Superhero! Series

Growing up, I didn't really watch movies much. Sure, there were some movies on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and "movies of the week" on TV, but we only had six channels on our old TV set. That was before the days of big-time cable TV (only local stations then), so what was on was what you watched. My big escape other than TV? Mad and Cracked magazines (they were much, much tamer then) and COMIC BOOKS. One of my favorites was Marvel Comics, and of Marvel Comics, Iron Man was one of my favorites.

Comics were all about "super heroes". Each super-hero has his or her one thing that makes them vulnerable; their "kryptonite" to borrow from the Superman theme. But super-attributes aside (usually great strength or super-durability), what makes them special is that although they are flawed they give for the "greater good" and defend the innocent against evil and evil people.

Last week, we discussed God in creation, His Omni Attributes. All of creation, and time and space, exist within God who is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere at the same time). God, in His ultimate power, created everything. He had the knowledge on a super micro basis to make the smallest molecule down to the protons and electrons, and quarks and dark matter, and on a super macro basis made the all creation. He knows everything about us, every move we make, every word we speak and even the intents of our hearts (our deepest thoughts and motives).

This week, we will discuss the eleven moral attributes of God. These moral attributes are:

Truth: Agreement and consistency with all that is represented by God Himself

Justice: Perfect in justice, plays no favorites

Righteousness: God's truth applied to relationships; God's law and His actions are exactly right

Holiness: Righteousness and perfection that is set apart from all other beings; God is sinless.

Perfection: All of God's attributes never falter, do not need any addition or subtraction to be correct

Mercy: The tenderheartedness of God, show in the grace of God in Jesus Christ

Goodness: Benevolence, mercy and grace combined together

Love: God seeks the highest good of humans at His own infinite cost

Veracity: God speaks the truth and is trustworthy

Faithfulness: God keeps his promises

Persistence: God is long suffering and patient

This week, we will see how these moral attributes cause a problem for the people of earth, but how they are attributes of the greatest Super Hero that ever lived and how He came on the greatest rescue mission ever.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV)

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalm 19:7-10 (NKJV)

Truth, Justice and the American Way!

Ever see the old 1950's era TV version of Superman? Yeah, it was pretty cheesy, especially by today's standard. But the one thing that I can remember about the opening credits of the TV show, other than "look!...up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane...no...it's Superman!" was the line "standing for truth, justice and the American way!" The old Superman series promoted Superman as wholesome, just, honest and true--"The Big Blue Boy Scout" as one website promoted him.

Let's look at five of the "moral attributes" of God, ones that show God (including the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as being so different from us that we cannot approach Him as unsaved people.

Truth: Agreement and consistency with all that is represented by God Himself. John 14:6, shows that not only does Jesus (and the Father and the Holy Spirit as well) speak truth but He is truth. God's word is perfect, (Deut 32:4) which means it is true and without question.

Since this is the case, we are judged by the truth of God's Word;

Righteousness: God's truth applied to relationships; God's law and His actions are exactly right (Deut 32:4 and Ps 19:7-11 above). God is morally upright and never waivers. We sin, as revealed in particular in the Ten Commandments.

Perfection: All of God's attributes never falter, do not need any addition or subtraction to be correct (both passages). God's work is perfect, thus He is too!

Holiness: Righteousness and perfection that is set apart from all other beings; God is sinless. The Greek word hagios is translated as "holy": "It is predicated of God (as the absolutely "Holy" One, in His purity, majesty and glory)" [Vine's]. God's is refereed to as "holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah 6:3; Rev 4:8); God is "triple holy". God is more different in holiness from us as humans are different in intelligence from a flea; we cannot stand in the holy presence of God (Is 6:5).