Online Bible Course
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Our God Is Alive - Lesson 1
[Bible Text - King James Version]
INSTRUCTIONS
These lessons are designed to give you an overview of the Biblical
message. Please read the lesson and the passages of scripture given as
you read through. Then answer the questions at the end of the lesson
using these scriptures. We hope that you have a rewarding study.
Knowing God is necessary if one is to do more than stumble through
life from one ordeal to another. One needs purpose and direction. God
gives us reason to live and reachable goals to attain.
GOD EXISTS
Everything has a cause. Science calls this the "law of cause and
effect". Nothing in our universe can be the cause of its own existence,
therefore we must look beyond this physical realm to find the Ultimate
Cause of all things. The universe is like a huge clock that is winding
down. The question is WHO "wound up the clock" in the beginning?
(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Revelation 4:11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy
pleasure they are and were created.
When we buy a watch we recognize there must have been a
watchmaker. If we admire a painting we understand there must have
been an artist. Likewise, the universe tells us of its Maker. We see
design all around us. The human eye is much more effective than the
finest camera and no one would seriously suggest that a camera came
into existence by accident instead of by plan. It makes even less sense
to deny the existence of the Designer and Creator of the eye!
(Psalms 19:1-2) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament showeth his handiwork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and
night unto night showeth knowledge.
(Psalms 139:14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth
right well.
Also, the nature of man tells us much about his origin. Human beings
are moral, rational and spiritual creatures. We ponder our existence
asking "how" and "why"; and these very questions point us in God's
direction! It is foolish to deny His existence.
(Psalms 14:1) The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They
are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth
good.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD
How does one describe God? Words are inadequate and yet they are all we
have. The best approach is to see how God has revealed Himself to us.
Our God is majestic. He is large and impressive in size, scope, and extent. He
is all powerful. He is always near. His glory surpasses anything else in human
experience.
(1 Timothy 6:15-16) Which in his times he shall show, who is the
blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour
and power everlasting. Amen.
Our God is wise. He knows His universe down to the smallest detail. He knows
the heart. He knows what is best for us.
(Psalms 33:13-15) The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the
sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all
the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he
considereth all their works.
(Romans 11:33-34) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways
past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who
hath been his counsellor?
Our God is jealous. This is not to be confused with anything like the petty
jealousies of man. It simply means God demands loyalty from those He loves and redeems.
(Exodus 20:5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me;
Our God is love. Our wellbeing is His concern and He
has acted in our behalf.
(John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.
(Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of
need.
Our God is also capable of wrath. He is the righteous judge of a
wicked world. His wrath is perfectly dispensed; none will pay an unjust
penalty. Also, it must be noted Divine wrath is what men choose
for themselves when they retreat from the light God has provided.
(2 Thessalonians 1:8) In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(John 3:18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
NAMES OF GOD
There are several names that God uses in
identifying Himself. They also tell us something of His nature. We will
look at two of these names.
"Jehovah" is the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses from
the burning bush. This name continued to be used by God's people
throughout history. A shortened form of the name is used in the word
"hallelujah" which means "praise to Jehovah". The name "Jehovah" is
from the Hebrew language and means "I AM". It shows God's eternal
nature; that He has no beginning or end.
(Exodus 3:14) And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said,
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto
you.
"Elohim" is a name which signifies might and power. It is this
Hebrew word that is translated "God" in the very first verse of the
Bible.
(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
GODHEAD
Most are familiar with the concept of three persons in
one God. Some refer to this as "the Trinity." But what does the Bible
teach?
There is one God. There are not two, three or more. However, we
have already noticed the use of the word "Elohim" as one of the names
used by God. The interesting thing is that "Elohim" is plural! This
certainly helps to explain Genesis 1:26; "And God said, 'Let Us make
man in Our image, after Our likeness.". The one God of the Bible is
revealed to be a unity of three Persons. All three are mentioned
together several times in the scriptures.
(Matthew 3:13-17) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto
John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have
need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus
answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh
us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus,
when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo,
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(Matthew 28:18-20) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 13:14) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
Amen.
God, the Father, is separate and distinct from the Son and the Spirit, and yet
one with them.
(1 Peter 1:2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied.
Jesus, the Son, is referred to in the scripture as God. He also
accepted being addressed as God. He was also willing to be worshiped
after saying that it was only proper to worship God and no other!
(Please compare)
(Matthew 4:10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for
it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve.
(Matthew 28:9) And as they went to tell his disciples, behold,
Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the
feet, and worshipped him.
Also notice...
(Matthew 1:23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us.
(John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made
that was made.
(John 1:14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and
we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
(John 20:26-29) And after eight days again his disciples were
within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut,
and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he
to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach
hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but
believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my
God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed.
(Titus 2:13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The Holy Spirit is revealed in the Bible as being both a living
being and Deity. The personal pronoun "He" is used to refer to Him. He
is said to love, speak and grieve. He has a mind. If one lies to the
Spirit, he has lied unto God!
(John 14:16-18) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come
to you.
(Acts 5:3-4) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine
heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of
the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was
sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing
in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
(Romans 8:27) And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is
the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
(Ephesians 4:30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed
unto the day of redemption.
We find examples of the Lord God making statements in the Old
Testament and then discover that the New Testament quotes those same
statements and attributes them specifically to the Holy Spirit. This
certainly shows the Holy Spirit is one of the Godhead. Compare the
following...
(Isaiah 6:8-10) Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom
shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand
not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this
people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart, and convert, and be healed.
(Acts 28:25-27) And when they agreed not among themselves, they
departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this
people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and
seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people
is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have
they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I
should heal them.
CONCLUSION
It is important to know our God. Not just to know
about Him but to know Him as God. In this universe and in eternity,
when all has been said and done, man cannot fail more seriously than to
live out his life estranged from his Creator. On the other hand, there
cannot be a brighter success story than that of a man or woman who
walks with God.
Lesson #2 is entitled "GOD HAS SPOKEN" and shows the Bible itself
is God's word. How do we know that the Bible is God's word? What does
"inspiration" mean? What is the difference between the Old and New
Testaments? Can one really understand the Bible? These and other
questions will be dealt with in Lesson #2. (Submit answers to the
following questions in order to receive the next lesson)
QUESTIONS FOR LESSON ONE