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 week – Understanding God as Trinity▪ Rest of course – Understanding more about

God through the gospel

Two things to remember

1. We can know God truly (through careful and prayerful study of his word) but we can’t know him fully

Deuteronomy 29:292. 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 is God subject to change, can He 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: IMPASSIBLE

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 118:89-91Heb 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

The Glory of God in contemporary culture

Pg 95: 4.3

Home Study

Mini 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?