God's Immanence
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1 Kings 8:27
1 Kings 8:27
The New King James Version Chapter 8
27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!
Acts 17:27-28
Acts 17:27-28
The New King James Version Chapter 17
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being,
Psalm 139:7-10
Psalm 139:7-10
The New King James Version Psalm 139
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
God is omnipresent, which means that God is everywhere.
God is omnipresent, which means that God is everywhere.
God is also immanent, which means God penetrates everything.
God is also immanent, which means God penetrates everything.
**God is omnipresent and immanent, penetrating everything EVEN WHILE HE contains ALL THINGS.
**God is omnipresent and immanent, penetrating everything EVEN WHILE HE contains ALL THINGS.
The bucket that is sunk in the depths of the ocean is full of the ocean. The ocean is in the bucket, but also the bucket is in the ocean-surrounded by it. This is a great illustration of how God dwells in His universe and yet the universe dwells in God.
The bucket that is sunk in the depths of the ocean is full of the ocean. The ocean is in the bucket, but also the bucket is in the ocean-surrounded by it. This is a great illustration of how God dwells in His universe and yet the universe dwells in God.
Last week we talked about the idea of how people relate to God- REMOTENESS
Last week we talked about the idea of how people relate to God- REMOTENESS
Distance that God is somewhere up there, ect
Distance that God is somewhere up there, ect
*Distance equals unlikeness; unlikeness of God
*Distance equals unlikeness; unlikeness of God
Hell is where those who are unlike God, hell is their final place!
Hell is where those who are unlike God, hell is their final place!
For those creatures who are morally similar to God, with SOME LIKENESS to God, heaven is their place because their nature belongs there. HOW DOES THIS MAKE SINCE?
For those creatures who are morally similar to God, with SOME LIKENESS to God, heaven is their place because their nature belongs there. HOW DOES THIS MAKE SINCE?
One word: RECONCILIATION (the action of making one compatible with another.)
One word: RECONCILIATION (the action of making one compatible with another.)
Reconciliation to God is secured by 3 divine acts of God: Atonement, Justification and Regeneration
Reconciliation to God is secured by 3 divine acts of God: Atonement, Justification and Regeneration
1. Atonement: is the objective work of Christ! It is what He did on the cross, He did it alone! Outside of us. Externally! The spear went into His side alone and He suffered. The nails were in His hands and feet. That’s atonement!
1. Atonement: is the objective work of Christ! It is what He did on the cross, He did it alone! Outside of us. Externally! The spear went into His side alone and He suffered. The nails were in His hands and feet. That’s atonement!
It could have been done without affecting anybody; it was done and still there are millions who have died unaffected by it. But here is the beauty of it, that act which He did makes JUSTIFICATION possible.
It could have been done without affecting anybody; it was done and still there are millions who have died unaffected by it. But here is the beauty of it, that act which He did makes JUSTIFICATION possible.
2. Justification: is the 2nd act which God does to reconcile men to Himself. Justification is that which declares the sinner righteous, and that too is external to us-that is, it doesn’t reach us. Justified persons may be no better off for their justification if that’s all that happened to them. Because justification is a legal thing.
2. Justification: is the 2nd act which God does to reconcile men to Himself. Justification is that which declares the sinner righteous, and that too is external to us-that is, it doesn’t reach us. Justified persons may be no better off for their justification if that’s all that happened to them. Because justification is a legal thing.
Think of it this way- you may stand before a court and be declared innocent of a crime, but it doesn’t change them! They still weigh the same, look the same, have the same relationships they had before entering the courtroom! They are in every way the same person they were before, except they are judicially freed, declared not guilty before the law.
Think of it this way- you may stand before a court and be declared innocent of a crime, but it doesn’t change them! They still weigh the same, look the same, have the same relationships they had before entering the courtroom! They are in every way the same person they were before, except they are judicially freed, declared not guilty before the law.
Another thought: This process could have a subjective effect if they found it out and rejoice, but the work is NOT DONE IN THEM. THE WORK IS DONE IN THE MINDS OF THE JURORS AND BEFORE THE LAW. IT IS A JUDICIAL THING!
Another thought: This process could have a subjective effect if they found it out and rejoice, but the work is NOT DONE IN THEM. THE WORK IS DONE IN THE MINDS OF THE JURORS AND BEFORE THE LAW. IT IS A JUDICIAL THING!
SO JUSTIFICATION is the 2nd act that God performs to get us reconciled with Him!
SO JUSTIFICATION is the 2nd act that God performs to get us reconciled with Him!
3. Regeneration: is the 3rd act of God. Regeneration takes place at the same time justification takes place! When God justifies a person, that person could be justified and NOT be any better off. That is technically possible but not actually so, because when God justifies a person, that person He also also regenerates the person. Nobody has ever been justified and not regenerated. You can think of them separately, though actually you cannot separate them. Remember they are not the same.
3. Regeneration: is the 3rd act of God. Regeneration takes place at the same time justification takes place! When God justifies a person, that person could be justified and NOT be any better off. That is technically possible but not actually so, because when God justifies a person, that person He also also regenerates the person. Nobody has ever been justified and not regenerated. You can think of them separately, though actually you cannot separate them. Remember they are not the same.
*Look at it this way: the first 2 to take place externally, outside of us! Regeneration takes place internally! Within the heart! Our very nature changes!
*Look at it this way: the first 2 to take place externally, outside of us! Regeneration takes place internally! Within the heart! Our very nature changes!
Look at 2 Peter 1:4
Look at 2 Peter 1:4
The New King James Version Chapter 1
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
We have some likeness to God! We belong to Him and we belong in heaven!! Amen!
We have some likeness to God! We belong to Him and we belong in heaven!! Amen!
*next time together we will dive a little deeper into what this looks like in ones life!
*next time together we will dive a little deeper into what this looks like in ones life!
