Our God

II. ONE TRUE GOD: existing eternally as three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matt 28:19; II Cor 13:14). [One True God (Deut 6:4; Isa 44:6). This tri-unity is clearly set forth in the form and formula of Christian baptism (Matt 28:19-20).]

1. The God Who Is.

how do we prove the existence of God?

Genesis 1:1 {By reading the Bible to people}

Genesis 1:1 NASB95

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Bible Assumes the existence of God.

i. Atheists deny the existence of God. ii. Agnostics question the existence of God. {Such skeptics think they can stump a Christian by asking for proof of God’s existence. But don’t be intimidated – there is ample evidence God is there. It must be viewed with the eye of faith.}

What does God think of such unbelievers?

Psalm 14:1–3 NASB95

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.

(cf 53:1-3)

{They are fools}

Conclusion: We believe God is existing.

2. Our God Can Be Known

God has revealed Himself to everyone {Natural revelation reveals God as Creator. Though we can’t see God, the created universe shouts out that God is there. An intelligent Designer made it. The question is whether man chooses to believe the evidence.}

Psalm 19:1 NASB95

1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

Romans 1:20 NASB95

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

{Natural or general revelation is enough to condemn man, holding him accountable by leaving him without excuse. However, it is not enough to save man.}

Romans 10:17 NASB95

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

{Special revelation, namely the written word of God, is need to save man. Natural revelation reveals God as Creator; Special revelation reveals Him as Savior.} KEY: Truth is that which agrees with final {reality} . {The truth is, God exists} Conclusion: We believe in the True God.

3. Our God Is Alone

Our God is the {only} true God.

Isaiah 44:6–8 NASB95

6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. 7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. 8 ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.’ ”

Isaiah 45:5 NASB95

5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me;

Deuteronomy 6:4 NASB95

4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!

`dx'(a, hw"ïhy> WnyheÞl{a/ hw"ïhy> lae_r'f.yI [m;Þv. i. This verse is the {foundation} of Jewish faith and of monotheism (one God).

May 14, 1948 is the birthday of the modern state of Israel.

ii. There are two Hebrew words for “one”:

(1) dx'a, (echad): A collective one (Deut. 6:4). “Oneness” (Gen. 2:24). [“The 2 shall become 1 flesh”] (2) dyxiy" (yachid): Absolute oneness; singular; solitary, unique (Gen. 22:2). [“only son Isaac”]

iii. The fact that God is a ‘collective One’ (Deut. 6:4) allows for the {Trinity} .

Conclusion: We believe in One God.

4. Our God is Triune

God is actually three {persons} in one.

How does Luke 3:22 demonstrate the Trinity?

Luke 3:22 NASB95

22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

{All three persons appear together}

2 Corinthians 13:14 NASB95

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Isaiah 48:16 NASB95

16 “Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, From the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

Conclusion: We believe the One True God exists as three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. “Shield of the Trinity”

a. Matthew 28:19-20 {The doctrine that Jesus clearly wanted portrayed in Christian water baptism is the Trinity}

b. Why does Jesus want believers to identify with the Triune Godhead in water baptism?

i. A. W. Tozer, “The Doctrine of the Trinity ...is truth for the {heart} . The fact that it cannot be satisfactorily explained, instead of being against it, is in its favor. Such a truth had to be revealed; no one could have imagined it.”1

1A. W. Tozer. The Knowledge of the Holy: Harper & Row, 1975.

ii. Some aspects of God are difficult to comprehend. This unexplainable basic Bible doctrine must be accepted by {faith} .

5. Our God is Spirit

John 4:24 NASB95

24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

i. As a Spirit being, God is Living (Dt. 5:26),

Intelligent (Pro. 3:19-20),

Purposive (Eph. 3:11),

Active (Jn. 5:17),

Free (Eph. 1:11),

Self-conscious (Ex. 3:14), and

Emotional

(Gen. 6:6).

ii. God possesses all the marks of (personality} .

Not just a force, idea

6. Our God is Eternal

Deuteronomy 33:27 NASB95

27 “The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, ‘Destroy!’

Psalm 102:25-27 {God has always existed, and will always exist.}

Psalm 102:25–27 NASB95

25 “Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 “Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. 27 “But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.

7. Our God is Great

Self-existent (Jn. 5:26

John 5:26 NASB95

26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

Unchangeable (Mal. 3:6

Malachi 3:6 NASB95

6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-10

Psalm 139:7–10 NASB95

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

Omniscient (1 Jn. 3:20

1 John 3:20 NASB95

20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Omnipotent (Jer. 32:17

Jeremiah 32:17 NASB95

17 ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,

Perfect (Mt. 5:48

Matthew 5:48 NASB95

48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Infinite (Ps. 147:5

Psalm 147:5 NASB95

5 Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

Incomprehensible (Rom. 11:33

Romans 11:33 NASB95

33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

8. Our God Is Good

Our God is...

Holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16

1 Peter 1:15–16 NASB95

15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

True (Jn. 17:3

John 17:3 NASB95

3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Love (1 Jn. 4:7-10

1 John 4:7–10 NASB95

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Righteous (Ps. 145:17

Psalm 145:17 NASB95

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds.

Faithful (1 Thess. 5:24

1 Thessalonians 5:24 NASB95

24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

and Merciful (2 Cor. 1:3

2 Corinthians 1:3 NASB95

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

e. Most amazingly, God desires to {fellowship} with man!

Isaiah 57:15 NASB95

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.

2 Corinthians 6:16 NASB95

16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Conclusion: We believe the One True God in all His attributes is existing eternally.

What is your response to the One True God?

1 Timothy 1:17 NASB95

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.