Baptist Faith and Message

ARTICLE 2

“GOD”

II. God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

II. God

Human wisdom does not and cannot reveal God's true nature; nor can the human imagination even come close to His true glory!

II. God

Jeremiah 9:23-24Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me...

II. God

“One Living and True God”

II. God

Isaiah 45:5I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me.

Deuteronomy 6:4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!

1 Corinthians 8:4Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

II. God

E.Y. Mullins (1860-1928)

“The doctrine of many gods is polytheism, and against it the prophets of the OT poured out their inspired and burning eloquence. The OT is the record of how God trained Israel to the thought of a pure monotheism, that is, to the belief in one holy and spiritual God.”

II. God

“THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD”

BF&M:

“He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being...”

II. God

“THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD”

Intelligent:

• A knowing Being, not a blind force!• All-knowing

II. God

“THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD”

Spiritual:

• A transcendent Being• In no way limited by human body

II. God

John 4:24"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

II. God

“THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD”

Personal:

• God has a personality• Relates to His people in a personal way• Makes it possible for us to relate to

Him

II. God

Psalm 86:5-7For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.

II. God

Psalm 116:1-2I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.

II. God● Self-existent

II. God Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

II. God● Self-existent

● Self-sufficient

II. God

● Self-existent

● Self-sufficient

● Eternal

II. God

Isaiah 57:15aFor thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

Exodus 3:14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

II. God

● Self-existent

● Self-sufficient

● Eternal

● Glorious

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Numbers 16:42Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.

II. God

Psalm 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Psalm 24:7-8Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle.

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Revelation 4:11"You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

II. God

● Self-existent

● Self-sufficient

● Eternal

● Glorious

● Unchanging (Immutable)

II. God

1 Samuel 15:29"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He [is] not a man, that He should relent."

Malachi 3:6"For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

II. God

Numbers 14:18'The LORD is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression;

1 Kings 8:56"Blessed [be] the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.

II. God

a. There never was a time when God was not.

b. God is complete in Himself; He needs nothing

c. God keeps His promises.

d. God's knowledge is infinite.

e. God is not limited to a physical body.

f. God relates to His people in a personal way.

__ 1. Unchanging

__ 2. Spiritual

__ 3. All-knowing

__ 4. Eternal

__ 5. Self-existent

__ 6. Personal

II. God

a. There never was a time when God was not.

b. God is complete in Himself; He needs nothing

c. God keeps His promises.

d. God's knowledge is infinite.

e. God is not limited to a physical body.

f. God relates to His people in a personal way.

c 1. Unchanging

e 2. Spiritual

d 3. All-knowing

a 4. Eternal

b 5. Self-existent

f 6. Personal

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“THE ACTIVITY OF GOD”

BF&M Affirms:

• Creator• Redeemer• Preserver• Ruler

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GOD IS CREATOR

• Brought all things into being by the power of His Word (Gen. 1:1)

• Did NOT fashion the world out of pre-existing matter

• Created all things ex nihilo

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GOD IS REDEEMER

• Rescues His people from peril• OT example: Exodus 6 -12• NT example: Jesus!

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GOD IS PRESERVER

• God protects and guards His creation and His creatures

• No creature – great nor small – escapes His concern and care

• Jesus: “Not even a sparrow falls...” (Matthew 10:29)

• No atom or molecule of matter is beyond His care or concern

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GOD IS RULER

• God exercises His kingly lordship over the entire cosmos.

•God remains intimately involved with His creation

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DEISM:

“The belief that God created the world only to withdraw from it, merely observing its unfolding history.”

II. God

1 Chronicles 29:11-12Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.

Daniel 4:17'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

II. God

Psalm 147:9

He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Psalm 147:9

He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Psalm 66:7

He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Psalm 66:7

He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

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Exodus 15:18

The Lord shall reign forever and ever!

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Exodus 15:18

The Lord shall reign forever and ever!

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

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John 1:3

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

John 1:3

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

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Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Lord God! Behold! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Lord God! Behold! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Colossians 1:17

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Colossians 1:17

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Titus 2:14

...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people...

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Titus 2:14

...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people...

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

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Job 19:25

For I know my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

Job 19:25

For I know my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.

RULER / PRESERVER / CREATOR / REDEEMER

II. God

“THE TRINITY”

The doctrine of the Trinity stands as an essential principle of Christian truth.

II. God

“THE TRINITY”

●Jehovah's Witnesses●Mormons●Christ Scientists ●T.D. Jakes

ALL REJECT DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY

II. God

Genesis 1:26-27Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

Isaiah 6:8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?"

Matthew 28:19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

II. God

What is the Trinity?

What is it NOT?

● NOT modes of God's existence ● NOT three gods ● NOT capturable by analogy ● NOT definable by hierarchy

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John 1:1-2In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

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John L. Dagg (1792-1884)

“The Father is God; -- The Son is God; -- the Holy Ghost is God; -- there is but one God.”

II. God

E.Y. Mullins (1860-1928)

“The Bible does not explain the Trinity. It simply gives us the facts...the briefer the definition of the Trinity, the better for practical purposes. God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These have personal qualities. Yet God is one. This is the New Testament teaching. Beyond this we tend towards speculation.”

II. God

__ 1. There can be no true Christianity without the Doctrine of the Trinity

__ 2. The Bible does not explain the Trinity

__ 3. God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

__ 4. God is one God in three persons

__ 5. We cannot fully comprehend the Doctrine of the

Trinity

__ 6. The Doctrine of the Trinity is not an essential

doctrine of our faith.

__ 7. No analogy can adequately illustrate the Trinity.

II. God

_T_ 1. There can be no true Christianity without the Doctrine of the Trinity

_T_ 2. The Bible does not explain the Trinity

_T_ 3. God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

_T_ 4. God is one God in three persons

_T_ 5. We cannot fully comprehend the Doctrine of the

Trinity

_F_ 6. The Doctrine of the Trinity is not an essential

doctrine of our faith.

_T_ 7. No analogy can adequately illustrate the Trinity.

II. God

Which statement best describes the Doctrine of the

Trinity?

1. The Trinity is a divine hierarchy: God is first, the Son is

second, and the Holy Spirit is third.

2. God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit –

yet they are the same God.

3. The Trinity is three separate, divine beings, each

distinct from the other.

II. God

Which statement best describes the Doctrine of the

Trinity?

1. The Trinity is a divine hierarchy: God is first, the Son is

second, and the Holy Spirit is third.

2. God reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit –

yet they are the same God.

3. The Trinity is three separate, divine beings, each

distinct from the other.

II. God

“CERTAINTIES ABOUT GOD”

●God's Sovereignty

●God's Character

II. God

Sovereign:●In charge of universe●Guiding history towards His ultimate goal●Guiding it to a time when...

Revelation 11:15..."The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"

II. God

God's Character:

●God is holy●There is not the slightest imperfection in God●He is pure and perfect●Does not and can not sin ●He is absolute righteousness●Is the standard for righteousness and holiness.

II. God

●

Isaiah 6:3"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"

II. God

1 Peter 1:15-16“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

II. God

In light of what we know, how can we show reverence for God this week in our...

●Home life __________________●Work life __________________●Social life __________________●Church life ____________________●Private life ____________________●Use of time ___________________●Use of money ___________________

Baptist Faith and Message

ARTICLE 2

“GOD”