Catechism Questions 8 and 9

Baptist Catechism Questions 8 and 9:

Question #8: What is God

Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth

Question #9: Are there more gods than one?

Answer: There is but one only, the living and true God.

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Some of God’s Attributes:

Absolute, Infinite, Omnipotent, Eternal, Unchangeable, Inerrant

Some of God’s Attributes are necessary to his being, so that without those attributes he would not be God. Examples of these are:

We are going to dive into 3 Attributes of God:

Absolute (Power, Knowledge, Wisdom)

Personable God

Omnipotence

What does it mean to be absolute?

Highest possible degree of perfection

Sets the standards for all other beings in every facet of life

What are some ways we see this in the Bible?

(Power)

Isaiah 43:13

13 Even [a]from eternity I am He,

And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;

I act and who can reverse it?”

Before the first day of creation when time began and throughout all periods of history, God exists and manifests His will and purpose.

God’s actions are irreversible and can never end in frustration.

This should give us the confidence to know that God already has everything under control even when it feels like it doesn’t.

**Talk about anxiety, stress and how God has always equipped as needed**

(Wisdom)

Proverbs 21:30

30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord

The limits of what humans can understand must be acknowledged in the light of God’s wisdom and sovereignty.

Proverbs 1:7: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

While the unbeliever may make statements about life and truth, he does not have true or ultimate knowledge until he is in a redemptive relationship that is in awe with God.

It is this fear of the Lord that puts us in touch with the revealed wisdom of God.

We cannot comprehend what God does not reveal to us.

(Knowledge)

Ephesians 1:11

11 In Him, we also have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according, to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Before the earth was formed, God’s sovereignty had already determined who every elected sinner was by trusting in Christ would be made righteous.

God knows exhaustively what sinners do, and he evaluates their actions rightly. His evaluations are the very standard of truth; they cannot go wrong.

You may be able to fool friends, family, parents, other Christians, but only God knows your true heart.

Knowledge of the future is not only the test of a true prophet. It is also the test of a true God.

Difference between the true God and other idols

1 Corinthians 12:2

2 You know that when you were pagans, you were being led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

Some churches were mimicking certain dramatic and bizarre practices of the mystery religions in which they had been formerly involved.

Involved “supernatural” interaction with a deity.

This is as true then as it is now. We have these false religions with these false gods that are the definition of stupid and dumb because they are not real. They do not know you, they know nothing because they do not exist.

These deities couldn’t communicate, talk, desire a relationship or have any knowledge about us. They just practiced these rituals because that’s what they were told to do.

(Reference)

Ephesians 5:18

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the spirit,

Commonly associated with drunken parties commonly associated with many pagan worship ceremonies of that day

(Expound with this example)

Tell them about apartment life Indians that sacrificed food, but the food was still there just rotting away.

Well then why do people follow these false gods? Because we are sinful, depraved people. We are impatient and we want what we want when we want it and we will gravitate toward anything and everything in order to get what we think we want at that moment.

As true believers we are given this incredible gift of eternal life. It was nothing of our own accord, it was only because of the love of our TRUE God.

What does it mean that God is personable?

An impersonal absolute cannot talk to us: God is a speaking God. He speaks to us through His word into our hearts.

That’s why we constantly tell you guys it’s not just about reading the words on the page and gaining head knowledge, it's about letting the words work in your heart.

God wants to have relationships with each and every one of his elect. He desires us to know him.

The God of the Bible is not a nameless, unknowable, absolute removed from the course of human history.

He didn’t just give away his power and authority over the world he made. He dwells everywhere with us as the covenant Lord.

How can we have a relationship with God?

Prayer and reading His word

**Expound on my time in the Catholic Church***

God knows everything about us

What do we mean by “God is omnipotent”?

It means that God can do anything that he pleases.

Job 23:13

13 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.

Psalm 115:3

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Isaiah 64:8

8 But now, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

We are all the work of your hand.

**(Talk about the potter and the clay)**

Nothing is too hard for the Lord:

Luke 1:37

37 For [a]nothing will be impossible with God.”

(OT Reference)

Numbers 11:23

23 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Is Yahweh’s [a]power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will happen for you or not.”

What happens next?

God gives a promise that seems impossible: A supply of meat in the desert.

Numbers 11:31-32

31 Now there went forth a wind from Yahweh, and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp and [p]about two [q]cubits over the surface of the ground. 32 And the people [r]spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail

There is nothing that God cannot and will not do. This example is the definition of impossible. In the middle of the desert supplying that volume of food…. You can’t put limitations on God.

God will always take care of his elect. We have to remember that. If you are struggling, God knows our limits. He will not push us more than what we can handle.

Question #9: Are there more gods than one?

Presupposition of the Bible

How great is the one and true God

Consequences of worshiping a false god

#1: What is our presupposition of the Bible:

Our presupposition of the Bible is going to dictate how we interpret and believe the Word of God.

Do we believe that God created the world in 7 days?

Do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, died for our sins, rose 3 days later and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the father?

Do we believe that only through grace and faith that we can be saved?

As believers these are basic questions, but for people that aren’t there yet can be tough pills to swallow.

As believers our presupposition is that the Bible is the inerrant word of God and is perfect in every way. (Infallible)

So when God tells us:

Exodus 20:1-3

20 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of [a]slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods [b]before Me.

He tells us straight up; We are to have no other gods before me.

Notice when other gods are mentioned it's not a capital G its g.

He knows our hearts, human nature etc.

What would happen if he didn’t command us to not worship other gods?

Exodus 32:1-5

The Golden Calf

32 Then the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. So the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Arise, make us [a]gods who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 And Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he took this from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “[b]These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 5 And Aaron looked and built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.”

It takes us humans literally no time at all to get frustrated with the pace at which God works.

*Remind them what Kenny preached about last Sunday.

It's not our timing it’s Gods

It’s God’s path not ours

Its like they are ordering from a burger king..: “yo Aaron whip us up some gods real quick.”  Like they’re ordering a burger, fries and of course the large vanilla milkshake.

#2 How Great is the one and true God:

How can imperfect people begin to describe God’s goodness and greatness?

*(Expound More)

What do we deserve? death and we got eternal life

Colossians 1:13-14

13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

God is the one who rescued us from our sin (our darkness)

God is the one who transferred our sin to his son (Kingdom of the Son of His love) This means that every person God calls and justifies is a gift from the father to the son.

The only thing we did in salvation was sin and because of God’s love he called some of us to Him.

Verse 14 “redemption” Greek word for “to deliver by payment of a ransom”

Here it means Christ freeing believing sinners from slavery to sin.

This whole verse starts with God

Psalm 111:1-10

111 [a] Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and merciful; 5 He provides food for those who fear him; He remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people;he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

What other god besides ours can do all of this? The Answer is none.

We see “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” multiple times throughout the psalms: 1,9 and here in 111 and that is because the only way that we can truly be saved is if we have that incredible amount of astonishment and awe for our God.

R.C. Sproul The Holiness of God Passage:

If God is Holy at all which he is; If God has an ounce of justice in His character, indeed if God exists as God, how can he be anything else but angry with us. We violate His holiness; we insult His justice; we make light of His grace.

Even with this he still says I will send my only son who is perfect and let him take on the wrath of the sin of imperfect humans so you can enjoy eternal life with me.That is how great God is and how good he is. No other “god” does that. It is what can the individual do to earn his way to eternal life?

Acts 14:15

15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

What amazing power belongs to the one who made absolutely everything in heaven, earth and sea.

Before God’s creative word, there was no light in us; we were in darkness, we were sin.

Ephesians 5:8

8 For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

As believers we are called to live outside of what the world calls us to. We are called to be light in the darkness. The world is going to tell us to live one way, but we are to do the opposite and live the opposite.

#3 What are the consequences of worshiping a false God:

God tells us very plainly that we are to worship him and no other God, but people still do so what exactly is the punishment for that. Well god lays it out for us pretty straight forward.

Exodus 22:20

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.[a]

Talking about the death penalty

This doesn’t mean just a physical death, but eternal death. If you worship any other gods before God you will spend eternity in hell.

Deuteronomy 6:13-15

13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.

(Reference to Verse 13)

Proverbs 9:10

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

It is this kind of awe, admiring, submissive fear that is going to be foundational for all spiritual knowledge and wisdom.

(Reference to Verse 13)

“Swear by his name” meaning an oath or a pledge to affirm something said as absolutely true. Invoking the Lord’s name in the oath meant that one was bound under obligation before God to fulfill that word.

Matthew 10:28

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.[a]

So what happens when we worship a false god? It kills our soul and destroys our body in hell.

Jesus never once warned his followers about the Romans, he warned them about the jewish “elite” because the Romans could kill your body, but the Jewish elite will still your eternity.