Session 1: Who is God?
Part 1: Read
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Romans 1:20: For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ephesians 3:11
Acts 17:24-27: The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us Acts 17:24-27
Part 2: Watch Video 1: Who is God?
Part 3: Discussion
The scriptures teach us so much about God. The first line of the first page of the bible tells us that God is the creator. Everything that exists in the entire cosmos owes its existence to God. Nothing has come into being that he did not create. When God made the world, he left his “finger prints” on everything. We should be able to look at the order, the beauty and the grandness of the universe and see that there is a personal God who has made creation this way. This God has a purpose in all that he created and at the center of his divine purpose is Jesus Christ, our lord and savior.
Part 4: Think Deeply
If God created everything, what right does that give him over it?
Why, do you suppose, do some people look at creation and not see God in it?
What comfort can we take from the knowledge that everything that exists has been made by God?
Session 2: Incomprehensible
Part 1: Read
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:20-23
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. John 1:18
…until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:14-16
Part 2: Watch Video 2—How Can I Know God?
Part 3: Discussion
God is beyond our comprehension. He is too wonderful, too big, too mighty for us to know Him in his fullness. However, He has made himself known through His creation, through His word and through Jesus Christ.
In General Revelation God makes himself known through His creation, consider the words of Paul in Romans 1:20: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (cf. Romans 2:1; Psalm 8:3-4).
In Special Revelation God has revealed himself to people and inspired prophets and apostles to write the scriptures. Exodus 3:14-15 and 33 recount Moses’ interaction with God, Romans 16:25-27, 2 Timothy 3:16. Most notably 2 Peter 1:20-21 suggests the words of scripture did not come from man but from God’s revelation: “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
In the incarnation God is revealed in and through the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:17-18; 14:9; 1 Corinthians 15:47-49, Colossians 1:15; 2:9, cf. Isaiah 1:9-11, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Amos 5:24-27, John 1, Philippians 2:6-8).
Part 4: Think Deeply
How limited would God be if we could fully understand Him?
Why do you think God has chosen to reveal himself in his creation (general revelation)?
Why has God revealed himself through special revelation (in his word) and in Jesus (the incarnation)?
Session 3: God’s Communicable Attributes
Part 1: Read
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
“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 not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” Isaiah 46:9-10
“He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.” Psalm 147:4-6
Part 2: Watch Video 3—What is God like Part 1
Part 3: Discussison
God shares many of his attributes with his creation, there is no definitive or comprehensive list of all these attributes however, what is of important notes is that God is not IN PROCESS. Where Human beings grow in understanding, wisdom, strength, love, self-control, kindness, peace, etc. God has all these things in their completeness, and he is not growing or improving. God is never surprised by an event in history nor is he changing. God always was, always is and always will be.
Part 4: Think Deeply
What comfort does it bring you to know that God is complete and not changing?
Why is it important that God be relatable by having qualities that we can have (only in a fuller amount)?
Why is God full of the very best virtues of humanity? Or are these virtue the best because God is full of them?
Session 4: God’s Incommunicable Attributes
Part 1: Read
17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Jeremiah 32:17-18
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Ps 115:2–3
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. <cite> Ps 147:4–6 </cite>
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Ro 11:33
136 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; Ps 136:1–3
When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 2 Ch 7:3.
19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Lk 18:19–20.
Part 2: Watch Video 4—What is God like Part 2
Part 3: Discussion
Omnipotence, often understood as meaning “God is all powerful” can be misunderstood. Omnipotence is not a lack of any possible power but an ability to do anything which is in accordance with his will and divine nature. God is not capable of sinning, he can do anything that is logically possible—this is not a statement against miraculous intervention by God but against old adages like “can God make a rock so big that even he can’t lift it?”
Omniscience points to God’s perfection in knowledge. Nothing happens in creation which God does not know about nor does anything surprise him. God is fully knowledgeable of all events past, present and future in all possible worlds with all possible outcomes
Omnibenevolence means that God is wholly good, he never commits any evil. He is necessarily good, everything that he does is good because of the nature of his character. He is perfectly good, he is morally outstanding and nothing is lacking in his goodness.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Why is it important that God be all-powerful (Omnipotent) are there things that God cannot do?
How would God’s plan for the world and salvation be hindered if he did not know everything (omniscient)?
Could God be trusted if he were not entirely good (omnibenevolent)? What would that God be like?
Session 5: God’s Omnipotence
Part 1: Summary
The next three sessions are a deeper look at two of God’s incommunicable attributes, His omnipotence, His omniscience, and His omnibenevolence. The first session deals with the definition of omnipotence. We say that God is capable of doing anything, but does that mean that God is capable of sinning?
Part 2: Watch Video 5—Can God do Anything? Even Evil?
Part 3: Discussion
Summary: Omnipotence can be defined two ways: we could list out what God can do, or we can list the powers that God possesses. To understand God better, let us do the latter. God is superlatively great, he is perfect, so the study of the divine attributes is a fleshing out of his perfection. His omnipotent, meaning that he is perfect in power. He is omniscient, meaning that the is perfect in knowledge. And He is omnibenevolent meaning he is perfect in goodness. Here we are addressing God’s perfect power. His perfect power allows him to do everything that is within his character. In God’s perfection He is not capable of sinning, that does not mean that he lacks the ability to perform a task which would be sin but that he would not and will not engage that power.
The difference between sinning and not sinning is not a definition of power but it has to do with motives and circumstance around the use of the power in question. For example in killing: a solider may kill another and it is not sin, but a robber may kill a bank teller and it is murder, it is the same power but sin is the circumstances around the use of the power.
What two attributes does the bible emphasize over all the other? God’s Holiness and His Power. Omniscience is a form of cognitive power; it is the power to know. An omniscient being is perfectly powerful cognitively speaking. If you are omnipotent you are omniscient. The same is true of omnipresence (God is exists everywhere in His fullness); an omnipresent being is perfect in power and knowledge in time and space. Moreover, he would have to be eternal and in fact immutable.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Summarize your thoughts on this subject.
Why is it important to consider this subject?
Why is it so important for us to be able to understand whether or not God can sin?
Session 6: God’s Omniscience
This session takes a deeper look at the logical problem posed by God’s omniscience. If God already knows everything that is going to happen in time by all creatures can freewill truly exist? And if freewill does not exist, how can God hold me responsible for the choices I make?
Part 1: Read
Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
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 not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ Isaiah 46:8-10
Part 2: Watch Video 6—The Problem of Freedom and Foreknowledge
Part 3: Discussion
The problem of freedom and foreknowledge is stated this way:
1. Metaphysical Libertarianism: S can perform A freely only if S could have done otherwise.
2. The past is necessary and cannot be cancelled or altered
3. God is knowing of all things past, present and future and is infallible (unable to err).
Therefore: If God knows all things they are already predetermined and S is not truly free for S cannot do otherwise.
See: Isaiah 42:8-9, 46:8-11, 55:8-9; Psalm 139, Romans 11:33-36,
There are several possible responses:
The first two are NON-CHRISTIAN
Open Theism—God simply does not know everything
Naturalist Determinism—the laws of nature cause the world to exist in the way it does and it cannot be altered. At the quantum level is pure randomness and our choice is the exercise of randomness therefore creaturely freedom is nothing more than an illusion.
Possible CHRISTIAN responses
Theological Determinism—God has determined all things; God allows us to have the appearance of free will but free will does not actually exist. In this understanding all creatures act according to their character and desire, but time is set and the future is set, we are incapable of altering it.
Divine Timelessness—God sees the future is the way that we experience the present. By existing outside of time God can know the future and we are still making the choices in our present though God already sees them as we experience them for God is present in every moment.
Ockhamism—I’m fuzzy on this one, it’s basically the idea that the past is “soft” and alterable through petition with God, the facts of the past are alterable until we make a choice in the present.
Middle Knowledge—God was able to know all potential outcomes in all potential worlds, by seeing all that would potentially be decided he willed this universe to come into existence. By nature of the other “potential” worlds existing there exists a possibility that S could have chosen B instead of A, however in this world S always chooses A.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Summarize your thoughts on this subject
Which of the four approaches seems most helpful to you?
While we will never have “an answer” to this question, why is it still important for us to think about it and search for an answer?
Session 7: God’s Omnibenevolence
Part 1: Summary
I am addressing the Philosophical Problem of Evil: the assertion that it is not logical to believe in a God who is all powerful, all good and yet allows evil to exist. This video DOES NOT attempt to answer the pastoral question “why to bad things happen to good people.”
Here is a summary of the argument:
1. God exists and He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent
2. There is evil
Part 2: Watch Video 7—The Problem of Evil
Part 3: Discussion
There are three kinds of logical inconsistencies: explicit “it’s raining outside, it is not raining outside”, formal “all men are mortal, Socrates is a man, Socrates is not mortal” and implicit “A is greater than B, B Is greater than C, C is greater than A.” The usually stated problem of evil does not fall into one of these categories.
We are forced to add an additional statement:
- God exists and He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent
- There is evil
- An omnipotent, omniscient, and perfectly good being would have no good reason for allowing evil to exist and is obligated to eradicate it.
From here we can offer several suggestions as to why God made choose to allow Evil to exist:
the Free Will Defense: God allows evil to exist because it is required by the very nature of free will. If created beings can make decisions than they may eventually choose evil. God by allowing free will to exist must also allow evil to exist.
the soul making defense: The point of life is to become a godly person, without suffering in the world no person could come to a full realization of that goal. Virtue develops in adversity. Put another way “iron sharpens iron.” Perhaps God allows suffering so that we will have sufficient opportunities to face evil and develop Godly character.
God’s glory: God allows evil to exist so that he can destroy it in the future bringing great glory to himself.
Part 4: Think Deeply
Summarize your thoughts on this subject
Which of the three approaches seems most helpful to you?
While we will never have “an answer” to this question, why is it still important for us to think about it and search for an answer?