Jesus Christ

 

    Jesus is the most impactful figure in all of human history.  There has never been nor will be anyone like him.  He has been described as a great teacher, leader, prophet, and heretic.  He was a great teacher and leader, but He is also the son of God.  He is God that was placed in a human body.  He never denied who he is.  We just have to decide on if we believe or not.  Do you understand who is Jesus Christ?

    Jesus was born into this world as a baby from a virgin mother.  He grew into a man like any baby boy.  He voluntarily left Heaven to be with people.  From boyhood he grew into a strong man full of wisdom.  He had stature and his presence could not be ignored because he was favored by God.

    When Jesus Christ was in Heaven, he was God. Being God automatically set him apart from everyone else, but he set aside his independence to serve God's purpose.  He was equal to his father, but his role has always been different from his father God.  He is the only man to ever live that never sinned.  Jesus emptied himself of all that he was in Heaven to be a servant to God to humans as a human.  He knew rejection.

    Jesus experienced all aspects of life like other human beings.  He got tired and had to sleep.  He slept peacefully because he knew his purpose.  When he got hungry, he ate.  If he did not eat, then he got fatigued and vulnerable like everyone else.  When he traveled he would get worn out.  He grieved and cried when he felt loss of saw despair.   He felt pain and bled like everyone else., but he did not fear because he never had doubt.

    Jesus knew who he was.  He never denied or turned from his purpose.  He embraced it to the point of death.  When he rose again, he continued his purpose.  He was not a ghost.  He was fully God and fully human.  He had flesh and bone just like we do.

       

Matthew 27:22-26, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 2:39-52, 4:1-2, 24:38-40, John 1:1-14, 4:5-8, 11:33-37, & Philippians 2:6-8

Some Attributes of God Part 4

 

    An attribute of God is love.  This love is not the love of the world.  His love is pure, true, faithful, and powerful.  He loves unconditionally, but that does not mean that He will allow us to act any way that we want without consequences.  His love is not based on beauty, perfection, or merit.  It is based on you being His creation.  He chose you.  True love is action.  

    God loves people so much that He sacrificed His only son to the world.  He allowed humanity be itself and in return humanity killed His son.  It doesn't end there.  God could have destroyed the world, but instead He brought His son back so that He became the way to salvation.  God's love brings Him to where we are, so that we can have a relationship with Him.  

    Another attribute of God is truth.  He is the only true God.  He is the only living God.  He is the truth and the way to the truth is Jesus.  His truth redeems people from their sins.  His truth comes in love and is eternal.  It is above all who claim their truth.  His truth reveals lies as it shines light into the world.  It pushes His judgments to prevail.  

    The final attribute of this series is God's mercy.  God's mercy is a practical expression of His compassionate character.  He shows compassion to those that oppose, rebel, and reject Him.  However, on the final judgment it is their choices that will land them in eternity with Satan and his demons.  

    God's mercy is seen in how He is slow to anger.  His mercy is revealed in His faithful love, graciousness, and compassion.  God is true and just to everyone.  He offers salvation to anyone who wants it.  If you accept salvation, then He removes all your iniquities.  He forgives you and forgets your sins when you ask with a repentant heart.

    God's attributes counter the way the world does things.  His ways contrast with the ways of Satan.  He offers salvation when Satan offers death and torment.  It is our choice in whom we follow.  That means our outcome is also our choice.  God has made it clear what is required.  Satan makes things confusing.  Follow the path to clarity and you will find the truth, love, and all the things you need.

Psalm 31:1-5, 117, 130:3-4, 145:8-20, John 3:16-21, Romans 3:3-4, 5:6-11, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, & Ephesians 2:4-7

Some of God's Attributes Part 3

 

    Omniscience is an attribute of God.  That means that God knows the present and the future.  Nothing surprises Him.  His decisions are final.  They shape the world and influence every aspect.  Nothing can change what He decides will be.  He gave people the gift of free will, but He knows what we will decide.  He knows our mind and our movements.  He doesn't miss a thing.

    God knows me.  He knows you.  He understands us all.  He recognizes our ways.  He gave us all the opportunity to know Him in return.  We can know Him when we accept His gift of salvation.  That is when we become a part of His family.  That security is impossible, but He made it possible.

    Omnipresence is another attribute of God.  It means that God is everywhere, so He doesn't just know everything, He also sees everything in the universe.  He sees all the good and the evil of people and spiritual world.  There is no limits for God.  He is the light in a world clouded in darkness.  There is no where to hide.  It is a blessing to walk in the light.

    Omnipotence is one more attribute of God.  This means that God is all powerful.  His power is more than strength.  It is who He is.  Nothing is beyond God's power.  Every aspect of Him exudes power: His voice, presence, words, touch.  You see this in His creations, preservation, and providential care.  

Genesis 1, Job 34:21-30, Psalm 37:23-24, 139:1-12, Proverbs 15:3, Isaiah 41:8-10, Jeremiah 32:16-20, Hebrews 1:1-4, & Revelations 19:6-8

Some of God's Attributes Part 2

 

    God is eternal.  There has never been a time where He did not exist.  That is hard to fathom because people have a linear time line.  We all have starts and finishes.  It is hard to comprehend no beginning or no end, but it doesn't make it any less true.  He is not bound by time.  He can see the past, present, and future like real time.  He has perfect understanding of everything and everyone.  

    God being eternal is an attribute all His own (only shared with Jesus and the Holy Spirit).  He is the first and the last.  He is the only God.  He is the redeemer.  His power can not be conquered.  Nothing can stop Him once He decides.  God being eternal means you can trust what He says and does.

    Another attribute is that God is immutable.  He never changes.  His nature and purpose are steadfast.  You can rely on Him.  He never breaks a promise, so if you know God's Word, then you know what He will do.  He gave us the Bible to give us clarity.  It is impossible for God to lie because He is the source of hope. 

    You can find confidence in God in the Bible.  I will go in more detail tomorrow about Omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, but for now I will say that they embrace His all encompassing power the best.  He knows you better than you know yourself.  

    He knows if you love, trust, or care about Him.  You don't have to convince Him.  You are only convincing or confirming it to yourself when you talk to God in that pleading or arguing manner.  Work it out in yourself and then walk in confidence with God.  

Job 34:21-22, Psalm 139:1-6, Isaiah 43:10-13, 44:6-8, Malachi 3:6-12, & Hebrews 6:15-19

Some of God's Attributes Part 1

 

    One of God's attributes is holiness.  That means that God is untouched and unstained by evil.  He is perfect and pure.  He is not just any god.  He is the only living God.  His holiness is His glory.  We worship God because of His supreme Holiness.

    God's holiness rubs off on His people.  If you are saved, then you should embrace the holiness that comes with being a part of His family.  You are set apart from the world to serve Him.  We are no longer controlled by sin because we reflect God in this unrighteous world.  He did this because He loves us.

    Righteousness and justice are two more of God's attributes.  They come from the same root word.  Righteousness is perfect agreement between God's nature and actions.  Justice is God's legislation of His righteousness.  All He does is morally and justly correct.  There is no law above God's authority.  

    God displays his righteousness in His judgment.  Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of God's throne.  His standard is holy and perfect.  Our standard needs to align with His to be correct.  He gave us the commandments and decrees for our benefit and to reveal how much we really need Him.  It reveals how our nature is flawed.

    Sovereign is another of God's attributes.  It means He is the chief, supreme power, or superior in position to all others.  Technically, all three apply to God.  There is no other like God.  The plans He makes do happen.  No one can change His will.  He only speaks the truth.  One day everyone will see and understand that.

    God being sovereign is meant to be encouraging.  It assures Christians that God is in control.  What He promised us will happen.  He will succeed and nothing will interfere with His plans.  He takes care of His people.  His love is true and steadfast.

Exodus 15:11-12, Psalm 89:14-18, 99:9, 119:137-144, Isaiah 45:23-25, 46:8-11, Romans 8:26-30, & 1 Peter 1:13-16

God's Attributes

 

    To have the right concept of God, you have to keep it basic.  He is not a systematic machine that you can learn to operate.  His ways lead to practical living.  His ethics do not fail.  You will not find imperfection in how God operates.  His thoughts will not be ignored.

    You know God through Jesus.  If you believe in Jesus, then you believe in God.  Jesus' work is God's work.  God's full nature dwells in Jesus.  Jesus is radiant in God' glory.  Since Jesus is God's exact nature, then His Words are powerful.  Jesus purifies sin and sits at the right hand of God.  

    An attribute is a quality or characteristic that is true about someone.  God is not someone, but he is the creator of all things good.  We have a limited perspective on God's attributes, but we saw them in Jesus.  His attributes are more than an idea or concept.  They are true and real.

    The trinity work together as one throughout the Bible.  You can see that God is holy, righteous, just, sovereign, eternal, immutable, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, love, faithful, truth, glory, kind, merciful, compassionate, and more.  How is this personal?  It is personal because it applies to each and every life on earth.  It is our responsibility to understand God's attributes.

Psalm 33:10-12, 90:1-2, 145:8-20, John 14:9-14, Romans 8:26-30, Colossians 2:8-10, Hebrews 1:1-4, & Revelations 21:22-27

God's Character

 

    Knowing God's character is the key to understanding how to walk in faith.  You have to be all in to even comprehend the immensity of God.  He is all in with you. He is waiting for you to give you refreshment, comfort your soul, calm your mind, and give peace to your heart.  He is ready.  All you have to do is accept Him as your only God.

    God gave all people the Bible, so that we can know Him.  He never changes.  It is His love story to humanity.  He is the creator of all life.  He is the inspiration for beauty.  He is the power behind all things good.  The thing is that the Bible doesn't have to prove that God exist.  It states it an you accept it or you don't.  It just leads you to all the clues to prove that He exist.

    God's character brings fears to His holy people.  He is awe-inspiring, strong, and faithful.  He is the only living God.  There are three parts, but only one God.  The three parts are God the father, Jesus the son, and Holy Spirit.  Any other god is false.  

    God gives us so much more than we give Him.  The only thing He will not share with us is His glory.  He basically offered us everything.  All we have to do is accept and walk life with Him.  If you deny Him, then you made your own choice and will deal with an eternity without Him.  

    If you know Jesus, then you know God.  God sent Jesus to be the final and one true sacrifice.  Jesus' time on earth as a human made God more relatable.  It is still on His holy terms, but Jesus made it more real and obtainable.  

    Do not boast in wisdom, strength, or riches.  If you are to boast in life, then boast about understanding God's character.  Boast about your relationship with God because it gave you righteousness and brings justice.  To know God is to have everything you need because it delights Him.  You know His faithful love, justice, and righteousness.  You get to have a little of it in life with salvation.  What more could we ask for?

1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Psalm 89:5-8, Isaiah 42:5-9, 43:10-13, Jeremiah 9:23-24, & John 17:1-5