Pastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard Thursday, October 22, 2009 Grace Fellowship Church

Memory Verse Duet 6:4, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” Mark 12:29

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.— Amen.

Doctrine of the Trinity John 14:25-26 H. The Essence of God.

Father SonHoly Spirit Co-Equal Co-Infinite Co-Eternal

God can not and does not deal with man in any one singular attribute. All must and do work in conjunction with each other.

1. Three major characteristics of the attributes of God. Eternal, Functional, and Directional.

a. Eternal: there never was nor will there ever be a time when each member of the Trinity did not and does not possess all of the Divine attributes.

b. Functional: God’s attributes have capacity for operation.

c. Directional: The object toward which they function.

3 Sub-Categories The point of responsibility, The point of contact, and The point of reference, (i.e. His righteousness, justice and love).

2. Two categories of God’s Essence: His Absolute Attributes and His Relative Attributes:

a. Absolute Attributes include: spirituality, infinity, and perfection.

b. Relative Attributes include: 1) Those related to time and space – eternity and immensity

2) Those related to creation; omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence.

3) Those related to moral beings: Veracity and Faithfulness, Mercy and Goodness, and Righteousness and Justice.

3. Other Characteristics. a. The Freedom of God - He is independent of His creatures and His Creation. b. The Affection of God – God is Love.

c. The absolute Authority of God - Sovereignty. d. The Holiness of God - He is positively pure. This is a result of His Righteousness and Justice.

SovereigntySovereignty RighteousRighteous JusticeJustice LoveLove Eternal LifeEternal Life OmniscienceOmniscience OmnipotentOmnipotent OmnipresenceOmnipresence ImmutableImmutable VeracityVeracity Essence of God

I. Conclusion:

1. The way to “see” God is to come to know Him through a study of His character as revealed in the Scriptures, Mat 5:6-8.

2. The character of God is the basis and standard for all human morality. Without it, men are doomed to failure. Prov 14:12; 16:25

3. Failure to think rightly about God is the sin of idolatry, and it leads to countless other sins.

4. Knowing God intimately is our calling and destiny, our future hope, our great privilege and blessing. Jer 9:23; 1 Cor 13:12; Phil 3:10; 1 John 3:2; Eph 3:14-19

5. A study of the attributes of God is the basis for our enjoyment of God and our spiritual growth. Eph 4:13; 2 Peter 1:4

6. The attributes of God are foundational to our faith and hope. Heb 10:23; 11:6; 1 Peter 4:19

7. It enhances our worship. 8. It enhances our prayer life. 9. It enhances our witness. 10. It enhances and enriches our study of the Scriptures.

11. When we focus on the attributes of God, we begin to view life from a new perspective—from God’s perspective. Phil 3:8-10

Grace Fellowship Church Grace Fellowship Church Tuesday, October 22, 2009 Tape # Doctrine of the Trinity, Part 6 Upper Room Discourse, Part 306 John 14:26; Eph 3:14-19; Prov 14:12; 16:25 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009