Have you ever begun something and immediately, you realized that the scope was so grand that you were really in for it? I came to the realization this week when this was the first thing I saw when looking into the concept that God is Spirit:
Quote: “So far we have seen that God is a real being who is perfect, necessary and unlimited, but nothing has been said about the fundamental nature of that being. Invoking the language of substances, we note that things that exist independent of mind are made of one of two types of substance (or of both). Some things are immaterial and others are material. Some being are made of both, but the immaterial part isn’t composed of matter and non-matter, and the material portion is not a mixture of matter and non-matter”. (John S. Feinberg “No One Like Him” Crossway Books. 2001. p. 214)
My reaction: “What”? I suddenly thought I was watching an episode of Star Trek, hearing a Scottish accent of the anti-matter reactor with the dilithum crystals. This was going to be a long week.
How do we as temporal, mortal, visible, beings, bound by time, mortality, the visible environment and physical pace, come to grips with an eternal, immortal, invisible single Spiritual God?
As Paul has been outlining the Gospel, who he was and the grandness of God’s plan, he broke out in a doxology of praise like we looked at last week with Romans 11:33-36. (Such Pauline doxologies appear also in Rom. 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 16:27; Gal 1:5; Eph. 3:21; Phil 4:20; and 1 Tim. 6:17.) This is an overwhelming praise in seeing the grace of God flowing from His character. The Lord’s gift of mercy and Paul’s experience of need caused his heart to swell with praise. Paul ascribes four characteristics to God and then offered him honor and glory.( Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (2001, c1992). Vol. 34: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (77). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
We are shown that:
1) God is Eternal
As properly recognizing the source of all blessing he begins his praise to the King of (the eternal) ages
• literally, “a kingdom of all ages.” This is a phrase that picks up on the theme of eternal life in v. 16. The term denotes God as the ruler of all ages from creation and pictures him as literally the King of the ages.( Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (2001, c1992). Vol. 34: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (77). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
• God rules in past, present, and future.
• God had no beginning and will have no end. He exists outside of time, though He acts in it (MacArthur, J. (1995). 1 Timothy (32). Chicago: Moody Press.).
Exodus 15:18 [18]The LORD will reign forever and ever."
• The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the OT) translates Ex 15:18, “The Lord shall reign for ages and beyond them.”
Psalm 145:13 [13]Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
• The comfort and assurance for us is that God did not just create this world and abandon it, nor is He a God who saves and leaves people to their own devices. He is in control (dominion) endures throughout all generations.
Illustration: Eternal
There are three huge gates that lead into the Cathedral of Milan. Over one gate there is an inscription in marble (under a beautiful flower bouquet) that says, “The things that please are temporary.” Over the second gate, there is a cross with this inscription: “The things that disturb us are temporary.” However, over the central gate, there is a big inscription saying, “Eternal are the important ones.”( Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.)
We are shown that: 1) God is Eternal and that He is:
2) Immortal—The oldest manuscripts read, “incorruptible.” The Vulgate, however, and one very old manuscript read as English Version (Ro 1:23).
Please turn to Romans 1
Those who are agnostics, claim that there is just not enough evidence to know if God exists, and there is so much disagreement about His attributes.
The Character of God is in one sense clearly visible to all and understood
Romans 1:18-23 [18]For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19]For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20]For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21]For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22]Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23]and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (ESV)
• “It is not that truth is sought but cannot be found, but rather that confronted with the truth (which is “clearly perceived” v. 20) fallen humanity seeks to hinder and obstruct its influence and is therefore “without excuse” (v.20). The “excuse” here is an appeal to ignorance”. (The Reformation Study Bible. P&R Publishers. 2005. p.1613).
• When then can we see here about how God has revealed Himself?
o Paul here stressed the reality and universality of divine revelation which is perpetual (since the creation v.20) and perspicuous (clearly perceived v.20). Divine invisibility, eternality, and power are all expressed in and through the created order
Psalm 19:1 [19:1]The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (ESV)
We will return to this concept when we look at 1 Timothy 6
Why is this significant? The nature of God has a bearing on His promises and if we can rely on them.
• He is imperishable, and incorruptible. He will never know death, decay, or loss of strength. (MacArthur, J. (1995). 1 Timothy (32). Chicago: Moody Press.).
• Think for a moment if God could die, if He caught a cold, and had to take the day off work or if He could be overpowered by a stronger evil force, then our confidence that He could fulfill His promises would be in doubt
Illustration: Immortality
Eternity magazine contained a new item on immortality and people’s fascination with it. The exact quote of the article was that: “The quest for pseudoimmortality took a giant leap forward with the announcement that you can send your remains “to the heavens” when you die. The Celestis Group of Melbourne, Florida, has received federal approval for a privately financed launch of a rocket (in early 1987), with a nose cone containing the ashes of 10,330 paying customers. Each person’s ashes will be chemically treated to fit inside a 2-by-5/8-inch titanium capsule. The nose cone will enter an orbit at about 1,900 miles up, and, thanks to a reflective surface, “it will be visible to earth-bound loved ones.” The Celestis group isn’t promising an eternal rest, though. The orbit may deteriorate in about 63 million years”. (Green, M. P. (1989). Illustrations for Biblical Preaching : Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively (Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
We are shown that: 1) God is Eternal 2) Immortal and that He is:
3) Invisible—Although God has clearly revealed Himself though the created order and as Romans 2:14-15 says:
Romans 2:14-15 [14]For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. [15]They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (ESV)
There are certain character qualities of God that are not evident through these two sources:
Please turn to Colossians 1
When Moses asked to see the face of God, God replied:
Exodus 33:20 [20]But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." (ESV)
• Like staring into the sun, God is so holy, we cannot be in His presence and live.
• Later, on Moses’ experience with God, Hebrews recounts the event: Hebrews 11:27 [27]By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. (ESV)
The only way we can come to understand the Godhead is through the incarnation of Christ the son, when He took on flesh at His birth. In describing him, Colossians 1 says:
Colossians 1:15-19 [15]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16]For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. [17]And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18]And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. [19]For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (ESV) (cf. Jn. 1:18)
• The New Testament teaches it is Jesus Christ who has made God known, not in a physical way, of course, but in terms of God’s qualities and attributes. (Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (37). New York: United Bible Societies.)
Coming to grips with the concept of an invisible God is often hard to fathom.
Illustration: Some of you may remember the famous Hollywood host Art Linkletter. He grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and once hosted a show where he would ask children questions, entitled "Kids Say the Darndest Things". On the show he once saw a small boy drawing a picture. He inquired, “What are you drawing.” The small boy replied, “A picture of God.” Linkletter told the lad that no one knows what God looks like, to which the boy confidently responded, “They will when I get through.” (Green, M. P. (1989). Illustrations for Biblical Preaching : Over 1500 sermon illustrations arranged by topic and indexed exhaustively (Revised edition of: The expositor’s illustration file). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
We are shown that: 1) God is Eternal 2) Immortal 3) Invisible and that He is:
4) The only God—
Please turn to 1 Timothy 6
Two Parallel passes note:
Psalm 86:10 [10]For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God
Jude 1:25 [25]to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (ESV)
• He is not one of many, but “the only.” There is only one God. “The only God” reflects the monotheism of both Testaments (e.g., Dt. 6:4; Rom. 3:29; 1 Tim. 2:1–6; 1 Cor. 8:4, 5).
• This makes sense in considering that He is Spirit. God is one in being and three in person. We understand this concept as the triunity of God which we will examine in future weeks. If God was physical in nature, then He would not be one in being, but since He is Sprit, He is one in being and three in person.
1 Timothy 6:16 builds on the concept of God as Spirit, His dominion and our observance of Him:
1 Timothy 6:13-16 [13]I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, [14]to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15]which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, [16]who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (ESV)
1 Timothy 1:17 notes that since God is the only God, He is the only proper recipient of honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (ESV)
John 5:44 [44]How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)
Honor and glory are found together in many New Testament passages; in five instances they are ascribed to Jesus Christ (for example, Heb 2.9), in four cases to God (the Father), and in one case to both God and Jesus (Rev 5.13), (and in one case to human beings). In the present context these terms are synonymous, with honor having the meaning of showing reverential respect to God, and glory having the meaning of “praise,” that is, saying good things about God and declaring how great he is. (Arichea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (37). New York: United Bible Societies.)
What then are the implications for us? We are with all our heart ascribe Honor and glory to God. As we saw when we examined John 4, that since God is Spirit, those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
• Since God is spirit, this action is not limited to a particular location, or all about the physical thing or ritual we do, but our whole lives must genuinely honor and glorify God. The word for glory, is Doxa, where we get this tribute or doxology.
o We can’t just go through the motions or think that some material like money giving will appease God. God is spirit and He expects all our lives to worship Him in spirit and truth.
Describing the duration of this activity: Forever and ever is literally “into the ages of the ages,” which is an emphatic way of saying “eternally.”
Finally, Amen is a transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning “may it be so” or “it is sure” and is used at the end of Jewish prayers, especially in the synagogues, to affirm that the prayer of one person is the prayer of all. (richea, D. C., & Hatton, H. (1995). A handbook on Paul’s letters to Timothy and to Titus. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (38). New York: United Bible Societies.)
