who is my god? introduction to the attributes of god

Who is my God?

Introduction to the Attributes of God

Our Goal this SummerOur Goal this Summer• Answer, “Who is my God?”Answer, “Who is my God?”–Not “What Not “What shouldshould I believe about God?” I believe about God?”–But “What do I But “What do I reallyreally believe about God?” believe about God?”

• Why bother?Why bother?1.1.It’s our greatest command (Mt 22:37-38)It’s our greatest command (Mt 22:37-38)2.2.It’s our greatest privilege (Phil 3:8)It’s our greatest privilege (Phil 3:8)3.3.It’s the foundation of all else in lifeIt’s the foundation of all else in life

worldview, attitudes, behavior, relationships…worldview, attitudes, behavior, relationships…

Isaiah 6:1-5Isaiah 6:1-5I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him… one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

OverviewOverview• AttributeAttribute– Definition: “a characteristic, quality Definition: “a characteristic, quality

or property which is intrinsic to its or property which is intrinsic to its subject”subject”• ObjectiveObjective• Not an action or choice Not an action or choice

OverviewOverview• AttributeAttribute– Incommunicable: “does not share”Incommunicable: “does not share”• Self-existence, immutability, omnipotence, etc.Self-existence, immutability, omnipotence, etc.

– Communicable: “shares in a Communicable: “shares in a limitedlimited sense”sense”• Spirituality – life, personalitySpirituality – life, personality• Intellectual Attributes - wisdom, truthIntellectual Attributes - wisdom, truth• Moral Attributes – Goodness, love, grace, Moral Attributes – Goodness, love, grace,

righteousnessrighteousness• etc.etc.

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles1.1.God is ultimately unfathomableGod is ultimately unfathomable

Psalm 145:3Psalm 145:3Great is the Lord, and highly to Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.unsearchable.

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles1.1.God is ultimately unfathomableGod is ultimately unfathomable

Romans 11:33Romans 11:33Oh, the depth of the riches both Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His judgments and unfathomable His ways!unfathomable His ways!

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles1.1.God is ultimately unfathomableGod is ultimately unfathomable

Theological term: Theological term: TranscendentTranscendent1.1. ““to exist outside, beyond the to exist outside, beyond the

material universe and so not material universe and so not limited by it”limited by it”

2.2. ““to be above or beyond all known to be above or beyond all known categories of experience or categories of experience or language”language”

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles1.1.God is ultimately unfathomableGod is ultimately unfathomable2.2.But He chose to reveal Himself to But He chose to reveal Himself to

usus– Creation (Romans 1:20)Creation (Romans 1:20)– His actions in history (Acts 14:16-17)His actions in history (Acts 14:16-17)– His Word (Hebrews 1:1)His Word (Hebrews 1:1)– His Son (Hebrews 1:2-3a)His Son (Hebrews 1:2-3a)

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles1.1.God is ultimately unfathomableGod is ultimately unfathomable2.2.But He chose to reveal Himself to usBut He chose to reveal Himself to us

Theological term: Theological term: ImmanentImmanent““God condescends to be present in His God condescends to be present in His creation and to experience creation and to experience relationships with His creatures.”relationships with His creatures.”

But to understand it … 1 Cor But to understand it … 1 Cor 2:10-162:10-16

ApplicationApplication1.1. Reflect on past times of struggleReflect on past times of struggle– How did you respond?How did you respond?– What does this reveal about your What does this reveal about your

conception of God?conception of God?2.2. PrayPray– That God would unearth false conceptions That God would unearth false conceptions

about Him…about Him…– ……and correct them…and correct them…– ……and transform you more fully into His and transform you more fully into His

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