#1. Our Concept of God

1. Who, or What is God?

God is the Creator of all that exists, both corporeal and non-corporeal.

Yet this Creator exists in three Persons, but the same essence. 'Essence' refers to the essentials that only God can possess.

He is the 'Triune' God. This is first implied in the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 1: In the beginning, God . . . The word for 'God' here is 'Elohim.' It is plural -- not singular. And then in verse 26 of the first chapter of the Bible, we read, And God (plural) said, 'Let US (more than one) make man . . .'

He is:

• FATHER. First Person.
  This is his 'first' Person, and he is Spirit. They that worship him, worship him is Truth and Spirit. (John 4:24).

• SON. Second Person.
  He is both th SON OF GOD, and the SON OF MAN. God/Human. The WORD (Jesus) WAS GOD, and the WORD was with God.-- John 1:1 In Isaiah 9:6, the Messiah (Jesus) is identified as The mighty God.

• HOLY SPIRIT. Third Person. Possesses the same essentials as the FATHER and the SON.

WE MUST NEVER CONFUSE THE PERSONS OR DIVIDE THE ESSENCE OF THE TRIUNE GOD.

Much is made over the idea that the 'Trinity' is hard, if not impossible, to accept and understand. But the concept of multiplicity in unioin is everywhere around us. For example: (1) an egg, [shell, yolk and white] (2) a tree [inner wood, bark and leaves] (3) man himself, [body, soul and spirit] etc.

2. God 'IS,' Period!

God spoke to Moses, Tell them 'I AM' has sent you. (Exodus 3:14)

Jesus said of himself, Before Abraham was, 'I AM!' (John 8:58).

. . . which is to say that God is absolute reality and substance. He is irreducible! . . .

. . . and that is all our minds can postulate. His 'thereness' exceeds our ability to imagine. He is larger than the universe -- which has no known limits -- even if it did, what lies beyond those limits? Whatever lies beyond those limits, God is bigger, for the thing created must of necessity be comprehended by its Creator.

3. Where did God Come From?

Some say that God is the invention of the human mind. Could this be true? Yes. The human mind is capable of an assorted plethora of absurdity. However, a cursory examination of the universe, or even the tinyest organism loudly declares there there must be intelligent design behind all that exists. That requires an Intelligent Being larger, more intelligent, and more powerful than anything that exists.

The 'origin' of God is a logical absurdity. God has always existed. He is the absolute "BE!"

He is the only absolute. There are no absolutes in the space/time continuum. Even 'absolute zero' is not absolute. It is only 273 degrees below zero Centigrade.

4. What Does God Do?

Again, we cannot know exhaustively.

He creates . . . and sustains and administrates his creation. Creativity is a GOD TRAIT shared with the human spirit. But mankind (for the present -- I Corinthians 13:12), can only create from knowledge and mass. God creates from nothing -- out of nothing.

He loves
He is the SOURCE OF LOVE. Indeed HE IS LOVE . . . the Fountainhead from which it springs.

He is Holy

Click right arrow. Song by Audrey Assad.

I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1-3)

He actively INTERACTS with his creation. God is intimately involved with the affairs of men and with the function of the Cosmos. He has always been.

What is God Like? We can only talk about God. We cannot comprehend him.

We spoke of his ESSENCE. What are the ESSENTIALS OF GOD that only he can possess?

There are FIVE of them:

OMNIPONENCE	All powerful
OMNIPRESENT	Everywhere Present
OMNISCIENT	All Knowing
IMMUTABLE	Unchangeable
ETERNAL	No Beginning -- No end

MORAL Attributes:

HOLY: (Transcendant and set apart from sin)
LOVE: (Totally and affectionately involved)
JUST: (Absolutely fair)

PERSONALITY Attributes:

INTELLIGENCE: (Brilliant beyond imagination)
VOLITION: (Makes decisions of will)
EMOTION: (God is an emotional God. He feels.)

We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. (Hebrews 4:15)

If any man boasts, let him boast of this, that he understands and knows me. For I am the Lord, I show unfailing love; I do justice and right upon the earth; for on these have I set my heart. (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

SPECIAL NOTE: When we say that we 'understand God,' we are saying that we understand our relationship with him and find it emotioinally and substantively rewarding. In other words, you undeerstand what it means to have GOD as your . . .

FATHER

1. He is your Friend.

2. He is your Provider.

Of your needs
Of your desires

3. He is your Counselor/Guide
. . . a still, small voice saying 'this is the way, walk in it.'

4. He is your Supporter
. . . 'the lifter up of my head. . .'

5. Father Love: Pride, Affectioin, Discipline

Immense satisfaction with you
Allows, or even provides unpleasent consequences for irresponsible actions.

6. He is in CONTROL.

He has anticipated your every move and has worked it into his plan for you
There is no weakness you have -- no failing -- that he hasn't provided for. He sees your weaknesses, your sins and says, "Watch how I can turn that into GOOD!"

Empower Factor IX: Concept of God II

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