The Existence and Attributes of God
Fundamentals of the Faith • Sermon • Submitted
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The Source of True Wisdom
The Source of True Wisdom
What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. A.W. Tozer
Read Prov. 9:10
Fear- reverence or awe.
Wisdom- to be or become wise, act wisely.
insight- to see or understand,
The Existence of God
The Existence of God
Assumed in the Bible
Assumed in the Bible
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Why Do Men Debate the Existence of God then?
Why Do Men Debate the Existence of God then?
Read Romans 1:18-22; 2:14-16
God has made himself known and can be perceived through his creation.
God has made this knowledge plain and clearly discernable to men. (Beauty, complexity, intentionality, and majesty)
God has revealed himself to men by giving them a conscience. And writing his law on their hearts.
Yet...
Read 1:20-22
Yet men ignore God’s creative power
They suppress the truth.
They ignore their consciences and they turn from God.
As a result their hearts become hard and they become fools.
Every unbeliever is somewhere on this plane
The Person hood of God
The Person hood of God
The Only One There Is
22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. 8 Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
He Is an Invisible Spirit
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
He is The Father In Heaven
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
The Knowledge of God
The Knowledge of God
Can we know God?
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Though God is incomprehensible, though he has no boundaries, he can be perceived by divine help. God helps men to know him.
By the Holy Spirit
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
He has been made known through Jesus Christ.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
The Goal of Knowing God
The Goal of Knowing God
True Knowledge extends beyond the mind.
8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
The Attributes of God
The Attributes of God
Defined: his inherit characteristic, his character.
2 Categories
Non-communicable
Eternality
Immutability
Omniscience
Omnipresence
Omnipotence
Communicable
Holiness
Love
Truth
Mercy
They are in harmony
Sample Attributes
Sample Attributes
Holiness
Holiness
Set apart, absolutely pure and perfect, unstained by the evil in the world.
The most commonly attributed attribute
11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
9 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Application
It is God’s holiness which teaches us an appropriate fear over sin. He is not at all touched by the stain of sin.
It teaches my unworthiness. (The opposite of what popular Christianity teaches us.)
It is God’s holiness that teaches me a need for a savior.
Righteousness and Justice
Righteousness and Justice
Distinguish between the two
Righteousness- God only does what is right.
Justice- God legislates His righteous standard.
137 Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
God shows his righteousness in his judgments. His acts of judgment on men are an expression of his justice and righteousness.
3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
God’s standard of righteousness is higher than man and absolutely right. Men can naturally judge what’s right according to their own standards, but God’s standards are just and upright.
Application
Teaches me that I need a Savior.
That I deserve the punishment of God.
That God’s moral law is the appropriate standard of my life and conduct.
Should cause me to witness to men who are under God’s judgment
Sovereignty
Sovereignty
God is the highest. This is the term we use to describe God’s
control over all things. He is the chief, the highest, the supreme.
He is subject to no one, he does as he pleases. He does not answer to anyone.
9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
Application
Nothing is out of God’s control.
I should stop worrying.
Nothing can separate me from God.
The Eternality of God
The Eternality of God
He has no beginning or end, He is not bound by time.
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
Application
Our hope of eternal life depends on God’s eternality.
We will be with him forever
The Immutability of God
The Immutability of God
He Never changes His nature or purpose.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Application
God will not change his mind about my salvation.
God will not change his mind about the judgment of my Sin.
The Omniscience of God
The Omniscience of God
He knows everything, nothing is secret to him.
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Application
I cannot hide anything from God.
He knew all my sins before I even commited them, yet he loved me.
The Omnipresence of God
The Omnipresence of God
We can’t see God, but he can see us, he is present everywhere.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Application
That should cause us alarm at sinning.
We can always pray, God hears us.
Omnipotence of God
Is all-powerful
17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Application
He can fulfill his promises.
He can handle all issues.
Our salvation is secure in his power.
The Love of God
The Love of God
Demonstrated in the Cross of Jesus.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The Truth of God
The Truth of God
God is absolute truth, and his truth is firm.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
The Mercy of God
The Mercy of God
Compassion or forbearance upon those who have opposed His will.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Final Application
Final Application
We should fear God, and worship Him.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Let these things inform your prayer life. Learn some new attribute of God and seek to pray that attribute.
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