WHO IS GOD? [4]

 

This is the last in the series regarding who God is.  From our last gathering, we talked about God being Holy, eternal, never changing and his desire that we know Him through His creativity and more importantly through our relationship with Him.  In this last segment, we want to cover where God is, His character and His role in our life. 

Where is God?

God spoke to Jeremiah regarding how he fills heaven and earth:  

Can any hide Himself in secret places that I shall not see Him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill Heaven and earth? saith the LORD.  Jeremiah 23:24
 
In addition, the Bible says that God cannot be contained within the universe.  Solomon asked the question:  

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? 1 Kings 8:27
 
So, God is both transcendent (Heavenly) and innate (natural).  In other words, God is present at all places at all times (omnipresent). 
 
God's normal abode is in Heaven, which is not located within the physical realms of the universe. According to the Bible, Heaven operates under different physical laws.  

And the Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  Revelation 6:14
 
And all the host of Heaven shall be dissolved, and the Heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. Isaiah 34:4
 
But those things are kind of an impersonal look at God and His sovereignty, so let’s take a more up-close personal look at God:

The God who appeared to people in the Old Testament was the Word who became Jesus Christ, not God the Father.  

However, when we discuss the nature or character of God, we make no distinction between God the Father and God the Son because they are identical in nature and character. When Jesus was praying for His disciples and His future disciples to be "one" (unified), He prayed, "that they may be one as We are" and "that they may be one just as We are one".  That’s found in John:

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11)

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:22)

So, although we haven’t literally seen God with our eyes, we can perceive and better understand His nature, character, purposes and goals in the person of Jesus Christ.   It is through God the son that we can know and identify His character.
 
What single word best defines God's character?

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  1 John 4:8
 
Love defines God's nature, and love is what He most wants to see in the character of His children. Therefore, it's no surprise that His greatest commandments are to love—to love God and to love people just as we love ourself.
 
Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  Matthew 22:37-39

Love is the greatest, most important of God’s character, but there is more:
 
What are other words that define God's character and nature?
 
For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.  Psalm 11:7

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy,for I am holy."  1 Peter 1:15-16

God is righteous and holy. Even during Jesus' earthly life, He never sinned. God defines the absolute standards of righteous character, and He sets the perfect example. God's commandments and laws spell out God's righteousness, and by obeying those laws we’re imitating Jesus and becoming the very image of Him.
 
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)
 
God's functions that we need desperately
 
When you read the Bible, notice how often you see the words savior, save, saved and salvation. Notice also synonymous words like deliver, delivered and deliverer. 
 
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  1 John 4:14

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  1 Timothy 2:3-4

When God began to announce the Ten Commandments, He introduced Himself as,
 
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" (Exodus 20:2 and Deuteronomy 5:6)
 
The miraculous liberation of the Israelites from Egypt illustrates God's plan to miraculously deliver us out of our bondage to sin.
 
The angel that appeared to Joseph told him that Mary's child should be called Jesus (meaning Savior) "for He will save His people from their sins"
 
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
 
The word salvation is used to refer to the various steps that God takes to save us, but our ultimate salvation will be our resurrection from mortality to glorious immortality
 
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.   So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:50-54)
 
What's another of God's important roles?
 
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  Genesis 1:27

You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth."  Psalm 104:30
 
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.  Exodus 20:11

God is the Owner and the supreme Ruler over His creation, and God is dedicated to providing the best possible care of His creation. We can also learn many things about God by observing His creation,
 
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; 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; so that they are without excuse:    Roman 1:18-20
 
Is God the supreme example of grace, mercy and generosity?
 
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.
Psalm 145:8

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.  Psalm 103:2-4

Our gracious God not only provides all our needs, but also bestows on us the gift of grace. Apostle Paul often used the word grace to refer to all the spiritual gifts that God offers humanity, including the forgiveness of sin and the offer of eternal life. God's grace is truly amazing and awesome—it is gracious generosity greater than our minds can comprehend!
 
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;  Psalm 103:4
 
 3 more items to add to your storehouse of Who Is God:

üKnow the fullness of God,
üsee God the father through God the son,
üknow that God is love, righteousness and He is gracious. 
 

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