Transcendence

I want to discuss an aspect of the nature of God

The Transcendence of God is a Theological Concept

Exceeding the limits of possible experience or knowledge

Transcending the universe or material existence

The Holy of Holies - God instructed it to be separated by the veil.

It was symbolic of the separation of God and man.

So God was really out of reach, man did not have access to Him.

Contrast that with one of the first events that took place after Jesus said “It is finished”. The veil in the temple was torn in two.

OT Scriptures

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 55

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

Psalm 8:1 NASB95

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

Psalm 8:1-

Psalm 8:3–4 NASB95

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?

Psalm 8

9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Psalm 113

4 The LORD is high above all nations;

His glory is above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,

Who is enthroned on high,

6 Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in heaven and in the earth?

So are My ways higher than your ways

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Exceeding the limits of possible experience or knowledge

Transcending the universe or material existence

Isaiah - Saw the Lord High and Lifted up......woe is me

For most of us as unsaved people God was transcendent.

Old Testament - The Tabernacle

The Holy of Holies - God instructed it to be separated by the veil.

It was symbolic of the separation of God and man.

So God was really out of reach, man did not have access to Him.

Contrast that with one of the first events that took place after Jesus said “It is finished”. The veil in the temple was torn in two.

Mediators in the OT

in the OT God used many different vehicles to communicate to man.

He used prophets, angels, men, women, burning bush, donkey, plagues etc...

God wanted to meet the Israelites in the wilderness on a mountain of fire and smoke.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Between the Testaments

Rise of Hellenism and Greek Philosophy

Greeks began to philosophize about many different things

The meaning of life, government, spirituality and Theology

One of the things they began to philosophize about was the transcendence of God.

God was transcendent and that means he is outside the limits of possible experience, then if he was to somehow communicate a mediator would be needed.

Greek philosophers, in attempting to understand the relationship between God and the universe, spoke of an unknown mediator between God and the universe, naming this mediator, “Logos (Λογος).” John tells them that this mediator unknown to them is our Lord, and he uses the same name “Logos (Λογος).

God was transcendent and that means he is outside the limits of possible experience, then if he was to somehow communicate a mediator would be needed.

Greek philosophers, in attempting to understand the relationship between God and the universe, spoke of an unknown mediator between God and the universe, naming this mediator, “Logos (Λογος).” John tells them that this mediator unknown to them is our Lord, and he uses the same name “Logos (Λογος).

Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament 22. The Word of God

Greek philosophers, in attempting to understand the relationship between God and the universe, spoke of an unknown mediator between God and the universe, naming this mediator, “Logos (Λογος).” John tells them that this mediator unknown to them is our Lord, and he uses the same name “Logos (Λογος).”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John 1:14

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:17-18

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

God who was Spirit became flesh so that we who are flesh could become Spirit

He became what we are so that we can become like He is

Immanent

The far away, high above Transcendent God became Immanent

Being within the limits of possible experience or knowledge

Paradox

“God is both further from us, and nearer to us, than any other being.” -C.S. Lewis

God is near yet far; majestic yet approachable; greatly to be feared, yet easily to be loved.

God is creator, king, judge, warrior, master, lord

He is also bridegroom, father, shepherd, friend

This is unique to Christianity

Most other religions their god is only Transcendent and He is not near

Experiencing the Transcendent God

I want to take these concepts and make them practical

How can we experience and know this Transcendent God

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 57

“Build up, build up, prepare the way,

Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.”

15 For thus says the high and exalted One

Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,

“I dwell on a high and holy place,

And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit

In order to revive the spirit of the lowly

And to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 “For I will not contend forever,

Nor will I always be angry;

For the spirit would grow faint before Me,

And the breath of those whom I have made.

17 “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;

I hid My face and was angry,

And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.

18 “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;

I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,

19 Creating the praise of the lips.

Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,”

Says the LORD, “and I will heal him.”

Isaiah 57:14–15 NASB95

And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.” For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.

What will get the transcendent God to come near to us?

What will get the transcendent God to come near to us?

What will get the transcendent God to come near to us?

Brokenness, Humility

Our sin magnified his transcendence...

....but our repentance and faith enables a new and deeper immanence.

Isaiah 57:16–19 NASB95

“For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made. “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart. “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.”

Isaiah 57:16-19

God is Holy

The Scripture says He is angry with the wicked every day

We deserved His judgment / even His wrath

Psalm 119:67 NASB95

Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

Psalm 119

Psalm 119:71 NASB95

It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

Psalms 119:71

Like David said it was good that I was afflicted...

We deserved His judgment / even His wrath

But God healed us and restored…He forgave us!

Peace, Peace:

there were those who were near, think of the religious Jews in NT

Knew the bible, grew up learning the promises, knew the law

But when Jesus came the missed Him because of religious pride

There were those who were far away from God, living a life of complete rebellion, in idolatry and sin…in the same way they can know the nearness of God.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 66

Thus says the LORD,

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.

Where then is a house you could build for Me?

And where is a place that I may rest?

2 “For My hand made all these things,

Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.

“But to this one I will look,

To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Again this speaks of humility and obedience to His Word…that is who he will come to

Tozer on the Holy Spirit: A 366-Day Devotional April 7: The Cross on the Hill—And in My Heart

In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross

Paul in Athens

His spirit was being provoked as he observed idols

What does this idle babbler wish to say....proclaimer of strange deities

Acts 17:16–28 NASB95

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.) So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

Acts 22​

Acts 17:22–28 NASB95

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

​ This is powerful evangelism!

We are to proclaim a God who is transcendent

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.

Where then is a house you could build for Me?

And where is a place that I may rest?

2 “For My hand made all these things,

Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.

“But to this one I will look,

To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

…and bring him near

…and like Paul reveal to the hearts of men that He is not far from each one of us

If we lose the transcendence.....we lose the fear of God

if we lose the immanene,.....we lose the love of God and the experience