The Nature of God

11/2/2016 6:06:21 AM	The Nature of God
rtay Port Saint Lucie, FL 66, joined Aug. 2010 online now!	hope you enjoy the study,rt A mature believer who has been shaped by Scripture - and that’s the only way to be mature - understands the nature of God. Your view of God is really the benchmark of your spiritual maturity. Understanding the nature of God is critical to spiritual maturity because in the end you rest in the reality of your God. Superficial knowledge of God, a shallow knowledge of God, a limited knowledge of God contributes to limited understanding and limited faith and limited trust. And so, when we talk about spiritual maturity, we’re really talking about understanding the nature of God. That is essential. That is to say you understand that God is eternal, that He is powerful, that He is holy, that He is unchangeable, that He is omniscient, that He is omnipresent, that He is purposeful, that He is sovereign, that He is in perfect control of everything He has created all the time. Do you understand that God is above and beyond and outside all of the contingencies that go on in the created universe? He is transcendent. He is high and lofty, majestic and lifted up, and He is working to perfection His plan for the universe and for mankind. He has everything under control all the time and He’s in perfect knowledge and bringing to pass the plan which He ordained from the very beginning. In Job 42:2 we read these words, “I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.” Now there’s a comment of a mature man. I know that You’re in charge of everything and no purpose of Yours can ever be thwarted. Psalm 33:11 says, “The counsel of the Lord stands forever.” That is to say what God says is fixed permanently. Nothing God says ever changes because there’s never any more information. There’s never anything to be clarified, and no circumstance and occur which God doesn’t already know about and knew about when He made that declaration. That's why Psalm 33:11 also says, “The plans of His heart are fixed from one generation to another.” From generation to generation the plans of the heart of God stand. Nothing changes because there’s no further information, there’s no exigency or contingency that God didn’t know about, nothing changes. He inexorably and perfectly works His plan through to the end. In Proverbs 19:21 we read, “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord, it will stand.” We change our plans all the time because we get more information, because circumstances change. God never changes anything. His counsel is fixed. In Isaiah 14:24, “The Lord of host has sworn saying, ‘Just as I have intended so it has happened. Just as I have planned so it will stand.’ ” All these statements about standing have to do with God fixing a purpose which never changes. I intended it and that’s how it happens. I planned it and that’s how it is and will be. In Isaiah 46, a little bit more prolonged passage, all of this sort of comes together in very clear terms, Isaiah 46:8. “Remember this, be assured; recall to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like Me, - ” and here’s the distinction “ - declaring the end from the beginning.” We can’t do that. We don’t know the end from the beginning. We can’t affirm the end. We can’t bring about the end from the beginning. Only God can. That’s why He is God. There is no one like Him because there is no one who can tell how it’s going to end before it even begins. He “declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done.” And it’s not just that He knows how they will happen. It says, “My purpose will be established, I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” From the beginning, God determined the end, He planned the end, and He works to that end. Verse 11 says, “Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.” I have planned it; I will do it. God never alters His plan and the plan was established from the beginning and He works it to the very end. Jesus in Acts 1:7 said this. “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.” “Times and epochs,” what does that mean? Chronological time, clock time, calendar time, and epochal time, events. All chronological history and all the events that occur within it are fixed in God’s own authority. Everything is determined from the beginning to the end by the purposes of God. In Acts 4 we read the testimony of those early believers, “For truly - ” verse 27 “ - in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel - ” Everybody got together to kill Jesus. But verse 28 says, “To do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined.” What a statement. What a statement. Whatever it is that they did, it was predestined by God and predetermined by His purpose. Now God is sovereign and God is omnipotent. He knows the plan and He has the power to work the plan. He has perfect knowledge so there’s nothing to change the plan. He doesn’t need us to give Him more information and He doesn’t react to circumstances. gty study Meet singles at DateHookup.dating, we're 100% free! Join now!
11/2/2016 6:24:37 AM	The Nature of God
cupocheer Assumption, IL 68, joined May. 2010
11/2/2016 6:56:00 AM	The Nature of God
ludlowlowell Panama City, FL 65, joined Feb. 2008	Rtay, you show that you do have an understanding of God. Good essay.
11/11/2016 6:15:05 PM	The Nature of God
brashdoc Chehalis, WA 64, joined Aug. 2008	Thanks, rtay, for your post. I was refreshed by it & reminded again of seeing God for Who He and what He does & His sovereign rule & purposes. I also agree that our concept & belief of who God is determines our theology. It challenges us to see if we believe the Scriptures as to how God reveals Himself to us. People can make a God of their own choosing, selectively choosing verses to narrowly define their god or they can embrace all of Scripture in seeing the God of Scripture, revealed in both the OT and NT & especially in Immanuel, 'God with us', God manifested in the flesh, the Word was God & was made flesh & Who 'tabernacled' among us. Here is a website showing an awesome chart on the nature and attributes of God, to help others more fully understand the nature of God & Who is this God we Christians believe in & follow & lovingly praise & obey? Enjoy & grow in the grace & knowledge of the living God. http://www.preceptaustin.org/attributes_of_god
11/11/2016 6:46:13 PM	The Nature of God
prophetic774 Winter Haven, FL 67, joined Feb. 2011	"HELOVED US AND SENT HIS SON AS AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS!!"{I John 4:11!} I John 4:7-12: Dear friends, let us LOVE one another, for LOVE comes from God. Everyone who LOVES has been BORN OF GOD. Whoever does not LOVE, does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE. This is how God showed HIS LOVE among us. He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might LOVE THROUGH HIM! This is LOVE not that we LOVED God, but that He LOVED us and sent His Son as an ATONING SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS Dear friends, since God so LOVED us, we ought to LOVE one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we LOVE one another, GOD LIVES IN US AND HIS LOVE IS MADE COMPLETE IN US!! John 13:34,35: Jesus says, "A NEW COMMAND I give you: LOVE one another, as I HAVE LOVED YOU, so you must LOVE one another. By this all men will know that you are MY DISCIPLES. John 15:12-14: Jesus says, "My command is this: LOVE each other AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. Greater LOVE has no one than this, that he LAY DOWN HIS LIFE for his friends!!" Titus 3:3,4: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and LOVE of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, NOT BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE, but because of HIS MERCY!! Romans 11:5,6: At the present time there is a remnant CHOSEN BY GRACE! And if by grace it is NO LONGER BY WORKS; if it were, grace would no longer be grace!! Romans 4:5-8: To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, HIS FAITH{A free Gift of God!} is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness APART FROM WORKS: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will NEVER COUNT AGAINST HIM!!" {Psalm 32:1,2} Ephesians 1:5-8: In LOVE He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will--to the praise of His GLORIOUS GRACE, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS OF SINS, in accordance with the riches of GOD'S GRACE that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding! Ephesians 2:4-10: Because of His great LOVE for us, God,, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is BY GRACE you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is BY GRACE you have been saved, through faith-- and this NOT FROM YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT of God--NOT BY WORKS, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!! John 6:37,39,44,65: Jesus says, "ALL that the Father gives Me WILL come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will NEVER drive away... And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall LOSE NONE of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the Last Day.... No one can come to Me UNLESS the Father who sent Me DRAWS HIM, and I will raise him up at the Last Day!!... No one can come to Me UNLESS the Father has ENABLED THEM!!" Romans 829-33,35,38,39: For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son...And those He PREDESTINED, He also called; those He CALLED, He also justified; those He JUSTIFIED He also GLORIFIED. What shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His Son but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns... Who shall separate us from the LOVE of Christ?... For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the LOVE of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!!
11/13/2016 4:15:39 PM	The Nature of God
prophetic774 Winter Haven, FL 67, joined Feb. 2011	There are many who claim that if you accept Jesus as your personal Savior you will be saved and are absolutely guaranteed eternal life in heaven?? And anyone who says differently is a religious BIGOT. BUT WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY?? Matthew 13:19-23: Jesus says, "When anyone hears the message about the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the word that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it . He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown!!" Matthew 7:21-23: Jesus says, "Not everyone who says, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven! Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I NEVER knew you. Away from Me you evildoers!' John 12:48: Jesus says, "There is a Judge for the one who does not accept My words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the Last Day!" WAS JESUS A BIGOT WHEN HE SAID THE FOLLOWING?? John 14:23,24: Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching!" Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus says, "All authority on heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.... Teaching them to OBEY EVERYTHING I have commanded you!" I John 2:3-5: We know that we have come to know Him IF we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him! Revelation 22:16;18;19: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony FOR THE CHURCHES... I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone ADDS* anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone TAKES WORDS AWAY from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City, which are described in this book!!" John 6:44,65: Jesus says, "For no one can come to Me UNLESS the Father who sent Me *DRAWS him, and I will raise him up at the Last Day... No one can come to Me UNLESS the Father has ENABLED him!" Revelation 17:14: They will make war against the LAMB but the LAMB will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and with Him will be His CALLED, CHOSEN and FAITHFUL followers!!

skipthegames women

best hookup apps 2014