Читать книгу Dividing the Word of Truth - Ralph V. Reynolds - Страница 3
ОглавлениеUNIT TWO
ONE GOD
“ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD”
GOD
A. GOD AFFIRMS: God does not attempt to prove the truths of the Bible, nor does He argue with the human family. HE AFFIRMS.
“In the beginning God…“ (Genesis 1:1). The opening words of the Bible announces the existence of God. Scripture does not attempt to prove the existence of God; it asserts, assumes, and declares that the knowledge of God is universal. Scripture recognizes that men not only know of the existence of God, but have also a certain understanding as to who God is.
“For God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.” (Romans 1:19-20).
B. THE BEGINNING OF FAITH: Man everywhere believes in the existence of a supreme Being to whom he is morally responsible. The heathen recognize the existence of a supreme Being. This belief is innate in man and comes from rational intuition.
It is this fact that Satan challenges and it is on this point that we find the greatest battle in the world today, the struggle between faith and unbelief.
It is here that man’s faith begins. He must accept this inherent recognition of Deity and declare it that it might become an active force in his life.
“For he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
C. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS:
1. INFIDEL - One who disbelieves in some religion, especially Christianity.
2. SCEPTIC - One who takes a questioning attitude towards religion.
3. AGNOSTIC - One who neither affirms nor denies the existence of God.
4. ATHEIST - One who denies the existence of God.
5. PANTHEIST - One who identifies the universe with God which denies the personality of God.
D. THE BIBLE’S DESCRIPTION OF AN ATHEIST:
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1).
Here is the Bible’s description of a professed atheist. No one but a fool will deny the fact of God. Whether or not there are any true atheists is questionable. Even professed atheist such as Kruschev have been heard to refer to God in their conversation. Nevertheless every atheist is a fool. To deny that there is a God is to state that the very root of man’s nature is a lie. God has wrought this truth of Himself in the very “Warp and Woof” of every man’s nature.
E. THE RESULT OF A DENIAL OF GOD: The knowledge of God uplifts, cleanses, and sanctifies man. The greater the revelation that man has of God, the holier he will be. The contrary is true. When man rejects the knowledge of God he opens the gates wide for a flood of immorality and uncleanliness. We see this happening in America today. With the removing of God from our schools we see a generation of agnostics and skeptics being raised and the result is a complete breakdown in standards and morals. Romans, chapter one very clearly states this fact.
ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
A. UNIVERSALITY OF BELIEF IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD: The fact that every- where men believe in God is a strong argument in favor of its truth. This universal belief comes from within man being born with it.
B. ARGUMENT FROM CAUSE-COSMOLOGICAL: There is a cause for everything. How did it come about? Man and the universe are effects; there must be a cause. The world did not come into existence by itself any more than this set of Bible notes. It would be more sensible to walk into a library with thousands of books on the shelves and to claim there were no authors than to state this world did not have a creator. Man exists; but he owes his existence to some cause. Man is an effect; he has not always existed. He was created.
C. ARGUMENT FROM DESIGN-TELEOLOGICAL: The structure of a watch proves not only a maker but also a designer. The universe and nature prove a superintending and originating intelligence and will.
D. ARGUMENT FROM BEING-ONTOLOGICAL: Man has an idea of an infinite and perfect Being. This idea did not come from us. Therefore such a Being must exist and it cannot be just a mere thought.
E. MORAL ARGUMENT-ANTHROPOLOGICAL: Morality is obligatory, not optional. Man has an intellectual and a moral nature, a conscience, an emotional nature, and only a Being of goodness, power, love, wisdom and holiness can satisfy such a nature. As a result there must be a creator who is an intellectual, moral Being, a Judge and a Lawgiver.
F. ARGUMENT FROM CONGRUITY: If we have a key that fits the lock, we have the right key. Belief in a self-existent, personal God is in harmony with our mental and moral nature, and the entire world around us. If God exists, all questions regarding creation, religion, nature and human history are answered. Atheism leaves all these matters without explanation.
G. ARGUMENT FROM SCRIPTURE: The history of the Jews and fulfilled prophecy would not be explainable without God.
The above arguments are arguments of logic and are all quite sound. However, it is the writer’s opinion that the following argument is far more effective.
H. ARGUMENT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Every Christian can testify of many experiences that he has had with a personal, living God. This alone is sufficient proof that God lives. These experiences may be divided under four main headings:
1. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER. The fact that man prays and prayers are answered is proof of the existence of God.
2. GOD SAVES THE SOUL OF A SINNER. This is not just a little religious emotion but the power of God is experienced in having sins remitted, sinful habits broken, and in being born again.
3. GOD HEALS SICK BODIES. Each time a miracle takes place in the healing of a sick body we have proof of the existence of God.
4. MAN HAS FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS GOD. This undoubtedly is the strongest argument of all and all the proof that is needed. That man is able to experience the real presence of God in his soul leaves no room for further argument. In answering an atheist the best approach is to ask him what atheism has done for him. It is an easy matter to testify of what a living faith has done for us and what unbelief has cost him.
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD
A. ONE TRUE GOD: There are over fifty passages of Scripture that teach that God is one and that there is no other. No other truth of Scripture receives more prominence than that of the Oneness of God.
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).
“Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:8). “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:5).
“Thou believest, that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19).
More References: Isaiah 45:5; Isaiah 46:9; Mark 12:32; I Corinthians 8:4; and Revelation 4:2.
A multiplication of Gods is a contradiction. There can be but one Supreme Being: one God. Such a Being cannot be multiplied, nor pluralized. There can be but one ultimate all-inclusive God.
The Oneness of God is the great truth and message of the Old Testament. The Jews sought to stone Jesus because He laid claim to Deity; and said, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy and because that thou being a man, makest thyself God” (John 10:33). The truth taught in the Old Testament is never contradicted in the New Testament but rather fulfilled.
B. THE TRINITY EXAMINED: The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible. The doctrine called the Trinity was introduced by the Roman Catholic synod at the beginning of the third century at the Nicean Council in 325 A.D. The Athanasian Creed later made the Trinity a fundamental tenet. It kept company with other Roman Catholic tenets such as: Transubstantiation, Indulgences, Mariolatry, Infallibility of the Pope, Purgatory, etc. Unfortunately, when Protestants repudiated the above fallacies they held on to the error of the Trinity maintaining a vital link with the false and unscriptural creeds of the Roman Catholic Church
The word “Persons” when used regarding the Godhead does violence to the absolute Oneness of God. Dividing God into three persons makes three Gods, which is Tri-theism regardless of how it may be argued otherwise. God is the “Three in One;” not the “One in Three.” The doctrine of the Trinity leads to much confusion and contradiction.
C. ELOHIM: Elohim is a Hebrew word in the plural form translated “God” in our Bibles. Trinitarians will argue that this means a plurality of persons in the Godhead. To answer this we shall quote from Smith’s Bible Dictionary: “The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of powers displayed by God.”
The question might be asked: “Why did the Jews, knowing that Elohim was plural, cling so tenaciously to the Oneness of God?”
Elohim is applied to Christ in the following Scriptures:
Zechariah 11:4, 12-13 - Elohim was sold for thirty pieces of silver.
Zechariah 14:5 - Elohim is coming back as King.
Zechariah 12:10 - Elohim was pierced at Calvary.
The true significance of Elohim is a plurality of attributes and powers.
GOD IS SPIRIT
A. GOD IS SPIRIT:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).
The Samaritan woman asked, “Where is God to be found? On Mt. Zion or Mt. Gerizim?” To this question Jesus answered that God is not to be confined to any one place.
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my footstool: what house will ye build me?” (Acts 7:48).
“Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.” (I Kings 8:27).
God must be worshipped in spirit as distinguished from place, form, or other sensual limitations; and in truth as distinguished from false conceptions and wrong teachings.
Study carefully I Corinthians 2:6-16. We cannot understand or know God otherwise than by the leading and help of His Spirit.
B. GOD IS INVISIBLE: Apart from Jesus Christ the Eternal Spirit cannot be seen.
“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20).
“No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18).
“For a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39).
“Who is the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15).
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever.” (I Timothy 1:17).
C. IMAGES FORBIDDEN: Images were forbidden because: 1) No one has seen God; and, 2) Nothing on earth can resemble Him.
References: Deuteronomy 4:15-23: Isaiah 40:25; and Exodus 20:4.
Jesus Christ is the express image of his person (Hebrews 1:3). As such God can only be seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
D. ANTHROPOMORPHIC EXPRESSIONS: God is spoken of as having hands, feet, arms, eyes and ears. He sees, feels, walks, etc. Such expressions as relating to the Father, the Eternal Spirit, are to be understood only in the sense of being human expressions used in order to bring the infinite within the comprehension of the finite. Only by means of human expressions can we understand God.
However, all this we have in Christ. Man is body, soul and spirit, but he is just one man. Even so God has been manifested to us as the Father, and then in the flesh as the Son, and now in the power of His Spirit. Neither three Gods nor persons - this is an unscriptural term and ought never to be used when referring to God - but one God in threefold manifestation.
Therefore in Christ God does have hands, feet, arms, etc. and sees, feels, walks, etc. However, this is only true of God in Christ Jesus, God manifested in the flesh.
E. SUMMARY OF THIS TRUTH: Apart from the person of the Lord Jesus, God, the Eternal Spirit, is:
1. Spirit;
2. Invisible;
3. Incorporeal;
4. Without parts;
5. Without body;
6. Free from all limitations;
7. Apprehended not by the senses but by the soul;
8. Above sensuous perceptions; and
9. Not a material Being.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
A. DEFINITION OF ATTRIBUTES: By attributes we mean the characteristics and qualities of God. As water is wet and fire is hot, so God is eternal, immutable, holy, etc. These attributes are classified into two classes: the Natural and the Moral. As it is not our intention to go into a comprehensive study of the divine attributes we shall simply name a few of the most familiar ones and not classify them.
B. THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD: This means that God is perfect in knowledge; He knows everything. He has perfect knowledge of all that will transpire among the human family and nations. Daniel chapters 2, 8 and 12.
“Known unto God are all His ways from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18). Read Isaiah 46:9-10.
References: Job 11:7-8; Job 37:16; Psalm 139:2-3; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 40:26-27; Matthew 10:29-30; I John 3:20; and Proverbs 5:21.
Note: We must not confound the foreknowledge of God with His fore-ordination. The fact that God knows a thing makes that thing certain but not necessary. Man still has the responsibility for his own acts. Also note that there is one thing that God does not know and that is another God beside Himself.
C. THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD: This means that God is perfect in power. God’s power admits no bound or limitations.
“I know that thou canst do anything.” (Job 42:2).
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14).
Satan has no power over any of God’s children only as God permits. God raises up a standard against Satan just as He sets a bar to the waves of the sea (Job 1:12; Job 2:6; Luke 22:31-32).
D. THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD: This means that God is everywhere at all times. His center is everywhere; His circumference is nowhere.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 23:23-24).
Speak to Him then for He listens: and nearer than hands and feet. God is never so far off as even to be near; He is within. Our spirit is the home He holds most dear. The omnipresence of God is not only a detective truth; it is also protective (detective to the sinner, but protective to the saint.)
References: Psalm 139: 17-18; Genesis 16:13; II Chronicles 2:6; Matthew 28:20; Acts 7: 48; and Acts 17:24-28.
Grouping the above three attributes:
Psalm 139:1-6 - The omniscience of God.
Psalm 139:7-12 - The omnipresence of God.
Psalm 139:13-19 - The omnipotence of God.
Christ has these attributes proving His Deity:
John 3:13 - On earth and in heaven - Omnipresence of Christ.
Matthew 28:18 - There is no other power - Omnipotence of Christ.
John 16:30 and also John 21:17 - Omniscience of Christ.
E. THE HOLINESS OF GOD: This is the attribute with which God would have us remember Him more than any other. The visions which God gave to Job, Moses and Isaiah show this very definitely. Some thirty times does the prophet Isaiah speak of God as “The Holy One.”
It is because of this attribute more than others that God cannot fellowship with sinful man. It is not God’s omnipotence and man’s weakness, which hinders fellowship nor yet the fact that God is perfect in knowledge and man is limited in knowledge. It is rather because of God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. It is because of this God desires us to remember Him by His attribute of holiness.
The holiness of God demanded that the blood of millions of lambs, goats, bullocks, turtle doves, etc. be shed whereby man might approach unto God. In the New Testament we can only approach God through the blood of the man Christ Jesus.
The construction of the Tabernacle with its holy and most holy place, into which the High Priest entered once every year with blood; the ten commandments with all their moral commands; the laws of clean and unclean animals—absolutely nothing unholy in Him.
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5).
God hates sin and to Him it is vile and detestable. The infinite distance between the sinner and God is because of sin. The sinner and God are at opposite poles of the moral universe. Herein lies the need of atonement whereby this awful distance is bridged.
We shall have right views of sin when we get right views of God’s holiness. The approach to a holy God must be through the merits of Jesus Christ and on the ground of righteousness, which is Christ’s and which in the natural we do not possess (Philippians 3:9).
References: Isaiah 59:2; Isaiah 41:14; Isaiah 6:3-5; Acts 3:14; I Peter 1:15: and Revelation 4:8.
F. THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD: This means that God does not change. Time and change are together denied of God. There is no past, present or future with God. Everything is one great living present. It is not possible that God should possess an attribute at one time that He does not possess at another.
“The Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17).
“I am the Lord, I change not…” (Malachi 3:6).
G. THE ETERNITY OF GOD: This attribute is closely connected to that of immutability. It simply means that God dwells in eternity and time has no effect upon Him. With Him there is no past or future but one eternal present.
“From everlasting to everlasting, thou are God.” (Psalm 90:2).
“Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God?” (Habakkuk 1:12).
“I am that I am…“ (Exodus 3:14).
The past, present and future lie in these words for the title of Jehovah. I AM the eternally present One; the self-existent One.
H. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD AND THE ETERNITY OF GOD: There is a direct relation between space and time. This may be worked out scientifically. Actually God could not be omnipresent if he were not the “I AM”. Filling the universe with His presence He sees the past as now. How we should rejoice that our past is blotted out under the blood of Jesus. Otherwise our sins would continuously appear as happening now in the eyes of our God.
I. DOES GOD REPENT? If God is immutable how can God repent?
“And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Genesis 6:6).
Actually God never changes His mind. There is no necessity for this for His foreknowledge tells Him before hand of every act upon the part of man. God’s character never changes but His dealings with men change as they change from ungodliness to godliness and from disobedience to obedience. When a man bicycling against the wind turns about and goes with the wind, the wind seems to have changed although it is blowing just the same as it was before. It was the man who changed; not the wind.
J. GOD IS LOVE:
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (I John 4:16).
It would appear that love is more than an attribute. It expresses the very essence of God’s nature. It should be considered along with the statements, “God is light” (I John 1:5), and “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). These are not just characteristics but the very essence of God’s Being.
The love of God is greater than human comprehension. It is beyond measure and understanding. The love of God is of such a nature that it is extended to all men everywhere at all times. He loves every man regardless of color, nationality and culture. He does not love the sins and habits of man but He loves the soul of man and He constantly has the physical and spiritual welfare of man at heart.
The Cross of Calvary is the highest expression of the love of God for sinless man.
“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.” (John 3:16).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
References: Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 49:15-16; Isaiah 63:9; and I John 4:9-10.
K. DOES GOD HATE?
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him.” (Proverbs 6:16).
The nature of Love demands a hatred for that which would injure or destroy the object of that love. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. There is nothing inconsistent here. Rather God would not love the sinner if He did not at the same time hate that which is hurting the sinner. This hatred along with God’s anger is not a carnal human emotion but rather the reaction of a holy God to sin which is expressed in terms that man can understand.
God’s nature is not vindictive but rather vindicative.
L. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND JUST: These attributes are further expressions of God’s holiness. In the fact that God is righteous we see His love for holiness; in the fact that He is just we see His hatred for sin. Because God is righteous there is an imposing of righteous laws and demands upon his children; because God is just there is an executing of penalties which are attached to these laws. God always does that which is right and His justice is free from all passion and vindictiveness. It is these attributes that demand a propitiation for sin before the sinner can be justified.
References: Psalm 116:5; Exra 9:15; Psalm 145:17; and Jeremiah 12:1.
GOD IS CREATOR
A. GOD IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND MAN:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).
“So God created man in his own image.” (Genesis 1:27).
“All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3).
The universe did not exist from eternity, nor was it made from existing matter. It did not proceed as an emanation from the infinite but was summoned into being by the decree of God. The true record of creation is given in the first chapter of Genesis. Evolution as taught in our schools is a false theory, which cannot be proven and is aimed at destroying the faith in God’s Word. God spoke the world into being and created from that which does not appear.
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3).
B. GOD SUSTAINS CERTAIN RELATIONS TO THE UNIVERSE AND MAN:
“…Upholding all things by the word of his power…” (Hebrews 1:3).
“…And by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17).
“…That thou mayest give them their meat in due season…” (Psalm 104:27-30).
“For promotion cometh neither frorm the east, nor from the west” (Psalm 75:6-7).
1. All things are held together by Him; if not, this old world would go to pieces quickly. Not blind chance, but a personal God is at the helm.
2. The physical supplies for all God’s creatures are in His hand: He feeds them all.
3. God has His hand in history, guiding and shaping the affairs of nations.
4. God’s care is described with great detail: The sparrows, the lilies, the hairs of the head, the tears of His children.
C. MAN CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” (Genesis 1:26-27).
“And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” (Genesis 2:7).
We shall be studying this subject again and at that time shall be dealing with it in greater detail.
Undoubtedly man being created in the image of his creator has reference more to the intellectual and righteous nature of God than to a physical likeness. However, God had a body in which He was going to manifest Himself, a body which, was only in His mind and plan until it was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary when the Word was made flesh. In other words if there is any reference to a physical likeness it would be to the Son of God, the man Christ Jesus.
D. THE MEANING OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS “US” AND “OUR”:
Actually, verse twenty-seven makes the meaning very clear. The singular personal pronouns, “His” and “He,” states clearly that creation was the work of ONE Divine Person. Also, verses 3 and 10 of the first chapter of John’s gospel make this clear. “The world was made by Him” (Jesus).
The meaning of “us” and “our” here must have the same explanation as in Genesis 3:23-24 and Isaiah 6:1-8. In these verses the personal pronouns clearly refer to God and the cherubim, and to God and the seraphim. In each case the plural pronouns referred to God and the angels. He did not counsel with the angels in the sense of seeking instruction (Isaiah 40:12-14). However, He did take them into His confidence. Creation was not done in secret.
