1. His Qualities, His Properties, His Character, His Attributes
God’s Essence
His Qualities, His Properties, His Character, His Attributes
Sovereignty
God is the Supreme Being of the Universe
There is none Greater than He
Hebrews 6:13 (NASB95)
13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
God’s Essence consists of his Qualities, Properties, Character, Attributes.
What does that mean? Since we can’t see God, how do we know what His Essence is?
I can look at you and tell, the color of your hair and eyes. How tall you are, etc.
We can’t see God because he is Spirit. But, we can know God, by what the Bible tells us about him.
The first Essence or Attribute we will learn about is His Sovereignty. God is the Supreme Being of the Universe. There is none greater than He.
Hebrews 6:13
God's Essence

2. God’s Essence Sovereignty
God is King of Everything, the Heavens, Earth, and Seas
God Created the Heavens, Earth, Seas, and Everything in Them
God Owns Everything that He Created
God Can Do with Everything as He Wishes
Read the above and explain.
God's Essence

3. God’s Essence Sovereignty
Salvation
John 3:16
God’s
Sovereignty
God’s
Absolute
Will
2 Pet. 3:9
Post-Salvation
Conduct
Provision
Bible
1 John 1:9
From His sovereignty comes his absolute will.
From His absolute will comes a twofold plan for the entire human race.
From our previous classes, we learned what Salvation is.
It is rescue, deliverance or to be saved.
1. Salvation here is when you believe in the Savior. For us now, this is believing in Jesus Christ that he died for our sins. We will have a home in Heaven. We are saved from the Lake of Fire.
2. Post-salvation conduct and provision is what God wills for us after the first salvation (believing in Jesus) which is how to live The Christian Way of Life. God provides us what we need, which is the Bible, His Word, a local Church and a P-T. We are saved from our sin nature by rebound and applying what the Bible tells us we should do.
Now lets look at 2 Per. 3:9.
God's Essence

4. God’s Essence Sovereignty
Absolute
Will
2 Pet. 3:9
2 Peter 3:9 (NASB95)
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
God will not use His absolute will to force anyone to do something they do not want to do against their volition (free will).
From his sovereignty comes His Absolute Will.
Read 2 Pet. 3:9
God does not wish for anyone to perish (Lake of Fire), but for all to come to repentance, to believe, to learn his word and live the Christian Way of Life.
Even though God wants all to believe and learn about Him, He will not force anyone to do something they do not want to do, against their volition, free will, choice. He wants us to believe but He will not force us.
God's Essence

5. God’s Essence Sovereignty
1 Samuel 2:6–8 (NASB95)
6 “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 “The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.
8 “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He set the world on them.
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NASB95)
11b indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
Psalm 24:1 (NASB95)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
These are some verses from the Bible that show us about God’s Sovereignty. Let’s read them.
You will note that one verse Psalm 24:1 is in blue, this is your memory verse.
Psalm 8:1 (NASB95)
1O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
Psalm 115:3 (NASB95)
3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
God's Essence

6. God’s Essence Sovereignty
Psalm 135:6 (NASB95)
6 Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
Isaiah 40:12–15 (NASB95)
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?
13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has informed Him?
14 With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.
Isaiah 66:1 (NASB95)
1 Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
These are some more verses that describe God’s Sovereignty.
Hebrews 8:1 (NASB95)
1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
God's Essence

7. The Story of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon
The green shaded area in the map is the kingdom that King Nebuchadnezzar ruled. He lived over 2500 years ago. He was one of the greatest and most powerful kings that ever lived. Daniel was a Jew that was captured by Nebuchadnezzar’s army and taken from Jerusalem along with many other Jews and taken to Babylon in about 605 BC. Daniel was a very intelligent man and was able to interpret dreams as we will see.
Babylon
God's Essence

8. The Story of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon
God’s Essence
Sovereignty
The Story of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel 4:4-18
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Interpreted
Daniel 4:19-27
The Dream Comes True
Daniel 4:31-33
This is a story in the Bible about King Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon. The story is located in the book of Daniel, Chapter 4.
Even though Nebuchadnezzar was an unbeliever, God blessed him with many great things.
I will read to you a summary of this story.
God's Essence

9. Daniel 4:31–33 (NASB95)
31 “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,
32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’
33 “Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
The dream came true one year after Daniel interpreted the dream. This is an artists picture of what Nebuchadnezzar’s life was like for seven years until he realized that God is Sovereign King of the universe.
God's Essence

10. The Story of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon
God’s Essence
Sovereignty
The Story of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar Realizes God is Sovereign
Daniel 4:34-35
King Nebuchadnezzar is Restored his Kingdom
Daniel 4:36
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Declaration
Daniel 4:1-3,37
Nebuchadnezzar after seven years living outside the castle, eating grass, no baths, no shelter from rain, storms. Finally, he realizes that God is the King of the universe and that God owns everything because he created everything and that God’s Kingdom will last forever.
Nebuchadnezzar becomes a believer and God restores Nebuchadnezzar to his kingdom and God made his a greater King than he was.
God's Essence

11. God’s Essence Sovereignty
The Story of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar’s Declaration
Daniel 4:1–3 (NASB95)
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth: “May your peace abound!
2 “It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.
3 “How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.
After Nebuchadnezzar returned to his palace, he sent some very important news to the people in his empire.
Daniel 4:37 (NASB95)
37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”
God's Essence

12. God’s Essence Sovereignty Review
What Do We Mean by God’s Essence?
What Do We Mean by God’s Sovereignty?
Recite Your Memory Verse From Last Class
Psalm 24:1 (NASB95)
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.
Review the Story of King Nebuchadnezzar
God’s Essence is His Qualities, Properties, Character, His Attributes. These are things we can’t see but they define God.
God’s Sovereignty is--God is the Supreme Being of the Universe, none is greater than He. He created everything and is King of all.
He owns everything and can do with everything as he pleases.
From His Sovereignty comes His absolute will page 3 and wishes that all people would be saved (believe), but will not force anyone to be saved against their will, volition.
What is your memory verse? Page 5, Psalm This verse tells of God’s sovereignty.
Next review the story of king Nebuchadnezzar. Lesson 3 Review true and false questions. Lesson 3 Page 1
God's Essence

13. God’s Essence Sovereignty
God, who planned and created the world and those who dwell therein, upholds the whole universe (Psa. 24:1; Col. 1:16-17).
From His throne, our heavenly Sovereign, God, watches His creatures (Psa. 33:13-14).
His sovereign will supersedes man’s plans (Psa. 135:6).
Thus He works out the purpose of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
These statements and verses show how God is sovereign and tell us of God’s sovereignty. Read the verses.
God's Essence

14. God’s Essence Sovereignty
But blessings come to those whom He has chosen for His own (Psa ).
Every believer has the right and privilege of service and allegiance to the King of glory (Psa. 24:10).
He may confidently look to the Lord, knowing that the divine plan of salvation does not overlook man’s temporal needs (Phil. 4:19), whatever these may be.
These statements and verses show how God is sovereign and tell us of God’s sovereignty. Read the verses.
God's Essence

15. God’s Essence Sovereignty
PHASE 1
PH1
PHASE 2
PH2
PHASE 3
PH3
This shows the stages of a believer’s life from Salvation (believing in Jesus Christ) PH1, then from the time of Salvation to the time of physical death or the Rapture, then to the believer’s eternal home in Heaven.
PH2 The Time from Salvation to Physical Death or the Rapture
PH3 is The Believer’s Eternal Home in Heaven
Ph1 Salvation, The Point of Faith in Christ
God's Essence

16. God’s Essence Sovereignty
The Time That You Are Alive
(PH2)
Psalm 104
Matt. 6:28-33
God Plans and Provides for Every Need
of Man
Phil.4:19
In Heaven Your Eternal Home
(PH3)
John 3:16
Rev. 22:12
This shows that God plans and provides for every need of man, both while he is alive on planet earth (PH2) and when he is in heaven his eternal home (PH3). Of course this is for believers only.
God's Essence

17. God’s Essence Sovereignty
PH2
All the time That You are Alive
Matthew 6:28–30 (NASB95)
30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
This is a PH2 (while we are alive) verse where Jesus is telling us that God will supply our needs.
God's Essence

18. All the time That You are Alive
God’s Essence
Sovereignty
PH2
All the time That You are Alive
Psalm 104
Philippians 4:19 (NASB95)
19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 47:7a (NASB95)
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
PH2 is our time on planet earth while we are alive. These are more verses that tell us that God will provide all the needs of believers.
Psalm 47:7a in blue is your memory verse. It tells us that God is King of all the earth.
God's Essence

19. God’s Essence Sovereignty
PH3
In Heaven
John 3:16 (NASB95)
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Revelation 22:12 (NASB95)
12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
PH3 is our life forever in our home in Heaven, for believers. These verses tell us that God will give us eternal life in heaven if we believe in His Son, (Jesus Christ). John 3:16
In Rev. 22:12 Jesus tells us that he will give us rewards in heaven according to what we have done on planet earth, whether we have learned his word (Bible) and applied what we have learned.
God's Essence

20. The Story of Saul of Tarsus
We will now be learning about Saul of Tarsus. This is a map that shows the journey of Saul a strict Jew on the Damascus road. He is traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus to threaten Christians (People that believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior). His plan is to put them in prison and even kill them.
God's Essence

21. God’s Essence Sovereignty
The Story of Saul of Tarsus
Saul, the Enemy of Christ and Christians
Acts 9:1-2
Saul Meets the Risen Christ
Acts 9:3-6
Saul’s Conversion
Acts 9:7-9
Read from Lesson 3 page 2ff.
God's Essence

22. God’s Essence Sovereignty
The Story of Saul of Tarsus
Saul Receives Back His Sight
Acts 9:10-19
God’s Plan for Saul
Acts 9:15
Saul’s Enemies and Friends
Acts 9:20-25
Read from Lesson 3 page 3 and 4.
God's Essence

23. The Story of Saul of Tarsus
God’s Essence
Sovereignty
The Story of Saul of Tarsus
Review
What Do We Mean by God’s Essence?
What Do We Mean by God’s Sovereignty?
Recite Your Memory Verses
Psalm 24:1 Psalm 47.7a
What Have We Learned About Saul of Tarsus?
God’s Essence is His Qualities, Properties, Character, His Attributes. These are things we can’t see but they define God.
God’s Sovereignty is--God is the Supreme Being of the Universe, none is greater than He. He created everything and is King of all.
He can do (by his volition, choice) whatever he wants or decides to do and is always righteous in whatever he does. He is in complete control of everything.
From His Sovereignty comes His absolute will page 3 and wishes that all people would be saved (believe), but will not force anyone to be saved against their will, volition.
Recite memory verses Psalm 24:1 and Psalm 47:7a
Review about Saul of Tarsus, questions on Lesson 4 page 1 and 2.
Saul, an enemy of Christ and Christians. Saul meets the risen Christ, Saul’s conversion, Saul receives back his sight.
There are 27 NT books, Paul wrote 13, almost half of the NT books.
God's Essence

24. God’s Essence Sovereignty
The Story of Saul of Tarsus
God Protects Saul (Paul)
Acts 23:7-10
God’s Plan Made Known to Paul
Acts 23:11
God Works Out His Plan for Paul
Acts 23:15-23
Read from Lesson 4 page 2 and 3.
God's Essence

25. The Story of Saul of Tarsus A Dangerous Journey for Paul
God’s Essence
Sovereignty
The Story of Saul of Tarsus
Paul Serves the Sovereign God
A Dangerous Journey for Paul
Acts 27: Paul’s Warning
Acts 27: Storm Surges
Acts 27: Paul’s Vision
Acts 27: Ship Wreck
Acts 28: The Snake
Rome at Last
Acts 28:10-16
Read from Lesson 4 page 4 and 5.
God's Essence