTICE -- We get what we deserve.
MERCY -- We don't get what we deserve.
GRACE -- We get what we don't deserve.
For a deeper study on God's agape love, read John chapters 13-17 and the letter of First John.
GRACE is
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense.
Here is my definition:
Grace is what you get from God, that you wouldn't give if you were God.
We can better understand God's attributes of justice, mercy, and grace when we look at them together like this:
JUSTICE -- We get what we deserve.
MERCY -- We don't get what we deserve.
GRACE -- We get what we don't deserve.
For a deeper study on God's agape love, read John chapters 13-17 and the letter of First John.
Part 7
Now we look at an attribute that is a cousin of the three "omni's" --
God is eternal
This means that God has no beginning and He has no end. It means that God is the "First Cause" and Creator of all that exists. "Eternity" means infinity of time, just as "omnipresence" is infinity of space.
Our feeble minds can't begin to grasp all that this means. We who have been raised in European and American cultures, our minds have been trained to think of time as something that is linear and perpetual, constantly going in one direction. Even astrophysicists and science fiction writers who fantasize about time warp and time travel still must put their pants on one leg at a time; still they look at their calendars and their watches so they won't be late for their next appointment. Our daily lives are so bound by time that it is difficult for us to imagine how God is not limited by the constraints of time.
"God is eternal" is so hard to believe that one life-long church member asked me, "Who made God?" I responded that if someone "made God," then that one we have been calling "God," is not in fact really God, but an imposter. And while you speculate about "Who made God?" then you must naturally follow that question with, "Who made God's maker?" and then, "Who made him?" On and on it goes until you finally arrive at "The First Cause" of all that exists. And only that "First Cause" is worthy of the title: Eternal God.
What does the Lord YHWH ("I AM") say about Himself?
Now we look at an attribute that is a cousin of the three "omni's" --
God is eternal
This means that God has no beginning and He has no end. It means that God is the "First Cause" and Creator of all that exists. "Eternity" means infinity of time, just as "omnipresence" is infinity of space.
Our feeble minds can't begin to grasp all that this means. We who have been raised in European and American cultures, our minds have been trained to think of time as something that is linear and perpetual, constantly going in one direction. Even astrophysicists and science fiction writers who fantasize about time warp and time travel still must put their pants on one leg at a time; still they look at their calendars and their watches so they won't be late for their next appointment. Our daily lives are so bound by time that it is difficult for us to imagine how God is not limited by the constraints of time.
"God is eternal" is so hard to believe that one life-long church member asked me, "Who made God?" I responded that if someone "made God," then that one we have been calling "God," is not in fact really God, but an imposter. And while you speculate about "Who made God?" then you must naturally follow that question with, "Who made God's maker?" and then, "Who made him?" On and on it goes until you finally arrive at "The First Cause" of all that exists. And only that "First Cause" is worthy of the title: Eternal God.
What does the Lord YHWH ("I AM") say about Himself?
The Lord says, "You are my witnesses and the servant I chose. I chose you so you would know and believe me, so you would understand that I am the true God. There was no God before me, and there will be no God after me. I myself am the Lord; I am the only Savior... I have always been God." (Isaiah 43:10-13 NCV)
The Lord created the heavens. He is the God who formed the earth and made it.... This is what the Lord says: "I am the Lord. There is no other God... There is no other God besides me. I am the only good God. I am the Savior. There is no other God. All people everywhere, follow me and be saved. I am God. There is no other God." (Isaiah 45:18-22)
Lord, you have been our home for all generations. Before the mountains came into existence, before you created the earth and the universe, from eternity to eternity you are God. (Psalm 90:1-2)
The Bible says many times and in many ways that not only is God eternal, but so are all of His attributes. His omniscience and omnipotence are eternal. His holiness and justice are eternal. And His mercy and His love for you are eternal. Because He is not bound by the limits of time, Christ's sacrifice on the cross could fully pay your debt of sin long before you were born.
Part 8
Children who grow up in homes of alcoholic parents often suffer from the uncertainty of their parents' changing moods -- sometimes sweet and loving, and other times angry and abusive. These children live in fear of never knowing when Mom or Dad will explode, never knowing when it is safe to hug or it is time to hide. This is not the way it is suppose to be. Home is suppose to be the safest, most secure, loving place for a child. Children growing up in a stable family where they are loved, guided, nurtured, encouraged, and properly challenged toward maturity, never need experience the fear of uncertainty of a parent's changing whims. In short, home is suppose to offer a taste of heaven, and parents have the responsibility to be for their children living examples of God Himself.1
I admit that we who are parents fall short of this high ideal. However, we as God's children can find great comfort and security in the fact that God is good, loving, and merciful, and He never changes, or as the old theologians liked to say,
God is unchangeable
The Bible states this profound truth many times in the same simple way:
Children who grow up in homes of alcoholic parents often suffer from the uncertainty of their parents' changing moods -- sometimes sweet and loving, and other times angry and abusive. These children live in fear of never knowing when Mom or Dad will explode, never knowing when it is safe to hug or it is time to hide. This is not the way it is suppose to be. Home is suppose to be the safest, most secure, loving place for a child. Children growing up in a stable family where they are loved, guided, nurtured, encouraged, and properly challenged toward maturity, never need experience the fear of uncertainty of a parent's changing whims. In short, home is suppose to offer a taste of heaven, and parents have the responsibility to be for their children living examples of God Himself.1
I admit that we who are parents fall short of this high ideal. However, we as God's children can find great comfort and security in the fact that God is good, loving, and merciful, and He never changes, or as the old theologians liked to say,
God is unchangeable
The Bible states this profound truth many times in the same simple way:
I the Lord do not change. (Malachi 3:6)
You [Lord] remain the same. Your years will never end. (Hebrews 1:12)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
Can the Bible say it more clearly than this? Yet, there are many who call themselves "Christian" who are so uncomfortable with God's consistency that they dismiss this simple truth as false, and they claim that God is changing, growing, evolving, and improving. For evidence, they say that the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of the New Testament. He is the same God, they say; but He changed. (With this twist of Scripture, they reveal that they have not really read either the OT or NT thoroughly and attentively.) And they point to changing social trends in the church as evidence that God is still changing.2 Rather than allowing God to transform their hearts and minds to become more like Him, they remake God into someone who is just like them. Usually their descriptions of God begin with these three arrogant words: "I think God..." We ought to say instead, "God says in His Word that He..." Our wishing that God were more like us does not make Him change to become like us. Our wishing that the things God has said about Himself were not true do not make them false. Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with Him or not, God is who He says He is. And He has said very plainly, "I the Lord do not change."
Rather, it is we who change. Indeed, the Bible says, we should change. The New Testament Greek word for "repent" is metanoeo, which literally means, "I change my mind." For us this means more than just making different decisions. It means having a new attitude, a new way of thinking, a new mind.
Rather, it is we who change. Indeed, the Bible says, we should change. The New Testament Greek word for "repent" is metanoeo, which literally means, "I change my mind." For us this means more than just making different decisions. It means having a new attitude, a new way of thinking, a new mind.
Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus... (Philippians 2:5)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
If and when your life circumstances become dark and uncertain, and doubts tempt you to fear that God doesn't care, that He is a million miles away, remember His promise: He is always near, He loves us more than we know, and He never changes.
1 see Matthew 6.9 and Ephesians 6.5
2 Even some good solid Bible teachers carelessly fall into this trap when they say things like, "God may have done [something] in Bible times, but He doesn't work that way any more."
2 Even some good solid Bible teachers carelessly fall into this trap when they say things like, "God may have done [something] in Bible times, but He doesn't work that way any more."
Part 9
Chuck Colson was famous for the wrong reasons. When he worked for the Nixon administration, Colson became known as the mastermind for many of the administration's political dirty tricks. He earned the nickname of being Nixon's "hatchet man."
In the turmoil that surrounded the White House during the Watergate investigations, Colson resigned his position and he returned to his private law practice. He hoped that his departure would help reduce bad publicity against the President and stop the legal investigations against the White House staff.
Shortly afterward a friend introduced Colson to Christ, and Colson believed. Now his conscience bothered him over his previous misdeeds. So Colson came forward, confessed his crimes. He was sentenced to serve time in a federal prison. This experience awakened him to inadequacies in the criminal justice system. Since then, the focus of his life's work has been to awaken Christians to serve prisoners and their families. (Chuck Colson died on April 21, 2012, at the age of 80. See www.prisonfellowship.org)
Not long after President Nixon also resigned and retired to private life, Colson was invited by a small group of university students to speak at their campus. Memories of Nixon's abuse of power and the war in Viet Nam were still fresh in those students' minds. The auditorium was packed with a hostile audience.
During the question and answer session following Colson's talk, one student asked, "Do you still have contact with Mr. Nixon?"
Colson recognized the trap that had been laid for him. If Colson said, "Yes," he might lose all credibility in the eyes of these students. Nonetheless, without apology, Colson marched right into the trap by saying, "Mr. Nixon is my friend, and I don't turn my back on my friends."
The audience exploded with cheers and applause. Colson was stunned. That was not the response he had expected. Apparently those students placed a very high value on the loyalty of friendship.
This true story gives me some insight to the meaning of the word faithfulness.
When the Bible says that God is faithful, I see people sign that two different ways. Some sign "diligent," as an intense form of "regular" (right-right-right). Others simply sign two English words, "faith full." We may argue which, if either, accurately conveys the concept of God's faithfulness. However, I see in that phrase, "God is faithful," a picture of loyalty. God keeps his promises. As the Bible says, "Even if we are not faithful, He will remain faithful. He must be true to himself." (2 Timothy 2.13 NIrV)
Chuck Colson was famous for the wrong reasons. When he worked for the Nixon administration, Colson became known as the mastermind for many of the administration's political dirty tricks. He earned the nickname of being Nixon's "hatchet man."
In the turmoil that surrounded the White House during the Watergate investigations, Colson resigned his position and he returned to his private law practice. He hoped that his departure would help reduce bad publicity against the President and stop the legal investigations against the White House staff.
Shortly afterward a friend introduced Colson to Christ, and Colson believed. Now his conscience bothered him over his previous misdeeds. So Colson came forward, confessed his crimes. He was sentenced to serve time in a federal prison. This experience awakened him to inadequacies in the criminal justice system. Since then, the focus of his life's work has been to awaken Christians to serve prisoners and their families. (Chuck Colson died on April 21, 2012, at the age of 80. See www.prisonfellowship.org)
Not long after President Nixon also resigned and retired to private life, Colson was invited by a small group of university students to speak at their campus. Memories of Nixon's abuse of power and the war in Viet Nam were still fresh in those students' minds. The auditorium was packed with a hostile audience.
During the question and answer session following Colson's talk, one student asked, "Do you still have contact with Mr. Nixon?"
Colson recognized the trap that had been laid for him. If Colson said, "Yes," he might lose all credibility in the eyes of these students. Nonetheless, without apology, Colson marched right into the trap by saying, "Mr. Nixon is my friend, and I don't turn my back on my friends."
The audience exploded with cheers and applause. Colson was stunned. That was not the response he had expected. Apparently those students placed a very high value on the loyalty of friendship.
This true story gives me some insight to the meaning of the word faithfulness.
When the Bible says that God is faithful, I see people sign that two different ways. Some sign "diligent," as an intense form of "regular" (right-right-right). Others simply sign two English words, "faith full." We may argue which, if either, accurately conveys the concept of God's faithfulness. However, I see in that phrase, "God is faithful," a picture of loyalty. God keeps his promises. As the Bible says, "Even if we are not faithful, He will remain faithful. He must be true to himself." (2 Timothy 2.13 NIrV)
During these nine lessons we have looked at twelve important attributes or characteristics of God:
God is!
God is Spirit.
God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, & Omniscient.
God is Holy.
God is Just.
God is Merciful.
God is Love.
God is Eternal.
God is Unchangeable.
God is Faithful.
What should be our response to all that God is and all that He does? Simply this -- to live in awe, repentance, faith, praise, and obedience.
We can learn a lesson from a group of farm animals who were discussing what they could do to show their appreciation to the farmer who cared for them.
"I have an idea," said the chicken. "Let's make him breakfast. I can provide the eggs. Pig, you supply the bacon."
Pig thought a minute and said, "That's fine for you, Chicken. You're merely making a contribution. For me, this is total commitment."
God is!
God is Spirit.
God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, & Omniscient.
God is Holy.
God is Just.
God is Merciful.
God is Love.
God is Eternal.
God is Unchangeable.
God is Faithful.
What should be our response to all that God is and all that He does? Simply this -- to live in awe, repentance, faith, praise, and obedience.
We can learn a lesson from a group of farm animals who were discussing what they could do to show their appreciation to the farmer who cared for them.
"I have an idea," said the chicken. "Let's make him breakfast. I can provide the eggs. Pig, you supply the bacon."
Pig thought a minute and said, "That's fine for you, Chicken. You're merely making a contribution. For me, this is total commitment."