This is the beginning of a series of doctrinal studies on the great themes of the Bible. What we believe the Bible teaches and why we believe it. A select panel of youth and adults will lead us on Wednesday evening in discussing the subjects.

(A) Definition:

a Biblical, Christian definition of God is of vital importance if we are to intelligently consider Him.

GOD: is a self existing, perfect, omnipotent, omniscient omnipresent, conscious, moral Being, the cause of all created things.

(B) Biblical Support.

1. Precreation—self-existing.

Psalm 90:1–2 … Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Deuteronomy 33:27 … The eternal God is thy refuge.

I Timothy 1:1 …Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Bible nowhere tries to prove the existence of God, it simply states “in the beginning God”—then presents His works and attributes.

2. Perfect.

Matthew 5:48 … Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Psalm 18:30 … As for God, His way is perfect.

3. Omnipotent—all powerful.

Matthew 19:26b … With God all things are possible. Ephesians 3:20 … Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

4. Omniscient—all wise.

Hebrews 4:13 … Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Acts 15:18 … Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

5. Omnipresent—all present.

Jeremiah 23:23–24 … Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Psalm 139:7–8 … Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

6. Conscious—intelligent, thinking Person.

Romans 11:33–36 … O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

7. Moral—righteous, virtuous—holy.

Exodus 9:27 … The Lord is righteous. Ezra 9:15 … O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous. I Peter 1:16 … I am Holy. Habakkuk 1:12a … Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord God, mine Holy One? Hebrews 1:13a … Thou art of purer eyes than to behold (approve) evil and canst not look on iniquity. The Bible declares God hates sin. Thus He is a perfect moral being.

(C) Triune—Three in One.

The finite mind cannot possibly comprehend fully by logic the great Trinity of Divinity, we only by faith accept what the Bible teaches and the dispensational scope of their operation.

1. Bible evidence of the Trinity.

Genesis 1:1 … In the beginning God.
Genesis 1:2 … The spirit of God moved upon face of waters.
Genesis 1:26 … God said let us make man.
Matthew 3:16–17 … And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 28:19 … Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

John 14:16–17 … And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Acts 2:32–33 … This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

The same titles and attributes are used interchangeably for God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost

2. Their work

Though interwoven and interrelated throughout the word of God, yet we can see their dispensational functions.

a. Creation to Jesus—God the Father—Jehovah God.
b. Birth to ascension—God the Son.
c. Pentecost to Second Coming—God the Holy Ghost.

The Logic of God’s Existence.

(A) Things that are demand an omnipotent creator. The physical universe of which we are a part had a beginning somewhere. The Bible is emphatic in its teaching that God is the Creator of all material things. Genesis 1:1 … In the beginning God created. John 1:3 … All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:10 … He was in the world and the world was made by him.

1. Modern Theory

Hypothesis of dynamic encounter.

Hypothesis—a supposition, taken for granted, something not proven.

a. Simple explanation—all physical worlds existed in giant astral bodies. They were revolving at a tremendous rate of speed: There was a clashing of these bodies and a disintegration of some, if not all of them. Some remained hot (as our sun), others cooled off. Our planet because of its distance from sun, atmospheric condition and climatic condition produced by some mysterious way a form of life called protoplasm. From this, by the process of evolution, animal life has developed and man is its highest known form. Where did the giant astral bodies come from? Dust—atoms—electrons —neutrons—you still have to have a source for their existence. God is that source—a pre-existing omnipotent Being.

(B) Harmonious laws of nature could never be incidental resulting from an explosion. Explain laws of universe in fertility and growth. The human body—5 senses—circulatory system—mind.

James 4:12 says—there is one law giver. Of course, God.

(C) Revealed facts of Bible could never be the work of man alone. Explain miracle; of Bible —
66 books—1500 years writing—40 different writers—8 nationalities. One theme from beginning to end.

II Timothy 3:16 … All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

II Peter 1:20–21 … Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

(D) The inner hunger of man must find satisfaction somewhere. Every creation of God is content and happy in its intended habitat. ILLUSTRATION: bird, fish, squirrel, etc. Man can only be content and happy as he is properly related to His creator.

The soul is a vacuum and nothing can really sate and satisfy it but God himself. To know God and properly relate to him is man’s greatest possible achievement. To know God is the apex of knowledge and experience.

Conclusion:

Philosophers wrestle with the idea of God.
Scientists wrestle with the works of God.
Theologians wrestle with the attributes of God.
But the humble, repentant heart can know God.

Do you know God?