God The Father Series

God the Father (God at Work series) Dt. 6:4, 5

INTRO.: A six-year old child looked into the crib of his brand new baby brother and said, "Quick, before you forget, tell me what God is like?" What the child was asking about has been the pursuit of scholars for many centuries. Scholars call it "theology." Theology seeks to answer the question, "What is God like?" I want to give you a very brief insight into the theology of the Bible. You may find it much more interesting and understandable than you think.

When we speak of God, we frequently refer to a "trinity" of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is Biblical. If we compare Genesis 1:1-3 and John 1:1-14, we see that the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Word (Who became incarnate in Jesus Christ) were all present before the creation of the universe. Ephesians 4:4-6 refers to the concept of "Trinity." Jesus told His apostles to baptize in "the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

This is a difficult concept to grasp. However, man is also a trinity of body, soul, and spirit; "May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thess. 5:23) We do not fully understand how the three are united and what their interrelationships are. If we can’t understand our own nature, how can we hope to fully understand God?

Let us accept what God has revealed and seek to learn what we can of the things we can understand.

Here are three questions about God I want to discuss:

I. The first question is the question of Moses: "Who is God?" Ex. 3:13. We can learn something of His nature from His names:

A. He chose to answer Moses’ question by giving the name "Jehovah," the self- existent One.

1. This means He was neither created nor born, nor does He depend on anyone for His existence. He had no beginning and will never have an end.

2. He has always been the same and always will be. This provides certainty and stability every human spirit seeks.

3. This name was so sacred the Hebrews wouldn’t pronounce it for fear of taking the Lord’s Name in vain in violation of the commandment in Exod. 20:7. When this Name appeared in the Scriptures, the Jew would read another Name

B. They might substitute the Hebrew name "el" "The Mighty One." Actually seems more like a title than a name.

1. This is the most common name for God and frequently used in the plural, "Elohim" to indicate the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

2. This is the word used in Genesis 1:1 and agrees perfectly with John 1:1-3

3. A title fitting for the Creator of the universe.

C. The name "Adon," meaning Lord or Master is seen clearly in Exod. 23.

1. There is a long list of uncompromising commands. Not requests or suggestions, they are orders.

2. Verse 13 contains a stern warning. God is speaking as their Ruler.

3. In 17, the word "Adon" (Lord or Master) is used. NIV translates it "Sovereign" as an adjective. Not an adjective, but a noun. "LORD." God is stressing His authority in ordering every Jewish male to report to Him 3 times a year.

D. When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, besieged Jerusalem and threatened to destroy it, Isaiah asked the question of II Kings 19:22: Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!

1. "Holy One" means one set aside. One separated from sin and corruption. Wholly apart from men and their misdeeds.

2. Isaiah’s favorite name for God is "The Holy One of Israel." He is the One venerated and exalted above all others by God’s people.

3. Also used to refer to Jesus in Luke 1:35.

4. Demons used it of Jesus in Mark 1:24

5. Peter applied this title to Jesus in quoting Psalm 16:10 in Acts 2:22

E. When the priests abused their power and oppressed the people, Malachi asked the question, "Have we not all one Father ? Did not one God create us?" (2:10)

1. He is Father in the sense of founder and creator of the race.

2. In the Old Testament, God’s relationship with His people was patriarchal. He ruled as a Father. In the New Testament, it is paternal. He adopts us as His children and loves us as a parent. A higher level of fatherhood.

3. Jesus taught us to call God "Father." He used the expression frequently, taught us to pray to "our father in heaven, and pictured Him as father to a prodigal son.

II. How is God described in the Bible?