CORE DISCIPLESHIP
from JOSHUA NATIONS
Core Foundations - Lesson 5
“God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being,
wisdom, power, holiness, justice, and truth” — Westminster Catechism
GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF
General revelation, in nature and history. Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:18-20.
Special revelation, through Jesus and the Bible. Luke 24:27, 44- 45; John 1:18, 5:39, 14:9.
THE NON-MORAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
Humans do not possess these at any level.
Omniscience — God has all knowledge of past, present, and future. God knows Himself and all things perfectly, from all of eternity.
He knows actuality and all possibilities.
They alone (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) have such knowledge of each other. Matthew 11:27, 1 Corinthians 2:11
God knows all things which exist, including inanimate creation (Psalm 147:4), men and all their works (Psalm 33:13-15), men's thoughts and hearts (Psalm 139:1-4), and man's burdens and desires (Exodus 3:7, Matthew 6:8.)
God knows all things which are possible. 1 Samuel 23:11, Matthew 11:23.
God knows the future. Foreknowledge is not causative; future actions do not take place because they are known. However, they are seen and known because they will take place.
God knows simultaneously. He sees things at once in their totality, one after another, and not fragmentary.
Omnipresence — God is present everywhere at once.
The whole of God (not just a part of Him) is present in every place.
Omnipresence is not pantheism. (Which teaches that everything is a part of God; e.g, the chair you are sitting on is a part of God or the pencil you are using.) Instead, it means that God is in every place and yet distinct from His creation.
Although God is present everywhere, there are degrees of the
manifestation of His presence.
This doctrine is both comforting and frightening. To the believer, the ever-present God is always available to help. Deuteronomy 4:7, Psalm 46:1, Matthew 28:20. To the sinner, however, it implies that no matter how hard he tries, he cannot escape from God. Psalm 139:7-12.
Omnipotence — God is all-powerful.
God's will is limited by His nature.
God cannot do anything contrary to His perfect nature.
God cannot lie. Titus 1:2
God cannot destroy (deny) Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13
God cannot look with favor on iniquity.
iv. God cannot do wrong.
God cannot do anything which is absurd (foolish) or self-contradictory.
Like make a square a circle, make a wrong a right, make 2+2=6, etc.
God is not controlled by His power; the existence of omnipotence does not demand the exercise of that power. He has power over His power, or else He would cease to be free. God can do what He wills, but He does not have to will to do anything.
Omnipotence includes the power of self-limitation. God limited Himself to some extent by giving free will to His creatures. This is why He did not keep sin out of the universe by a display of His power and why He does not save anyone by force.
God possesses absolute power and ordinate power.
Absolute power is when God works directly. Such as in the performance of miracles and the creation of something out of “things not seen”.
Ordinate power is when God does His work through secondary causes. Like sowing and reaping
Biblical references and examples:
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:14
“I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from.” Job 42:2
“Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.” Psalm 135:6
“He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.” Daniel 4:35
Even the demons shudder. James 2:19 Someday even the strongest and the greatest will seek to hide from Him. Revelation 6:15 Every knee will bow at the name of Jesus.
Philippians 2:10
Immutability — God is unchanging and unchangeable.
“I am the Lord, I change not.” Malachi 3:6, Psalm 33:11, James 1:17
Human change can be for better or for worse. God cannot change for the better or the worse since He is absolutely perfect.
What about passages such as Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:14, and Jonah 3:10 which state that God “repented” or changed His mind?
God does not change in regards to His character nor His purpose. Psalm 102:26,27; Psalm 33:11
To remain true to His character and purpose (which cannot change), God changes in His dealing with men in changing circumstances (e.g. Nineveh).
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8
THE MORAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
Humans can possess these to a point, but not in entirely.
Holiness — The attribute of God by virtue of which He eternally wills and maintains His moral attributes and excellence.
Signifies God's separation from and transcendency over His
creation.
Holiness is • The eternal spotlessness of His character: He is separate
more than from all moral evil and sin. The healthy, positive state of
the absence being right. Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:15
of sin.
Because of His holiness God can have no communion with sin.
Man's reaction to the revelation of God's holiness is a sense of insignificance and consciousness of impurity. Isaiah 6:5
The Holiness of God teaches:
There is a separation between God and the sinner.
Isaiah 59:1-2
Man, on his own, cannot acquire the sinlessness which he needs to approach God.
Without atonement, there is no escape from certain judgment.
Man should approach God with reverence. Hebrews 12:28-29
What His holiness demanded, His love provided. Romans 5:6-10
Goodness — He is in every way what He, as God, should be. He perfectly fits the ideal or standard of what it means to be God.
He deals bountifully and kindly with all His creatures.
Love seeks the good of the object being loved.
Psalm 145:9,15,16
He loves unconditionally
God is love. 1 John 4:8
God loves in a measure beyond comprehension. 1 John 4:8-10
Characteristics of love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
A source of comfort to the believer. Romans 8:28-39, Matthew 6:8, James 1:17
He is merciful Mercy is the goodness of God
shown to those in distress.
God is rich in mercy and full of compassion and
mercy. Ephesians 2:4, James 5:11, 1 Peter 1:3
Mercy and compassion moves Jesus. Luke 8:26-39, Mark 1:40-41
He is gracious
God's grace saves sinful men in spite of guilt.
Grace is the goodness of God being shown toward those who are not deserving.
Grace is the source of all spiritual blessings
bestowed upon sinners. Ephesians 2:8-9
Jesus showed grace when dealing with the woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8:1-11
He is patient or long-suffering
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth” Psalm 86:15
God bears long with sinners despite of their long- continued disobedience.
The longsuffering of God is intended to lead men to repentance. It should not be interpreted as slackness. 2 Peter 3:3-9
Righteousness and justice
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Psalm 89:14, Psalm 97:2
God cannot make a law witha penalty and NOT follow through if you disobey.
• He is the judge and does what is right. Genesis 18:25
Remunerative justice is the distribution of rewards.
2 Chronicles 6:15, Psalm 58:11
• Punitive justice is the infliction of punishment. Genesis 2:17, Exodus 34:7
• Justice demands the punishment of the sinner, but it also accepts the vicarious sacrifice of another. Isaiah 53:6, Romans 5:8
The righteousness and justice of God are revealed in:
His punishment of the wicked Revelation 16:5-9
Vindicating His people from evildoers Psalm 129:1-5
Forgiveness of sin 1 John 1:9
Keeping His promises to His children Hebrews 10:23
Rewarding the faithful Hebrews 6:10
The function of punishment:
Maintenance of justice
Rehabilitation of men and society Proverbs 19:17
THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS REVEALED THROUGH HIS NAMES
To know someone's name is to know his essence or nature.
The significance of a man's name in the Bible:
The character of a person was often summed up in his name. A change of name meant a corresponding change in character, vocation, or status. Matthew 16:17-18
When one gives a name to another, he establishes a relationship of dominion or possession. Example: Adam naming the animals.
Man can give his name to those things which he conquers or owns like a conquered city or nation. 2 Samuel 12:28, Psalm 49:11
The name and the person are one and cannot be separated.
To know the names of God is to know His character, power, strength, courage, and the presence of God Himself.
The name of Jesus is His authority, given to man so that they might work miracles, preach, and pray to the Father. Jesus gave us “power of attorney” to act in His place. Mark 16:17, Acts 4:7
THE NAMES OF GOD ARE REVELATORY INSTRUMENTS OF HIS STATUS, HIS CHARACTER, AND HIS VOCATION
El or Elohim — translated “God” and “One to be worshipped”
To be strong
To have an extended sphere of control
To possess, a binding force
In plural form this Name foreshadows the Trinity.
Used whenever the creative and omnipotent power of God is described or inferred.
Describes God as the overruling power which stands behind and is transcendent over nature.
El Shaddai, “The Almighty God” - indicating majesty and stability; a reliable refuge; an unmoved pillar.
Jehovah (Yahweh) — translated “LORD” The covenant name of God
Comes from the verb which means “to be.” Exodus 3:13,14
Signifies that God is the eternal one who was, is, and is to come.
The name had such significance that the scribes avoided pronouncing it.
Jehovah-Rohi — “Jehovah my Shepherd”
The Lord is pictured as a shepherd in the Old Testament.
Psalm 23:1, 80:1
New Testament: Jesus the Good Shepherd, the One who gave His life for the sheep. John 10:11
The relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep.
Personal and intimate knowledge of each other:
He calls His own sheep by name, and His sheep know His voice. John 10:3-4
He watches for the absence of even one of His sheep. Matthew 18:12-13
Jesus has an intimate knowledge of His sheep. John 10:14
He guides His sheep. Psalm 23:3, John 10:4
He restores the sheep that stray. Psalm 23, Isaiah
53:6
The Good Shepherd does not want harm to come to His little ones. Matthew 18:12-14
A human shepherd caring for the sheep in special times of need. Isaiah 43:2
Crossing through streams of water, rivers, and fire
When caring for a sick or wounded sheep, the common
remedy he used was olive oil.
When we are sick or wounded, the Lord anoints us with the oil of His Spirit and heals us. Psalm 23:5
The good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37
Healing of the sick James 5:14
Characteristics of a shepherd: constant vigilance, fearless courage, and patient love.
Jehovah-Rapha — “The Lord who heals you” Exodus 15:22-26, Psalm
107:20
Healing is the will of God for all.
i. Faith begins where the will of God is known.
No one has the authority to change God’s redemptive names. They can not say He no longer heals.
It is His will. Mark 1:40-41
Healing is a covenant promise and benefit.
Deuteronomy 7:15, Psalm 103:1-5
iv. God's perfect will revealed in the ministry of Jesus.
Matthew 4:24, 9:35, 10:1, 12:15, 14:14, 34-36; Mark 1:40-41; Luke 6:17-19; Acts 10:38
Jesus never turned a sick person away or said, “I will not.”
“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers”
3 John 2
Healing in the Atonement:
Soteria, a Greek word translated as “salvation,” implies deliverance, healing, preservation, health, and soundness.
Sozo, a Greek word translated as “saved” and “healed,” means to make sound or to make whole. Acts 14:9, Romans 10:9
Redeemed from the curse of the Law. Deuteronomy 28:15
-62, Galatians 3:13
By His stripes, we are healed. Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24
The brazen serpent to heal those who were bitten by fiery serpents foreshadows Jesus atoning work on the cross. Numbers 21:9
Wrong teaching about Paul’s thorn can be a hindrance to healing. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” is not a figure of speech. Paul uses the word “angelos” which literally means an angel or messenger. The Greek word “angelos” used 188 times. Every instance stands for a person, not a thing.
ADDITIONAL NAMES OF GOD These names reveal the blessings provided by the atonement of Jesus.
Jehovah Shammah — The Lord who is present Ezekiel 48:35
Jehovah Shalom — The Lord is peace Judges 6:24
Jehovah Jireh — The Lord sees or will provide Genesis 22:14
Jehovah Nissi — The Lord my banner or victory Exodus 17:8-15
Jehovah Tsidkenu — The Lord our righteousness Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah Mekoddishkem — The Lord who sanctifies you Exodus 31:13
Adonai — Lord, master Genesis 15:2
Qanna — He is a jealous God Exodus 20:5
Jehovah Sabaoth — the Lord of hosts, Used over 200x in Ezekiel
the Lord of armies 1 Samuel 1:3
El Elyon — the most high God Genesis 14:18-20
El Roi — the God who sees me Genesis 16:13
El Olam — the everlasting God Genesis 21:33
Abba — Father, Daddy Romans 8:15