1. The Essence of Christianity
Knowing God

2. The Plan
Session started with the authority of Scripture as a foundation.
Now: What does Scripture say about God?
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

3. Can I know God? The Knowability of God.
1. In a general Way – Psalm 19.
Referred to as “General Revelation”
2. In a special Way
Referred to a “Special Revelation”
Through Jesus Christ, and Scripture – Heb. 1:1
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

4. Can I Know God “Fully” Psalm 145:3 Psalm 139:6 Isa. 55:8
“his greatness is unsearchable”
Psalm 139:6
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”
Isa. 55:8
“My Ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

5. The God who “reveals” Himself
What we know, is “made known” to us, and we can know “truly”, because of the source.
Romans 1:19
“What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them”
Matthew 11:27
“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Deut 29:29
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

6. In fact, We are called to Know Him
Jeremiah 9:24-24
“This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

7. In fact, We are called to Know Him
Jesus’ Words
John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

8. General Revelation Romans 1:20
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

9. General Revelation Psalm 19:1-5
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

10. Special Revelation – God’s very words
1. Miraculous Events
Exodus, Birth of Isaac
2. Divine Speech
Audible Speech, prophets, Dreams, Visions
3. Visible Manifestation
OT Glory, Angel of YHWH, Jesus Christ
Hebrews 1:1
“in the last days he has spoken to us through his Son”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

11. The Attributes of God Things unique to God alone
Incommunicable Attributes
Things shared with His image-bearers
Communicable Attributes
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

12. Incommunicable Attributes
Self-Existent
Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

13. Incommunicable Attributes
Eternal
Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
I Timothy 1:17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. “
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

14. Incommunicable Attributes
Unchangeable
Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change.”
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

15. Incommunicable Attributes
Unity
I Timothy 2:15 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one - The Shema (cf. Mark 12:29)
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

16. Incommunicable Attributes
Unity
Mark 12:29 “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

17. Incommunicable Attributes The “Omni’s”
Definition
Verse
Omni-Presence
Present everywhere
Ps. 139:7-12; Jer. 23:23,24
Omni-science
Knows all things
Ps. 139:1-4; Ps. 147:4-5
Omni-potence
All Powerful
Matt. 19:26; Rev. 19:6
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

18. Communicable Attributes
Veracity
Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Romans 3:4 “so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. (cf. Psalm 51:4)
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

19. Communicable Attributes
Goodness
Acts 14:17 “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

20. Communicable Attributes
Love
I John 4:8 “God is love.”
I John 4:16 “God is love”
I John 4:9-11 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

21. Communicable Attributes
Grace
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

22. Communicable Attributes
Mercy
Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
I Peter 1:3 “In his great mercy he has given us new birth”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

23. Communicable Attributes
Holiness
Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
I Peter 1:15,16 “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (cf. Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2’ 20:7)
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

24. Communicable Attributes
Justice
II Timothy 4:8 “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day”
Acts 10:34 “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

25. Communicable Attributes
Power
Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

26. Communicable Attributes
Knowledge
Hebrews 4:13 “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984

27. Communicable Attributes
Wisdom
Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”
All Scripture Quotes: New International Version, Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervon Publishing 1984