The Omni Attributes Series

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

Cutting It Straight

We are called upon to be "rightly dividing the word of truth". The Greek term is one from construction trades of the day; John MacArthur states this means that "means literally to cut straight. It was used of a craftsman cutting a straight line, of a farmer plowing a straight furrow, of a mason setting a straight line of bricks, or of workmen building a straight road. Metaphorically, it was used of carefully performing any task".

A building built with framing that is cut crooked or inaccurately is not only ugly, but can also be unsafe. Myself, I think of bread. Kay will get in a groove where she will make loaves of bread (wheat for me) in her breadmaker, and it's quite good. However, I am just not the best at "cutting it straight" when it comes to the bread. One end is paper thin, and the other is inches thick. If I were to cut bread every day, I would get much better at it!

The same goes with studying the Bible. The more that you study, the more you know. The more you know, the more secure you feel in Jesus. The more you trust Him. The more you love Him, knowing just how much sin is hated by God and how great a span Jesus bridged with His death on the cross.

This week, we are going to start with a study that will span a few weeks on the attributes of God. In studying the attributes of God (applicable to Father, Son and Holy Spirit), you will become much more solid in your faith.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. Psalm 139:1-4 (NKJV)

H. Wayne House, in his Charts of Christian Theology and Doctrine (Zondervan) lists twenty three different attributes or characteristics of God. As mentioned yesterday, these not only apply to the Father, but to Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. It's an important thing to know these attributes; by knowing about "how God is", you will trust Him more as we will discover in the next few weeks.

A. H. Strong, in Systematic Theology (Revell) categorized the attributes of God into six categories: Spirituality, Infinity, Perfection, Time and Space, Creation and Moral Beings This week, we will examine Creation.

Strong taught that there are three attributes of God that relate to creation: Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence.

Omniscience means that God is all knowing. God knows everything. Let that sink in for a moment. God knows how to make molecules, atoms, protons, neutrons and so on. He knows the dynamics of all mathematics, of all physical laws, and as we saw last week he literally spoke it all into existence.

In the verse above, we see that God knows everything about us moment by moment. He knows the exact time you got up this morning, what time you will go to bed. He knows every word you say. He knows your very thoughts before you even take action, good or bad.

Sometimes we think that we can "out slick" God. What do I mean by that? Sometimes we want to make a deal with God. "I'll do this, if you'll do that". God knows the intentions of the heart; you can never fool God.

Because of the "out slick" sin that Samuel committed, God called upon Samuel to anoint a new king of Israel. He sent Samuel to the family of Jesse, and Samuel looked at Eliab--who was obviously impressive in appearance--and said "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him (1 Sam 16:6b) What did God say?

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV)

One by one he looked at the Jesse's sons but God passed on each one--except David, who was still out with the flocks. And when David came in, God told Samuel "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" (v 12). Why? Because God knew David was a man after His own heart. He knows your heart as well

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?