THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
Proverbs 9:10 (CSB) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Exodus 3:14 (CSB) God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM., This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
1 Chronicles 29:11 (ESV) Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Romans 11:33 (ESV) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Genesis 1:1a (ESV)”In the beginning…”
There Is Only One True God.
God is the source of all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness, in and of himself.
God is a Trinity of three persons, but all of one substance: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These are three distinct persons. The Trinity is the ultimate community, functioning in perfect unity and love, without need, argument, debate, or disagreement.
God is perfectly holy in every way possible, in all he is and all he does.
He is the source and definition of goodness, love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Ps. 113:5 “Who is like the Lord our God?”
Few of us believers suffer from a God who is too big, but many suffer from a God who is sadly too small.
Glory is not a thing.
Glory is not a part of God; it is all that God is.
Isa. 40:12, 15, 22 “Who has measured the water in the hollow of his hand? Who has … weighed the mountains in scales?… Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket [to God].… He spreads the heavens like a tent to dwell in”.
God’s glory is the greatness, beauty, and perfection of all that he is.
Life is one big glory war.
Each of us is hardwired by God for glory.
Sin makes us all glory thieves.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (ESV) For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Only God’s glory can satisfy the glory hunger in our hearts.
God’s grace alone has the power to defeat the glory war in our hearts.
First are the people who deny God’s existence. Psalm 14:1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
A second category of people respond to the existence of God by saying they believe in the concept of god but seem to have little desire to know him, and it appears that their “belief” makes no difference in the way they live.
The third group of people believe in the God of the Bible and, because they do, have come to God in confession, surrender, and worship.
Practical atheism: those moments when we think, desire, speak, or act as if God doesn’t exist.
Practical atheism is not first a function of the mind; at root it is a struggle of the heart.
It Is Important to Understand That God Does Not Change
Malachi 3:6: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
God loves you eternally, so there was never a time when that love began, so there will never be a time when that love ends.
Your love is never your foundation; his eternal love is.
This doctrine is the ultimate interpreter of everything that is.
Tune your heart every morning to the existence and stunning glory of God.
Gaze. Psalm 27:4 (ESV) One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.
Search. Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
The goal of all Bible study is to come to know, love, worship, and serve the God of the word.
Worship. Isaiah 26:13 (NLT) O Lord our God, others have ruled us, but you alone are the one we worship.
Revelation 4:10-11 (ESV) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Surrender. Luke 9:23–24 (ESV) And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Remember that surrender that is not specific in time, person, place, and thing ceases to be true surrender.
Examine. Lamentations 3:40 (ESV) Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!
Confess. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Celebrate.
Repeat.
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