Is There Any God Besides Me? - Captain Erika Hernandez
Isaiah 44:6-8
http://pomonacorps.blogspot.com/2009/02/is-there-any-god-besides-me-2-8-09.html
Does anyone know how many faith groups there are in the world today?
Over 4300 faith groups that we know of since 2007. Yet each one believes that their god is the only god. With thatstatement in mind, how do we know that we worship the one true God?
The last time Captain talked about the first Doctrine which stated that we believe the scriptures were given by inspiration of God. And in that scripture we can see just how God has revealed himself and how he continues to reveal himself with his Word. Even though God’s Word was
written by the hand of man God gave them the inspiration of revealing who he is and what plan he has for his creation.
When we read God’s word we see how it is the living Word of God and
mysteriously gives us the words we need to hear or have a deeper understanding each time we read it. God has also revealed himself through his own creation, and even our very being seeks
out something greater than us.
· "There is one body and one Spirit–just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6
Today we will be looking at the second doctrine which says, We believe there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
It is necessary to understand what we believe to be true in our doctrine or principles of faith. Like I said before there are thousands of other faith groups and they all believe their god is the one true god.
The only proper object of religious worship – Psalm 96:4-6 “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary”.
Then there are others who have a different kind of god that they worship; the gods of the world that could anything that is placed before the Almighty God himself.
Isaiah 43:11-12, “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God”
It takes faith to believe our God is the creator of everything that He is the one who has given us life and a purpose to live.
We will cover the history behind this principle of our faith, the
importance of this doctrine, essentials of the doctrines and issues that one might face.
When looking into the history of something we are able to get a better picture and realize why something was done or put in place. Let’s look at the history or where this principle of God and who he is as the One True God. "So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one.
For even if there are so called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." 1 Corinthians 8:4-6
Historically, there is a strong connection in human thinking as God being seen as Creator and named as ’father’.
This is found in many developed societies, throughout time and in every continent. The understanding of God as father has often been seen as giving him exclusive rights over his ’children’. The title ’father’ also implying ’Lord’ or ’Master’, meaning someone who commands obedience.
The understanding of the character of the father developed through the Old Testament and the covenant relationship with the nation of Israel. God guided Israel ’taking them by the arms’; ’with cords of human kindness, with ties of love’ (Hosea 11;1-4).
The fatherhood of God is seen in even more personal terms in the Psalms.
He is more than a father of his chosen people in a general relationship, such as the gods of other nations were regarded as the ’father’ of the those races; His caring action extends to individuals. He is the father who cares for the most vulnerable in society; ’a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows’ (Psalm 68:5).
’As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him’ (Psalm 103:13). Now we hear about this fear of God in many passages or verses but it is not the fear that we all know of – like being scare of or having anxious feelings of Him. But more of a
reverence to God, a feeling or attitude of deep respect, love, and awe.
When I was growing up, I felt that my father had a certain expectation on me, being the elder daughter I had to set the good example.
I knew that if I would try to sneak out at night, come home too late, or try more dangerous things – I knew that he would follow through with groundings or taking away things. I had a fear of him – not in scary way that he would hurt me but in love and respect. I didn’t want to
disappoint him or lose his trust. That is the kind of fear that the Word of God speaks of and we should have, one of respect and reverence towards our Heavenly Father.
Then there is another understanding of God as father in Christian doctrine and is formed by Jesus’ relationship as son as revealed in the New Testament. The particular focus of Jesus was that of the intimate, trusting relationship seen between a growing child and a revered, adored
parent.
All Christians agree and confess that God is the creator of all that is. He created everything out of nothing for his glory. God’s power is revealed in the initial creation and the continuing sustenance of the universe. Humanity represents the climax or the highest point of the Creator’s purposes.
Some argue on the how creation was created by God yet the important thing to know is that He did created it. Even though the how remains a mystery for many believers and non-believers.
God created the physical world and the spiritual world yet out of everything He created He considers us to be His most precious creation putting us at the top.
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
The Gospels show the way in which Jesus trusted, obeyed and learned from his Father God. The supreme example of both his trust and obedience is seen in his willingness to accept the Cross.
Jesus attention to God’s way of working with his creation is seen in many parables which show the nature of God. For example, the parable of the lilies of the field shows how Jesus read from the observable creation a lesson of confidence and trust in God’s providential care.
Above all, in his prayer life Jesus showed that he loved and relied upon his Father God with entire confidence.
As Christians receive the privilege of adoption as a child of God, so we can experience and develop a child/parent relationship with God. It is this that defines Christian experience, character and conduct as we become more Christlike. Like Jesus we can enjoy intimate prayer with, joyous obedience to and restful trust in God our Father.
As we learn that God is Creator, Preserver and Governor of all that he has made, we discover the ground of human hope and the basis of Christian ethics. As we are part of his good purpose, so we can have confidence in our own destiny. We discover the worth of all human beings, and the value of life.
And be confident that what he has created he will no abandon or destroy.
Essentials of the Doctrines This doctrine clarifies the relationship between God and his creation generally and with us in
particular. He is our Father and Creator. By revealing God as the source and sustainer of life, the doctrine provides a key to understand His nature.
The main benefit is that this knowledge enables us, to work with the direction and flow of God’s purpose. Instead of working against his creation, we adopt life-enhancing strategies that allow God to fulfill his purposes for us.
The stern fact is that we are all accountable to God for the use we make of our lives and opportunities. This not only requires us to discover and do his will ourselves, but also to warn the unsaved of the coming judgment and their need for salvation in order to escape wrath and
discover the purpose of their lives. It gives us the urgency of letting others know about who God is in our lives and hopefully in theirs as well.
As believers we have discovered this great love our God and Father; and is not only our personal strength and joy, but a message deeply needed by millions. They need to know that they are loved and given infinite worth by a God who has made them by and for his love.
The compassion of this body of believers is in the action and caring of all without discrimination or partiality as we have understood our God is Father of all.
If God is author and completer of all creation, how can we best avoid reducing the Christian faith to a mere ’religion’? The challenge today is how we ensure that our faith leads us to commit our lives to a creative involvement with God and his will?
By opening ourselves tot he love of God our Father, allowing his total acceptance of us in Jesus Christ to banish our doubts and fears. Allowing Him to dissolve our hesitations and bring to life all the gifts and graces that he provides us as His own child. Surrendering who we believe we are and becoming who we were meant to be ~ spiritual beings!
· "I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other," Isaiah 45:5-6
