Basic Doctrine Basic Doctrine and and

Membership ClassMembership Class

GODGOD

Who and What is GodWho and What is God

We must get this rightWe must get this right Wrong ideas about God lead to:Wrong ideas about God lead to:

– Wrong worship (idolatry)Wrong worship (idolatry)– Wrong ideas about ourselvesWrong ideas about ourselves– Wrong ideas about sinWrong ideas about sin

God’s Self DisclosureGod’s Self Disclosure

Without divine revelation: speculationWithout divine revelation: speculation God has revealed himselfGod has revealed himself

– General RevelationGeneral Revelation Mediate revelation: creationMediate revelation: creation Immediate revelation: implanted innate sense of Immediate revelation: implanted innate sense of

himselfhimself

– Specific RevelationSpecific Revelation The BibleThe Bible His SonHis Son

We can’t remake HimWe can’t remake Him

Psalm 19:1-4

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

PS 19:2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

PS 19:3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

PS 19:4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Heb. 1: 1-3 Heb. 1: 1-3 In the past God spoke to our In the past God spoke to our

forefathers through the prophets at forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 many times and in various ways, 2

but in these last days he has but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he spoken to us by his Son, whom he

appointed heir of all things, and appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the through whom he made the

universe. 3 The Son is the radiance universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact of God's glory and the exact representation of his beingrepresentation of his being

God’s IncomprehensibilityGod’s Incomprehensibility

It does not mean we can know It does not mean we can know nothing about Godnothing about God

It means our knowledge is partial and It means our knowledge is partial and limited; it is not comprehensivelimited; it is not comprehensive

What we can comprehend is real and What we can comprehend is real and usefuluseful

Romans 11:33 Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches of Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!beyond tracing out!

Deut. 29:29Deut. 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our The secret things belong to the LORD our

God, but the things revealed belong to us God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.follow all the words of this law.

Hidden aspect of God

Revealed aspect of God

Triunity of GodTriunity of God

Within the one being that is God, Within the one being that is God, there exists eternal three coequal there exists eternal three coequal and coeternal persons, namely, the and coeternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son and the Holy SpiritFather, the Son and the Holy Spirit

James WhiteJames White

Being and Person are DifferentBeing and Person are Different

Being makes something Being makes something whatwhat it is it is

Person makes someone Person makes someone whowho they are they are

Vital DistinctionVital Distinction

The Trinity is:The Trinity is:

One One whatwhat = One Being: God = One Being: God

Three Three whoswhos = Three Persons: Father, = Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy SpiritSon and Holy Spirit

Common errorsCommon errors

Three persons who are one personThree persons who are one person

Three beings who are one beingThree beings who are one being

NOTNOT Remember, its one what, three whosRemember, its one what, three whos

Matthew 3:16-17Matthew 3:16-17

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."pleased."

The Self-existence of GodThe Self-existence of God

God always wasGod always was There was never a time when there There was never a time when there

was nothingwas nothing He is eternal, self-sustaining and He is eternal, self-sustaining and

necessarynecessary He has the power of being in himselfHe has the power of being in himself

– Non-contingentNon-contingent

The Self-existence of GodThe Self-existence of God

HE ANSWERS TO NO ONEHE ANSWERS TO NO ONE– We don’t like that, we want answers; we We don’t like that, we want answers; we

want explanationswant explanations– Sometimes he gives them, most often Sometimes he gives them, most often

he does nothe does not

The Self-existence of GodThe Self-existence of God HE HAS NO NEEDSHE HAS NO NEEDS

– He didn’t create us because he lacked glory or He didn’t create us because he lacked glory or lovelove

– God gains nothing from us. We add nothing to God gains nothing from us. We add nothing to him. him.

– ““Were all human beings suddenly to become Were all human beings suddenly to become blind, still the sun would shine, for it owes blind, still the sun would shine, for it owes nothing to those who benefit from its light. If nothing to those who benefit from its light. If every man were to become an atheist, it could every man were to become an atheist, it could not affect God in anyway. He is what he is not affect God in anyway. He is what he is without regard to any other. To believe in him without regard to any other. To believe in him adds nothing to his perfections, to doubt him adds nothing to his perfections, to doubt him takes nothing away.” A. W. Tozertakes nothing away.” A. W. Tozer

The Self-existence of GodThe Self-existence of God

HE IS ETERNALHE IS ETERNAL– He can be trusted to remain as he reveals He can be trusted to remain as he reveals

himself to be (immutability)himself to be (immutability) HE IS INESCABABLEHE IS INESCABABLE

– He will always be there. We can ignore him He will always be there. We can ignore him but not escape himbut not escape him

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.change like shifting shadows.

Psalm 90:1-2Psalm 90:1-2

Lord, you have been our dwelling Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.place throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born or Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.you are God.

Exodus 3:14Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.' Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.' ""

God is HolyGod is Holy

Otherness has to do with his majestyOtherness has to do with his majesty– Everything about God that sets him Everything about God that sets him

apart from us and makes Him the object apart from us and makes Him the object of our dread, awe and adorationof our dread, awe and adoration

Purity has to do with his Purity has to do with his righteousnessrighteousness– He pure and righteous in all he is He pure and righteous in all he is

(internal) and all he does (external)(internal) and all he does (external)

HOLY, HOLY, HOLYHOLY, HOLY, HOLY

Isaiah 6:3 & Rev. 4:8Isaiah 6:3 & Rev. 4:8

The Trisagion (thrice holy)The Trisagion (thrice holy) Only attribute of God raised to the 3Only attribute of God raised to the 3rdrd

degreedegree Greatest of all attributes?Greatest of all attributes?

The Sovereignty of GodThe Sovereignty of God

God has absolute authority, rule and God has absolute authority, rule and control over his creationcontrol over his creation

The sovereignty of God is the The sovereignty of God is the Christian’s strength and comfort in Christian’s strength and comfort in the storms of lifethe storms of life

There is no maverick molecule (for There is no maverick molecule (for want of the nail…)want of the nail…)

1 Chron. 29:11-121 Chron. 29:11-12

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.over all.

Psalm 47:7Psalm 47:7

For God is the King of all the earth; For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.sing to him a psalm of praise.

Daniel 4:34-35Daniel 4:34-35

His dominion is an eternal dominion; His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you hand or say to him: "What have you done?"done?"

Eph. 1:11Eph. 1:11

In him we were also chosen, having In him we were also chosen, having been predestined been predestined according to the according to the plan of him who works out plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the everything in conformity with the purpose of his willpurpose of his will

God’s Sovereignty and Man’s “free God’s Sovereignty and Man’s “free will”will”

Man is able to make free moral choicesMan is able to make free moral choices Man’s freedom is a limited freedomMan’s freedom is a limited freedom

– Man’s freedom is contingent on God’s Man’s freedom is contingent on God’s sovereigntysovereignty

– Man’s freedom can never override the power Man’s freedom can never override the power or authority of Godor authority of God

There is There is nono contradiction between God’s contradiction between God’s sovereignty and man’s freedomsovereignty and man’s freedom

There is a contradiction between God’s There is a contradiction between God’s sovereignty and man’s autonomysovereignty and man’s autonomy

Blessings of SovereigntyBlessings of Sovereignty

It deepens our worship and It deepens our worship and submission to the living and true Godsubmission to the living and true God– How can we worship a God who is How can we worship a God who is

subservient to the will of mansubservient to the will of man

Blessings of SovereigntyBlessings of Sovereignty It gives comfort in the midst of trial, temptations It gives comfort in the midst of trial, temptations

and sorrowsand sorrows This is the Providence of God; his most holy, wise This is the Providence of God; his most holy, wise

and powerful preserving and governing all His and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actionscreatures, and all their actions

God’s providence does not violate the natural God’s providence does not violate the natural order, or the free, responsible agency of human order, or the free, responsible agency of human beings.beings.

God’s sovereignty and providence does not take God’s sovereignty and providence does not take away the power of secondary causes but rather away the power of secondary causes but rather establishes them establishes them

We are never in the grip of blind fortune, chance, We are never in the grip of blind fortune, chance, luck or fate. Everything that happens is divinely luck or fate. Everything that happens is divinely planned and each event comes as a new summons planned and each event comes as a new summons to trust, obey, and rejoice, knowing that all is for to trust, obey, and rejoice, knowing that all is for our good and God’s eternal glory our good and God’s eternal glory

Blessings of SovereigntyBlessings of Sovereignty

It provides encouragement and joy in It provides encouragement and joy in evangelismevangelism

God is sovereign in salvation, as well God is sovereign in salvation, as well as in power and authorityas in power and authority

He is able to take rebellious sinners He is able to take rebellious sinners and turn them in spite of their and turn them in spite of their inclinations to reject Himinclinations to reject Him

God calls whom He wills and calls God calls whom He wills and calls effectivelyeffectively

Blessings of SovereigntyBlessings of Sovereignty It affords a deep sense of securityIt affords a deep sense of security The enemies are formidable (the world, the flesh, The enemies are formidable (the world, the flesh,

the devil, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh the devil, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and pride of life)and pride of life)

No one can snatch me out of his hand (Jn. 10)No one can snatch me out of his hand (Jn. 10) Nothing can separate me from his love (Rom. 8)Nothing can separate me from his love (Rom. 8) He who began a good work in me will finish it He who began a good work in me will finish it

(Phil. 1)(Phil. 1) He is able to save to the uttermost; to keep that He is able to save to the uttermost; to keep that

which I’ve committed to Him until that day (Heb. which I’ve committed to Him until that day (Heb. 13) 13)