Our Infinitely Pure God Series

Knowing God Series #6

“Our infinitely Pure God”

Introduction

After a brief study of the “Fear of the Lord” which has to do with a proper knowledge of God I felt led to follow up with a series on knowing God better. Proverbs teaches the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. I began the summer with a deep desire to really know God better by studying what the Bible teaches concerning His person and works.

Hosea wrote to a culture in a position not unlike our American culture today. The proud pursuit of prosperity, possessions and pleasure crowds out a genuine pursuit of God. Hosea called them to return to return to God. He called them to return because they had turned away from God. There are some who would never admit to technically turning away from God, but in reality their heart is far from Him. God is not their prime pursuit. A mere cursory look at their activities and actions clearly demonstrate a loss of their first love. God said this to the same people.

This people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote...Isa 29:13

Hosea the prophet called the people to return to God.

Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:1-3

Hosea promised the people that if they returned God would heal, revive, restore to life.

Are you feeling distant from God? Do you feel torn and wounded by life? Maybe God is trying to get your attention. At certain points in our life we need wake up calls; crisis moments. We need such moments throughout our life because we tend to stray often. We lose our first love.

We lose our fire and passion for God. Hosea urged the people of Israel to return to the Lord and press on to know the Lord. The word used here is also used for pursuing an enemy, to passionately and purposefully run after, hunt, chase.

Does that describe our relationship with God?

His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth."

One of the reasons I chose to enter into this series is a personal desire for God’s refreshing.

So why is it so hard to keep a fervent pursuit of God? Why don’t we return to the Lord? Hosea succinctly identified the problem.

Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD. Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; Judah also has stumbled with them. They will go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them. Hosea 5:4-6

Our church culture today demands the blessing without the sacrifice. Everything else seems more satisfying than knowing God. We need a crisis. We need a jolt of reality. Like the prodigal son, we need to come to our senses and declare, I shall get up and humbly return to my Father. Today we leave our exploration of the attributes that flow out of the infinite greatness of God to explore the next foundational attribute from which six others flow. As I have mentioned before, I believe that all God’s standard attributes could be deduced from just three of them.

God is infinitely Great

God is infinitely Pure or Righteous

God is infinitely Good

I. The nature of God

II. The Attributes of God

A. God is infinitely GREAT in His ability / capacity

God created us in His own image. Man possesses certain attributes that belong to God; not to the same degree yet similar.

He crowned us with splendor and majesty.

He gifts us with creative and ability.

He commissioned us to rule and reign over the earth.

He destined us to reflect His greatness and so a longing for greatness resides in every heart. At the rebellion, man’s greatness became marred by His sinfulness. God also destined us to live righteous and holy in truth because He is holy, just and true.