God is the Eternal One
The Attributes of God • Sermon • Submitted
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· 25 viewsEternality: God is the Uncaused Cause of the Universe
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Intro: Talking with a JW who agrees with all your statements about God and Jesus. You may walk away thinking you both believe in the same God, but is that correct?
Intro: Talking with a JW who agrees with all your statements about God and Jesus. You may walk away thinking you both believe in the same God, but is that correct?
Transition: The term ‘God’ by itself can be vague and empty of real meaning. When we engage in talking about or thinking about God, we want to be biblically accurate:
Transition: The term ‘God’ by itself can be vague and empty of real meaning. When we engage in talking about or thinking about God, we want to be biblically accurate:
General Comments & Classifications of Attributes
General Comments & Classifications of Attributes
Attributes are simply “those qualities of God which constitute what He is” (Erickson, Christian Theology, p. 265)
Attributes are simply “those qualities of God which constitute what He is” (Erickson, Christian Theology, p. 265)
Illustrate: For an animal to be considered a bird, it must have wings. Wings are a natural attributes of birds (no wings = not a bird). Likewise, an attribute of reptiles is being cold-blooded. If an animal is warm-blooded, it is not a reptile.
Illustrate: For an animal to be considered a bird, it must have wings. Wings are a natural attributes of birds (no wings = not a bird). Likewise, an attribute of reptiles is being cold-blooded. If an animal is warm-blooded, it is not a reptile.
God’s attributes are permanent qualities that cannot be gained or lost. These characteristics are inseparable for the being or essence of God. (Erickson, p. 265)
God’s attributes are permanent qualities that cannot be gained or lost. These characteristics are inseparable for the being or essence of God. (Erickson, p. 265)
Theologians classify God’s attributes in several different ways. We are going to use the categories of Incommunicable and Communicable.
Theologians classify God’s attributes in several different ways. We are going to use the categories of Incommunicable and Communicable.
Don’t tune out just because of a few big words. These terms are used to describe things that can be shared contrasted with things that cannot be shared.
Don’t tune out just because of a few big words. These terms are used to describe things that can be shared contrasted with things that cannot be shared.
Illustrate: things that cannot be shared: food that is on my plate, or a drink that someone else has started. (JK) Most diseases do not cross species; a human cannot get the Parvo virus from a dog. Humans can and do share (or communicate) diseases with each other: chicken pox, measles, flu, etc.
Illustrate: things that cannot be shared: food that is on my plate, or a drink that someone else has started. (JK) Most diseases do not cross species; a human cannot get the Parvo virus from a dog. Humans can and do share (or communicate) diseases with each other: chicken pox, measles, flu, etc.
God’s Incommunicable attributes include:
God’s Incommunicable attributes include:
Eternality, Infiniteness, Independence; Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Immutability.
Eternality, Infiniteness, Independence; Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Immutability.
God’s Communicable attributes include:
God’s Communicable attributes include:
Love, Holiness, Righteousness, Truthfulness, Graciousness, and Mercy
Love, Holiness, Righteousness, Truthfulness, Graciousness, and Mercy
The Attribute of Eternality and Aseity
The Attribute of Eternality and Aseity
God is the only being who has always existed. God is the Transcendent One who is outside of time and space. There has never been a time when He was not.
God is the only being who has always existed. God is the Transcendent One who is outside of time and space. There has never been a time when He was not.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” ()
The Eternality of God means that He is the Creator of all that is. If He is outside the box, than He is the One who brought everything else into existence. (Isaiah 57:15a)
God’s Aseity negates Evolution - the universe had a beginning (Gen. 1:1)
God’s Aseity negates cosmic dualism. Good and evil are not co-eternal. Evil is limited (, ), satan is fallen (), and will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10)
God’s Aseity means that He created by choice, not due to need. There was perfect harmony in the Godhead in Eternity Past. God did not create to fill a void. He is independent of His Creation ()
God is in a category by Himself, but He chooses to enter into relationship with His creation ()
God is in a category by Himself, but He chooses to enter into relationship with His creation ()
This Eternal God who inhabits Eternity and dwells in unapproachable light (), is a Personal God. The Transcendent One is also Imminent.
This quality negates Deism: God did not Create the Universe, wind it up and then stands way off and lets things run their course. He is personally involved in and with His Creation
This quality negates the equality of YHWH and Allah. Allah is impersonal and cannot be known. Hence, he is a false god
Practical Outcome of understanding God’s attribute of Eternality
Practical Outcome of understanding God’s attribute of Eternality
Humans have a tendency to consider things from our own perspective. We approach the Bible and attempt to understand it from our finite way of thinking. This is a dangerous approach that leads us to develop a stunted view of the Almighty. God created us in His image, but that does not mean we are like Him in certain aspects. God is not just a better, superior version of humanity. Contrary to the Mormon cult teaching, we never become God-like in the next world. He will always be set apart. This understanding should shape our worship practices and increase our reverence ()
The truth that God comes to us, that He has put His love on us in the degree he has done should thrill our souls (, ) The Eternal One has entered His own creation and has entered into relationship with us.
Packer’s example of the Prime Minister choosing to talk and build relationship with one of his subjects. Not only knowing this important person, but being known by him changes things. ()