© John Stevenson, 2012

The Doctrine of God

Jeremiah 9:23-24Jeremiah 9:23-24Thus says the LORD, “Let not a

wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Versus Versus

The fool has said in his heart,“There is no God.”

(Psalm 14:1)

• The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and

divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

(Romans 1:20).

• The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

““You are My witnesses,” declares the You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may knowchosen, in order that you may know

and believe Me, and understand that I am and believe Me, and understand that I am He. BEFORE ME THERE WAS NO GOD He. BEFORE ME THERE WAS NO GOD

FORMED, and there will be none after FORMED, and there will be none after Me.” (Isaiah 43:10).Me.” (Isaiah 43:10).

• The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

• The Teleological ArgumentThe Teleological Argument

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;The heavens are telling of the glory of God;And their expanse is declaring the work of And their expanse is declaring the work of

His hands.His hands.Day to day pours forth speech,Day to day pours forth speech,

And night to night reveals knowledge.And night to night reveals knowledge.There is no speech, nor are there words;There is no speech, nor are there words;Their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3).Their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3).

• The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

• The Teleological ArgumentThe Teleological Argument

• The Ontological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument

For even though they knew God, they did not For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21).foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21).

• The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

• The Teleological ArgumentThe Teleological Argument

• The Ontological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument

• The Moral ArgumentThe Moral Argument

Romans 2:14-16Romans 2:14-16For when Gentiles who do not have

the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

• The Cosmological ArgumentThe Cosmological Argument

• The Teleological ArgumentThe Teleological Argument

• The Ontological ArgumentThe Ontological Argument

• The Moral ArgumentThe Moral Argument

• The Argument from ScriptureThe Argument from Scripture

HebrewHebrew GreekGreek EnglishEnglish

ElohimElohim TheosTheos GodGod

YahwehYahweh KuriosKurios LORDLORD

AdonaiAdonai KuriosKurios LordLord

““Therefore, come out from their midst Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.and be separate,” says the Lord.“And do not touch what is unclean;“And do not touch what is unclean;And I will welcome you.And I will welcome you.1818 And I will be a father to you, And I will be a father to you,And you shall be sons and daughters to And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).6:17-18).

For all who are being led by the For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 1515 For you have not received a spirit For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:14-15).Father!” (Romans 8:14-15).

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:16-17).

What are some of the attributes What are some of the attributes of God?of God?

• Self-existence• Infinity• Unity• Perfection• Immutability• Omnipotent• Omnipresent• Omniscience

• Holiness• Love• Grace• Mercy• Patience• Goodness• Righteousness• Truthfulness• Faithfulness

Non-Corporeal Being

Adjectives Nouns

God is a SpiritInfiniteEternal

Unchangeable

BeingWisdomPower

HolinessJustice

GoodnessTruth

““You worship what you do not know; You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. from the Jews. 2323 But an hour is coming, But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. worshipers. 2424 God is spirit, and those who God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:22-24).truth.” (John 4:22-24).

““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is Lord God, “who is and who was and who is

to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.all generations.22 Before the mountains were born Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Or You gave birth to the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting,Even from everlasting to everlasting,You are God. (Psalm 90:1-2).You are God. (Psalm 90:1-2).

Every good thing given and every perfect gift Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or of lights, with whom there is no variation or

shifting shadow. (James 1:17).shifting shadow. (James 1:17).

For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

(Malachi 3:6).(Malachi 3:6).

Of old You founded the earth, Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your And the heavens are the work of Your hands. hands. 2626 Even they will perish, but You endure; Even they will perish, but You endure;And all of them will wear out like a garment; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. will be changed. 2727 But You are the same, But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end. And Your years will not come to an end. (Psalm 102:25-27).(Psalm 102:25-27).

Who has measured the waters in the hollow Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,of His hand,And marked off the heavens by the span, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure,measure,And weighed the mountains in a balance And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?And the hills in a pair of scales?1313 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him? Or as His counselor has informed Him? (Isaiah 40:12-13).(Isaiah 40:12-13).

With whom did He consult and With whom did He consult and who who gave gave Him understanding? Him understanding? And And who who taught Him in the path of justice taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of And informed Him of the way of understanding?understanding?1515 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. (Isaiah 40:14-15).(Isaiah 40:14-15).

Do you not know? Have you not heard?Do you not know? Have you not heard?Has it not been declared to you from the Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? beginning? Have you not understood from the Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? foundations of the earth? 2222 It is He who sits above the circle of the It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. (Isaiah 40:21-22).(Isaiah 40:21-22).

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. temple. 22 Seraphim stood above Him, each Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. with two he flew. 33 And one called out to And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:1-3).His glory.” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

O LORD, You have searched me and O LORD, You have searched me and known known meme..22 You know when I sit down and when I rise You know when I sit down and when I rise up; up; You understand my thought from afar. You understand my thought from afar. 33 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, You scrutinize my path and my lying down,

And are intimately acquainted with all my And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. (Psalm 139:1-3).ways. (Psalm 139:1-3).

Even before there is a word on my tongue, Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all. Behold, O LORD, You know it all. 55 You have enclosed me behind and before, You have enclosed me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me. And laid Your hand upon me. 66 Such Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is It is too too high, I cannot attain to it. (Psalm high, I cannot attain to it. (Psalm 139:4-6).139:4-6).

““Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And And yet yet not one of them will fall to the not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ground apart from your Father. 3030 But the But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. very hairs of your head are all numbered. 3131 So do not fear; you are more valuable So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31).than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31).

““Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, Nothing is too difficult for You, 1818 who who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name… (Jeremiah 32:17-18). name… (Jeremiah 32:17-18).

……great in counsel and mighty in deed, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; deeds; 2020 who has set signs and wonders who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, in the land of Egypt, and and even to this day even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. (Jeremiah 32:19-20). this day. (Jeremiah 32:19-20).

• God cannot do the irrational

• God cannot do that which is contrary to His character

• God cannot exhaust His power

Where can I go from Your Spirit?Where can I go from Your Spirit?Or where can I flee from Your presence?Or where can I flee from Your presence?88 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I ascend to heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.there.99 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 1010 Even there Your hand will lead me, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. And Your right hand will lay hold of me. (Psalm 139:7-110).(Psalm 139:7-110).

If I say, “Surely the darkness will If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,”And the light around me will be night,”1212 Even the darkness is not dark to You, Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike Darkness and light are alike to Youto You. (Psalm . (Psalm 139:11-12).139:11-12).

• As a Warning– 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. (Hebrews 4:12-13).

• As a Warning

• As a Comfort– Let your character be free from the love of

money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall Man do to me?” *Hebrews 13:5-6).

Tension

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, the truth which is according to godliness, 22 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 33 but but at the proper time manifested, at the proper time manifested, even even His His word, in the proclamation with which I was word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior (Titus 1:1-3).of God our Savior (Titus 1:1-3).

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself (Hebrews 6:13).

• The commands and instructions The commands and instructions of the Lord.of the Lord.

• The commands and instructions The commands and instructions of the Lord.of the Lord.

“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and

mother.” (Mark 3:35).

• The commands and instructions The commands and instructions of the Lord.of the Lord.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you

abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

• The commands and instructions The commands and instructions of the Lord.of the Lord.

• Those things which God has Those things which God has planned to come to pass.planned to come to pass.

This is the plan devised against the This is the plan devised against the whole earth; and this is the hand that is whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out against all the nations.stretched out against all the nations.2727 For the LORD of hosts has planned, For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate and who can frustrate itit??And as for His stretched-out hand, who And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:26-27).can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:26-27).

……also we have obtained an inheritance, also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11).the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11).

The LORD nullifies the counsel of the The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations;nations;He frustrates the plans of the peoples. He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 1111 The counsel of the LORD stands The counsel of the LORD stands forever, forever, The plans of His heart from generation The plans of His heart from generation to generation. (Psalm 33:10-11).to generation. (Psalm 33:10-11).

……and He made from one and He made from one man man every every nation of mankind to live on all the face nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined of the earth, having determined their their appointed times and the boundaries of appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation (Acts 17:26). their habitation (Acts 17:26).

Your eyes have seen my unformed Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; substance; And in Your book were all written And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained The days that were ordained for mefor me, , When as yet there was not one of them. When as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139:16).(Psalm 139:16).

The mind of man plans his way,The mind of man plans his way,But the LORD directs his steps. But the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9).(Proverbs 16:9).

The king’s heart is The king’s heart is like like channels channels of water in the hand of the of water in the hand of the LORD;LORD;He turns it wherever He wishes. He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1).(Proverbs 21:1).

The lot is cast into the lap, The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD. But its every decision is from the LORD. (Proverbs 16:33).(Proverbs 16:33).

Man, who is born of woman,Man, who is born of woman,Is short-lived and full of turmoil. Is short-lived and full of turmoil. (Job 14:1).(Job 14:1).

Since his days are determined,Since his days are determined,The number of his months is with The number of his months is with You; You; And his limits You have set so that And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:5).he cannot pass. (Job 14:5).

But Joseph said to them, “Do not be But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? afraid, for am I in God's place? 2020 As for As for you, you meant evil against me, you, you meant evil against me, but but God God meant it for good in order to bring about meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Genesis 50:19-20).people alive.” (Genesis 50:19-20).

“ “For truly in this city there were gathered For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, and the peoples of Israel, 2828 to do to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” (Acts 4:27-28).predestined to occur.” (Acts 4:27-28).

““Men of Israel, listen to these words: Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know-- know-- 2323 this this ManMan, delivered over by the , delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put of godless men and put Him Him to death.” to death.” (Acts 2:22-23).(Acts 2:22-23).