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Misconceptions / perversions of what God is like
- Santa / grandfather – will give you whatever you want
- Angry / vengeful God – Jesus has to placate Him, convince Him to forgive
- Arbitrary dictator / spoilsport
No one has seen the Father John 1:18
God is spirit John 4:24, Luke 24:39
Key verses 1 John 4:9, 10 John 3:16
The Nature of God
There are 5 characteristics of God which set Him apart from any other being in the universe:
1. God is Eternal – He is without beginning or end
Psalm 90:2
Revelation 1:8
2. God is everywhere present -He is never “out of range”
1 Kings 8:27
Psalm 139:7-9
Jeremiah 23:23, 24
Hebrews 4:13
3. God knows everything – past, present and future
Proverbs 15:3
Isaiah 40:28
Acts 15:18
Romans 11:33
4. God is able to accomplish what He wills – nothing is too hard for Him
Job 42:2
Jeremiah 32:17
Matthew 19:26
Revelation 1:8; 19:6
5. God is unchangeable – God is perfect, He cannot change for better or for worse. He can never be greater or more holy than He is, nor can He be less so.
Malachi 3:6
Hebrews 1:12
James 1:17
His Attributes
Holy Psalm 99:9
Righteous / Good / Merciful Exodus 34:6,7
Just Psalm 37:28
Loving kindness Jeremiah 31:12
People matter to God?
Matthew 5:45 Impartial
Matthew 6:4 He rewards
Matthew 6:8, 32 He knows what we need
Matthew 6:14 He forgives us
Matthew 7:11 He gives good gifts
John 6:38, 39 Wants to give eternal life
John 14:26 Sends the Holy Spirit
2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 Gives hope and comfort
Acts 17:31 Has a day of judgement
Jeremiah 2:32 Hosea 11:8 He hurts when He is rejected
How do we relate the apparently vengeful God in the Old Testament with the God of the New Testament.?
God has always given opportunity and warning before he sent judgement.
Examples:
- The Flood – Noah preached 120 years. The invitation to live was given
- The conquest of Caanan – word had spead about what God was doing – did they repent? Joshua 2:9 – Genesis 15:16
- The Babylonian exile – 2 Chronicles 36:14-16
There are many examples of God being very patient with people and Nations
He wants people to turn to Him and live, not be destroyed Ezekiel 18:30-32
Who is Jesus
Our Friend the Holy Spirit
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