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Good evening.
•We are continuing our study of the Baptist Catechism.
•Specifically, we are using the edition found in the white catechism booklets that we give away here at the church.
•And this evening, we come once again to Question 8.
•Our question this evening is this: “What is God?”
Last time we considered that “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being…”
•And now we will consider some of His other attributes this evening.
•We’re going to consider some more things that are true about God.
And they are all infinite, eternal, and unchangeable as well.
NOTE: Though we must distinguish the attributes of God because of our finite human minds, all of what we call God’s “attributes” are really one in Him because God is one.
•God is not made up of attributes or parts like you and me.
God is one.
(Theologians say that God is “simple.”)
•But we lack adequate language to speak about God as He is in Himself.
And that’s because we are finite and He is infinite.
•So all of our talk about God, while it can be true, it is not describing God in the absolute, total fullness of who He is.
(Again, we lack that kind of language because God is infinite and incomprehensible and we are finite.)
•So then, even though God is one and is not made up of parts, we must consider His attributes individually because of our human finitude and frailty.
•So that’s what we will do this evening, by God’s grace.
•And the attributes that we will be considering are these: His wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
As I said last time we were in the catechism, the subject of God is beyond me.
It’s too deep.
•And, to be completely honest, it makes me very nervous to speak to you this evening.
To try to preach and answer the question “What is God?” is incredibly intimidating and humbling.
•To my own shame, and as a confession of my own ignorance, I want to tell you that I’ve just in the past year begun to really study and consider theology proper (the doctrine of God).
•So, I’m sill very, very much a novice in these things.
•Add to that the fact that God is incomprehensible and you begin to see why the subject of God makes a preacher nervous to speak.
But I am going to do my best.
And I simply want to affirm what our catechism says about God and then flesh it out a little from Scripture.
•And we will barely even begin to scratch the surface of our incomprehensibly great God.
•And, like last time, I believe we will be knocked to the ground in awe of who God is.
•And we will be led to worship Him because He is worthy simply because of who He is.
NOTE: Just a heads up: I will be reading from a lot of different places in Scripture.
And for the sake of time, I won’t be waiting for you to follow me there.
•If you’d like to have a copy of all my Scripture references, tell me and I’ll give them to you.
So, with that said, I will pray for God’s blessing on the preaching of His Word and then we will consider our question for this evening.
(PRAY)
Holy God,
You are beyond us.
You are greater than our greatest words can tell.
You are simply God.
And we stand in awe of you.
And in our weakness, we ask that you would help us to understand more of who you are.
We know that we will never fathom your infinite depths.
But we also know that we can understand you more than we currently do.
So we ask that you would reveal yourself to us in your Word and by your Holy Spirit this evening.
Teach us.
And knock us to the ground in awe of who you are.
Give us a glimpse of your glory this evening.
And grant that we would worship you more sincerely and deeply because of it.
We ask these things in Jesus’ Name and for His sake.
Amen.
Our question for this evening.
I ask that you would read the answer with me.
Q.
What is God?
A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
•(Let’s do that again.)
1.) God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His WISDOM.
•Now what are we talking about when we say “wisdom?”
•I believe there are two parts to this:
1.
God’s knowledge of all things.
2.
God’s proper use of His knowledge of all things to direct the world to His holy purposes.
•You must have knowledge to have wisdom.
And you must know how to properly use and apply knowledge in order to be wise.
•So then, once again, when we talk about God’s wisdom we are talking about His omniscience and His unquestionably good use of that knowledge.
With regard to God’s knowledge of all things, we turn to Job 21:22.
•“Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that He judges those who are on high?”
•This is a rhetorical question.
And the answer is a flat “No.
Nobody will teach God knowledge.”
•Why is that?
Because God is not in need of a teacher.
Because God does not need a lesson in anything.
•All knowledge is His.
•For Him to have a teacher would mean that His knowledge is dependent upon another.
But the Word of God is clear that God is not dependent upon anything.
He does not depend upon His creation for anything.
•So then, He does not depend upon anything for knowledge.
All knowledge is His.
God does not learn.
He has no teacher.
And I also love the fact that Job 21:22 says that “He judges those who are on high.”
•It’s mocking the idea that God would have a teacher since God is the one who judges the judges of the earth.
•God judges the ones who are supposed to have the most knowledge and wisdom on earth: Kings, judges, civil magistrates, etc.
•So, of course nobody teaches God.
The wisest of men are judged by Him.
Why?
Because He is wiser and more knowledgeable than they are.
Because wisdom and knowledge are HIS.
Another text to consider is Romans 11:34.
•“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”
•Again, the Apostle Paul asks the question, “Who has ever taught God? Who has ever given Him advice?
Who has God ever sought out for wise counsel?”
•The answer, of course, is NOBODY.
•God has never asked anyone for advice EVER.
Because He has no need of it.
He is wise.
He doesn’t just know all things, He perfectly knows what to do with His knowledge.
•Proverbs 2:6-7 says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright…”
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