IS THERE NO GOD?

WHO IS GOD?                                         

GOD Has revealed Himself in a multitude of ways, ( Heb 1:1-2) God has in various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the Fathers by the prophets, has in this last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. He is the saving Lord of History, who has come as Good News into our misery and desperation, and we have to stand in awe of what He has done. Though He is only one God, He is triune in His being (Deut. 4:35) To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. When Jesus was ascending to heaven, He commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Spirit.(Matt. 28:19). He is everything that humanity in his fallen condition is not. That is, God is Holy while human are sinful; God is infinite and eternal, humans are finite and subject to death; God is all knowing, humans are limited in knowledge; God is everywhere present, humans can only be in one place at a time; God is all-powerful, humans are weak and dependent;  God is unchanging, humans are often fickle; God is Righteous, humans are unrighteous; God is love, humans are prone to hate one another; God is alive, humans are dead in sin. Who can stand in awe of God? Ask the Israelites, Now all the people witnessed the thundering, the lighting flushes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood a far off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let God not speak to us lest we die. (Deut. 20: 19-20). The children of Israel were very excited to go meet with their Maker, but just one sneeze of His thunder, they took off to their heels and could not stand one minute in God’s presence. The unique Christian confession is that Jesus is God or Lord, as God and man in one person.  Prophet Isaiah declared that unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Councilor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6). Jesus bridges the enormous gap between God and man. Through Him, we can return to the heart and the home of our Father. Peter confessed faith in Christ by revealing who Jesus was, as Christ the Son of the living God. (Matt. 16: 15-16) There is an access to God through Christ (John 14:6).

THE HUMAN GOD!

Although a great barrier exists between God and man because of who He is see (Hab. 3:2) A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, “O Lord, I have heard your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the year!  In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” The Bible often draws God in human colors, in order to help us understand His nature. God has a face assuring us that He smiles at us in love and grace. God has ears revealing to us that He hears us when we pray; God has eyes attesting that He sees everything that happens on earth.  God has a mouth and a voice, assuring us that He speaks His word to us. God has fingers, showing us that He has created all things. Particularly important is the fact that, God has hands vouching to us that He saves, guides, provides for and protects us, though His hands can also be experienced in chastening and punishment (Exd. 3:19-20) But I am sure the that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by my Mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in its midst; and after that he will let you go. Our understanding of Who God is and what He is like is further fleshed out when the Bible refers to certain characteristics particularly evident in human Fathers and Mothers. God is described in the Bible as Father- the Father of all, since He created everyone, more especially, the Father of those who profess Jesus as Lord and Savior. As Father, God is perfect in compassion, love, wisdom, justice.  Isaiah’s prayer addressing God as our Father; (Isa. 63: 16) Doubtless You are our Father, though Abraham was ignorant of us. You O Lord are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name. God’s deep feeling for His people are compared to the gentle, tender, nurturing feelings of love that a mother has for her child (Deut.32:11) ‘As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings. Other human characteristics such as jealousy and anger, ones that we see negatively, are cast positively when they are applied to God (Deut. 9:7) Here, Moses reminded the Children of Israelites, how they provoked God to wrath in the wilderness, from the day they departed from Egypt until when they were to cross over to the Jordan they had been rebellious against the Lord. All of these human characteristics of God help us understand the concept of humanity created in the image of God. (Gen. 1:26-27) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our own image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish, over the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

THE UNBELIEF?

How up-to-date can a question be! It was spoken in Israel hundreds of years before Christ, and although, not verbalized, has remained the question in the centuries. Elijah was instructed to speak the question to the messengers of king Ahaziah (2 Kgs. 1:6), So they said to him, “A man came to meet us and said to us, ‘Go return to the king who sent you, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord; “Is it because there was no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?  Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’”‘ “How often that same profoundly true significant question should resound around the world today Men and women turn to everything but the one genuine source of truth. They will believe in false prophets, in quackery, in astrology and tricks and personal philosophies, and choose to ignore God.

Because there is no help, or life or power in man’s gods, man’s ideas and philosophies; belief in them will only end only in wasted, ineffective lives.  The joy and meaning that comes with trust in God will elude us. Ahaziah died because of his unbelief. Our very souls can be lost because of unbelief. Praise God the He exists! We need only believe in Him and believe His words. Apostle Paul continues to remind us not to be deceived:  whatever or whosever we associate with in live, will definitely affects our thinking capacity or our moral standard. “Evil company corrupts good habits.” He urges us to awake to righteousness, and not to sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.  And He spoke this to our shame. (1 Cor.15:33-34). And in 2 Cor 6: 14-16, Paul continues to warn us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer and non-believer? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said; “I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God, And they shall be my people,” Therefore Come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And He will receive us.” He will be a Father to us and we shall be His Sons and Daughters. Says,” the Lord God Almighty.”

Through the passage and the Scriptures quoted above; I would say, “That God is conceived of as the Supreme being, Creator and the Principle object of faith. God is again conceived of as being Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnibenevolent as well as having an eternal and necessary existence.

The Divine characteristic of God includes;

 God is Holy, (Lev. 11: 44);” For I am the Lord Your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy: for I am Holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

 God is Eternal, (Ps.90:2); “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

God is Infinite,( 1 Kgs . 8:27);”But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!”

God is Immortal. (1 Tim 1:17);”Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory for ever and ever, Amen.”

God is Invisible, (1:18);”No one has seen God at any time, The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

God is All- Knowing, (Ps. 147:5); “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite”

God is All Powerful, (Isa. 40: 6-7); The voice said,” Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.

God is Unchanging (Mal. 3:6); “For I am the Lord I do not change” therefore you are not consumed O sons of Jacob.

God is Incomparable (Isa 40: 18, 25): To what then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

God is Glorious and Awesome, (Exod. 15:11); “Who is like You O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

God is Gracious, (Exod. 34:6); And the Lord passed before Him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forging iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the quilt, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and the children’s children to the third and fourth generation.”

God is Spirit, (John, 4:24); “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

God is Perfect (Matt. 5:48); Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

God is Righteous, (Ps. 145:17.); The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works.

God is Everywhere Present (Ps 139: 7-21); Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold You are there If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My fame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they Speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.

Righteous Father, may You remember mercy on us O God……

“Grace to you and Favor from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen, and Amen and Amen.”