MorningStar
Ranch Ministries
Lesson Two
GOD
The BIBLE reveals GOD as the
only Infinite and Eternal Being, having no beginning and no ending. HE is Creator
and Sustainer of all things. HE is the Supreme Personal Intelligence, and Righteous
Ruler of HIS universe. HE is life, and therefore, the only source of life (John
5:26).
Man is natural and cannot know
GOD by wisdom. "Can you discover the depths of GOD?" (Job 11:7 TO). GOD is a
person and be known only by revelation. In the Old Testament HE revealed HIMSELF
to and through HIS prophets. In the New Testament HE reveals HIMSELF through
HIS Son JESUS CHRIST (Hebrews 1:1-3).
1. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
Hebrews 11:6
The BIBLE nowhere attempts
to prove or argue the existence of GOD. "For he who comes to GOD must believe
that HE is." The existence of GOD is a fact taken for granted by the writers
of both the Old and the New Testaments. "In the beginning GOD" (Gen. 1:1). The
BIBLE opens by announcing the sublime fact of GOD and HIS existence. There are
arguments for the existence of GOD; they are not conclusive, but are food for
thought:
- Universal belief in GOD comes from within
man. It is innate in man and comes from rational intuition.
- The argument from "cause and effect." Everything
that began owes its existence to a cause. We have a watch; we must have a
watchmaker. We have a building; we must have a builder. We have creation;
then we must have a CREATOR. This creation could not have come into existence
without an intelligent, personal creator anymore than the alphabet could produce
a book itself without an author.
- The argument from anthropology. Man's moral
and intellectual nature argues for a moral and intellectual CREATOR.
- The BIBLE and the CHRIST that it reveals,
HIS virgin birth, HIS sinless life, HIS vicarious death, and HIS bodily resurrection
all of this and much, much more argue for the existence of GOD.
2. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD
1 Thessalonians 1:9
The BIBLE reveals GOD as a
personality. HE is called "
a living and true GOD." One possessing self
consciousness and self determination. HIS personality is shown in what HE does,
such as:
- GOD loves. "GOD so loved the world" (John
3:16)
- GOD hates. "There are six things which the
LORD hates" (Prov. 6:16)
- GOD cares. "HE cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7)
- GOD grieves: "HE is grieved in HIS heart"
(Gen. 6:6)
Only a personality can hate,
care, and grieve; therefore GOD must be a living, eternal and personal being.
3. THE NATURE OF GOD
1 John 4:8
There are four definitions
of GOD in the BIBLE. Since GOD cannot be defined, they are incomplete. However,
they do throw light upon the nature of GOD. They are:
- "GOD is love" (1 John 4:8) This is the nature
of in HIS divine compassion.
- "GOD is light" (1 John 1:5) This is the
nature of of GOD in HIS divine character; in HIM there is no darkness.
- "GOD is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29) This
is the nature of GOD in HIS divine holiness.
- "GOD is spirit" (John 4:24) This is the
nature of GOD in HIS divine essence.
The attributes of GOD reveal
HIS nature. Do not think of HIS attributes as abstract, but as vital mediums
through which HIS holy nature is unveiled
attributes ascribed to HIM,
such as:
- Life is ascribed to GOD (John 5:26)
- All knowledge is ascribed to GOD (Psalms
147:5)
- All power is ascribed to GOD (Rev. 19:6)
- Filling the universe with HIS presence
is ascribed to GOD (Psalms 139:1)
GOD is everywhere present,
but HE is not in everything. If GOD were in everything, man could worship any
object and he would be worshiping GOD. GOD is a spirit being. "And those that
worship HIM must worship in spirit and in truth."
4. THE GRACE OF GOD
Ephesians 2:8
Grace is the love and mercy
of GOD in action. Mercy is negative, and love is positive; both together mean
grace. To show mercy in love is grace. GOD showed mercy in love when HE sent
HIS Son to bear our sins in HIS own body on the cross (John 3:16).
- The grace of GOD saves forever (Rom. 8:38,39).
- The grace of GOD is unconditional; that
is, we are not saved on the condition that we "hold out unto the end" or that
we "fail not" or that we "do our best." We are saved by the grace of GOD,
apart from works.
- The grace of GOD is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9).
- The grace of GOD makes no discrimination
(Rev. 22:17).
- The grace of GOD justifies (Rom. 3:23,24).
- The grace of GOD makes every believer an
heir (Titus 3:7).
- The grace of GOD teaches the believer how
to live (Titus 2:11,12).
The grace of GOD is nothing
less than the unlimited love of GOD expressed in the gift of HIS Son, our Savior.
It is the undeserved love of GOD toward sinners.
THE TRINITY OF GOD
By the Trinity of GOD we mean
HIS tri-personal existence as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
three distinct
Persons in one GOD.
- The Father is recognized
as GOD (1 Peter 1:2) and is all the fulness of the GODHEAD invisible (John
1:18)
- The Son is recognized
as GOD (Heb. 1:6) and is all the fulness of the GODHEAD manifested in the
flesh (John 1:14).
- The Holy Spirit is recognized
as GOD (Acts 3:4,5) and is all the fulness of the GODHEAD acting upon man,
convicting him of sin (John 16:7-11) and guiding the believer into all truth
(John 16:12-15).
- The doctrine of the Trinity
is not explicit in the Old Testament, but rather is implied, "Then GOD said,
Let US make man
" (Gen. 1:26).
- The doctrine of the Trinity
is revealed in the New Testament. In Matthew 3:16 we have CHRIST being baptized
in water, the Father speaking from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descending
as a dove. We are to baptized in the "name (not names) of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:19).
- Even creation implies
the doctrine of the Trinity. In creation, we have space, matter, and time
in one creation. In space, we have length, breadth and height in one space.
In matter, we have energy, motion and phenomenon in one substance. In time,
we have past, present and future in one time. In man, we have body, soul
and spirit in one man (1 Thess. 5:23).
- In the Holy Trinity, we
have Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one GOD.
-