Elohim - The Strong One Who Keeps His Covenant
Part of The Names Of God
January 15, 2020

ELOHIM - THE STRONG ONE WHO KEEPS HIS COVENANT

Text:Gen. 1:1

Intro:

  • The chief end of man is to
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    God and to
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    Him. But we can only glorify Him and enjoy Him if we know Him.

  • Learning to know God by His names opens up the door to knowing His character more fully and experiencing His power more deeply.

  • When Jesus said… “I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known” (Jn 17:16), He was referencing more than just sounds put together in a word.

  • In Jesus, God came to earth in the flesh and unveiled His heart, mind, will, character, and being through the revelation of His name.

  • A name not only expresses the essence and significance of what is being named but also, when duly authorized, accesses the quality it conveys.

  • Because of the depth of God’s character, He has various names that reflect the many ways He

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    to humanity.

  • God reveals many of His names to us so we can gain several different perspectives on who He is.

  • One name by itself can’t fully represent God’s majesty and power. One name alone can’t fully tell us all we need to know about this person we refer to as God.

  • The

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    of God is more important for the Christian, and even the whole world, than all things put together.

  • Knowing His names will lead us to better and sweeter fellowship with God.
  • Names in the OT were often used as an indication of a person’s
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    or some unique quality. So it is with the names of God.
  • The better you understand God’s names, the more you will
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    Him.
  • The better you see and experience God’s manifestations of His names in your life, the more you ascribe
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    to Him.

Gen 1:1 (KJV)
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

  • The very first name the Lord uses to describe Himself is the name ELOHIM. Being the first name of God makes it vitally important that we understand the truth found in the magnificent name. The name Elohim is used over
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    times in Genesis chapter one alone and
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    times in the Old Testament. Every time our English word “
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    ” is mentioned in the Bible (KJV), it refers to Elohim - our Creator.

1. Elohim is the Creator who is transcendent of creation and time.

  • Why did God choose to introduce Himself as Elohim, the strong Creator God?
  • We as created beings need to know that God, the Creator, is transcendent from His creation. Rather than being a part of His creation, God is
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    and outside of creation.
  • God also lets us know that He is above and outside the constraints of
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    .
  • God transcends space and matter. He isn’t tethered to this creation. He operates in another realm. This is why we can’t figure God out. We can only know God by what He reveals about Himself.
  • The amazing thing about God is that while He is not tethered to this creation (i.e. He transcends it), He is at the same time operating within it, (i.e. He is immanent).
  • Elohim created the heavens and the earth, existing outside of it. Yet Elohim also fills the heavens and earth, existing in it. He is immanently everywhere, i.e. He is
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    . God is everywhere present at the same time.

2. Elohim is a plural name.

  • Beginning in Genesis 1:1, God begins to tell us that He, Elohim, is more than
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    - a trinity. The very first time God mentions Himself in the Bible, He intimates that He is a trinity. The name is not a proof, but it is an intimation.
  • The plural name Elohim is always used with a singular verb or adjective picturing the
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    of God. In Gen. 1:1, the word God is plural, and the word created is singular.
  • The name Elohim is a plural word by construct but often a singular word by usage, revealing the makeup of the Trinity. God is a plural being although He exists as one God.

3. Elohim means
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or the STRONG ONE.

  • The name Elohim is derived from the root word “El.” El means strong one or mighty one.
  • This name pictures God’s omnipotence, power, and strength as demonstrated in the creation of the universe.

  • Elohim is the creator. So, who is Elohim? Col 1:16 (JESUS), Gen 1:1 (THE FATHER), Gen 1:2 (THE HOLY SPIRIT)

  • We need to know Him as Elohim, the Strong One. Why? Because His strength

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    us.

4. Elohim means “The One Who Keepeth Covenant.”

  • Elohim is not only derived from the root word El, but it is also derived from another root word, Alah. The word Alah means to
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    , to bind oneself by an oath.
  • Elohim is
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    to do all that He says He will do. (cf. 1 Kings 8:23)

  • Think on this: God comes down to earth and makes and keeps covenant with sinful man. If it were up to man to keep covenant with God it would never happen. Praise God (Elohim) that He is faithful even when we are not. (Num. 23:19, Heb. 6:18)

  • The fact that God keeps His covenant is the basis of all our hope. If God is not Elohim, then we’re not saved. (cf. 1 Cor. 11:25)

  • What is this new covenant referenced in 1 Cor. 11:25? Salvation and forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus (Elohim), the Strong One Who Keeps Covenant.

  • What does this mean for us? Eternal

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    . (cf. John 10:28; Rom. 8:35-39)

  • Eternal security is based on the One Who Keepeth Covenant, not me, my works, or my word. It is based on His word.

Heb 13:5 (KJV)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.