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Learning God's Eternal Existence Lesson 1 Series
Contributed by Elmer Towns on Jul 24, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: God describes Himself in human functions so we can understand, distinguish, and interpret God to others.
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Elmer Towns, a human author, wrote this book in the first person, with God as the speaker describing Himself. Is that acceptable?
2. Be careful you don’t belittle God, or minimize Him by making God less than Almighty, the Holy One. “You thought that I was altogether like you” (Psalm 50:21, NKJV).
3. Trying to make God understandable, you shrink Him to your perspective.
4. A true idea of God can never be measured or compared to humans. Reverse: humans are a small reflection of God’s infinity.
5. God describes Himself in human functions so we can understand, distinguish, and interpret God to others. This is called Anthromorphisms, (projection of human functions into God).
B. PRAISING GOD AS HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF
1. Some think God is man’s creation, i.e., idol. The absurdity of the creature making God in his human likeness.
2. Some make God disappear with evolution, atheism, or agnosticism.
3. Picture of God by Euphrates River sculpturing a red clay man, Adam means red man.
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7, NLT
4. Human breath is a Divine characteristic. “By the breath of His nostrils” (Job 4:9). “While my breath is in me … the Spirit of God is in my nostrils” (Job 27:3, KJV). Breath is a Divine quality. Does God have a mouth or nose?
5. God is eternal, no beginning.
a. Omnipresent, everywhere present at the same time, all the time.
b. Omnipotent, has all power to do anything He desires.
c. Omniscient, knows all thigs actual and possible.
6. God is not like you, He made you like Himself.
C. GOD IS PERSON
The power of person is intellect, emotion, and will or power of decision, i.e., self-identity and self-direction.
1. God is intellect or a mind. “I have seen … I heard … I know” (Exodus 3:7). God remembers (Genesis 8:1), reasons (Isaiah 1:18), and He is wise, i.e., ability to compare, decide, and come to a conclusion (Ephesians 1:11).
2. God is emotions. “I will frown” (Jeremiah 3:12, NLT), He gets jealous (Exodus 20:3), He gets angry (Psalm 6:1), He loves (John 3:16). Emotions have power to motivate to specific actions that express the correspondent feelings.
3. God has/is will. The power to choose or direct One self. (Matthew 19:14; Acts 21:14; Ephesians 1:11).
D. HOW SHOULD YOU RESPOND
1. Realize God is more powerful than any strength you imagine. He is everywhere present so you cannot escape Him. He knows more than you can think. He knows everything about you.
a. Acknowledge His greatness and your finiteness.
b. Yield to His plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11).
c. Worship and praise Him for everything you are and have.
2. Ask God to teach you Himself.
a. How He can guide and develop/grow you.
b. How He can use you.
3. Accept and exercise faith in what you know about God from the Scriptures.
a. Ask God to teach you the Scriptures.
b. Ask God to grow your faith (Luke 17:5).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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