Who is God?
In order to build a sure foundation on solid ground we must start with a plan. And having the right architect makes all the difference. We have a master architect, He has made many a wonderful design, He has an excellent resume and many wonderful references for us to check out. Before building I would definitely encourage you to check out His prior work and reputation.
Master Architect:
OMNISCIENT
(all knowing) He is very much aware of His creation. He is interested in us as individuals, as His children and nothing taking place anywhere escapes His knowledge. Every nook and cranny is considered in all of His masterpieces. He can even determine the best direction for you, because He makes a point to know each and every one of His designs.Psalms 139:1-6;
1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.Psalms 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
Matthew 10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
OMNIPOTENT (all powerful) God, our architect can do all things. Nothing is to hard for Him. No problem is so large that He cannot deal with it and, if it is His will, He is able to eliminate problems.
Psalms 139:7-12
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
OMNIPRESENT (present everywhere) You are never alone. Like Paul on that storm-tossed ship you can boldly say, "I believe God!" He will be with you no matter what you face in life.
Isaiah 43:2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon theeOkay, by now you know that when referring to the Master Architect I am referring to God our Father. The above characteristics are only a few, we will dig further on the awesome characteristics of God. Why is it important to know of His characteristics? Because without them a sure, solid foundation can not be built. You see My Friends we are called to be like Him, if we do not know Him; how can we develop His character in our own lives?
Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Let us continue on our journey in learning the character of God, so that we too will know how to live Godly lives, sanctified {set apart} from the worldGod is Truth
How can we know that we worship the true God? Is it because we feel right or have certain opinions? Certainly not, for we are flawed in our ability to know what is true or false. The final court of arbitration is God Himself. He has told us that He exists and that He is truth.
Jeremiah 10:10
But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true
1 Thes. 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
God is Holy
Being holy means that God is without sin and will not look on sin.
Habakkuk 1:13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?Joshua 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins
Psalm 68:5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation
Psalm 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
Isa 5:16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
This is why the death of Jesus Christ was necessary. For God to be able to look upon you and me, we must appear as sinless and holy. Since we cannot achieve that state by ourselves, Jesus was given to cover us with His holiness.
God is Righteous
God is just in His dealings with mankind. Pharaoh recognized this as he and his people were suffering under the plagues. Pharaoh acknowledged the perfect justice of God in punishing him for his sin when he said, "
Exodus 9:27
And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked."God is Sovereign
Which means He posses the Supreme power and is unlimited in extent
1 Timothy 6:15
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;In other word's there is no higher authority than God. He is the final authority.
Deuteronomy 10: For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Psalms 136:3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
God is Good
God is the final standard of what is good, and all that God is and does is worthy of approval. This does not mean that God's goodness is contingent upon our approval. God is good whether we choose to believe it or not.."
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." Luke 18:19Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
This attribute is closely related to holiness and righteousness. God hates sin and His just nature demands that He judge it. God has given us His law and has declared,
" Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4 It is because He is just that God has wrath and anger.Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him
God is Never Changing
Because God is never changing, the same God in the past future and present we can count on all of His promises, gifts and blessing for our lives. As well we must realize that since God is never changing and is the very essence of truth, then we must accept that along with the promises of blessings comes the promise of coming judgement and consequences to sin.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.God is Jealous
We have learned that God is everywhere, all knowing, loving, true and just. However God is as well a jealous God. Demanding that He come first in our lives.
Exodus 20:3
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,
Before we close on this paragraph it is necessary for us to understand that this is not just speaking of "gods" ie. Budda, etc. This is as well speaking of the idols and gods we have in our lives, meaning ANYTHING that we have placed above Him. This can range from vices, hobbies, to just about anything including ourselves. Now, I am not saying that we cannot have hobbies, homes, cars etc. I am saying when we place these items BEFORE Him. They too are considered idols and gods. We must as well use caution in our time management, since all things belong to God this includes time. We must make sure that we are not taking away from our time with Him to indulge ourselves in what "we" want to do. Again all things belong to Him, our time, talents and treasures. There are repercussions of placing anything including our spouses and children above God and His desires for our lives.
Judges 10:13
Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.Leviticus 26:30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you.
Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
God is Judgement
It is so easy to accept all of the "good" characteristics of God. However when it comes to the balance of a good, loving God who is as well, JUST, JEALOUS AND JUDGEMENTAL, we seem to want to leave out the "HARSH" characteristics of God. The point here being that we must accept all of the characteristics of God in full counsel. Sure, it's great to hear of the "give me" God, the "bless me sermons" and receive the "atta boy" pats. However one cannot build and stand firm on a sure foundation without accepting all of God. We are not given the choice to pick and choose what parts of God we want and do not want.
GOD IS A BALANCED BEING FOR OUR EDIFICATION AND SPIRITUAL GROWTHMatthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life
WOW quiet a lot we have learned about God! He ia loving, kind, just, judgmental, truth, sovereign, good, never changing, Holy, and righteous among a very large list of other attributes.
However one may ask if God is all of these wonderful things how can He send someone to hell? Well our just God has given His law. Because He is righteous He has said,
" Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4 But it is not His intention to send anyone to hell. In fact, hell was not even created for mankind, per se, but for the devil and his angels. God did not create sin, He allowed sin. God Himself did not sin, and He is not to be blamed for sin. It was man and angels who sinned-and they did so by willful, voluntary choice. To blame God is to attack His character.God's Provision Sin.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
PONDER THIS:
In your notebook make a list of the attributes of God. Make another list of the areas in your own life that needs to be more like His attributes. Make sure you date your list. As you go through each of the following scripture, pray that His attributes would increase in your life and the fleshly attributes we each have would decrease.
How should we react to a God who is all these things?
1. Why is it important for us to show gratification for what God has done in our lives?
2. Why is it important for us as His children to be truthful?