What Can We Say about God?

What Can We Say about God?

1 Corinthians 15: 1 – 8.

Introduction

A couple of weeks ago, I started preaching a series of sermons on getting back to the basics.  This is intended to go along with all the recent sermons I have preached about evangelism and outreach. 

One of the important things we do as a church is to tell other people about Jesus.  We tell the Good News about God’s Love and salvation found in Jesus Christ—his death and Resurrection.  Another important thing we do is teach the Christian faith.  We teach a proper understanding of God to our children; to people who are inside the church; and to people who are outside the church.

There are several different words we might use to describe this proper understanding of God.  We might use the word “doctrine,” or the word “dogma,” or the word “theology.”  I prefer to use the word “theology” for a couple of reasons.  First, I think the word “theology” is much more descriptive.  Second, I think “theology” is something to be performed by all Christians and not to be reserved for the academic types in universities and seminaries.

The word “theology” comes to us from two Greek words.  Theos is the Greek word for God.  Logos is a Greek word with a couple of different translations.  On one hand, logos is where we get our English word “logic” and can be translated as “reason” or “logic.”  On the other hand, logos can be translated as “word” or “speech.”  Therefore, we can say that the definition of “theology” is “thinking about God” or “speaking about God.”

“Speaking about God” is not something that only happens in professional settings like a university, a seminary, or even a church.  “Speaking about God” ought to happen in universities, seminaries, churches and beyond.  We should speak about God in our homes—around the breakfast table and while putting our children to bed at night.  We should speak about God with the people who are closest to us—spouses, children, parents, family, friends, coworkers and classmates.  We should speak about God with people who are not close to us—neighbors, casual acquaintances, the person behind the counter, and perfect strangers.

Anyone can practice theology…AND, I would suggest that all Christians should practice theology by “speaking about God.”  However, not everyone practices Good Theology.  It is possible to speak about God while promoting some messed up beliefs about God.  There has to be a way to determine the difference between Good Theology and bad theology.  There has to be an objective standard…a way to judge between right and wrong…

I believe the Apostle Paul gives us a brief description of this objective standard in 1 Corinthians 15 where he teaches us about the Resurrection…

1 Corinthians 15: 1 – 8.

1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Good Theology Is Good News

There are a couple of important words in verse 1.  First, Paul addresses these verses to his “brothers.”  Second, Paul reminds them that the message he preached to them was the “Gospel.”

“Brothers” is the most common word Paul uses to refer to other Christians.  He does not address these verses to his biological male siblings.  He does not speak these verses exclusively to men.  No.  This is an inclusive term for all Christians—male and female, slave and free, Jew and Gentile.  We are all brothers and sisters, if we are children of God through faith in Jesus as Lord.

“Gospel” was a common word in the ancient world.  In fact, I believe it was a politically charged word in Paul’s day.  Each time a new emperor rose to power in Rome, the government issued a “Gospel” proclamation all over the Roman Empire.  These proclamations all sounded alike.  They said something like this…Even though there has never been a political leader who fulfilled all your hopes and your dreams, this one will be different.  The new Caesar will keep all his promises.  He will give jobs to all jobseekers.  He will cut taxes and increase benefits.  There will be no more war.  We will live in peace.  And all nations will respect us as the best and the most powerful.

(Does that sound familiar?  It sounds like the promises we hear every four years before and after the U.S. Presidential elections.)

Paul preached Good News about Jesus.  Jesus is the Son of God.  The life, death and Resurrection of Jesus is a tangible expression of the Love of God.  (Romans 5: 8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”)  The Death and Resurrection of Jesus is Good News, because it demonstrates for us that God is more than All-Powerful and All-Knowing.  It is not enough to say that God is All-Powerful and All-Knowing.  We must also say that God is All-Loving.

The Love of God is Good News.  This is because the Love of God is what leads to salvation from sins, relationship with God and eternal life.

    

Good Theology Is Not New

In verse 3, Paul tells us that the message he preached is the same message he received from others.  There are two things about this which are important.

First, Paul has not invented the message.  The message of the Gospel existed before Paul and continues to be preached even after Paul has died.  Paul was neither the first nor the last to preach the Gospel.  Paul was nothing more than a messenger who received a message from someone and then passed that message on to someone else.

Second, Paul did not add anything to the Gospel or take anything away from the Gospel.  It is important to say that Paul is nothing more than a messenger.  BUT, it is also important to say that Paul was a faithful messenger.  He faithfully transmitted the message which had been trusted into his care.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is describing the Resurrection of Jesus and the Resurrection of all those who believe in Jesus.  So, when Paul insists (in verse 3) that he is a faithful messenger of the message he received, he is referring specifically to the Resurrection.

Paul’s teaching about the Resurrection is not new.  It is the same message given to Peter and the Twelve who spent three years physically in the presence of Jesus and were the first witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection.  Paul’s message is the same as James (the brother of Jesus) and all the apostles.  There is nothing new about Paul’s teaching.

This is important for us to remember when we are listening to modern-day preachers.  The Gospel is an unchanging message.  It is the message of God’s Love which was demonstrated in the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.  It is the message of Jesus who is the same “yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13: 8).”  Jesus does not change.  God’s Love does not change.  God’s salvation does not change.  God’s message does not change.

Beware of the person who preaches a NEW MESSAGE.  Beware of the person who says they have a new word from God.  Paul did not preach a new message…And Good Theology is not a new message…It is the OLD, OLD Story which still has the power to change lives today!

Good Theology Is Biblical

In verses 3 – 8, Paul makes two appeals to authority.  Paul did not invent the Gospel message.  Paul was simply a messenger who passed along the message he was given.  Therefore, Paul did not claim authority for himself.  Paul spoke with authority, but that authority was an authority derived from another source.  Actually, Paul appealed to two authorities…Scriptures…Apostles…

In Paul’s day, the word “Scripture” could only mean one thing.  It meant the Jewish Scripture, or what we would call the Old Testament.  (There was no New Testament in Paul’s day.  There wasn’t even a collection of Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.)  The crucifixion and Resurrection are not confined to the New Testament alone.  Paul preached Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish Messianic hope from the Old Testament.  Paul preached Jesus as the sacrifice to take away our sins from the Old Testament.  Paul preached the hope of the Resurrection from the Old Testament.

Paul’s second authority is found in his appeal to the Apostles.  There are a couple of ways we can think of the word “Apostle.”  In its literal sense, Apostle refers to people who have been “sent.”  God sent Jesus with a mission and a message.  Jesus sent his followers to continue the same mission and message.  A more specific or technical meaning of the word “Apostle” developed over time.  In this understanding, Apostle refers to those who have seen Jesus and were eyewitnesses to the Resurrection.

This is where the New Testament came from.  The Jews had a set canon of Scripture which the early Christians adopted and interpreted through the lens of Jesus as the Messiah.  Over time, the men who had been eyewitnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus wrote down their stories.  They described the earthly life and ministry of Jesus.  They described the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.  They described the birth of the church and the spread of the Gospel message from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 

The books which are included in the New Testament are not the only ancient books about Jesus and the early church.  The books of the New Testament are the ONLY books which have an Apostolic pedigree—we can reasonably trace the authorship of these 27 books back to someone who knew Jesus and was an eyewitness to the Resurrection.

In the same way that Paul appealed to Scripture and Apostolic authority, Good Theology in our world today must also be biblical theology.  We can only say about God what we have read in Scripture—Old Testament and New Testament. 

Conclusion:  Good Theology Can Stand Scrutiny

Paul makes a very interesting statement about the Resurrection of Jesus in verse 6.  He tells us that after the Resurrection Jesus appeared to Peter, the Twelve, AND to 500 others who are still alive!  (This was probably written approximately 20 years after the Resurrection.)

Why do you think Paul would add the phrase, “most of whom are still living?”  It is because Paul is inviting his readers to check the story for themselves.  You do not have to take my word for it.  You can look into it for yourself.

When I stand up to preach, I promise that I will “speak about God.”  Therefore, my sermons will be theological.  Whenever you hear me preach, you will hear Good News about God’s Love.  You will not hear anything new—it will be the Old, Old Story.  AND, you will hear from the Bible—I do not preach as the authority…I preach from the authority of the Scripture and the Apostles.  But, you do not have to take my word for it.  I do not want you to become my blind followers.  No.  I invite you to compare what you hear me say to your own pursuit of truth—Read the Bible, study history, observe nature and science.  Good Theology can withstand scrutiny, because Good Theology is truth.

When I was a college student, I was a religion major.  In my first Bible class, my professor stood up in front of the class and offered us an introduction to the class.  He said, “In this class, you will be exposed to a lot of things that you have never heard before.  Some of these things you will agree with.  Some of these things you will not agree with.  When you hear something that you do not agree with, I encourage you to open your Bible and read for yourself what the Bible says.”

I challenge you to search out the truth for yourself.  You do not have to take my word for it.  In fact, take my words (and my theology) and compare it to everything you know to be true.  Compare what I say to historical truth and everything you can observe in nature and through science…  Good Theology can withstand any scrutiny, because Good Theology is true.

How Can We Know God?

How Can We Know God?
Psalm 19: 1 – 14 AND Hebrews 1: 1 – 3

Introduction

(Before standing up to preach this sermon, we heard a testimony from a man who is a Christian physician in a Communist country which is closed to the Gospel.)

If I wanted to travel to a foreign country, I would need a passport.  When I exit the airplane, I have to stand in line and show my passport / credentials to a government official.  The government official checks to see if I am allowed to enter into his / her country.  God does not have a passport…and God does not need a passport.  No government official gets to check God’s credentials to see if God is allowed into his / her country.

No president, king or dictator can decree that God is not allowed.  No legislative body can vote God out.  No judge can rule against God.

Last Sunday, I preached about the character of God.  There are several ways we can talk about the character of God.  We could describe God by using all the “Omni” words…God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, etc…  Or, we could describe the “perfections” of God…God is Perfect in Goodness, Perfect in Love, Perfect in Wisdom and Perfect in Power.  Or, we could describe God in his basic essence…God is transcendent.

When we say that God is transcendent, we affirm the perfection of God and all the Omni characteristics of God.  We agree with the words of the Prophet Isaiah who declared that God is “high and lifted up.”  God is higher than we are.  God is above us.  God is holy and set apart.  God is not like us.

Of course, when we say that God is transcendent, we are describing a problem.  If God is “high and lifted up”…If God is holy and set apart…If God is not like us…Then, how can we ever know God?

God is above us and different from us.  Whereas we are sinful, God is perfect.  Whereas we are finite and limited by our temporary lifetimes, God is eternal and cannot be threatened by death.   Whereas we are influenced by the world, God is Holy / Set Apart / Heavenly.  Whereas we are predictable (inasmuch as we are influenced by sin and always make sinful choices), God is unpredictable because God is truly free.  Therefore, God is not only above us…God is also beyond us.  In some ways, God is unknowable and will always be a mystery to our finite minds.

The only way this transcendent, mysterious and unknowable God could ever be known is that God has made himself “knowable.”  Left to our own devices, we could never discover God.  We could never know the unknowable.  However, God wants us to know him.  Therefore, God has made himself known.  God has revealed himself to us.

Psalm 19 is a praise Psalm which contains some very important theology.  It can be divided into three sections which describe (in something like a progression) three ways God reveals himself to us.

Creation Reveals God… 

Psalm 19: 1 – 6, “1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.”

These verses are unique in the ancient world.  They describe a distinctly Jewish world view—a world view which carries over into Christianity.

The pagans of the ancient world would not proclaim that creation declares the glory of God.  Instead, they would say that Creation is God.  The pagan view of creation takes one of three perspectives.  First, some people in the ancient world worshipped the individual element of creation—sun, moon or stars.  Second, other ancient people worshipped everything in creation—this could be described as “pantheism,” which is to say God is everything and everything is God.  Third, other ancient people worshipped creation as a whole—this is what we might describe as “panentheism,” which is to say that everything comes together to form God…God is in everything and everything is in God.

Christians and Jews have a completely different view of creation.  In our understanding, creation is not God.  Rather, creation is the handiwork of God.  Looking at creation invites us to reflect on the God who made everything we can see.

Worshipping creation is a distinctly ancient problem.  Modern-day men and women do not actually worship creation.  People may love nature and the environment…but no one actually worships creation.  However, there is a modern-day equivalent.  People in the Twenty-First Century are tempted to worship science in the same way ancient people were tempted to worship creation.

The ancient pagans were nearsighted.  When they looked at creation, their focus stopped short.  They were not able to look beyond creation and see the God who created everything.  In the same way, some modern-day skeptics are also nearsighted.  They are not able to look beyond science to see the God who not only created everything science describes but who also establishes the rules and characteristics of scientific discovery.

Creation is not God.  Creation is the handiwork of God…God is other than creation.

Scripture Reveals God…

Psalm 19: 7 – 11, “7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

In these verses, we read six parallel statements that describe the Scriptures.  The Law of the LORD…The Statutes of the LORD…The Precepts of the LORD…The Commands of the LORD…The Fear of the LORD…The Ordinances of the LORD…

Creation can only reveal so much about God. Creation shows us that God exists, that God creates, that God is good and wise.  But, God is other than creation.  And, God has actually stepped into his creation to redeem what God has created and to call a people to himself.  God’s activity in his creation is recorded in Scripture.  Therefore, we read the Bible in order to know God…And, we know God by the way he has dealt with and acted within his creation…The Scriptures describe the redemptive work of God.

The redemptive work of God is recorded in the History of Israel.  God heard their cries for help when the Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt.  So, God stepped into his creation and called Moses (from a burning bush) to rescue God’s people.  Through Moses, God led the Hebrew people to Mount Sinai and established them as his Chosen People by giving them his Law.  God continued to pursue Israel as God’s people (and to act in their history), despite the fact that they were unfaithful to God.  Then, God entered history in general (and the nation of Israel in particular) through the Person of Jesus of Nazareth—the Virgin-born Son of God.

A Personal Cry for Help… 

Psalm 19: 12 – 14, “12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. 13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Notice how this last section sounds different from the previous sections.  The other sections are written in the third person—the psalmist is writing / speaking / singing praises ABOUT God.  In this section, the psalmist is not writing / speaking / singing about God…Here he is writing / speaking / singing TO God.  We might even say he has shifted from praise to prayer.

The transcendence of God makes it impossible for us to know God or to discover God by our own intellect.  The only way we can possibly know God is for God to reveal himself to us.  God must help us to see him / to know him.

We need Personal help in order to overcome our sinfulness.  Our sins distort our minds and our understanding.  In order to know God and to receive God’s revelation of himself, we need God to forgive us and make us right.

Theology of Revelation… 

In my understanding of Psalm 19, there is a progression in God’s revelation.  There are three ways we can know God.  God has revealed himself in three ways. 

First, General Revelation—available to all people in all places at all times.  Nature and creation.  Human conscience and morality.  Love and family relations.  Search for meaning and the desire for a better future.  General Revelation is available to anyone who has eyes to see what God has done in creation.

Second, Special Revelation in Scripture—available to all people who are willing to read the story of God’s redemptive activity in history through the Nation of Israel.  Law, Prophets, Writing…All describe God’s redemption in history.  Special Revelation is available to anyone who has ears to hear what God has done in the story of redemption found in Scripture. 

Third, Personal Revelation in the life, crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ—available to anyone who acknowledges that Jesus of Nazareth is the unique Son of God.  Personal Revelation is available to anyone who has a heart open to experience the love of God through Jesus.

Hebrews 1: 1 – 3, “1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

If God had only revealed himself through creation and Scripture, then we could say that knowing God is a matter of receiving a proper understanding of information.  In this sense, knowing God would be nothing more than accepting certain propositions about God; memorizing data and historical facts about God; and interpreting abstract truth from the historical data. 

However, creation and Scripture are not the only ways God has revealed himself.  God also revealed himself through the Person of Jesus.  Therefore, God’s revelation of himself is not about Information…It is about Transformation…Allowing your life to be transformed by Jesus Christ.

Since God revealed himself through Jesus, we know God by experiencing a relationship with Jesus. 

Jesus transforms our lives by offering us forgiveness of sins.  Forgiveness is not about information…It is transformation. 

Jesus offers us a reason / purpose for living by giving us abundant life.  Again, abundant life is not about information…It is transformation. 

Jesus also offers us Eternal Life.  Eternal Life is the result of a life transformed by Jesus and not something to be gained through information.

Conclusion

God’s revelation of himself is both Deep and Wide…

As wide as all of creation…available to everyone with eyes to see…

As wide as the Scriptures…available to everyone with ears to hear…

As deep as the cross and Resurrection of Jesus…available to everyone with a heart open to God’s love…A heart open to love God and to be loved by God…

Thinking about God

Thinking about God
Romans 11: 33 – 36

Introduction

Since October of last year, I have spent a lot of time preaching about One Focus and evangelism.  In my sermons, I have encouraged each of us to share our faith with the people who are closest to us.  Then, our church has provided resources to help you to share your faith.  We even asked each of our church members to invite someone with you on Easter Sunday so that they could hear the Good News about Jesus—his death and Resurrection.

We are not giving up on One Focus.  I hope you will continue to pray for that one person in your life.  We are going to give you more opportunities to invite your One Focus to church to hear how they can become a Christian.  But, we are going to shift gears a little.

Just as we have been preparing you for evangelism…As we have asked you to tell others how they can become Christians…Now, I want to help you define exactly what you believe as a Christian.  After all, what are you going to say when you try to lead a person to become a Christian and they ask you, “What does it mean to be a Christian?  What do Christians believe?”  Are you prepared to answer that question?

One of my favorite theology books is a book I first read as a Religion major in college.  Thinking about God: An Introduction to Christian Theology by Baptist theologian Fisher Humphreys (New Orleans: Insight Press, 1974, 1994).

The title of the book, “Thinking about God,” is basically a translation of the two Greek words that make up our English word “theology.”  Theos can be translated “God,” and logos can be translated “logic, reasoning, or thinking.”  Therefore, theology is nothing more and nothing less than “thinking (or reasoning) about God.” 

Theology is not something reserved for academic scholars in seminaries and universities.  Theology is something each of us does at the breakfast table, lying in bed at night, driving to and from work or even in conversations with our friends and family members.  Anyone can practice theology—and I would add that everyone should practice theology.  However, not everyone practices good theology…There is some bad theology out there.

There are many different disciplines under the heading of “theology.”  I am primarily concerned with biblical theology…shaping what we believe about God and various doctrines from reading the Bible—in particular the New Testament. 

Over the next few weeks, we are going to examine several different subcategories within Biblical Theology.  We will look at the categories of sin and humanity, the person of Christ, the work of Christ, and even what the Bible says about end times.  But, today we begin by looking at the most basic Christian belief of them all.  What do we believe about God?

Romans 11: 33 – 36.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and [fn9] knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?” [fn10]

35 “Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?” [fn11]

36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

What we read in these verses is something some scholars call a “doxology,” or what we might more commonly call worship or praise.  This is interesting, because Paul has inserted a praise song in the middle of his theological argument.  It is interesting, because it shows us something very important about theology.  We cannot worship God without good theology.  We cannot practice good theology without worshipping God.

There are two natural divisions in the Book of Romans.  Chapters 1 – 11 make up the theological section (or the theological foundation).  Chapters 12 – 16 make up the ethical section (or the practical application of what Paul has taught us about God).  The praise song of Romans 11: 33 – 36 serve as a conclusion to the theological section of the Book of Romans.

Theologically, Paul began the Book of Romans by describing the human predicament of sin and how our sins deserve to face the wrath and judgment of God.  Then, Paul writes about God’s faithfulness to us and God’s desire to save us.  This salvation is offered to both Jews and Gentiles in the same way.   We are saved as Abraham was saved.   Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as Righteousness (Romans 4: 3).

Then in Romans 9 - 11, Paul explores a great mystery.  He addresses a question about the Jews.  If salvation is by Grace…If Righteousness is a gift of God to all who believe…Then, what about all of God’s promises to Israel?  The Jews don’t believe in salvation through Jesus.  Has God abandoned the Jews?

The simple answer to this question is what we read in Romans 8: 28, “And we know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  God can use all circumstances to accomplish his purposes.  And, that is what God is doing (and has been doing) in the history of the Jews.

God rescued the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt.  God sent Moses to Egypt.  Moses led God’s people into the wilderness.  And, the people wanted to go back to Egypt.  The Hebrews were not faithful…But, God was faithful.

God made a promise to David.  There would always be a descendant of David to rule as King over Israel.  And, the people kept following the wrong kings.  The people were not faithful…But, God was faithful.

God sent his Son, Jesus.  Jesus was the fulfillment of all the promises in the Old Testament.  And, the Jews refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.  The Jews were not faithful…But, God is faithful.

God can use both good circumstances and bad circumstances to accomplish his purposes.  God can take the faithlessness of the Jews and use it for a good purpose.  The Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah.  This is not a good situation.  But, God took what was not good and used it to expand salvation beyond the racial and political boundaries of Israel.  When the Jews rejected Jesus, God made a universal offer of salvation—salvation is offered to all races and to all nations.

Romans 9 – 11 tell us that when people reject God, God responds with Grace!  And, this leads Paul to an outburst of praise to the God of mercy.

Romans 11: 33 – 36.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and [fn9] knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been his counselor?” [fn10]

35 “Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay them?” [fn11]

36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.

To him be the glory forever! Amen.

As Paul sings praises to God, he makes theological statements about the nature of who God is…

Paul sings about the mystery of God.  God is transcendent—or as we often read in Scripture, High and Lifted Up.  God is above us and different from us.  Whereas we are sinful, God is perfect.  Whereas we are finite and limited by our temporary lifetimes, God is eternal and cannot be threatened by death.   Whereas we are influenced by the world, God is Holy / Set Apart / Heavenly.  Whereas we are predictable (inasmuch as we are influenced by sin and always make sinful choices), God is unpredictable because God is truly free.

Since God is transcendent, we can also say that God is so different from us that it is impossible for us to know God completely.  In some respects, God will always remain a mystery to us.  However, God wants us to know him.  Therefore, God has made himself known.  God has revealed himself through creation.  God has revealed himself through Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament).  God has revealed himself through the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

One way God is transcendent and, therefore, different from us is the fact that we are imperfect.  God is not imperfect…God is perfect.

Perfect in Goodness

Morality…Law and God’s demands on the way we live…

God is not arbitrary…God acts according to his nature…

If God were not good, then God could not be trusted to provide for our needs and to give good gifts…Since God is good, God only gives good gifts and does not cause evil things to happen…

Perfect in Love

Love of God is described in the Old Testament…The Law was a gift of love which teaches us about God’s love for us…God’s acts of salvation are motivated by love and help us to understand how God loves his people…Ultimately, God has demonstrated his love for us in the Person of Jesus, the Son of God…

Romans 5: 8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

John 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Perfect in Wisdom

When we talk about God, we talk about the character of God and the activities of God—the nature of God and the actions of God.  I believe that God has two basic actions.  God creates, and God redeems.

In creation, we see the wisdom of God through the incredible variety of creation…Interdependence of the species / life forms on earth…Delicate balance of created order (gravity, distance from the sun, angle of the earth on its axis, the moon and the tides)…

In redemption, we see the wisdom of God through the way God deals with the Jews.  Despite the fact that the Jews have rejected Jesus and God’s plan for their salvation, God used their rejection as a means to expand the Gospel to the Gentiles…

Perfect in Power

We can see the power of God in both creation and redemption…

In creation, God has done what we cannot imitate.  But, God not only has created, God is also intimately involved in the ongoing preservation of his created order. 

In redemption, God has done what we cannot repay.  He offers Grace freely to all who will believe

Conclusion

The story of Israel:  God created a people for himself.  Israel rebelled against God.  For the rest of Israel’s history, God pursued Israel because God wanted to redeem her.

The story of creation:  God created the world.  The world fell into sin.  For the rest of history, God has pursued his creation because God wants to redeem it.

Your story:  God created you.  You actively run away from God and his Grace.  Your entire life can be described as God’s pursuit…because God wants to redeem you.

God wants to redeem what God has created.