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Published byOsborne Chase Modified over 9 years ago
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Christian Doctrine Semester 1, 2011
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Week 5: The Attributes of God [Week 3: The God Who Is] [Week 4: The Creator God] Week 6: Humanity in The Image of God
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Knowing God A.W. Tozer said What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The convictions we have about God will affect everything about us and our lives…
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The Decrees & Attributes of God Knowing who God is is crucial to knowing who we are and our call… “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:15 Mark 8:29 Luke 9:20 “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” “If anybody would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
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The Decrees & Attributes of God In knowing who God is, we need to rule out pre- conceptions about who He is:- Absent Annoyed Far off Uninterested Unknowable Or Nice Familiar Grandfatherly and indulgent
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The Decrees & Attributes of God In attempting to articulate who God is, we can:- Excessively analyse Know about Him and not know Him Mistakenly generalise Unfocused, unarticulated, inadequate, insufficient, often erroneous “whatever” We can do better than that. We need to do better that!
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Attributes Permanent Intrinsic Qualities What Who NB He is not fully known – mystery But He is not fully unknown
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The Attributes of God Communicable & Incommunicable Some transfer to humanity Some qualities are God’s alone Immanent & Emanant Some remain within God’s nature Some go out from Him (they emanate) Absolute & Relative Some have always existed since before creation Some are manifested through relationship to creation Natural & Moral Some are “good” Some are “non-moral”
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Attributes of Greatness Spirituality God is spiritual – not physical However, He is not just a force – He is… Personality He is person He is NOT Absolute Reality Great Spirit Brahma He is relational – relationship with Himself & humanity He has names
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The Names of God In ANE a name stood for the essence of that person. God often re-named people El – connotes God’s strength, power & majesty El Roi – The God who sees El Shaddai – God Almighty Yahweh – God’s covenant name - “He Who Is” 6,800+ in OT Yahweh-Jireh – The Lord will provide Yahweh-Rapha – The Lord who heals Father, Abba – used by Jesus and Early believers who had received the Spirit…
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Attributes of Greatness Life The Living God exists The non-dependent One Breathes life into His creation Infinity He is unlimited in Space Time Power
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Attributes of Greatness Constancy He is unchanging His plans are unchanging His laws are unchanging
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Attributes of Greatness Constancy No Quantitative Change – no bigger, no smaller No Qualitative Change – nature remains constant
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Attributes of Goodness Moral Purity 1. Holiness Untouched by evil Unable to look at evil 2. Righteousness Because of His Holiness – God is righteous in and of Himself and the way that He acts Therefore He is righteous in His dealings with others He declares His righteousness over believers’ unrighteousness (Romans)
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Attributes of Goodness Moral Purity 3. Justice God’s official righteousness Conformity with His own law and righteousness Administration of His law Judge – bless / curse / glorify / exile Integrity Genuineness – not fabricated or imitation Veracity – only deals in truth Faithfulness – keeps His promises
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Attributes of Goodness Love
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Attributes of Goodness Love Benevolence – concern & interest
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Attributes of Goodness Love Grace – undeserved love & favour
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Attributes of Goodness Love Mercy – undeserved compassion e.g. forgiveness
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Attributes of Goodness Love Persistence – “slowness to anger”
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Attributes of Goodness Love Benevolence – concern & interest Grace – undeserved love & favour Mercy – undeserved compassion e.g. forgiveness Persistence – “slowness to anger”
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Attributes of Goodness Love and justice are not in tension but are in harmony “Loving justice”
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Attributes of God “Holiness [righteousness & justice] and love join most perfectly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As God, He embodies divine holiness that is separate from and resistant to all sin and evil, yet his very coming is God’s loving, gracious response to human guilt and helplessness. They unite also in the ministry of God the Holy spirit whose essential ministry is the renewal and sanctification of God’s people in fulfillment of God’s purpose and love.” Bruce Milne, Know The Truth
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