God

God is that being that which no one or no thing greater can be conceived.  God is superior or more perfect than all else.  He is the being in which all authority and truth resides. 

There is one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4).  However, there are many false gods (Deuteronomy 6:14).  The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternal, self existent One (Isaiah 43:10-13). 

As the eternal one He has always existed and will always exist.  To be self existent means that His existence depends upon no one other than Himself.  He came into existence by His own power and He remains in existence by His own power.

God is infinite and sovereign to the universe.  To be infinite is to be exceedingly immense and inexhaustible without limits.  To be sovereign is to be the greatest supreme authority. 

God as the Father is "creator".  God, by His bountiful goodness, made us and everything on and around this sphere on which we live. 

Attributes of God.  "Elohim." ("El" was an ancient Hebrew prefix meaning God).  Elohim expresses the might of the creator as the sustainer of this universe. (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24, Hebrews 3:4).  God is the creator of all, everything in the vast universe - stars, space and everything in space.  He is the creator of man, earth and everything in earth.

He even created natural laws such as the law of gravity and the law of condensation and evaporation (Amos 5:8; 9:6, Isaiah 55:8-10, Psalms 137:7, Jeremiah 10:13; 51:16).  As Elohim, we understand him as a God who can do all that he wills to do.

God allows man to worship Him or to worship false gods.  But our actions carry consequences.  Those who do not love and obey Him, He will not save from the consequences of their sin.  Not only is God creative but He is administrative in nature.   

"El Shaddai."  El Shaddai expresses his Almightiness and his all sufficiency (Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 3:5, Genesis 17:1).

"Jehovah."  Jehovah expresses his consistency and faithfulness to his covenanted promises (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:13-18).  As Jehovah, God is unchangeable.

Also, God has further revealed Himself in the principles of relationship and association (Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 3:22).  God interacts with His creation and creatures.

For relationship, the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son (John 10:38).  For fellowship, the Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son (John 1:1-2).

For authority, the Father is not from the Son but the Son is from the Father (John 6:35-38).  The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son for authority (John 14:26).  Neither three work separately and independently of each other.

Where is God?  God is near to us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  Comfort literally means to stand beside and console or encourage.  Whenever we are comforted, God is there standing beside us. Wherever we discover attitudes of compassion and actions of comfort, God is therein.  God is everywhere that we discover his character being expressed.

Frequently people ask, "Is there really a God?"  As intriguing as the answer may be, we really do not need answers.  We need relationships.  When relationships exist, answers become secondary. 

Through Jesus Christ, we can develop a meaningful relationship with God.  Therefore, a better question is, "Do we really need a God?"

The human spirit continually hungers for fellowship with a "God."  In every culture human beings grasp for some "one" or some "thing" that extends beyond themselves.  From the most to the least civilized nations, human beings crave for some "one" that is greater than themselves. 

All over the world human beings devote themselves to causes, ideas and/or systems.  Humankind remains unfulfilled when not expressing allegiance to a God (Psalms 42:1-2).

The Samaritans attempted to satisfy their craving for a "God."  Because of their emptiness Simon tricked the people, from the least to the greatest, into believing that he was of God (Acts 8:9-11).  Yes we really do need a God to worship.

We need a God because we need someone to limit our disturbances.  Job was disturbed (Job 1:1-2).  At first, God did not allow Satan to attack Job's health (Job 1:12).  Later, God did allow Satan to attack Job's health but did not allow Satan to take Job's life (Job 2:6).

We need a God because we need someone to listen to our discussion.  Job and his friends discussed (Job chapters 3-37).  God listened to the discussion of observers.  Three of Job's friends made three speeches each.  Eliphaz spoke (Job 4:1-5:27).  Bildad spoke (Job 8:1-22).  And Zophar spoke (Job 11:1-20).

God listened to the discussion of Job.  Job offered three complaints.  He complained that God was punishing him (Job 6:4; 9:17).  Also he complained that God would not hear him (Job 19:7; 23:1-4;  30:20-21).  He also complained that God was allowing the wicked to prosper (Job 21:7).

We need a God because we need someone to lead us in our deliverance.  God delivered Job (38-42:10-17).  God issued a first challenge (Job 38:1-40:2).  Job responded (Job 40:3-5).  Then, God issued a second challenge (Job 40:6-41:34).  Job responded (Job 42:1-6).

From first to last in Scripture, God reveals himself as the One and only true God, beside whom there is no other (Deuteronomy 6:5; Isaiah 43:10; James 2:19).

What is important is that we readily confess all that scripture affirms about God.  However, we do not need answers; for, they do not help.  We need a relationship with God: That's what helps!  

A covenant is a binding agreement.  We're brought into covenant with God by hearing, believing and being baptized into Christ, into His body the, church.  All who are "in Christ" have been born again and obtained a saved relationship with God through Jesus.

God dictates the terms.  We either accept or reject. The covenant won't be changed to agree with our particular desires and ideas. 

Selected Bibliography for Further Study

Everest, Harvey W. The Divine Demonstration. A Text-book of Christian Evidence. St. Louis, MO:  Christian Publishing Company, 1884.

Jackson, Wayne. Fortify Your Faith. Montgomery, AL:  Apologetics Press, Inc., 1974.

McDowell, Josh. Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith. San Bernardino, CA:  Campus Crusade for Christ International, 1972. 

McQuilkin, Robertson. Understanding and Applying the Bible. Rev. ed. Chicago:  Moody, 1992.

Thompson, Bert. Is Genesis Myth?  Montgomery, AL:  Apologetics Press, Inc., 1986.

Warren, Thomas B. Have Atheists Proved There Is No God? Jonesboro, Arkansas:  National Christian Press, Inc. 1972.

Warren, Thomas. Logic and the Bible. Jonesboro, Arkansas: National Christian Press, Inc., 1982.

Yancy, Philip. Disappointment With God. Grand Rapids:  Zondervan, 1988.

Written Review for Lesson Seven

Write within the blank the letter of the term that is related within the lesson and transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET.  Five points each.

1.       ___ Elohim                        a.  Sufficiency

2.       ___ El Shaddai                   b.  Hungers for fellowship with God

3.                                    3.       ___ Jehovah                      c.  The might of the creator

4.                                    4.       ___ human spirit                 d.  Infinite and sovereign

5.       ___ God                            e.  Consistency

Fill in the blanks.  Five points each.

1.       God has revealed Himself as the eternal ______________________ One.

2.       God has revealed Himself in the principles of relationship and ______________.

3.       God is creative and ________________________in nature.

4.       We need a god, because we need someone to ______________ our disturbances.

5.       God created ______________ laws such as the law of gravity and condensation.

True or False.  Five points each.

1.       ______ The Holy Spirit has no relationship with Jesus.

          2.       ______ The Father, Son and Holy Spirit work separately and independently of each other.

          3.       ______ The term "Jehovah" expresses the consistency and faithfulness of God.

          4.       ______ For fellowship the Son is with the Father.

                   5.       ______ Natural laws such as gravity just evolved from nature.

Circle the one answer that best answers the question or completes the statement and transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET.  Five points each.

1.  The term El Shaddi expresses

          a.  The might of the creator as the sustainer of the universe

          b.  His Almightiness and sufficiency

          c.  His consistency and faithfulness

          d.  All of the above

          e.  A & C only

2.  The word Jehovah expresses

          a.  The might of the creator as the sustainer of the universe

          b.  His Almightiness and sufficiency

          c.  His consistency and faithfulness

          d.  All of the above

          e.  A & C only

3.   The term Elohim expresses

          a.  The might of the creator as the sustainer of the universe

          b.  His Almightiness and sufficiency

          c.  His consistency and faithfulness

          d.  All of the above

          e.  A & C only

4.  This is a true statement

          a.  For relationship, the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son

          b.  For fellowship, the Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son

          c.  For authority, the Father is not from the son but the Son is from the Father

          d.  All of the above

          e.  Only A & C

5.  God is

          a.  The creator of natural laws 

          b.  Creative in His nature

          c.  Administrative in His nature

          d.  All of the above

          e.  B & C