Doctrine 1Unit 5 – The God We Know
Where we are in the course The way in which we know God (1-4)
▪ Gracious revelation▪ Using human language▪ Concerning both faith and reason▪ Through the witness of Jesus Christ and his work
The God that we now know (5-10)▪ Today – The attributes of God’s being and
character▪ Next time – Understanding God as Trinity▪ Rest of course – Understanding more about
God through the gospel
Two things to remember1. We can know God truly (through careful
and prayerful study of his word) but we can’t know him fullyDeuteronomy 29:29
2. Knowing God is practical, not merely intellectual. To know God is to be in relationship with Him and known by Him. We grow in understanding of his character and purposes so that we might please Him
Romans 11:33,36
The Attributes of God What are the different ways you can describe someone?
Often people approach the doctrine of God by examining his various attributes
Natural Attributes & Personal Attributes
Non – Communicable Communicable
eg. Changelessness eg. Love
Advantage of understanding God in this way?
Danger of understanding God in this way?
The God we Know: The True Lord of all
What do these versus teach us about God’s existence?
Deut 6:4Jeremiah 2:11-13Romans 11:33-36John 5:26
God is __________
Objections? Many Gods! Polytheism
What do we learn about God’s relationship with creation?
1 Chronicles 29:11Acts 17:24-25
Psalm 139:7-10Jeremiah 23:24
God is both T__________ & I__________ to his creation
The God we Know: The True Lord of all
What do these versus teach us about God in relation to time and space?
Jeremiah 10:10Psalm 139:1-10Isaiah 40:28Col 1:16-171 Timothy 1:17
God is _________ in relation to time
God is _________ in relation to space
The God we Know: The True Lord of all
So can God be influenced by his creation?
Psalm 102:24-27 - His BeingPsalm 138:8 - His Character1 Samuel 15:29 - His Intentions
God is I____________ in relation to all things
What about God changing his mind? (Pg 88 of notes)
Jonah 3:10? – But then see Jonah 4:2
What do these versus teach us about what God knows?
1 John 3:20Isaiah 46:10Psalm 147:1-5Psalm 139:2-3
God is _________ in relation to all things
The God we Know: The True Lord of all
What can God accomplish?
Job 1:1Proverbs 21:1Jeremiah 32:17Genesis 18:14Acts 2:23*
God is O___________ in relation to all things
Can God make a weight to heavy for him to lift?
God cannot contradict himself in any way! To suggest that this could somehow be possible is irrational nonsense:
“God’s omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. You may attribute miracles to him, but not nonsense ... meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix to them the two other words 'God can'. It remains true that all things are possible with God: the intrinsic impossibilities are not things but non-entities. It is no more possible for God than for the weakest of his creatures to carry out both of two mutually exclusive alternatives; not because his power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God"
C S Lewis - The Problem of Pain
The freedom that God enjoys
Free in relation to time: ETERNAL Free in relation to space: OMNIPRESENT Free in relation to ignorance: OMNISCIENT Free in relation to other powers:
OMNIPOTENT Free in relation to change: IMMUTABLE
If any of these were not true how would that endanger Jesus’ saving work for us? (The Gospel)
The God we know: Our Good Father
What do these verses teach us about God’s character? In what way is God limited from doing absolutely anything?
1 John 4:16, Ps 119:89-91Heb 6:17-18, Ex 34:14Rom 1:18, Gen 6:6
God cannot lie, commit evil, sin against himself - this apparent limitation is a strength, not a weakness of God.
How is sin described in scripture? (John 8:34)
The God we know: Gracious and Righteous
How would you answer the question –
How can a God who is love be angry and punish?
Exodus 34:6-7, Romans 3:22-25
What happens to the gospel if we minimise God’s just anger against sin and it’s consequences?
The nature of God’s love
Psalm 36:10 1 John 4:10 Hebrews 9:23-28 Romans 2:4 Romans 5:8 Galatians 2:21 Romans 8:38-39
Conclusion
Understanding the Love of God in contemporary culture
Pg 95: 4.3
Home StudyMini Essay:
How would you argue that God’s judgment is an act of love?
Read Doctrine 1 Unit 6
Extra Mile:Read The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, D.A. Carson
Group Study – Psalm 139
Which attributes of God can you identify in this Psalm?
How does the Psalmist respond to God in view of His awesome nature and power?