2doctrine 2 of The True GOD

Bethany Baptist Church
BACK TO BASICS
Doctrine # 2: Of the True God: The Lord Our God is One Lord
II. Of the True God

“We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and supreme
ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in
the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine
perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.”
Timetable
Lesson 1 God’s IDENTITY “one living and true God”
God can be Known
God has been Revealed
Lesson 2 God Cannot be Fully Understood
Language of Accommodation
Lesson 3 The Doctrine of TRINITY – Introduction

Lesson 4 Evidences for the Trinity in the OT and NT
Lesson 5 The Essence/Character of God - Introduction

Lesson 6 The Ten (10) Major Attributes of God
Sovereignty
Lesson 7 Righteousness
Lesson 8 Justice
Lesson 9 Love
Lesson 10 Eternal Life
Lesson 11 Omniscience
Lesson 12 Omnipresence
Lesson 13 Omnipotence
Lesson 14 Immutability
Lesson 15 Veracity
Lesson 16 God’s ACTIVITY
Please try to impress to the class that every solution to every problem/concern in life is answered
when we refer to the essence / character of God.
SAN VICENTE BAPTIST BIBLE CHURCH
Sunday School Lesson
# 1: OF THE TRUE GOD : The Lord Our God Is One Lord
II. Of the True God

“We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker
and supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible
honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the
Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices
in the great work of redemption.”
James Denney, a Scotch preacher and theologian, used to warn students against thinking they could learn all there was to
know about God during their university and seminary studies. “Gentlemen: to study infinity requires eternity.”
So you will find when you begin the study of an infinite God – “He is so great the heavens cannot contain Him, yet small
enough that He can dwell in your heart.” (anonymous)
In the above Doctrinal Statement, we will see three (3) aspects of the True God that we will discuss in detail: GOD’S
IDENTITY, the TRINITY, and God’s ACTIVITY.
A. GOD’S IDENTITY – “one living and true God.”

Despite man’s tendency to replace God, either with himself or some form of false deity, Scripture is
undeniably clear in its assertion that there is only one true God:
Jeremiah 10: 10 “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king”
There are three important truths to learn about God’s IDENTITY 1) God can be known 2) God has
been revealed 3) God cannot be fully understood.
1. God can be known. The Lord Jesus is the revelation of the Invisible God.
God is not an unknowable being or force that is uninterested in man’s life. On the contrary,
the true God has gone to great lengths to reveal Himself to man and to restore the personal relationship
with mankind lost through Adam’s sin. God the Father is revealed thru the Son.
John 14:6-7 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If
ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”
John 17:3 – “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent.”
1 John 5:20 – “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him
that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
1. God has been revealed. through Creation, through natural organization, thru the Scriptures
A. Through creation (COSMOLOGICAL argument for God’s existence).:

Psalm 19: 1-6: the heavens, the day and the night continually tell of God’s glory; the
center of this revelation is the universe, the coverage is everywhere and everyone can know it.
Romans 1:18-32. nature declares God 19. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in
them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. 20 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:
B. Through organization (TELEOLOGICAL argument for God’s existence).

The purpose, order and design observed in the world calls for a designer.
Acts 14:15-18 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you,
and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven,
and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven,
and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto
them.
The Apostle Paul is saying the world shows the cycle of seasons and the gift of rain in order to
give mankind food and gladness. This order in nature serves as a witness to the existence of
the true and living God.
C. Through Scripture (BIBLICAL argument for God’s existence).

Perhaps one of the greatest arguments for the existence of God in Scripture is the Bible’s very
first verse – “In the beginning, God…” (Genesis 1:1).
No introduction – no qualifiers – no prerequisites. The Bible, from its very beginning, assumes the
eternal existence of God.
 Creation reveals God, but in a limited manner.
 Organization reveals God, but in a limited manner.
 The incarnation of Christ reveals God, but in a limited manner since Jesus has not been on earth
physically for nearly 2,000 years.
The Holy Bible – God’s Word – is the most reliable and complete revelation of God!
“Although these arguments for the existence of God had considerable validity and man may be justly
condemned by God for rejecting them (Romans 1:18-20), they have not been sufficient to bring man
into proper relationship to God or to produce a real faith in God unassisted by scriptural revelation. It
is in the Bible that the complete revelation of God is given, confirming all the facts found in nature but
adding to natural revelation many truths which natural revelation could not have disclosed.” (Lewis
Sperry Chafer, Major Bible Themes)
Bethany Baptist Church - Sunday School Ministry
Back to the Basic Lesson 2 : OF THE TRUE GOD: The Lord Our God Is One Lord
II. Of the True God
“We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the maker and
supreme ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of
redemption.”
TO REVIEW: During the introduction lesson on the One True God, we have seen that the first part of our Doctrinal
Statement about God is on His IDENTITY - He is one living and true God. We learned there are 3 important truths to
learn about God’s identity; and our Pastor have discussed the first 2 :
1) God can be known. The Lord Jesus Christ is the revelation of the Father. (John 14:6-7,
Hebrews 1 :1-2)
2) God has been revealed. - through Creation, through natural organization, and most
importantly through the Scriptures (Romans 1: 19-20; Daniel 2:20-22)
This week we discuss the 3rd important truth:
3). God cannot be fully understood.

There are two facts that, though they appear contradictory, are not mutually exclusive. Fact #1 has
already been discussed: God can be known. Fact #2 is equally important: God is incomprehensible.
God’s Word is clear on this truth:
 Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
 Psalm 147:5 Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.
 Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
 Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable
[are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
NOTE: To say that He is incomprehensible does not mean God cannot be known, but that man
cannot know everything about Him. God’s ways and thoughts are far higher than our ways
Isaiah 55:7 – 9 : “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than
UNDERSTANDING GOD:
Early in life we became aware that God exists. God-consciousness begins as a natural curiosity. We
have asked questions about the source, the cause, the nature, the purpose of things in everyday life. The answers
carried our thoughts toward a Supreme Being.
But UNDERSTANDING GOD is in a far different level; the Herculean task of understanding God
involves not only the mentality but the volition as well.. We are spiritually blind. Our human spirit being
dead, we cannot discover God’s character or personality. But into our spiritual darkness shone the grace of
God; He has revealed Himself.
1. At point of salvation, when we believe the Word of God concerning the work of Christ on the
Cross, our human spirit was quickened. Therefore now we have been equipped to understand
spiritual phenomena. But even with our human spirit quickened, we are unable to understand God.
2. The HOLY SPIRIT must continue after salvation in His behind-the–scenes work of glorifying
the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:12-15)
3. Furthermore, God had to design in the Scriptures themselves a very simple approach to
complex and advanced doctrines . For the sake of clarity, therefore, when describing the character and
function of infinite God, the Bible often resorts to LANGUAGE OF ACCOMODATION.
WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF ACCOMODATION?
When describing the character and function of the infinite God, the Bible often resorts to language
of accommodation. In other words, to make certain that His thoughts, policies, decisions and actions are
lucidly explained, God takes into account our inherent limitations and basic ignorance.
He graciously describes Himself as having human feelings, human passions, human thoughts, human
anatomy – even human sins (ex. anger) – in order to communicate things for us which otherwise we would
have no basis for reference. Of course, God possesses none of these characteristics; He uses them as teaching
aids known as “anthropopathism” and “anthropomorphisms.”
1. anthropomorphisms – from the Greek “anthropos”, “man”, plus “morphos”, “body” .

It depicts God as having some physical characteristics of man - of human anatomy (hands, eyes, ears,
etc) . The Bible talks about God who “hears” “sees” “holds” “feels” , etc. but these are only
figures of speech and NOT description of God’s true nature.
2. anthropopathism - from the Greek “anthropos”, “man”, plus “pathos” “a function of the soul with an
outward manifestation.
An anthropopathism ascribes to God human emotion, feelings, passions and thoughts to explain His
policies, actions and decisions. (God loves, God hates, God repents, God chooses)
Again these are only figures of speech and NOT description of God’s true nature.
To illustrate:
1. God does not hate, even though the Bible declares that “thou hatest all workers of iniquity”
(Psalm 5:5) Nor he is “jealous” in spite of the warning in Deut 29:20 , His “ jealousy shall smoke
against that man” who turns from the Lord. These are just anthropopathisms.
2. When the “eyes of the Lord are over the righteous but the face of the Lord is against them that
do evil” (I Peter 3:12) true functions of God are described – He indeed blesses the mature believer
and disciplines the backslider. But God is immaterial, spiritual Being; He has no eyes or face. These
are just anthropomorphisms.
3. Also, in the verse Romans 9:13 - “ As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”
- God’s perfect character is not put in jeopardy. In these contrasting statements, God evaluates a
pair of twin brothers. Jacob had believed in Christ, the promised Messiah, for eternal salvation. But
Esau had remained an unbeliever all his life. Therefore, the justice of God has a different attitude
toward each, consistent with His perfect character.
God could not possibly hate Esau. Hatred is a mental attitude sin. Hatred, then, is obviously
human characteristic which is ascribed to God to express His judgment against unregenerate Esau.
In Romans 9:13, therefore, God has handed down a judicial opinion regarding unbelievers
and believers.
4. Also the term “father” draws upon our familiarity with the concept of a paternal relationship.
Father describes the relationship between the first and second Persons of the Trinity and also defines
our family bond through regeneration. Likewise, the names “Son” and “Holy Spirit” instruct us about
the roles of the other persons with the Godhead . But the term “father” does not mean subordination by
the other members of the Godhead.
Purpose for the use of Language of Accommodation: God’s purpose in using these teaching aids is certainly not
to keep us in the dark as to His true character, nor even to cater to our ignorance, but to enable us to learn. He
comes down to the level of our mentality when presenting what otherwise would go as far over our heads
The Word of God then employs such imagery :

1. primarily to dramatize the Gospel to unbelievers ;
2. and to make basic doctrines vividly clear to immature believers.
As we become aware of anthropopathisms and anthropomorphisms and of how they are used, our ability to
understand the Scriptures greatly increases.`
Bethany Baptist Church - Sunday School Ministry - Back to the Basic
Lesson 3: OF THE TRUE GOD:
Definition of the Doctrine of the Trinity .. that in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, equal in every divine perfection…”
B. THE DOCTRINE of the TRINITY – “there are three Persons.”

INTRODUCTION: Some principles about the Trinity.
A definition of “trinity” is not easily constructed. One of the best definitions is by B.B. Warfield: “There is one
only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in
substance but distinct in subsistence.”
Illustration of the Trinity:
II. WHAT IS THE DOCTRINE of the TRINITY?

A. The Existence of God:
a. The Bible does not seek to prove the existence of God; it assumes it to be true. Only the fool
denies His existence. Psalm 14:1 “…The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are
corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good”.
b. The Scriptures attest to the fact of a Supreme Being. Similarly, the Doctrine of the Trinity
and the Essence of God are well defined throughout the Word of God.
a. Although the word TRINITY is not found in the Scripture, its concept is biblical and best
expresses the three-fold Personality of God.
b. Historically, the formal doctrine of the Trinity (like all other complex Doctrines) was originated
by combining all passages related to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
This was in response to various false views concerning the Trinity such as:
a. The error of tri-theism . This says that the Trinity consists of 3 separate (but co-operating)
Gods.
b. The error of modalism. According to this view there is but one God who simply reveals
himself through 3 different modes, or roles. For example, a particular man could be
considered a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and an employer to his boss.
B. The Doctrine of the Trinity states that God exists in 3 separate and distinct personalities.
a. Each Person is self-conscious and self-directing; yet He never acts independently of or in
opposition to the others.
b. The First Person is called the FATHER, the second Person is called the SON, and the third
Person is called the HOLY SPIRIT.
c. This does not indicate inferiority or subordination. They are coequal and coeternal.
Subordination comes into the Plan of God ONLY AS IT RELATES TO MAN.
The Son became obedient to the Father’s Plan by going to the Cross; the Holy Spirit became obedient
to the Father’s Plan by indwelling all believers in the Church Age
TO FURTHER EMPHASIZE, the titles of the first 2 Members of the Godhead (the Father and the Son) are
simply language of accommodation to indicate their function, activity or operation in relation to the Plan for the
human race. The First Person of the Trinity is called “Father” because we enter into a family relationship with
Him through the new birth (John 3:3), “Son” expresses a relationship between the First and Second Persons in
the Plan of God.
C. The Doctrine of the Trinity defines the unity of God as having one nature/one essence with
describable attributes.
a. Each member of the Godhead – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – is a
separate person who possesses these attributes individually (the attributes of God will be discussed in
detail in the next lessons) The Trinity DOES NOT mean there are “three gods in one”; BUT that
one God exists as three persons – coequal, coinfinite, co-eternal, and co-substantial – all three
possessing the same essential nature
Psalm 110:1 “A Psalm of David. The LORD (said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool”.
John 10:30 The Lord Jesus Christ declares, “ I and [my] Father are one”.
- No one member of the Trinity, in His essential being, is subordinate to another member.
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
D. The Doctrine of the Trinity can only be understood by FAITH.

a. All that God has made known about Himself can be understood , even the fact hat He is
singular in one sense and plural in another.
Deut 29:29 “The secret [things belong] unto the LORD our God: but those [things which are] revealed
[belong] unto us and to our children for ever, that [we] may do all the words of this law .”
We may wonder how one God can exist in 3 persons; yet from the Scripture we can know He so exist!
b. Our finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite; but through the ministry of the Holy Spirit
who reveals the Scriptures, we can understand and accept spiritual truth by means of FAITH.
FAITH is the means of perception which accepts an established criterion/principle as the basis
of reality; hence it is tantamount to confidence or belief in the authority and veracity of another.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
E. The Doctrine of the Trinity could be illustrated in a limited manner as follows :
a. The properties of light epitomizes not only the unity of essence but also the individuality of
each attribute and Person. Light is a single phenomena with 3 distinct properties:
1. actinic or radiating energy - it is like GOD the FATHER, neither seen nor felt
2. luminiferous or illuminating energy - it is like GOD the SON, both seen and felt
3. calorific or heat-producing energy - it is like GOD the HOLY SPIRIT, felt but not
seen
b. the dimensional example: A book has height, width and length. These 3 cannot be separated ,
yet they are not the same
c. a triangle
E. Why is it of utmost necessity for a believer in Christ to fully comprehend the Doctrine of the
Trinity ? For practical reasons…
-Our view of the Trinity determines our understanding of Christology, the person & work of Jesus Christ.
-Our view of the Holy Spirit affects our concept of living the Christian life.
-Our worship and spirituality are possible only with a Biblical perspective of the Godhead.
-In short, we must understand the Trinity to have a maturing relationship with God.
Bethany Baptist Church - Sunday School Ministry
Back to the Basic

Lesson 4: OF THE TRUE GOD: Scriptural Evidences on the Doctrine of the Trinity
SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCES for the TRINITY: (in the OT and NT):
I. Old Testament Evidence for the Trinity:
A. The use of the word ELOHIM (used 2,570x in the OT). ELOHIM is differentiated from
JEHOVAH or YAHWEH in its use.
The Hebrew word for “God” is ELOHIM – a plural word indicating the existence of more than one person in
the Godhead. When Genesis 1:1 declares “In the beginning God (ELOHIM) created the heaven and the
earth. “ the plural asserts that all 3 persons had a part in creation. The Father planned/conceived the plan
it; the Son accomplished /executed it; and the Holy Spirit reveals and sustains it.
B. A 2nd inference to plurality is the Hebrew tetragrammaton JHWH ;
This word is the doubling of the verb “to be” and actually means I AM THAT I AM, or absolute
existence. It is translated JEHOVAH or YAHWEH and sometimes refers to all Members of the Godhead
(Numbers 6:24-27) and sometimes to a specific Person, the context indicating which.
Differentiation in the King James version:
*when you find the word LORD, it refers to tetragrammaton referring to a specific Person of the Godhead.
*when we find the word GOD, it refers to ELOHIM referring to the 3 Persons of the Godhead.
The context of Scripture may indicate which member of the Trinity the Tetragrammaton describes. For
ex., the appearance of Yahweh to man, a theophany (pre-Bethlehem existence of the Lord Jesus Christ) always
refers to the Son, the manifest person of the Trinity (John 6:46, John 14:9-10, Isaiah 6; John 12:39-41)
Psalm 110:1 “The Lord (JHWH – God the Father) said unto my Lord (JHWH – God the Son) Sit thou at my
right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool”
C.. A 3rd OT reference to the Trinity is in the pronoun “us” and “our”. . God again refers to
Himself in the plural. Gen 1: 26 “And God (ELOHIM) said, Let us make man in our image,..”
Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:
Genesis 11:7 “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand
one another's speech.”
Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?.”
D. A 4th implication of the Trinity is in the repetition of the worship accorded the Lord by the
angels
Isaiah 6:3, “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole
earth [is] full of his glory.” The 3 “Holys” refers to the 3 Persons of the Godhead.
Revelation 4:8, “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes
within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come .”
The Lord Jesus Christ was speaking in Isaiah 48:16 “ Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken
in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there [am] I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.”
E. God makes a distinction of persons within the Godhead .

- A difference is made between “Redeemer” and “Lord” (Isaiah 59:20); between “Spirit” and “Lord”
(Isaiah 48:1 ; between “Lord” and “Lord” (Genesis 19:24, Hosea 1:7).
F. The TRINITY manifested in the OT:
Isaiah 6:1-3 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and
his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face
and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy,
holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.”
a. Why did these angelic beings repeat the word “Holy” 3 times? Their praise was addressed to
the Trinity. Notice they did not say “Holy, Holy, Holy are the Lords of hosts”. God is 3 Persons but
one God with one essence.
b. Jesus Christ is the only visible member of the Trinity. Isaiah saw Him seated upon His throne
as the sovereign of heaven and earth.
The Lord JESUS CHRIST in the OLD TESTAMENT:
The fact that the name JESUS CHRIST does not appear in the OT causes many people to think He did
not exist at that time. And they reject the Trinity on this basis. Our language barrier is often the source of
confusion.
1. JESUS is the Greek word for “Savior”, but it has been transliterated from the Hebrew word JOSHUA.
CHRIST means “Anointed One” in the Greek and is derived from the Hebrew word MESSIAH
Daniel 9:25 “Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to
build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be
built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
2. Jesus Christ as Jehovah is found in such passages as :
Psalm 10:16 - The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
Isaiah 40:3 - The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make
straight in the desert a highway for our God.
3. He is also revealed as the Angel of Jehovah in many passages such as (Gen 16:7-13, 22:11-18, Exodus
3:2-4, 13:21, 14:19; Judges 6:11-23, 13:9-20)
4. Jesus Christ talked with Adam and Eve everyday in the Garden (Genesis 3:8)
5. He is the one who spoke with Abraham in his tent (Genesis 18) and to Moses at the burning bush
(Exodus 3). Jesus Christ was the One who wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32:24-30)
6. He was the “Shekinah Glory” or the cloud in which Jehovah appeared above the mercy seat of the Ark
of the Covenant (Exodus 25:22, Leviticus 16:2) All these are THEOPHANIES of the OT.
II. New Testament Evidence for the Trinity:

A.. The Titles of God . The very fact that we find different names of the Persons of the Godhead all
through the NT immediately reveals a triune distinction. But more than that, the New Testament states the
complete designation of the Godhead.
1. At one point on history, the Trinity was uniquely manifested on earth. This was during the beginning of
Jesus’ ministry on earth at His baptism, Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up
straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.
2. And the Trinity was again mentioned specifically at the close of His ministry in the Great Commission
Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost :
Notice, this says in the NAME (not names) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, indicating the unity which
subsists in the Trinity.
B. The Works of God. The works of God are ascribed to each Person of the Trinity – not in a combined
effort, but separately and distinctly from the others.
1. In the Incarnation, The Father sent the Son (John 3:16); the Holy Spirit generated the Son (Luke 1:35) and the
Son was born (Luke 2:11)
2. In the earthly ministry of Christ on earth: the Son always did the will of the Father (John 8:29, Heb 10:12); and
the Holy Spirit sustained Christ’s ministry (Matthew 12:18, 28; Luke 4: 1, 14, 18; John 3:34)
3. While at the Cross, Christ addressed the Father and the Spirit “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
(Matthew 27:46b).
4. All three Persons of the Godhead had a part in the Resurrection of Christ ; also in the resurrection of mankind.
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry BACK TO THE BASICS
Lesson 5: OF THE TRUE GOD: The ESSENCE of the TRINITY
INTRODUCTION: So far we have studied one vocabulary to comprehend the unity of the Godhead:
PERSONALITY. There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three (3) coeternal,
coinfinite, coequal and cosubstantial Persons, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence. To put it in another
word, One God exists in three (3) separate and distinct personalities.
Question arises: In what aspect is God one then?
A. The ESSENCE or CHARACTER of GOD:
Two (2) more vocabularies must be learned for us to further comprehend the unity of the Godhead.
1. ESSENCE derived from the Greek adjective “ousia” , “being, substance” essence means inner or
intrinsic nature, true substance, a person’s qualities or attributes. These essential qualities are invisible in
many cases, manifest in some; immaterial (because God is Spirit) , infinite (no boundaries or limitations) ,
unlimited. Another word for Essence is CHARACTER.
2. ATTRIBUTES - refers to those qualities which compose the essence of a person.
Each Person of the Godhead has identifiable and identical ATTRIBUTES. Therefore, God has one
ESSENCE ; the oneness or unity of God refers to the identical essence of the 3 persons.
God’s essence can be known only through His attributes. There are ten (10) major attributes of
deity, all of which are equally ascribed to each Person of the Godhead. No individual attribute is separate
from His essence as a whole. Each attribute is an intrinsic quality of the nature of God
GOD IS ONE IN ESSENCE. GOD HAS ONE ESSENCE. This means that all the
characteristics / attributes of divine essence are possessed by / resident in each Member of the Godhead.
*The essence box containing the 10 major attributes

S EL O
R O I
of God, which are equally ascribed to each Person of
J O V
the Godhead.
LOVE
(Detailed discussion on each of the attribute to follow)
(Please see also illustration on next page)
Father Son Holy
Spirit
In their Essence the three Persons of the Godhead are absolutely the same. However, this is the only
way in which God is one.
The Essence of God is Known through His 10 major Attributes:
1. Since each Person in the Trinity possesses identical essence, the characteristics of the attributes are
what unite the Three as One God.
2. Since God is a Spirit, His attributes are invisible to the human eye. His qualities cannot be perceived
by empiricism or rationalism; they can, however, be understood through the third system of perception:
nonmeritorius thinking, called faith. The believer is totally dependent upon divine revelation from the
Scripture to understand the invisible, immaterial , infinite , unlimited essence of God.
3. There is a limited parallel between the soul of man and the essence of God:
The ESSENCE of GOD The SOUL of MAN
Unseen but Real Unseen but Real

Has attributes: Has attributes: Self-consciousness
S R J EL O V Mentality Volit`ion Emotion
Conscience
O O I LOVE
God’s Being is invisible and real, with attributes; beyond that there is no parallel between divine
essence and the human soul:
4. Man’s personality is based on the essence of his soul. The soul with its characteristics is internal; the
personality is external. Personality is a manifestation of how the soul functions.
5. There are many people in the human race, but they all have the same essence : their soul. We might
say that mankind is one in essence but multitudinous (great number) in personality. The trinity is One
in essence but only Three in personality.
B. When the Bible Speaks of the GLORY of GOD, it is referring to His character or Essence:
Isaiah 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be
given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, [and] the excellency of our
God.
Ezekiel 11:22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God
of Israel [was] over them above.
Ezekiel 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice [was]
like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory
of God?
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(In this verse, the glory of God is His perfect essence with emphasis on His righteousness
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God
did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.
THE ESSENCE of GOD is KNOWN Through His TEN (10) MAJOR ATTRIBUTES:
The uniformity of essence and the three (3) separate but equal personalities of God are best illustrated by an
equilateral triangle, as follows:
FATHEr
Sovereignty
Righteousness
COEQUAL Justice COINFINITE GOD IS:
Love ONE in ESSENCE
Eternal Life
CO-SUBSTANTIAL Omnipotence THREE in PERSON
Omniscience
Omnipresence
Immutability
Veracity
`
SON HOLY SPIRIT
COETERNAL
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry

Back to the Basics : The One and True God
Lesson 6: The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 1. SOVEREIGNTY
SOVEREIGNTY: Tagalog: “Pinaka makapangyarihan sa lahat”

Definition: To be truly Sovereign demands that one has the total freedom, power, knowledge, wisdom and
determination to carry out a predetermined course of action. God possesses all these in infinite measure and is, first of
all, Sovereign.
God has a supreme will. His will/volition has always existed, and there is no higher will in the universe.
1. As sovereign, God is the supreme being in the Universe
Deut 4:39 “Know therefore this day, and consider [it] in thine heart, that the LORD he [is] God in heaven above, and
upon the earth beneath: [there is] none else.”
1Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory,
and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and
thou art exalted as head above all.
2Chronicles 20:6 “And said, O LORD God of our fathers, [art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest
[not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand [is there not] power and might, so that none
is able to withstand thee?
2. He is also said to be the King of Heaven and earth ; the absolute and sole ruler in the universe.
Psalm 47:2“For the LORD most high [is] terrible; [he is] a great King over all the earth”
3. The Scripture states certain expressions of divine will:
Isaiah 46:10“…My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: “
4. God’s pleasure resulted in a Plan for Man (Psalms 24., John 3:16, Hebrews 6:17)
Application / Relevance of God’s Sovereignty to Man:

1. As the absolute Sovereign of the Universe, God possesses absolute volition. In relation to all mankind,
His will is that no one perish:
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”.
God desires that every human being be saved, and Has made every necessary provision so that ALL members
of the human race have the opportunity to be saved.
1Timothy 2:4 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” .
Question: What keeps God’s sovereign will from being fulfilled in the matter of salvation?
Answer: The coexistence of human volition with divine volition, expressed in human rejection of the grace
provision of the Savior.
2. God is sovereign, however, in harmony with His sovereign decree that man be allowed freedom of choice, God
will never use His absolute will to coerce the volition which He gave man.
God honors our decisions – whether they are for or against Him.
Man is free to make a choice;

Mentality Positive will/ volition OR negative will /
The soul of Man has
Volition volition
5 components/attributes ; Self-consciousness VERSUS God’s Sovereign will for mankind.
Emotions THE CHOICE IS OURS!
one of these is volition
Conscience
John 7:1 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
3. Specifically for those who are yet unsaved (unbelievers) today, God’s Sovereign will is all should be saved
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering
to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance .
Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that
is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely .
The unbeliever’s choice:
* Those who accept His will for salvation thru the Lord Jesus Christ receive everlasting life (Acts 16:31)
* Those who reject Him, everlasting condemnation (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.”
4. As far as the believer is concerned, God’s Sovereign will for him is to take in the Word of God
under the filling of the Holy Spirit and under the teaching of his Pastor-Teacher.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as
they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
I Timothy 4:6 “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus
Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
The believer’s choice:
* We can choose to accept His will and move on to maturity. James 4:6 ..But he giveth more grace…
* OR we can choose to go against that will and expect divine discipline. Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth
5. Although Satan is the ruler of this world (John 12:31, 16:11), the Lord’s will is infinitely greater!. How
reassuring to know that Jesus Christ controls history and the destiny of believers! (Psalms 33)
The Attribute of Sovereignty Possessed by the Trinity:

1. God the Father declares His Sovereignty.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
2. Concerning the Son the Father said, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” Psalm 2:6
Jesus Christ as God-Man affirmed His own Sovereignty “All power is given unto me ….”
3. As sovereign, the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to each individual believer “..as He wills”
I Corinthians 12:11
Lesson 7 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 2. RIGHTEOUSNESS
RIGHTEOUSNESS : In Tagalog: Ang Katuwiran ng Diyos
Definition: HOLINESS is God’s character. To be Holy, God does not conform to a standard. He is that Standard.
He is absolutely Holy with an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is.
1. The righteousness of God is perfect goodness, absolute holiness, sinless in character and person.
His attitudes and actions conform to the flawless standard of His own nature. .
Leviticus 19:2 “Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy:
for I the LORD your God [am] holy.”
Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God [is] holy.
I Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is
written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
2. God is ABSOLUTE righteousness in contrast to relative righteousness in the human realm.
Isaiah 64:6a “But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as
a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
I Samuel 2:2 “…There is none holy as the Lord..”
3. God’s righteousness is FREE FROM SIN.
2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin ( the Lord Jesus Christ has no old sin nature
because of the virgin birth) ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”
4. Under the righteousness concept, God is also said to be “GOOD”
Psalm 25:8 Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.
5. His character and His Person is PERFECT

Psalm 11:7 For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
6. God is also righteous in His attitudes and actions; even as He makes war against the enemies.
Daniel 9:14 Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God
[is] righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Revelation 19: 2 For true and righteous [are] his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did
corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand…
Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Application / Relevance of God’s Righteousness to Man:
1. Now this poses a problem for man as far as having fellowship with God is concerned. Absolute righteousness
cannot fellowship with (man’s) relative righteousness. But praise be God who took cognizance of this problem
in eternity past and made provision for it through the Cross:
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; “
God’s ABSOLUTE Righteousness vs. Man’s RELATIVE Righteousness
(not acceptable to God)
2. We do not measure up to His perfect righteousness; yet we are “ justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: “ (Romans 3:24) JUSTIFICATION - “Being justified” means we
receive God’s righteousness – FREELY. We do not work for it; we do not earn it or deserve it. It is
credited to our account when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and that’s GRACE.
God’s ABSOLUTE Righteousness vs. Man’s RELATIVE Righteousness
God’s ABSOLUTE Righteousness Imputed upon all

those who will believe in the saving work of the Lord
Jesus Christ
2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin ( the Lord Jesus Christ has no old sin
nature) ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”
Romans 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for
there is no difference:
4. We call some people “good” and some people “bad”. Yet when we get to know people, we will see that the
“bad people” have some good in them, and the “good people” have some bad in them. At best, man’s
righteousness is only relative; God’s is Absolute.
RIGHTEOUSNESS Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

1. The Father asserts His own righteousness “but my righteousness shall be for ever, ..” (Isaiah 51:8b) and
the Son affirms the Father’s perfection (Luke 18:19 “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none
[is] good, save one, [that is], God”
2. Of the Son, it is said “For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26); “righteous” (I John 2:1), and the One “who
knew no sin” (He did not possess a sin nature) (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jeremiah 23:6 declares Christ to be the
“THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”.
3. The Scriptural designation of the Spirit as HOLY signifies that He, too, possesses absolute righteousness .
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry - Back to the Basics :
Lesson 8 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 3. JUSTICE
Review:
1. In relation to the SOVEREIGNTY of God , we studied that God’s absolute will for all mankind is that
NOT “any should perish, but that all should come to repentance “. 2 Peter 3:9. When man exercises positive volition
and believes in the Saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ; God enters him into His 3-Phase Sovereign PLAN:
Phase 1 – Salvation.
Phase 2 – Sanctification (which means His plan for us right now is to take in the Word of God
and GROW in spiritual maturity – a position where His justice could bless us 2 Peter 3:18)
Phase 3 - Glorification (where God’s rewards in heaven await the believer who matures
spiritually in his lifetime)
* What has the SOVEREIGNTY of God got to do with me? It means as long as I am alive – God has a plan
and purpose for me. That purpose is that God be glorified when He is able to bless me.
*What should be my response to God’s Sovereignty? Positive volition to SEEK , STUDY and STAY in His
Word , learning from and submitting to my Pastor-Teacher so that I would be within God’s perfect plan at any
moment in my life; and fulfill God’s purpose for my very existence.
2. In relation to the 2nd major attribute - we have studied that God is absolute RIGHTEOUSNESS “dikaiousune” ,
perfectly HOLY “hagios” and absolutely GOOD; so that sinful mankind “come short of His glory” (Romans 3:23)
However, God provided a way for us to become acceptable before Him : The RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ
was judicially IMPUTED upon any man who would exercise positive volition toward Christ’s work at the Cross. With
Christ’s RIGHTEOUSNESS imputed upon us, we are then declared “justified freely by His grace” (Romans 3:24) .
And this is exactly what the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God got to do with me.
*What should be my response to God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS? Now that I am made RIGHTEOUS
POSITIONALLY “in Christ”; I should exercise positive volition to adjust to His standards of righteousness as
stated in His Word so I can be declared righteous EXPERIENTIALLY. I am commanded in I Peter 1:15
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be
ye holy; for I am holy”.
Let us now go the third major Attribute of God: His Justice - and we would see that it is
“guarded/checked” by His Righteousness:
JUSTICE : In Tagalog: Ang Katarungan ng Diyos
Definition: God’s HOLINESS includes His JUSTICE as well as His RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1. An integral part of God’s justice is FAIRNESS; it is impossible for God to be unfair to any man
2 Chronicles 19:7: Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do [it]: for [there is] no
iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
2. God’s judgments are PERFECT
Job 37:23 [Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in
plenty of justice: he will not afflict
Deut 32: 4 [He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment
Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and]
righteous altogether.
3. God the Father is JUST in all His dealings with mankind
Deut 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”.
4. God’s JUSTICE is guarded/checked by His RIGHTEOUSNESS and Holiness.
What the Righteousness of God demands; the Justice of God executes.
 What God’s righteousness rejects (our sin nature and personal sin), His justice punishes.
 What God’s righteousness accepts (His own righteousness in the believer) (I Corinthians 1:30), the
justice of God blesses. 1Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Application / Relevance of God’s JUSTICE to Man:

1. God’s justice operates in the field of punitive activity. Under this concept, He is no respector of persons .
Romans 2 : 6-11 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
For there is no respect of persons with God.
What God’s Justice Does:

Blesses with eternal life those who seek for glory and honour and immortality
Judges with indignation and wrath those who are contentious and disobedient
Judges with tribulation and anguish those that doeth evil

Blesses with glory, honor and peace to every one that worketh good
2 Man’s point of contact with God is divine justice. It is the source of both divine judgment and blessing.
3 For the unbeliever, As an expression of God’s fairness, God passes no sentence of eternal condemnation upon
any person unless his offer of eternal salvation through Christ is rejected. This offer is extended through the
entire life of the unbeliever. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
4. Specifically, for the believer, God has 2 avenues by which He expresses His justice:
 first, to mature believers in blessing (But He giveth more grace..James 4:6)
 second, to carnal or backsliding believers through divine discipline (Hebrews 12:6)
JUSTICE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

1. In God’s perfect design, the Father gave the Son as a substitute to pay for the penalty of our sins in order
to satisfy the Father’s justice and righteousness (John 3:16; Romans 3:24-26)).
2. Likewise an expression of God’s fairness the Holy Spirit supplies common grace – His work that convicts men
“concerning sin and righteousness and of judgment” (John 16:8-1). The only thing that will negate this grace is
the negative volition of man by rejecting Christ.
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry / Back to the Basics : The One and True God
Lesson 9 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 4. LOVE
Review of last week’s lesson: What has the Justice of God got to do with me?
Understanding that God deals with man in Justice and that it is “checked/guarded “ by His standards of
Righteousness :
* I know now when I could hope for God’s blessings (by adhering to the standards of the Bible).
* On the other hand, I know as well when to expect His chastisement (when I move out of fellowship with
God and out of His plan for me).
God had made it that simple for me! The choice is mine: positive volition/will or negative volition/will.
LOVE In Tagalog: Ang Diyos ay Pag-ibig

Definition: God is eternal, unchangeable love . I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Please notice that the apostle John uses love in an intransitive sense; that is, it does not take an object
1. God’s divine love is infinitely superior to human love; He does not need any emotion to express His love. He
needs no response, no reciprocation, no reassurance, no demonstration of faithfulness to sustain His love.
God’s love exists with or without a created object, because God loves His own perfect essence.
2. Since God is eternal and immutable, His love is unchanging and enduring – and in the same quantity
which He possessed from eternity. Both the quality and the quantity remain the same.
Jeremiah 31: 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting
love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
3. The love of God is expressed in 3 categories:
Directed toward the members of the Trinity:

a. Divine self-love – directed toward the perfect righteousness among the members of the Trinity, is
totally justified because of the character of God
Directed toward mankind:
b. Divine impersonal love – directed toward all mankind as sinners. It is based on His character
rather than the merit or goodness of man.
John 3:16 For God so loved (IMPERSONAL LOVE ) the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love (IMPERSONAL LOVE ) toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
c. Divine personal love – directed toward all believers ONLY BECAUSE they possess the perfect
righteousness of God.
NOTE: Impersonal love – depends on the integrity of the one who loves; Personal love depends on the attractiveness of the object
of love. Divine impersonal love is the consistent function of the character/essence of God toward imperfect people
LOVE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead: The attribute of love is ascribed to the Trinity:
1. The Father loves the Son and also expresses His love to us through the Son:
John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may
behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
I John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into
the world, that we might live through him”.
2. Both the Father and the Son loved us so much that Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
3. The love of God is also demonstrated to us through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:5b "…because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto
us."
Application / Relevance of God’s LOVE to Man :

For us believers
1. Those who appropriate the grace of God in salvation cannot be separated from the love of God
(Romans 8:38-39). No matter how a believer fails, no matter what he does, God keeps on loving him, for
God’s love depends on His character.
God PERSONALLY love all believers because they possess the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ which
God always love.
2. God’s love for the believer has no strings attached to it- the concept of “if you’ll be nice to me, I’ll be
nice to you”. He can love the believer who never does one thing for Him in his entire Christian life just as
much as He loves the believer who serves him faithfully. God’s love is so designed so that we believers cam
learn to appreciate it and respond to it.
3. How can we say we love God? Salvation so freely offered (Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?) should elicit
a response on the part of man.
The capacity for loving God is not based on emotion; it is related to doctrine. The believer must come
to know Him (Phil 3:10) through doctrinal truths of the Bible. We cannot love someone we do not know!
For the unbelievers:
1. The only love available to him from God is His impersonal love (dependent on God’s character) and
when the unbeliever dies unsaved, he is forever separated from God’s love and will suffer everlasting judgment.
2. The unbeliever has the responsibility of receiving blessings from God through salvation. Today God is
holding back His judgment to give him the opportunity to believe in His Son (2 Peter 3:9).
Next week, we shall see how God’s Righteousness, Justice and Love works together in the Redemptive
Plan of God for Man.
Lesson 9a : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 4. LOVE
REVIEW: In Part 1 of the lesson on God’s Attribute of Love, we studied the definition of God’s love.
God is eternal, unchangeable love . I John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Please
notice that the apostle John uses love in an intransitive sense; that is, it does not take an object
God’s divine love is infinitely superior to human love; He does not need any emotion to express His love. He
needs no response, no reciprocation, no reassurance, no demonstration of faithfulness to sustain His love.
God’s love exists with or without a created object, because God loves His own perfect essence.
On this Part 2 of the lesson, let us further discuss GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN ; His Love will take an Object : MAN
INTRODUCTION: Love as a Transitive Verb
I. In English as well as the Greek, “love” is a transitive verb; love takes both a subject and an object.
The subject is the one who loves; the object is the one loved, the recipient of love.
In the sentence I love you, “I” is the subject, and “you” is the object.
2. In the previous lesson, we have studied that the second category of divine love is directed outside the Godhead
toward imperfect man. God’s love for man is classified as:
(A.) DIVINE IMPERSONAL LOVE . (B.) DIVINE PERSONAL LOVE -.

Emphasizes subject ( who is God) ; Emphasizes the object (who is the believer);
Emphasizes the perfect essence / character of God. Emphasizes the spiritual condition and positive volition of
man.
It is unconditional – toward all mankind Conditional – directed toward a few who will fulfill God’s
(John 3:16) Sovereign plan.
3. The criterion for God’s love, both impersonal and personal, is always His absolute character; He loves only
what His righteousness approves. Each person of the Godhead loves absolute divine righteousness; question is:
“How can God direct that same love toward imperfect human beings whom His perfect righteousness rejects and
His justice has condemned?” God cannot be God if He loves the unworthy, yet He is said to love all mankind (John
3:16), whom He condemns at birth (Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of one shall many be made righteous).
The solution is found in divine impersonal love, which depends exclusively on the absolute character of God.
The Extent of God’s Impersonal Love:

4. Can perfect God love imperfect, condemned, depraved, unregenerate man? Yes, but only with impersonal love.
We are born spiritually dead because of Adam’s Fall (Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned); but under the principle of
grace before judgment, God delays final judgment so that He could extend to us His kindness, His impersonal love.
4. Divine Impersonal and Personal Love For Man in Each Phase of God’s Plan:
GO GOD’S IMPERSONAL LOVE GOD’S PERSONAL LOVE for

D’s Plan For All the Few
PHASE 1 – Entire Human race - Believers in Christ - God
Salvation receive God’s impersonal love ; imputes Christ’ Righteousness (whom God
the doctrine of unlimited atonement declares that personally loves ) for those few who believe in
Christ died for all mankind (2 Pet 3:9; Romans Christ and fulfill the condition of the Gospel
11:32)
PHASE 2 – All Believers - Mature Believers -
Believer on Earth experience divine impersonal love through His Those who persist in God’s plan and grow up to
ceaseless logistical grace –keeping them alive, maturity (2 Pet 3:18) become objects of God’s
giving temporal support, safety provisions and personal love with capacity for special additional
spiritual provisions. Logistical grace is blessings of maturity (..He giveth more grace
sufficiently supplied to all believers to enable ..James 4:6)
them to grow in spiritual maturity.
PHASE 3 – All Believers - All Believers -

Believer in Heaven reside in heaven forever and receive a those who reach spiritual maturity during their
resurrection body (I Cor 15:43; 2 Thess 2:14) lifetime shall receive special rewards in heaven
(Romans 5:17)
Summary of the chart above:

a. In Phase 1 – God manifests impersonal love toward everyone by offering salvation to all (2 Pet 3:9,
Romans 11:32) . . The Cross is unconditional. In contrast, God reserves His personal love for only
those few who believe in Christ and thus fulfill the conditions of the Gospel.
b. In Phase 2 – All believers on earth (including the backsliding ones) are sustained and protected by
God’s logistical grace from His impersonal love; but only the few utilize logistical grace, advance to
spiritual maturity, and become recipients of special maturity blessings ,motivated by His personal love.
Certain basic blessings are poured out to all believers; special additional blessings are reserved for
the few.
b. In Phase 3 – All believers reside in heaven forever. In this category of mankind, the objects of
divine impersonal love are again distinguished from objects of divine personal love. All believers in
heaven receive a resurrection body (I Cor 15:43; 2 Thess 2:14; I John 3:2) from His impersonal love;
but only the few receive rewards, decorations and honors, motivated by His personal love.
CONCLUSION:
Believers will be rewarded in eternity in proportion to divine blessings received in their lifetime. God
designed man to be free – free to exercise his volition – and each believer will be rewarded according to the sum
total of his free will decisions for or against God’s Sovereign plan
There are now on earth and always will be in heaven degrees of divine personal love according to
individual’s exercise of his free will. Volition remains the issue On the other hand, there are NO degrees
of divine impersonal love because God’s impersonal love for man depends only on the unchangeable
essence/character of God.
.
Next week, we proceed on the study of how God’s Righteousness, Justice and Love works together in
the Redemptive Plan of God for Man.
Lesson 9b : GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY, RIGHTEOUSNESS, JUSTICE and LOVE in the Redemptive
Plan of God for Man
PRINCIPLE : The motive behind grace is love. But God’s PERSONAL LOVE must be consistent with His own
RIGHTEOUSNESS. Man can never meet God’s standard of RIGHTEOUSNESS. If God were to love imperfect man
in the same way He loves the perfection of His own essence, God would compromise His character.
Adam and Eve Created Perfect – Objects of God’s PERSONAL LOVE:
1. The original man and woman , created perfect, were objects of God’s PERSONAL LOVE. As perfect
humanity, Adam was not equal with God, but neither did he violate God’s holiness. No conflict with divine
righteousness and justice existed with man in the perfection of the Garden, with the result that divine PERSONAL LOVE
was God’s point of contact with man.
After the Fall:
2. However, when Adam chose to sin, God condemned him. The RIGHTEOUSNESS of God demanded that
divine JUSTICE replace PERSONAL LOVE as the point of contact between God and man.
3. The emphasis in God’s relationship with Adam shifted from the object (the once perfect Adam) to the subject,
God, whose righteousness and justice are absolute, immutable and eternally worthy of divine love.
4. JUSTICE condemns all human beings (Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ) But likewise, only divine JUSTICE can
save human beings.
5. Motivated by God’s IMPERSONAL LOVE for fallen humanity, the JUSTICE of God judged Jesus Christ on the
Cross for the sins of all mankind (John 3:16).
Since Christ paid the penalty for sin, the JUSTICE of GOD, WITHOUT
Lesson 10 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 5. ETERNAL LIFE
ETERNAL LIFE
Definition: God is. He is absolute existence. He is the self-existing one, YAHWEH, the great “I am”
(Exodus 3:14) who has neither beginning nor end .
Psalm 102:27 But thou [art] the same, and thy years shall have no end.
1. God is absolute existence. There was never was a time when God did not exist. God has neither beginning nor
end: He existed in eternity past, and He will exist forever.
Psalm 90: 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even
from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.
2. The self-existing life of God means His existence is entirely self-contained and does not depend on anything
external to Himself.
The Hebrew word “resit”, translated “beginning” (Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth.) when related to the Godhead refers to the beginning of their work of creation, but not the beginning of God.
John 1:1 states that both God the Father and God the Son existed eternally prior to creation. They had no
beginning. Jesus Christ was with the Father and already was when the time began.
“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ, God the Son ), and the Word was with God (God the Father) ,
and the Word was God.”
2. Technically there is a difference between “eternal life” which God possesses and “everlasting life” which
according to God’s plan, members of the human race can possess (John 3:16).
Everlasting life has a beginning but no ending. Eternal life has no beginning and no ending.
ETERNAL LIFE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

1. Both God the Father and Son existed prior to creation John 1:1 “Eternal life” was with the Father (I John 1:2)
and this same “life is in His Son” (I John 5:11)
2. Jesus declared in John 5:26 “ For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in
himself;
3. Of the Son, it was predicted in Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting”.
4. Jesus Christ is the ALPHA and OMEGA (Rev 1:8) ALPHA – the beginning letter of the Gk alphabet refers to
the eternal preexistence of Jesus Christ.
OMEGA – the final/last letter of the Gk alphabet refers to Jesus Christ in hypostatic union during His
incarnation. He is the eternal Son of God and as humanity, the Son of David, who will return as the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords at His Second Coming & forever live
5.. The Holy Spirit is said to be eternal in Isaiah 48:16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in
secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit illumines the heart of man so man would understand the gracious offer of eternal
life of the Father (John 3:36).
Application / Relevance of God’s ETERNAL LIFE to Man :

God is timeless. In contrast, mankind thinks in terms of past, present, future; of short or long periods; of years,
months, days, hours, minutes, seconds. James likens our lives to “vapor” (James 4:14): here today and gone
tomorrow. No wonder David exclaimed,
Psalm 8:4a What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
Yet a loving, eternal God cares enough to extend a gracious offer for us to share His eternal life:
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.
For the believer:
1. Eternal life is immediately and instantaneously imputed to a quickened human spirit upon faith in Christ
(John 3:16). (This is called real imputation).
2. All imputations (whether real or judicial) from God is permanent; and so when God imputed eternal life to the
human spirit, that arrangement is also permanent. We believers can never lose our eternal life.
3. The believer has the assurance of a never-ending relationship with Him; of an everlasting life and joy in the
presence of the Eternal God. (Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the
righteous into eternal life).
It is our guarantee that we will live with God in heaven, because even now we have His eternal life. That is
why, when God sees fit to call us home, for Him it is as simple a matter as being “absent from the body, face
to face with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8)
4. The believer can also rest in the knowledge that in this lifetime, “the eternal God is his refuge” (Deut 33:27)
5. God’s life in us not only implies that we will live with Him forever, but also guarantees that we will receive a
resurrection body – minus the old sin nature, minus human good and evil – during the Rupture of the believers.
This our ultimate sanctification.
For the unbelievers:

6. For both the believer and unbeliever eternity is everlasting: but for the unbeliever who fails to make decision
for the Lord Jesus Christ in his lifetime will suffer everlasting punishment
Matthew 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry -Back to the Basics : The One and True God
Lesson 11 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 6. OMNISCIENCE
OMNISCIENCE
Definition: God is all-knowing. Omniscience derives from the Latin OMNIS which means “all” and SCIENTIA ,
“knowledge” or SCIENS, “knowing”.
1. Eternal God in 3 persons possesses (without prior discovery of facts) complete and universal knowledge of all
things - past, present, and future. Omniscience includes both actual reality, but all other possibilities – which
will never occur.
Psalm 147:5 Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.
Isaiah 40: 13-14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or [being] his counsellor hath taught him?
With whom took he counsel, and [who] instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him
knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and
opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
2 God knows “the end from the beginning” . Foreknowledge is an aspect of His Omniscience.
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done,
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of
them.
OMNISCIENCE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

1. God the Father is “perfect in knowledge” .
Job 37:16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye
ask him.
Matthew 10:29-30 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground
without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Acts 1: 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], shew whether of these
two thou hast chosen,
2. The Son “knows all things”
.John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them,
Whom seek ye?
Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
John 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
4. The Holy Spirit is called “the spirit of wisdom and understanding.. counsel and knowledge” Isaiah 11:2
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of
counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Application / Relevance of God’s OMNISCIENCE to Man :

1. In His omniscience God foresaw our lives from beginning to end; and stockpiled everything we will ever need.
- Even if we cut off fellowship with Him and backslide, He has just the right type and right amount of
discipline ready to meet the need. In discipline, He knows exactly where it hurts most.
2. Because He is omniscient, He knows what is best for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7)
Nahum 1: 7 The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
3. Before the creation of the world, God knew every problem, every heartache, every moment of our lives,
including every sin we would ever commit. We may not understand the adversities and sufferings which come
into our lives; yet when we view them in retrospect, it becomes apparent that God knew all along what He was
doing
John 13:7 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. “
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry -Back to the Basics : The One and True God
Lesson 11a : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 6. OMNISCIENCE
A POETIC EXPOSITION OF THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD in Psalm 139:1-6
Psalm 139 certainly is one of the grandest psalms in all of the Psalter; it is also one of the richest theologically. It
combines an exposition of the greatness of God’s character with the reality of human experience. From verse 19-22, we
find that David wrote the psalm during a time of opposition. It therefore contains truths that were meaningful to him
during these troublesome times. In vv 1-6, the Psalmist is saying YOU KNOW ME!
Verse 1. “Thou hast searched me, and known me; known me as thoroughly as we know that which we have most
diligently and exactly searched into.” David was a king, and the hearts of kings are unsearchable to their subjects
(Pro_25:3), but they are not so to their Sovereign.
Verse 2 My downsitting and mine uprising - Even these inconsiderable and casual things are under Thy continual
notice. I cannot so much as take a seat, or leave it, without being marked by thee. In the various circumstances of life,
thou knowest me. Thou knowest me in one place as well as in another. I cannot so change my position that thou will not
see me, and that thou wilt not be perfectly acquainted with all that I say, and all that I do. In every posture, in every
movement, in every occupation, thou hast a full knowledge of me. I cannot go out of thy sight; I cannot put myself into
such a position that thou wilt not see me.
Thou understandest my thought - Hebrew, “As to my thought.” That is, Thou seest what my plans are; what
design to do; “what I am thinking about.” A most solemn reflection! How unwilling would bad people be - would even
good people be - to have those round about them know always “what they are thinking about.”
Afar off - Not when the “thought” is far off; but “thou,” being far off, seest us as clearly as if thou were near. I
cannot go to such a distance from thee that thou wilt not see perfectly all that I am thinking about.
Verse 3 Thou compassest my path ... – Correct translation of “compassest” is “winnowest.” The Hebrew word -
za^ra^h - means properly “to scatter,” to cast loosely about - as the wind does dust; and then, to winnow - to wit, by
throwing grain, when it is thrashed, up to the wind
Then it means “to winnow out;” that is, to winnow out all the chaff, and to leave all the grain - to save all that I
valuable. So here it means that God, as it were, “sifted” him.
He scattered all that was chaff, or all that was valueless, and saw what there was that was real and substantial. When
it is said that he did this in his “path and his lying down,” it is meant that he did it in every way; altogether; entirely.
In simple terms, the Psalmist is saying God “sifts” all his paths to make it plain.
And art acquainted with all my ways - All the paths that I tread; the whole course of my life. All that I do, in all
places and at all times, is fully known to thee.
Verse 4 There is not a word in my tongue - Although there be not a word in my tongue, behold O Jehovah, thou
knowest the whole of it, that is, thou knowest all my words before they are uttered as thou knowest all my thoughts while
as yet they are unformed. All that I say; all that I have power to say; all that I am disposed at any time to say.
But lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether - All that pertains to it. What is “said,” and what is “meant.” Merely to
“hear” what is spoken does not imply necessarily a full knowledge of what is said - for it may be false, insincere,
hypocritical. God knows exactly what is said and what is “meant” .
Verse 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before - The word rendered “beset” - - means properly; to press upon; to
compress. It has reference commonly to the siege of a city, or to the pressing on of troops in war; and then it comes to
mean to besiege, hem in, closely surround, so that there is no way of escape.
This is the idea here - that God was on every side of him; that he could not escape in any direction. He was like a
garrison besieged in a city so that there was no means of escape. There is a transition here (not an unnatural one), from the
idea of the Omniscience of God to that of His Omnipresence, and the remarks which follow have a main reference to the
latter.
And laid thine hand upon me - That is, If I try to escape in any direction I find thine band laid upon me there.
Escape is impossible!
Verse 6 - Such knowledge is too wonderful for me - literally, “Wonderful knowledge away from me,” or, more
than I can comprehend. It is beyond my reach; it surpasses all my powers to comprehend it.
It is high, I cannot attain unto it - It is so exalted that I cannot grasp it; I cannot understand how it can be.
Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry - Back to the Basics : The One and True God
Lesson 12 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 7.

OMNIPRESENCE
Definition: The Omnipresence of God means He is present everywhere with His whole being at the same time.
The great danger to avoid in rightly understanding this attribute is the grievous error of pantheism, which says that God
is everywhere, and everything is God. This is totally false.
1. God exists beyond spatial limitations; He is not limited by time or space Jeremiah 23: 2 “Can any hide himself in
secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth?
2. He is both immanent and transcendent.
* Immanence – means His entire essence is always present anywhere in nature, in history , in all the affairs of
man . Jeremiah 23:23-24 [Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? 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.
Acts 17:27-28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far
from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
* Transcendence – means He is independent of the created universe so that no particular place exclusively
contains Him. Psalm 113:5-6 Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth [himself] to
behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth!
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
3. Immanence and transcendence exist in balance, so that “the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3b).
His whole being is present in every point in the universe, while at the same time He is “holy” and “lofty and
exalted” infinitely beyond the universe.
Isaiah 6;1, 3a In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and
his train filled the temple. …..And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the
whole earth [is] full of his glory.
4. God pervades the universe, while at the same time He is free to be in a specific location including:
a. giving the law to Moses (Deut 4:10)
b. theophanies – pre-Bethlehem appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gen 18:1, Ex 3:2-6, etc)
c. the incarnate person of Jesus (John 1:14)
d. indwelling of the believer by the Holy Spirit (John 14:20, 23:2, 2 Cor 6:16)
OMNIPRESENCE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead
1. The Father fills heaven and earth. Jer 23:23-24 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
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.
Likewise in 2 Chronicles 2, it is said of the Father “.. seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot
contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him”
2. The Son promises “I am with you always…” (Matthew 28:18);
3. Of the Holy Spirit, it is said in Ps 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
presence?
Application / Relevance of God’s OMNIPRESENCE to Man :

1. It should be a sobering thought for the unbeliever to realize that he cannot escape the presence of God (Psalm
139:7; Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good
2. A comforting thought for the believers to know that He will never leave them nor forsake them (Heb 13:5);
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD for ever.
Lesson 12A : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 7. OMNIPRESENCE
Review: The OMNIPRESENCE of God means He is present everywhere with His whole being at the same time.
 God is present in all places; however, we should not think of Him as filling space, for He has no
physical dimensions. It is as spirit that He is everywhere.
 Although it surpasses the understanding of body-bound creatures like ourselves, God Himself is
present everywhere in His majesty and power.
 Needy souls praying to Him anywhere in the world are in His sight and receive His personal attention.
Jer 23:23-2 “Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in
As Omnipresent, God is s both immanent and transcendent.
* Immanence – means His entire essence is always present anywhere in nature, in history , in all the affairs of
man . Jeremiah 23:23-24 [Am] I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in
Acts 17:27-28 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far
from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
* Transcendence – means He is independent of the created universe so that no particular place exclusively
contains Him. Psalm 113:5-6 Who [is] like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth [himself] to
behold [the things that are] in heaven, and in the earth
A POETIC EXPOSITION of the OMNIPRESENCE of GOD: Psalm 139: 7-12 “ Thou Art With me, O Lord”
FROM THE HEIGHTS TO THE DEPTHS
The poetry of Psalm 139: 7-12 celebrates the fact that God is present wherever David goes, or even imagines going (Ps.
139:7). First he looks up at the sky, then down toward the ground (139:8). Then he looks east toward “the wings of the
dawn,” and west toward the Mediterranean Sea (139:9). Wherever David thinks of going, he has the certainty that God
will be with him in that place.
Are you comforted, as David was, by the presence of God? As you look around you, do you consciously think about
the Lord being there, right where you are? Why not pause right now to thank Him for His ever-watchful care and
concern?
Verse 7 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? - Where shall I go where thy spirit is not; that is, where thou art not;
where there is no God. The word “spirit” here does not refer particularly to the Holy Spirit, but to God “as” a spirit.
“Whither shall I go from the all-pervading Spirit - from God, considered as a spirit?” This is a clear statement that God is
a “Spirit” (compare Joh_4:24); and that, as a spirit, he is Omnipresent.
Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? – In Hebrew it means “from his faces” (again in plural form referring to the
3 Persons of the Godhead) ; that is, where He will not be, and will not see me. I cannot find a place - a spot in the
universe, where there is not a God, and the same God.
A Fearful thought to those that hate Him - that, much as they may wish or desire it, they can never find a place where
there is not a holy God! A Comforting thought to those that love God - that they will never be where they may not find
a God - their God; that nowhere, at home or abroad, on land or on the ocean, on earth or above the stars, they will
ever reach a world where they will not be in the presence of God - the gracious Father - who can defend, comfort, guide,
and sustain them.
Verse 8 - If I ascend up into heaven - The word “heaven” here, in the original is in the plural number -“heavens,” -
and includes all that there is above the earth - the highest worlds.
If I make my bed - Properly, “If I strew or spread my couch.” If I should seek that as the place where to lie down.
In hell - Hebrew, “Sheol.” The word here refers to the under-world - the abodes of the dead; and, in the apprehension
of the psalmist, corresponds in depth with the word “heaven” in height. The two – heaven and hell - represent all
worlds, above and below; and the idea is, that in neither direction, above or below, could he go where God would not be.
Thou art there - Or, more emphatically and impressively in the original, “Thou!” That is, the psalmist imagines
himself in the highest heaven, or in the deepest abodes of the dead - and lo! God is there also! he has not gone from
“Him”! he is still in the presence of the same God
Verse 9- If I take the wings of the morning - literally, “I will take the wings of the morning.” That is, I will take this
as a supposable case; I will imagine what would occur, should I be able to take to myself the wings of the morning, and
endeavor to escape “by flight” from the presence of God, or go where He could not pursue me, or where He would not
be. The word rendered “morning” refers to the dawn - the daybreak - the Aurora - the “first” beams of the morning light.
The beams of light are in fact no swifter then than at any other time of the day, but they seem to be swifter, as they so
quickly penetrate the darkness. Morning is poetic for east, and uttermost parts is the west; so, from east to west God is
there!
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea - The end of the sea; that is, the “west,” as the sea referred to
undoubtedly is the Mediterranean, which was west of Palestine, and which became another name for the west. The idea
is, that if he could fly with the rapidity of light, and could be in an instant over the sea, even beyond its remotest border,
still God would be there before him. He could not escape from the divine presence.
Verse 10 - Even there shall thy hand lead me - I shall find thee there; thy hand would be upon me.
And thy right hand shall hold me - Still hold me; still be laid upon me. I should find myself there, as certainly as
here, in thy hand; and in the same sense - either to seize upon me if I went astray, or to protect me, if obedient, supported
by thee in all the perils of the flight. God, still the same - the same in all respects - would be with me there as he is here.
Verse 11 - If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me - If I seek to find refuge in the darkness of the night so that
God would not see me. The word rendered “cover” - means properly to snap, to gape after; then, to lie in wait for; and
then, to attack, or fall upon anyone, unexpectedly. “Cover” here means to fall upon; to overpower; to cover. The idea
is, If darkness should come suddenly upon me; if I should be involved in sudden darkness - “as if” the darkness should
come and attempt to “snatch” me away from God. All this would be in vain, for it would be, so far as God is concerned,
bright day around me. Even the night shall be light about me – “In respect to me”. It shall be as if I stood in the
full blaze of light. God can see me still; He can mark my goings; He can perceive all that I do as plainly then as at mid-
day. This “is” so: and what a thought this is for a wicked man who seeks to escape detection in his crimes by perpetrating
them in the night! What a thought for a good man, that in the darkest night of sorrow, when there seems to be nothing but
deep midnight, when there appears to be not a ray of light in his dwelling, or on his path that all to the eye of God is as
clear as noon-day! For in that night of sorrow God sees him as plainly as in the brightest days of prosperity and joy.
Verse 12 - Yea, the darkness hide not from thee - Darkness does not make darkness to thee. It makes things dark to us;
not to him. So it is in natural darkness; so in moral darkness ness. It seems dark to us; it is not so to him. Things appear
dark to us - disappointment, bereavement, trouble, care, losses; but all is light to God. The existence of sin and suffering
on the earth seems dark to us; not to him, for he sees the reasons and the end of all. But the night shineth as the day
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee - “As is the darkness so is the light.” To thee there is no difference.
All is light.
Lesson 13 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 8. OMNIPOTENCE
OMNIPOTENCE
Definition: God is all-powerful, unlimited in His ability and authority.
Psalm 147:5 Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his understanding [is] infinite.
Genesis 17: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am]
the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Psalm 24:8 Who [is] this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
1. God is also limitless in His authority. By His power He rules and upholds all things.
I Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the
majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art
exalted as head above all.
2. God’s power and authority are manifested in many ways. Among the greatest demonstrations of His power
include the creation of the universe; others in relation to Israel: dividing of the Red Sea (Psalm 74:13) and the
conquering of their enemies (Joshua, Judges, 2 Chronicles 25:8). He has power over angels (Psalm 103:20); over
Satan (Job 1:12; 2:6) and over death (Hebrews 2:14-15)
3. His omnipotence guarantees that “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37) If God is limited in any
sense, the restriction is self-imposed, to be consistent with His essence. God can do all He wills, but may not will to do
all He can . Eph 1:11 “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of
him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
4. Job testifies that God is omnipotent (Job 42:2) “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours
can be withheld” He is all-powerful, almighty. God has power to do everything that in His perfect wisdom and
goodness He wills to do.
5. Omnipotence, however, does not mean that God can do literally everything: God cannot sin, lie, change His
nature or deny the demands of His holy character (Num. 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; ..” 1 Sam. 15:29
“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
He cannot make a square circle, for the notion of a square circle is self-contradictory; He cannot cease to be
God. But all that He wills and promises He can and will do.
OMNIPOTENCE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

Omnipotence is the superior divine power of the Trinity.
1. Father is called “the Almighty” (Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty
unto perfection? ). His power is eternal (Roman 1:20 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:
2. The Son’s power created the universe, holds it together, perpetuating history (Isaiah 40:26, Colossians 1:16-17,
Hebrews 1:3). The Lord Jesus Christ is also called “Almighty, Mighty, Omnipotent” (Gen 17:1, Isaiah 9:6, Rev 4:8)
During the Incarnation, the Lord Jesus Christ limited the independent use of His deity – even His Omnipotence
– to strictly conform to the plan of the Father John 5:17; 6:65) and to utilize the power of the Holy Spirit. His
purpose was to demonstrate to the Church Age believers dependence on the Father’s plan and the Holy Spirit’s power in
the Christian life.
3. The Holy Spirit supplies the divine power for believers to execute the plan of the Father (Zech 4:6 “Then he
answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power,
but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”. Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come
upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”
Application / Relevance of God’s OMNIPOTENCE to Man :
1. God is limitless in His power to rule and uphold all things; yet will not superimpose His authority over man’s
volition.
2. God is mighty to save; mighty to keep the believer (I Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith
unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ). Nothing and no one – not even Satan himself – can remove us
from this earth; with the exception of our own volition (suicide) until it is the Lord’s time for us to go home.
3. The Lord Omnipotent says to all believers “Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for
me? Jeremiah 32:27.
4. When we learn to apply this, we will respond with Job, “I know that thou canst DO EVERYTHING…” (Job 42:2;
and we will relax in the knowledge that “with God NOTHING shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37)
Was it excessive for David to say, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and
my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Ps.
18:1, 2)?
Was it excessive for another psalmist to declare, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
(Ps. 46:1)?
It would have been a fault to say such things if God were less than omnipresent and omnipotent. But the
knowledge of God’s greatness, including His omnipresence and omnipotence, produces great faith and high praise.}”
Lesson 13a : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 7. OMNIPOTENCE
A POETIC EXPOSITION of the OMNIPOTENCE of GOD Psalm 139:13-18 “YOU CREATED ME!”
Verse 13 -For thou hast possessed my reins - The word here rendered “possessed” means to make, to create, . The idea
is, not as in our translation, that God “possessed” or “owned” them but that he had “made” them, and that, “therefore,” he
knew all about them. The word “reins” means literally the “kidneys;” and then, it comes to denote the inward part, the
mind, the soul, the seat of the desires, affections, and passions. The meaning here is, that God had made him; that the
innermost recesses of his being had been constituted as they are by God; and that, “therefore,” he must be able to see all
that there is in the very depths of the soul, however it may be hidden from the eye of man.
Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb - The word here rendered “cover” means properly to interweave; to
weave; to knit together, and the literal translation would be, “Thou hast “woven” me in my mother’s womb, meaning that
God had put his parts together, as one who weaves cloth, or who makes a basket. The original word has, however, also
the idea of protecting, as in a booth or hut, woven or knit together - to wit, of boughs and branches.
Verse 14 - I will praise thee - I will not merely admire what is so great and marvelous, but I will acknowledge thee in a
public manner as wise, and holy, and good: as entitled to honor, love, and gratitude.
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made - The word rendered “fearfully” means properly “fearful things;” things
suited to produce fear or reverence. The word rendered “wonderfully made” means properly to distinguish; to separate.
The literal translation of this - as near as can be given - would be, “I am distinguished by fearful things;” that is, by things
in my creation which are suited to inspire awe. I am distinguished among thy works by things which tend to exalt my
ideas of God, and to fill my soul with reverent and devout feelings. He was made different from inanimate objects, and
from the brute creation; he was “so” made, in the entire structure of his frame, as to fill the mind with wonder.
Marvellous are thy works - Fitted are they to excite wonder and admiration. The particular reference here is to his
own formation; but the same remark may be made of the works of God in general.
And that my soul knoweth right well -in Hebrew, “greatly.” I am fully convinced of it. I am deeply impressed by it.
We can see clearly that the works of God are “wonderful,” even if we can understand nothing else about them.
Verse 15 - My substance was not hid from thee - Thou didst see it; thou didst understand it altogether, when it was
hidden from the eyes of man. The word “substance” is rendered “my bones” “strength” or “body.” The word properly
means strength, and then anything strong. The allusion here is to the bodily frame, considered as strong, or as that which
has strength. Whatever there was that entered into and constituted the vigor of his frame, the psalmist says, was seen and
known by God, even in its commencement, and when most feeble. Its capability to become strong - feeble as it then was
- could not even at that time be concealed or hidden from the view of God.
When I was made in secret - In the womb; or, hidden from the eye of man. Even then thine eye saw me, and saw the
wondrous process by which my members were formed.
And curiously wrought. - Literally, “embroidered.” The Hebrew word - means to deck with color, to variegate.
Hence, it means to variegate a garment; to weave. The Hebrew word, properly refers to the act of “weaving in” various
threads - as now in weaving carpets. The reference here is to the various and complicated tissues of the human frame -
the tendons, nerves, veins, arteries, muscles, “as if” they had been woven, or as they appear to be curiously interweaved.
No work of tapestry can be compared with this; no art of man could “weave” together such a variety of most tender and
delicate fibers and tissues as those which go to make up the human frame, even if they were made ready to his hand: and
who but God could “make” them? The comparison is a most beautiful one; and it will be admired the more, the more
man understands the structure of his own frame.
In the lowest parts of the earth - Wrought in a place as dark, as obscure, and as much beyond the power of human
observation as though it had been done low down beneath the ground where no eye of man can penetrate. Compare the
notes at Job_28:7-8.
Verse 16 - Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect - This whole verse is very obscure, but the “idea” in
this expression clearly is, “Before I had shape or form thou didst see what I was to be.” The single word in the original
translated “my substance, yet being unperfect.”
It occurs only in this place, though the verb is found in 2Ki_2:8, where it is used in reference to the mantle of
Elijah: And Elijah took his mantle, and “wrapped it together,” etc. That is, he rolled it up, or he folded it. The noun, then,
means that which “is” rolled or wrapped together; that which is folded up, and hence, is applicable to anything folded up
or undeveloped; and would thus most aptly denote the embryo, or the fetus, where all the members of the body are as yet
folded up, or undeveloped; that is, before they have assumed their distinct form and proportions. This is undoubtedly the
idea here. Before the embryo had any such form that its future size, shape, or proportions could be marked by the eye of
man, it was clearly and distinctly known by God.
And in thy book - Where thou recordest all things. Perhaps the allusion here would be to the book of an architect or
draftsman, who, before his work is begun, draws his plan, or sketches it for the direction of the workmen.
All my members were written - in Hebrew , “all of them.” The reference may be, not to the members of his body, but
to his “days”- and then the sense would be, all my “days,” or all the periods of my life, were delineated in thy book. That
is, when my substance - my form - was not yet developed, when yet an embryo, and when nothing could be determined
from that by the eye of man as to what I was to be, all the future was known to God, and was written down - just what
should be my form and vigor; how long I should live; what I should be; what would be the events of my life.
Which in continuance were fashioned - The simple idea is, The days of my life were determined on, the whole
matter was fixed and settled, not by anything seen in the embryo, but “before” there was any form - before there were
any means of judging from what I then was to what I would be - all was seen and arranged in the divine mind.
When as yet there was none of them - literally, “And not one among them.” Before there was one of them in actual
existence. Not one development had yet occurred from which it could be inferred what the rest would be. The entire
knowledge on the subject must have been based on Omniscience.
Verse 17 - How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! - The remark is made here doubtless in view of the
numberless “thoughts” involved in planning and forming a frame so wondrous, and in the care necessary to bring it to
perfection; to develop it; to provide for it; to guard and defend it.
How great is the sum of them - literally, “How strong are the heads of them.” That is, The heading of them, or the
summing of them up, would be a task beyond the power of man. And who “could” estimate the number of the “thoughts”
necessarily bestowed on himself by his Maker in all the care exercised over him; all the arrangements for his
development and growth; all that is done to defend him from danger; all that is indispensable in providing for his needs;
all that was necessary to secure the salvation of his soul!
If I should count them - If I could count them.
They are more in number than the sand - Numberless as the sand on the sea-shore.
When I awake, I am still with thee - When I am lost in deep and profound meditation on this subject, and am
aroused again to consciousness, I find the same thing still true. The fact of “my” being forgetful, or lost in profound
meditation, has made no difference with thee. Thou art still the same; and the same unceasing care, the same
thoughtfulness, still exists in regard to me. Or, the meaning may be, sleeping or waking with me, it is still the same in
regard to thee. Thine eyes never close. When mine are closed in sleep, thou art round about me; when I awake from that
unconscious state, I find the same thing existing still. I have been lost in forgetfulness of thee in my slumbers; but thou
hast not forgotten me. There has been no change - no slumbering - with thee.
`
Lesson 14 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 9. IMMUTABILITY
IMMUTABILITY
Definition: God is unchangeable. He is neither capable of nor susceptible to change. He is absolute stability.
1. God’s sovereign decisions, His omniscience, His holiness, all His characteristics are eternally the same and of
equal stature .
Numbers 23:19 God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he
said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Psalm 33: 11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Malachi 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
2. God’s Word is unchangeable. Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 148:6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
3. His works are unchanging and unalterable. Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be
for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
4. From God’s immutability comes His faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22-23 [It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail
not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness
IMMUTABILITY Possessed by each Member of the Godhead

1. With the Father there is “no variation, nor shadow of turning” (James 1:17);
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Hebrews 6: 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel,
confirmed it by an oath:
2. Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday and today and forever) (Hebrews 13:8);
3. The Holy Spirit is faithful to indwell and assist the believer in all things (John 14:16 And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;)
and to teach him God’s Word (I Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.)
Application / Relevance of God’s IMMUTABILITY to Man :
1. God gives us two (2) immutable things – the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (immutable and unchanging,
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb 13:8); and Bible Doctrine (1 Cor 2:16 For who hath
known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ).
God gives us something of Himself when He gives us doctrine. When we have doctrine in the soul, we have the
only stabilizer in life. There is nothing in you or me that is stable; we are all inconsistent. But in the light of God’s
perfect stability, we are not stable at all.
2. God is faithful, always reliable; God will never let anyone down.
a. He is faithful in keeping His Word
Hebrews 6: 17-19 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of
his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to
lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the
veil;
Not one of His promises has ever failed .I Kings 8:56 Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest
unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise,
which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
b. God is faithful to forgive (I John 1:9); He does not forgive because we feel sorry for our sins or
promise never to do them again; He forgives because Christ has already paid the penalty for our sins.
c. God is faithful in keeping us saved ; although we may be faithless, He remains faithful . There is
nothing we can say or do to lose our salvation once we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Since God did
the saving; He does the keeping. Had we helped God in any way, we would be justified in thinking we could
lose our salvation by something we might do. But God has done all the work; we simply receive what He has
done. 2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
d. God is faithful to deliver us from and in pressure or testing.
I Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is]
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also
make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
1 Peter 4: 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their
souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
e. He is faithful in stabilizing and protecting the believer. God’s immutability is our anchor in these
unstable times. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.
f. He is faithful in the administration of His plan .
I Corinthians 1:9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
g. He is faithful in His provision .I Thessalonians 5:24 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;
and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
Lesson 15 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 10. VERACITY
VERACITY
Definition: Veracity means God is absolute truth, which is an expression of His Righteousness. God’s knowledge,
declarations and representations eternally conform to reality. The truth of God is not only the foundation of all
religion, but also of all knowledge.
God is true in that He is genuine God as well as truthful God. He is the source of all truth
Deut 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.
If God is to be faithful to us, He must level with us. We must have all the facts concerning Himself as
well as our ourselves. Therefore His veracity is manifested in His ways, works and in His Words.:;’
1. His veracity is evident in His words.
John 8:45-46 And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I
say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Psalm 12: 6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven
times
2. His veracity is evident in His works .
Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD [is] right; and all his works [are done] in truth
Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands [are] verity and judgment; all his commandments [are] sure.
3. His veracity is evident in His ways .
Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great
and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.
Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies .
4. God means what He says in all His revelation, including mandates, promises and warnings. His faithfulness
upholds His Word of truth
Psalm 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations .
VERACITY Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:
1. At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus answered the unbelieving Jews - affirming the veracity of the Father
John 7:28 “… I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.”
2. Of Himself, Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Of the Son, John said, “ And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that
we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
eternal life.” I John 5:20.
3. The Spirit is the truth I John 5:6 “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water
only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
Application / Relevance of God’s VERACITY to Man :
1. The sum total of divine veracity to the human race is bound up in the Scriptures.
2. Before the Bible was completed, God’s veracity was manifested in various ways.
a. He spoke verbally (Genesis 17: 1-2, Hebrews 6:17-18),
b. He sent angels to teach; He used prophets, priests and other communicators.
But now that the Canon of Scriptures is completed, God speaks only through His Word, the Bible .
3. Understanding who and what God is from the veracity of His Word - and relying upon His perfect character for
both adversity and prosperity builds a foundation of confidence and inner peace. The results are wise decisions
and actions in every circumstance of life.
4. 1Question: But how is the veracity of God to be reconciled with the apparent non-performance of some of
his threats?
Answer: The promises and threats of God are always literally fulfilled if they are absolute;
but if conditional, their fulfillment is dependent upon the obedience or repentance of the persons involved.
The condition may be expressed or implied, and there is no breach in God’s faithfulness, IF, because o
disobedience and impenitence or obedience and penitence on the part of man, God does not carry out his promises .
EXAMPLES:
a. In the book of Jonah, God’s threat is to destroy Nineveh “…for their wickedness is come up before
me”. God then pronounced to the prophet Jonah to preach of repentance to about 600,000 Ninevites.
Result of Jonah’s preaching: Jonah 3:5-10
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even the least of them. For
word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in
ashes.
And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor
beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily
unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and
repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them;
and he did it not.” God “repented”, that is, God changed His previously intended course of action
(destruction) ; because of the penitence of men.
However, about 150 years later, because of the city’s relapse into gross sin, God calls upon the
prophet Nahum to pronounce His judgment on Nineveh; and some 18 years later, Nineveh was utterly
destroyed by the Medes and Babylonians.
b. Question: Further, are the invitations and exhortations to sinners, who will ultimately be lost, sincere?
Answer: Since the invitations are made on practical conditions and there is no obstacle to their
acceptance, except man’s unwillingness, one cannot question God’s sincerity in extending
them.
c. Another example: God knew before hand that Israel would refuse to enter Canaan from Kadesh-
barnea, but that did not keep Him from sincerely urging His people to do so (Deut 1:19-33)
Thus, the VERACITY and FAITHFULNESS of God remain unimpeached!
__________________________________
1Systematic Theology, page 88
Bethany Baptist Church- Sunday School Ministry - Back to the Basics
Lesson 16 : OF THE TRUE GOD: The Lord Our God Is One Lord
C. Activity – “executing distinct but harmonious offices.”

1. The Activity of GOD THE FATHER:
a. Author and Planner.
In eternity past, the father planned and designed all that was, is, or ever shall be (Genesis 1:1). He
“marked out the foundations of the earth” (Proverbs 8:29), prepared the elements (Job 28:25-27), and set
the bounds for the seas (Job 38:11) The Father purposed to make man (Gen 1:26) and to treat him in
grace (Ephesians 1:2, 4; 2:8-9). All planning and production of the Father are manifestations of His
essence. Yet, He does not surpass in either quality or degree the other members of the Trinity, but is
coequal with the Son and the Holy Spirit.
b. God the Father.
His title implies His work – that of a Father. He is presented in Scripture as electing, loving and
bestowing. This role as Father is illustrated in several ways (I Corinthians 8:6).
Ephesians 1:3v Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:
Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature :
These verses use the terms “father” and “son” to describe the intimate relationship shared between the
Persons of the Godhead, not the biological implication of the human relationship surrounding these words.
c. Father of all believers.

Since God the father is the author of salvation, all believers are personally and eternally related to Him
through the new birth (Gal 4:6; Eph 1:5, 3:14-15) John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name”
Contrary to the popular notion that God is the Father of mankind, God is not the father of all mankind
(John 8: 42,44); but of all believers. Membership in the family of God is not automatic, but is a result of a
simple act of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As members of His family, we may address God as “Father” (Romans 8:15) Like all loving fathers in the
human realm, God the Heavenly Father provides what is best for His children (Matthew 7:11). Like all
children we will sin and disappoint our heavenly Father. We must then be disciplined for our own good
(Hebrews 12: 5-11.Yet our Father is always ready to receive His children back into fellowship as soon as they
return to His plan by way of private, direct confession to Him (I John 1:9)
2. The Activity of GOD THE SON:
In His office as “God, the Son,” Jesus Christ serves in roles very important to every believer!
He serves as Head of the body.
He performs specific ministries in relation to the church:
 He forms the church Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1 Corinthians 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath
pleased him.
 He cares for the church. Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word,
Ephesians 5: 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the
Lord the church:
 He gives gifts to the church. Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the
measure of the gift of Christ.Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men.
 He empowers the church. John 15:1-10
2. He serves as Priest for His people.
 He helps those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he
is able to succour them that are tempted.
 He intercedes to the Father on behalf of His people
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen
thy brethren.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:And he is the propitiation for our sins:
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. He serves as Preparer of a place for believers.

Perhaps one of the most used passages of Scripture used in comforting believers is
John 14:1-3 “Father’s house” refers to heaven and is only used twice: John 14:2, 23. It indicates
permanent residence. Part of His work today is preparing the permanent residence for His own!
(The Lord Jesus Christ shall be studied more in detail in the next Doctrines)
3. The Activity of GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (shall be discussed in the next Chapter)
CONCLUSIONS on the 10 ATTIBUTES of God:

All the attributes of divine essence are resident in all three persons of the Godhead, but not all are manifested at
the same time. These attributes never operate in a vacuum independently of each other. Every divine attribute
and all three persons of the Trinity are reflected in the work of salvation for mankind.
1. The justice and righteousness of God condemn unbelievers.
2. The attributes of love and eternal life receive the focus when a person believes in Jesus Christ.
3. Omniscience and sovereignty are the origin of God’s plan.
4. Immutability and veracity are foremost in the faithfulness of God to the believer.
5. The knowledge of the Omnipresence and Omnipotence of God would comfort and strengthen the believer
as he starts out on his Christian life in Phase 2.
Again, understanding who and what God is and relying upon His perfect character for both difficult and prosperous
times builds a foundation of confidence and inner peace. The results are wise decisions and actions in every
circumstance of life.
Lesson 17 : The Concluding lesson on the Doctrine of God: the DOCTRINE of DIVINE DECREE
I DEFINITION: The decrees of God may be defined as God’s eternal purpose, based on His most
wise and holy counsel, whereby He freely and unchangeably, for His own glory ordained either efficaciously
(synonym- effectively) OR permissively all that comes to pass.
To put in another way, the decrees of God are His eternal and immutable will regarding the future existence of
events which will happen in the precise manner and order of their occurrence. The decrees are the eternal plan
of God by which He has rendered certain events of the universe as past, present and future.
This definition of Divine Decree includes several items:
A. The decrees are God’s eternal purpose. He
does not make His plans or alter them as human history develops. He made them in eternity, and
because He is immutable, they remain unaltered.
Ps 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
God’s decrees are eternal – God is not gaining in knowledge; God has always known. God knew
simultaneously our failures; but God still treats us in grace!
B. The decrees are based on His Omniscience and most wise and holy counsel. He is
Omniscient and so knows what is best, and He is absolutely holy and so cannot purpose anything that is
wrong. God knew; God cares!
Being all-wise, knowing the end from the beginning, knowing that sin would come (since he had
decided to permit it to come), knowing what would be the nature of sin and how he would have to deal with it if he
was to save anyone, He based his plans on all His knowledge and understanding. Being perfectly holy and
incapable of partiality or unfairness, He made His plans according to that which is absolutely just Romans
3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be
polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
B. The decrees originate in God’s freedom; not in necessity.
Ps 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
God did not have to decree anything, nor was He limited by anything outside of Himself in making the
decrees. What He decreed, He decreed freely, voluntarily; it was not necessitated. Further, the decrees are not
due to mere caprice or arbitrary will. God does not act from mere emotional impulse; He always acts rationally.
He may not always disclose His reasons for decreeing one thing instead of another, but we are assured that there
are always reasons
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong
unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
John 13:7 “Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.’”
This is an encouragement in that we shall some day understand the meaning of certain puzzling Scriptures and the
mysteries of certain perplexing acts of God.
D. He is omnipotent and able to do all that He desires .
Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his
will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say
unto him, What doest thou?
E. The decrees have as their end purpose the glory of God. They
do not primarily aim at the happiness of the creature, nor at the perfecting of the saints, although both things are
included in His aims; but at the glory of Him who is absolute perfection . The end of all things is the glory of
God; and only as we also adopt this as our real goal in life are we living on the highest plane and in full harmony
with the purposes of God.
Numbers 14:20-21 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: 21But as truly as I live,
all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole
earth is full of his glory.
In man it would be selfishness to seek for his glory; but that is because man is sinful and imperfect. To
seek for his own glory, would be to seek to glorify sinfulness and imperfection.
But this is not the case with God. He is absolutely sinless and perfect in holiness. For Him, to aim at His
own glory is, therefore, merely to seek the glory of absolute holiness and sinless perfection. There is no one and
nothing higher to glorify.
F. There are 2 kinds of decrees: efficacious and permissive.
1. There are things which God purposes that He also determines efficaciously to bring about;
2. There are other things which He merely determines to permit (Romans 8:28)
But even in the case of the permissive decrees, He overrules all for His glory .
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,
and by wicked hands have crucified and slain
*By permissive decrees, we mean God has appointed some events to be done by secondary causes
(referring to the free will of man). The free will of man and the Sovereignty of God co-exist by divine decree.
Man can choose for or against God as an unbeliever; man can choose for or against God as a believer!
G. And, finally, the decrees include all that comes to pass. They
include all the past, the present, and the future, they embrace the things which he efficaciously brings
about and the things which he merely permits.
In other words, God knew simultaneously all that ever was or ever will be. (All decrees were
simultaneous, not by stages. Man, however, think in terms of logic and chronology)
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet
done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
II. The PROOF of the DECREES:

That the events in the universe are neither a surprise nor a disappointment to God, nor the result of His
caprice or arbitrary will, but the outworking of a definite purpose and plan of God, is the teaching of Scripture:
Isaiah 14:24, 26, 27 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it
come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: … This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole
earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and
who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? 1
Ephesians 1:9-11 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure
which he hath purposed in himself: … In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
It is very comforting for a believer to realize that God made an issue out of us; long before we are
capable of making an issue out of God.
1
Conclusion
Why should people be concerned with knowing God and knowing more about Him?
1. This knowledge will help bring lost people to Christ .
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou
hast sent.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
2. This knowledge will foster Christian growth (2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.))
- with doctrinal knowledge in the believer (John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.)
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
3. This knowledge will warn of judgment to come (Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast
forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which
shall devour the adversaries.
4. This knowledge will generate true worship of God Himself (Romans 11:33-36 O the depth of the riches both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For
who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it
shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory for ever. Amen.)
When Helen Keller was ten years old, her father asked the famous Boston minister, Phillips Brooks, to tell her
about God. He gladly did so. After their first conversation, Brooks was profoundly moved by Helen’s response: “I have
always known there was a God but have not before known His name.”
It is an inherent belief in man that God exists. He learns to think otherwise. It is our privilege to tell people of
the one and true and living God!

2doctrine 2 of The True GOD

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Bethany Baptist Church

II. Of the True God

Lesson 3 The Doctrine of TRINITY – Introduction

Lesson 5 The Essence/Character of God - Introduction

Lesson 16 God’s ACTIVITY

II. Of the True God

A. GOD’S IDENTITY – “one living and true God.”

A. Through creation (COSMOLOGICAL argument for God’s existence).:

B. Through organization (TELEOLOGICAL argument for God’s existence).

C. Through Scripture (BIBLICAL argument for God’s existence).

This week we discuss the 3rd important truth:

3). God cannot be fully understood.

WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF ACCOMODATION?

1. anthropomorphisms – from the Greek “anthropos”, “man”, plus “morphos”, “body” .

The Word of God then employs such imagery :

B. THE DOCTRINE of the TRINITY – “there are three Persons.”

II. WHAT IS THE DOCTRINE of the TRINITY?

D. The Doctrine of the Trinity can only be understood by FAITH.

Back to the Basic

E. God makes a distinction of persons within the Godhead .

II. New Testament Evidence for the Trinity:

*The essence box containing the 10 major attributes

Unseen but Real Unseen but Real

Bethany Baptist Church –Sunday School Ministry

SOVEREIGNTY: Tagalog: “Pinaka makapangyarihan sa lahat”

Application / Relevance of God’s Sovereignty to Man:

Man is free to make a choice;

The Attribute of Sovereignty Possessed by the Trinity:

5. His character and His Person is PERFECT

God’s ABSOLUTE Righteousness Imputed upon all

RIGHTEOUSNESS Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

Application / Relevance of God’s JUSTICE to Man:

What God’s Justice Does:

Judges with tribulation and anguish those that doeth evil

JUSTICE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

LOVE In Tagalog: Ang Diyos ay Pag-ibig

Directed toward the members of the Trinity:

Application / Relevance of God’s LOVE to Man :

(A.) DIVINE IMPERSONAL LOVE . (B.) DIVINE PERSONAL LOVE -.

The Extent of God’s Impersonal Love:

GO GOD’S IMPERSONAL LOVE GOD’S PERSONAL LOVE for

PHASE 3 – All Believers - All Believers -

Summary of the chart above:

Lesson 10 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 5. ETERNAL LIFE

ETERNAL LIFE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

Application / Relevance of God’s ETERNAL LIFE to Man :

For the unbelievers:

OMNISCIENCE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

Application / Relevance of God’s OMNISCIENCE to Man :

Lesson 12 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 7.

Application / Relevance of God’s OMNIPRESENCE to Man :

OMNIPOTENCE Possessed by each Member of the Godhead:

Lesson 14 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 9. IMMUTABILITY

IMMUTABILITY Possessed by each Member of the Godhead

Lesson 15 : The 10 Major ATTRIBUTES of GOD : 10. VERACITY

C. Activity – “executing distinct but harmonious offices.”

c. Father of all believers.

3. He serves as Preparer of a place for believers.

CONCLUSIONS on the 10 ATTIBUTES of God:

II. The PROOF of the DECREES:

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