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AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for An Understanding

 

INTRODUCTION

Lesson #1

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   God.

1.    For many of us, this is a very common word, perhaps too common.

2.    For others, it is a word that stirs many negative emotions.

3.    For a few, the term brings them to their knees out of awe and respect.

 

B.   God:  the Supreme Being, the Creator and Governor of the Universe

 

C.   God:  a being who is truly incomprehensible, that is, beyond the full understanding of man

 

D.   Yet, it our studies over the next several weeks, we are going to grasp for some understanding and appreciation of this Supreme Being.

1.    Our understanding of God comes in small part from the realm of nature (Rom. 1:19-20).

 

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

 

2.    The greater part of our understanding of God comes from His divine revelation to us.

a.    We can read descriptions of Him from the Bible.

b.    We can understand Him as we watch Him act in various events in history.

c.    We can see Him in a unique man who lived among us, Jesus, the Son of God.

 

E.   In this lesson, we will briefly introduce our topic by looking at a series of contrasts.

 

I.             DEITY, NOT HUMANITY

 

A.   Beings have a certain nature and character about them.

1.    There is a divine nature.

2.    There is an angelic nature.

3.    There is a human nature.

 

B.   God’s nature is that of deity.  He is divine.

1.    There is one divine nature.  Thus, there is one God.

2.    There are three beings who possess this nature:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

C.   A word used in the Bible that corresponds to the word “deity” is “Godhead” (Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9).

 

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

 

D.   What follows in this lesson will be a list of several things that distinguish deity from humanity.

 

II.           SPIRIT, NOT FLESH

 

A.   The Bible affirms that God is a Spirit (John 4:24).

 

God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

1.    A spirit being has no flesh.

a.    He does not have a form like man does. 

1)    He can assume many forms.

2)    When the Bible speaks of His having a human form this is a figure of speech known as anthropomorphism, assigning human attributes to deity.

b.    He is not confined by flesh:  space, sickness, death, transportation, etc.

2.    A spirit being is invisible to the human eyes at this time.

3.    A spirit is still a being, a person.

a.    He has self-awareness.  “I AM that I AM” (Exo. 3:14).

b.    He has freedom of choice, that is, self-determination. “…I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” (Rom. 9:15).

c.    He has intelligence.  “…because the foolishness of God is wiser than men…” (I Cor. 3:25).

d.    He has a will.  “Who will have all men to be saved…” (I Tim. 2:4).

e.    He has emotion.  “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen. 6:6).

4.    Spirit does not die.

 

B.   Man is composed of both flesh and spirit.

1.    We have the limitations of the flesh.

2.    However, we also have the attributes of God relative to our being persons:  self-awareness, freedom of choice, intelligence, will, and emotions.

3.    We die when the spirit and flesh are separated (Eccl. 12:7; Jms. 2:26).

 

III.         SELF-EXISTENT, NOT CREATED

 

A.   God is eternal (Deut. 33:27).  He has always been.

 

The eternal God is thy refuge…

 

B.   God is the uncaused first cause of all things.

 

C.   God’s eternal nature is seen in the words:  “I AM THAT I AM” (Exo. 3:14).

 

D.   NOTE:  If a person does not believe in an eternal God, then he MUST believe in eternal matter, that is, matter that has existed forever and has no cause.

 

E.   Men are created.

1.    Man was first created by God in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7).

2.    Each one of us had a beginning, conception.

 

IV.         ALIVE, NOT DEAD

 

A.   God is the very source of life itself (Gen. 2:7).

 

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

 

B.   The Scriptures refer to Him as “the living God” (Deut. 5:26; Josh. 3:10; Heb. 10:31).

 

C.   He is the living God in contrast to the dead idols of the Gentiles and of the many nations who do not know God.

1.    Idols cannot talk, hear, or walk (Ps. 115:4-7).

2.    The Thessalonians turned from these lifeless gods to “the living God” (I Thess. 1:9).

 

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

 

V.           INVISIBLE, NOT VISIBLE

 

A.   God is not a material being.  Therefore, He is invisible.

 

B.   Two verses:

1.    Colossians 1:15

 

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.

 

2.    Hebrews 11:27

 

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:  for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

 

C.   God can manifest Himself in various forms, but seeing a manifestation is not the same as seeing God (John 1:18; I John 4:12).

 

No man hath seen God at any time…

 

D.   Man is composed of material elements.  Therefore, he is visible.

 

VI.         UNLIMITED, NOT LIMITED

 

A.   God is a being who is unlimited in so many areas.  The reason for this is because He is the source of these things:  God is love.  God is life.  God is light.  God is wisdom.  God is truth.  God is good.

 

B.   Two examples:

1.    Wisdom

a.    Romans 11:33

 

O the depth or the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God1  how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out.

 

b.    God challenges the wise among men to come out and debate Him (I Cor. 1:20)

 

Where is the wise?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer of this world?  Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

 

2.    Power

a.    God is referred to as the Almighty God (Gen. 17:1).

b.    All things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26).

c.    With God, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).

 

C.   Man quickly learns that he is not God.  All of us are extremely finite.

 

VII.       NEAR, NOT DISTANT

 

A.   The gods of the Gentiles were very distant. 

1.    They were not really interested in the affairs of humanity.

2.    Their worshippers had to cry long and hard in an attempt to get them to hear.

 

B.   The God of heaven is not a distant God.  He is very near.

1.    Acts 17:27

 

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not very far from every one of us.

 

2.    Psalm 139:1-5

 

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue but, lo, thou knowest it all together.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

 

3.    Jeremiah 23:23

 

Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

 

C.   God’s being near is a blessing.

1.    He knows what is happening in our lives.

2.    He can be quickly accessed.

3.    He can respond with swiftness.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   All of the things we have studied should impress the mind of man.

 

B.   These things should cause us to take serious note of this being known as God.

1.    He is not a man.

2.    He is not an angelic being.

3.    He is not an idol.

 

C.   He is a unique, one of a kind being who is high and lifted up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for An Understanding

 

INTRODUCTION

Lesson #1

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.    Has the word “God” become common among us?  If you answered, “Yes,” why is this the case?

 

2.    What kind of people have negative emotions about God?

 

3.    How do you define “God?”

 

4.    T – F  God is incomprehensible to man.

 

5.    Does nature cause you to believe in God?  Explain if you answered: “Yes.”

 

6.    We noted that there are three ways to understand God from His divine revelation.  Are there other ways the Scriptures reveal God to us?

 

7.    What is the most difficult thing for you to describe about the deity of God?

 

8.    When you think of God, do you picture Him as a man?  If so, why?

 

9.    Does it confuse you to call God a person?

 

10. Is it difficult for you to understand the concept of the self-existence of God?

 

11. What impresses you the most about God’s being “the living God”?

 

12. Are there any “shortcomings” to God’s being invisible instead of being visible?

 

13. Why is it important to remember God is “unlimited”?

 

14. What does it mean to you to know that God is near?

 

15. T – F  The concept of God causes me to respect this incomprehensible being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE GOD:

Grasping for An Understanding

 

INTRODUCTION

Lesson #1

Homework

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

1.   Has the word “God” become common among us?  If you answered, “Yes,” why is this the case?

 

Yes. 

 

A.   We can say the word and not be overwhelmed with who God really is. 

B.   Too, His name is held in derision by so many. 

C.   GD and OMG are said without any remorse or shame. 

D.   More and more in our society stand in opposition to God. 

E.   Those who say they believe in Him do not serve him.

 

Why has this happened?

 

A.   The breakdown of the home.

B.   Selfishness

C.   We have become a secular society

D.   Even religion appeals to the flesh instead of the spirit

 

2.   What kind of people have negative emotions about God?

 

A.   Atheists, agnostics, humanists, and infidels  (NOTE:  Many these people are in very influential positions:  universities, media, the corporate world, and politics).

B.   The common man who just wants to do his thing

C.   World religions who promote “another god.”

D.   People who do not want to be “restricted” by God.

E.   Some religious people who do not understand the goodness and severity of God.

 

3.   How do you define “God?”

 

A.   God is the creator, owner, and ruler of the Universe.

B.   As His child, He is my loving Father.

C.   He is heavenly, spiritual, mighty, eternal, and holy.

D.   He is the Judge of all the earth

 

4.   T – F  God is incomprehensible to man.

 

True.

 

We can comprehend somethings about God, but if we really stop and think about Him, He is difficult to comprehend.

 

A.    Eternal

B.   Three in one

C.   Transcends time

D.   Invisible, yet present

E.   So powerful the sound of His voice causes man to desire death.

F.   Holy

 

5.   Does nature cause you to believe in God?  Explain if you answered: “Yes.”

 

Yes.

 

The human body is truly a wonder.  It is not just one system.  It is many systems that operate together.  These systems are delicate, intricate, and complex.  They exhibit design.  How could all of these systems just happen?

 

6.   We noted that there are three ways to understand God from His divine revelation.  Are there other ways the Scriptures reveal God to us?

 

Yes.  His commandments tell us something about His nature.  Why does he command men to do this and do that?  Usually, there is something “in” God that is behind the command.  Example:  “Thou shalt not kill” because God is the giver of life.

 

7.   What is the most difficult thing for you to describe about the deity of God?

 

A.   His being eternal is difficult to describe.  We just cannot comprehend a being who has always been here.  We want to ask:  “Where did God come from?”

B.   The fact that God is three beings in one is also difficult explain.  How is there one God, but three beings?  Our minds tell us that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit indicate three Gods.

 

8.   When you think of God, do you picture Him as a man?  If so, why?

 

Yes.

 

It is because the Scriptures describe God in human terms.  He sees.  He hears.  He has hands.  He speaks.  He walks.  He has a strong right arm.  He has emotions.  He sits upon a throne.  He wears a robe. 

 

9.   Does it confuse you to call God a person?

 

No.

 

But, it might cause me to bring God down to my level at times.  I think that God thinks like I do.  Such is not the case.  I have to be careful not be make my own version of God who agrees with me. 

 

10.                Is it difficult for you to understand the concept of the self-existence of

God?

 

Yes.  God just is.  He did not come into being.  There is no answer to the question:  “Where did God come from?”

11.                What impresses you the most about God’s being “the living God”?

 

If God is living, then I can have fellowship with Him.

If God is living, then I can have communication with Him.

If God is living, then I can really know Him.

If God is living, then He can assist me.

If God is living, then there is something beyond this world.

 

12.                Are there any “shortcomings” to God’s being invisible instead of being

visible?

 

A.   It means that all men must accept God by faith.  Many are so “scientific” that they reject anything that cannot be brought into a laboratory and examined.

 

B.   Since God is invisible, we often forget that He is present.  Thus, we commit sins because we are not conscious He is there.

 

13.                Why is it important to remember God is “unlimited”?

 

A.   He can do things that we can’t. 

1.    He can help us when we cannot help ourselves. 

2.    He can give us victory when we are not able to bring victories to pass. 

3.    He can provide resources when ours are scarce.

 

14.                What does it mean to you to know that God is near?

 

A.   If God is near, it means that He can hear us easily.

B.   If God is near, He can react quickly to our needs.

C.   If God is near, He can see us.

D.   If God is near, it indicates that He loves and cares for us.

 

15.                T – F            The concept of God causes me to respect this

incomprehensible being.

 

                        True.

 

                        We have a respect for a Being who created us.

                        We have a respect for a Being who is mighty.

                        We have respect for a Being so much greater than us, but who loves us.

 

                        Fear:  We both tremble in His presence and honor Him for who He is.