Some Basic Theology
Given the necessity for basic theology and the lack of understanding among most Christians (including most pastors), I want to consider some things about God. I am not a trained theologian. I am not a pastor. I am an average Christian. I love my God and I want to know Him more. Contrary to current opinion in the Church, I do not believe you can know God apart from knowing about God. To the degree that one’s knowledge of God is shallow and/or erroneous; to that degree one’s fellowship with God is shallow (and/or erroneous).
According to the Apostle John having fellowship with God is contingent on receiving the things that were manifested to and witnessed by the Apostles.
The Bible is the only authority for telling us what to believe about God. As I said above, I am not a trained theologian. I am a student of the Bible. If I am in error, I am open to correction. I am not qualified to produce a Systematic Theology, but I have decided to declare on this blog some basic things about our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s begin with the fact that God is infinite.
God is infinite in all of His attributes. This means that every quality God possesses He possesses it without limit. For example: God has power. How much power? He has limitless power. God has knowledge. How much knowledge? He has limitless knowledge.
We could go on and on with this exchange attribute after attribute. This format (and my skill) will not allow a full examination of the attributes of God. But let’s take it just a little further. The dimensions of time and space are the greatest limiting factors in creation. But God is infinite. God is eternal. Eternality is one of His attributes. Therefore, God is unlimited by time. God is everywhere present. Omnipresence is one of His attributes. Therefore, God is unlimited by space.
Saying God is eternal means more than that He has always existed. It means that He lives outside of time and sees the end from the beginning.
Let me illustrate this point. A book may contain events, people, places, and the passage of time, but when a man picks up the book he has all of that information in his hands. He can flip from page to page, from event to event. He can read about a particular person involved in a particular event, turn the page read a different passage, and then go back and read about that particular person and event again. History and the passage of time from beginning to end is like that book. God is like the man who holds the book in his hand, except God does not turn from page to page. He sees every person, place, thing, and event, in His eternal present tense. And God is not merely on the outside reading an authors words, He is the Author and He is in control.
When we say that God is omnipresent we do not mean that God is so large that He fills the universe, as if God were dispersed throughout the creation; a little bit here and a little bit there and a little bit everywhere. When we say that God is omnipresent we mean that God is present in His fullness at every point in the universe at all times. God is here with us in His completeness. At the same time God is as completely present everywhere else.
God is limited neither by time nor space because He is the uncreated pure Spirit.
God does not possess shape or size. People have imagined a God made in the physical image of man; or worse yet, three physical beings with bodies like men. But this is not the God of the Bible.
There is only One Being who is by nature God. This One Being is Spirit, therefore, He is not a physical or special being. This Being is outside of the time-space continuum and is limited by neither time nor space. He is everywhere present in His fullness. He relates to every moment in time in His eternal present tense. He has infinite power. And He is totally separate from creation.
Now tell me, doth this offend you?
(1 John 1:1 NKJV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us; 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
According to the Apostle John having fellowship with God is contingent on receiving the things that were manifested to and witnessed by the Apostles.
The Bible is the only authority for telling us what to believe about God. As I said above, I am not a trained theologian. I am a student of the Bible. If I am in error, I am open to correction. I am not qualified to produce a Systematic Theology, but I have decided to declare on this blog some basic things about our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let’s begin with the fact that God is infinite.
God is infinite in all of His attributes. This means that every quality God possesses He possesses it without limit. For example: God has power. How much power? He has limitless power. God has knowledge. How much knowledge? He has limitless knowledge.
We could go on and on with this exchange attribute after attribute. This format (and my skill) will not allow a full examination of the attributes of God. But let’s take it just a little further. The dimensions of time and space are the greatest limiting factors in creation. But God is infinite. God is eternal. Eternality is one of His attributes. Therefore, God is unlimited by time. God is everywhere present. Omnipresence is one of His attributes. Therefore, God is unlimited by space.
Saying God is eternal means more than that He has always existed. It means that He lives outside of time and sees the end from the beginning.
Let me illustrate this point. A book may contain events, people, places, and the passage of time, but when a man picks up the book he has all of that information in his hands. He can flip from page to page, from event to event. He can read about a particular person involved in a particular event, turn the page read a different passage, and then go back and read about that particular person and event again. History and the passage of time from beginning to end is like that book. God is like the man who holds the book in his hand, except God does not turn from page to page. He sees every person, place, thing, and event, in His eternal present tense. And God is not merely on the outside reading an authors words, He is the Author and He is in control.
(Isaiah 57:15 NKJV) For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy…
(Isaiah 46:9, 10 NKJV) “Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,”
When we say that God is omnipresent we do not mean that God is so large that He fills the universe, as if God were dispersed throughout the creation; a little bit here and a little bit there and a little bit everywhere. When we say that God is omnipresent we mean that God is present in His fullness at every point in the universe at all times. God is here with us in His completeness. At the same time God is as completely present everywhere else.
God is limited neither by time nor space because He is the uncreated pure Spirit.
(John 4:24 NKJV) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and trust.
God does not possess shape or size. People have imagined a God made in the physical image of man; or worse yet, three physical beings with bodies like men. But this is not the God of the Bible.
There is only One Being who is by nature God. This One Being is Spirit, therefore, He is not a physical or special being. This Being is outside of the time-space continuum and is limited by neither time nor space. He is everywhere present in His fullness. He relates to every moment in time in His eternal present tense. He has infinite power. And He is totally separate from creation.
Now tell me, doth this offend you?
Labels: Theology
posted by takin | 8:00 PM
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