GOD

GOD

Introduction

The Bible is different from any other religious book in the world. It is not an ideological book of religious principles or philosophy. The Bible is a proclamation. It proclaims God, His existence, work and relationship with man but never defend the same. God’s power and beauty are expressed clearly in all His creations, hence, only ‘a fool says there is no God’. Gen.1 Vs 1 talks of the beginning that was not really the beginning. John 1 Vs 1 talks about the beginning that has no beginning. Such is the mystery of our infinite God. We can only grasp but a glimpse of Him.

1. Triune

Read Matt 11 Vs 25, 28 Vs 19; John 1 Vs 1-5, 14, 18; Matt 3 Vs 16; Col.1 Vs 12-20

• How many personalities are in the Godhead?
• How can these three be one? (I John 4 Vs 8)
• Are there differences within the Godhead?
• Is there superiority or hierarchies among them?

2. His Fatherhood

God made man firstly in His image and secondly after His likeness. No other creature resembles God like man. Scriptures say that God made man a little lower than Himself (Ps.8 Vs 5). Man was never God though and will never be God but originally man was made to be son to God (Luke 3 Vs 38). But when man fell he lost this reality and this took a lot of time to come back to him as revelation.

2.1       Old Testament Revelation

God revealed several aspects of His fatherhood in piece meal to His people through different character – names, all of which has Jehovah (i.e. the self-existent one) as their prefix:

1. El-Shaddai (our sufficiency, Gen.22 Vs 17)
2. Shammah (is present, Ezk.48 Vs 35)
3. Saboath (Lord of host, I Sam.1 Vs 3)
4. Shalom (our Peace, Jud.6 Vs 24)
5. Elyon (The Lord most high, Ps.47 Vs 2)
6. Nissi (our Banner, Exo.17 Vs 15)
7. Ropheka (our healer, Exo.15 Vs 26)
8. Hoseenu (our maker, Ps.95 Vs 6)
9. Mekaddishkem (The Lord our sanctifier, Exo.31 Vs 13)
10. Eloheeka (Thy God, Exo.20 Vs 2, 5, 7)
11. Adonai (our sovereign, Gen.15 Vs 2-8)
12. Rohi (my shepherd, Ps.23 Vs 1)
13. Jireh (will provide, Gen.22 Vs 8-14)
14. Elohim (our eternal creator, Gen.2 Vs 4-25)
15. Eloheenu (our God, Ps.99 Vs 5, 8, 9)
16. Tsidekenu (our righteousness, Jer.23 Vs 6)

New Testament Revelation

God has revealed Himself, as many things under the Old Testament but was never satisfied. God is pleased to reveal Himself as father. The greatest revelation of God therefore is His fatherhood and that came to us in a full package through the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read John 1 Vs 12, Matt.23 Vs 9, John 20 Vs 17, Rom.1 Vs 7, I Thes.3 Vs 11

• What are the differences between the revelations of God to man in the old and new testaments?
• Compare the names of father God with the name of Christ? (Phil.2 Vs 9-11)
• How do you relate Grace, love & fellowship with the Godhead? (II Cor.13 Vs 14, John 3 Vs 16)
• Which one do we need most within the Godhead?

3. His Dominion

Read Isa.6 Vs 1-5; I King 22 Vs 19; Rev.4 Vs 2-11; Matt.4 Vs 10; Ps.18 Vs 10

• How does God organize His kingdom?
• Why should only God be worshipped?
• Can one worship Him in ignorance?

4. His love for mankind

Read John 3 Vs 16; 1 Vs 12; Dan.4 Vs 17, 25; I John 3 Vs 1-3

Why is it that God loves mankind?

How is God’s kingdom established in our lives?

5. His furry against sin

Read John 3 Vs 36; 5 Vs 24; 3 Vs 18; Ecc. 12 Vs 14; I John 3 Vs 4, 8-9; Rom.6 Vs 23; Heb.9 Vs 27; I Pet.3 Vs 10-12; II Pet.3 Vs 10-13

What is sin?

Is there remedy for sinners after death?

6. His written will

Read John 10 Vs 35; Mk.12 Vs 24; II Tim.3 Vs 16, 17; II Pet.1 Vs 20, 21; Deut.29 Vs 29.

Why is the Bible the word of God?

What proof do we have that the book is infallible?

How many chapters are there in the Bible?

What is the difference between the old and the new testaments?

Conclusion

God is not only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel; He is equally my own God. He is the God of the whole earth and the father of all born-again; black, red, brown or white.