OUR BELIEFSTHE 28 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF 3GOD THE FATHER

Preface

Our understanding of concepts is often tied to shared or experienced examples. The human thought process is often likened to series of connected boxes. Our exploration of our beliefs carries us to this very innate function, to compare and connect things we know to others ideas in order to explain them as well to truly make them our own. So what of our beliefs that have limited human comparison? Does faith based beliefs reside in one of our current boxes?

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“ Piaget's theory of cognitive development is a comprehensive theory about the nature and development of

human intelligence, first developed by Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget (1896–1980). It is

primarily known as a developmental stage theory but, in fact, it deals with the nature of knowledge itself and

how humans come gradually to acquire, construct, and use it. To Piaget, cognitive development was a

progressive reorganization of mental processes as a result of biological maturation and environmental

experience. Accordingly, children construct an understanding of the world around them, then experience

discrepancies between what they already know and what they discover in their environment

How We Think & What We Believe

In psychology and cognitive science, a schema (plural schemata or schemas), describes an organized pattern of thought or behavior that organizes categories of information and the relationships among them. It can also be described as a mental structure of preconceived ideas, a framework representing some aspect of the world, or a system of organizing and perceiving new information. People use schemata to organize current knowledge and provide a framework for future understanding

LAST WEEK:The GodheadThere is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. He is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Tim. 1:17; Rev. 14:7.) [http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/]

The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight. The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be "the express image of His person." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Here is shown the personality of the Father.The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. {Ev 614-15}

THIS WEEK:

Father Z3 God the eternal Father is the Creator, Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation. He is just and holy, merciful and gra¬cious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. The qualities and powers exhibited in the Son and the Holy Spirit are also revelations of the Father. (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; 1 Cor. 15:28; John 3:16; 1 John 4:8; 1 Tim. 1:17; Ex. 34:6, 7; John 14:9.) [http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/]

Key Terms

Creator: is one responsible for creation, a person or thing that brings something into existence

Source: a place, person, or thing from which something originates or can be obtained

Sustainer: upholder: someone who upholds or maintains; keeps in existence

Sovereign: possessing supreme or ultimate power; a supreme ruler

Do you believe in the Trinity?What position does the Father have in the Godhead?What does the Trinity have in common with Triplets?

Points to Cover:1. Views of the Father2. God the Father in the Old Testament3. God the Father in the New Testament

ANY QUESTIONS?