THE PERSONALITY OF GOD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. The Trinity
2. The Anger of God
3. The Mercy of God
4. The Compassion of God
5. The Jealousy of God
6. The Love of God
7. The Power of God
8. The Holiness of God
9. The Righteousness of God
10. The Providence of God
11. The Fatherhood of God
12. The Revelation of God
13. The Immutability of God
14. The Forgiveness of God
15. The Unsearchableness of God
Introduction to this study
What kind of God do we worship? What is God like? We often think in terms of love, kindness, holiness, forgiving, compassionate and merciful. But, the Bible also describes God with words like jealous, powerful, anger, wrath, and justice.
We will be examining the personality of God. Our study will begin with the study of the trinity. Then we will move into an examination of specific traits of the personality of God.
Some of these personality traits might be considered "negative" in nature. We have thought of God in terms of His love, compassion and mercy. We do not understand the other side of God. Romans 11:22 points out the "goodness and severity of God." When we read of the wrath of God, we try to pit that wrath against the love of God. We have not understood how it is possible for God to be filled with both anger and love.
This study is more than a study of God. It is also a study of ourselves. We must try to develop the personality of God. We are to be "God-like." Once we learn the personality of God, we must learn how we can develop these same traits in our lives.
NOTE: This is not a workbook. I do not like workbooks as a method of study. The method I am using in this book is "follow along." As the material is discussed and presented in class you will be able to make notes. I hope that you will note the material that you feel will help you in your understanding of God.
1. The Trinity
1. Several false views
A. Jehovah only - Jehovah's Witnesses
B. Jesus only - United Pentecostal
C. God has a body - Mormons
D. Jesus was the first of all creation - Mormons, J.W.
E. Holy Spirit is just a "lifeforce" - J.W.
2. Terms to understand
A. Godhead or Godhood - Ac. 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9
B. Plural - Gen. 1:1; 1:26
C. Three persons (personalities) vs. three Gods
3. Study this chart
Father
Is - John 20:17
|
|
is not God is not
John 14:26 John 8:16
is is
Acts 5:3-4 Hebrews 1:8
Holy is not Ac. 10:38 Son
Spirit
Explaining this incomplete chart:
1. God = Deity, Godhead, Divine Nature
2. Father is God; Son is God; Holy Spirit is God
3. Father is not the Son; Father is not the Holy Spirit; Holy Spirit is not the Son
4. All three persons are deity, but all three are separate from each other.
4. Notice these facts
Conditions of God Father Son Holy Spirit
Called God Ac. 2:32 Heb. 1:8 Ac. 5:3-4
Eternal Ps. 90:1 Heb. 13:8 Heb. 9:14
Onmipresent Jer. 23:24 Mt. 28:20 Ps. 139:7
All knowing Heb. 4:13 Jn. 2:24-25 I Cor. 2:10-11
All powerful Eph. 1:19 Mt. 28:18 Is. 11:2
V. Study these passages
A. John 8:12-18
B. Matt. 3:16-18
C. Matt. 28:19
D. I John 3:7
E. II Cor. 13:14
VI. Let's examine the "oneness" of God
A. Gen. 2:24
B. Gen. 11:6
C. John 17:20-23
D. John 10:30, 38
2. The Anger of God
1. Define
A. Slow burn - Rom. 2:8 Orge = "indignation" "anger"
B. Short fuse - Rom. 2:8 Thumos = "wrath"
C. Anger is NOT a sin
A. Mark 3:5
B. Eph. 4:26-27
2. Discuss:
A. Unjust anger Matt. 5:22
B. Righteous indignation Mark 3:5; Rev. 14:10
3. What angers God?
A. Excuses Ex. 4:14
B. Rebellion Ex. 15:7
C. Gripe Num. 11:1, 10, 33
D. Hardheart Mark 3:5
E. Ungodliness Rom. 1:18
F. Idolatry Ex. 32:10-12, 19
G. Unbelief Num. 32:10, 13-14
H. Hypocrite Is. 9:17
I. Immorality Col. 3:5-6
4. What does He do when He is angry?
A. Destroy, burn, send fire
1. Psalm 21:9
2. John 3:36
3. Rev. 14:10
B. Does not linger, lasts a moment Psalm 30:5
C. Stops showing mercy Psalm 77:9
D. Smite nations, peoples Rev. 19:15
3. The Mercy of God
I. Text Psalm 136
A. Mercy of God is mentioned 26 times
B. In every verse of this psalm
II. Define
A. Vine, p. 742 "The outward manisfestation of pity; it asumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources on the part of him who shows it."
B. Vine, p. 743 "Mercy is the act of God, peace is the resulting experience in the heart of man. Grace describes God's attitude toward the law-breaker and rebel; mercy is His attitude toward those who are in distress."
C. Vine, p. 743 "In the order of manifestation of God's purposes of salvation grace must go before mercy ... only the forgiven may be blessed."
III. The attribute of God
A. I Chronicles 16:34
B. James 5:11
C. Ephesians 2:4
D. Pslam 86:13
E. Romans 9:16
F. Jude 21
G. Romans 15:9
IV. Blessing of God's mercy
A. Forgiving
1. Numbers 14:18
2. Exodus 34:6-7
B. Destroy abominations Deuteronomy 13:17
C. Deliverance, saved
1. Genesis 19:16, 19
2. Exodus 15:13
D. Not abandon II Chron. 30:9
V. The fear of no mercy from God
A. Will be judged without mercy James 2:13
B. Can be removed II Samuel 7:15
C. Attitude more important than act Hosea 6:6
4. The Compassion of God
I. Define
A. Vine, p. 220 "To have pity, a feeling of distress through the ills of others. To be moved as to one's inwards, to yearn with compassion."
B. Vine, p. 220 "To suffer with another (sun, with, pascho, to suffer), to be affected similarly."
II. A Trait of God
A. Full of compassion
1. Psalm 145:8
2. Psalm 86:15
B. Moved with compassion Mark 6:34
III. Blessings of God's Compassion
A. Grow, multiply Deut. 13:17
B. Restore, return Jer. 12:15
C. Forgiveness Psalm 78:38
D. On His people II Chron. 36:15
IV. We should have compassion on others
A. Be full of pity, courteous I Peter 3:8
B. Make a difference Jude 22
5. The Jealousy of God
1. Definition
A. Envy - Vine, p. 377 "The feeling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others."
B. Jealousy - Vine, p.377 "Envy desires to deprive another of what he has, jealousy desires to have the same or of the same sort of thing for itself."
2. God is a Jealous God
A. His name is "Jealous" Exodus 34:14
B. No other gods before Him Exodus 20:5
C. Consuming fire Deut. 4:24
D. Long-lasting results Deut. 5:9
3. There is danger in provoking His jealousy
A. He will destroy us Deut. 6:15
B. Blot out our name Deut. 29:20
C. Bring out His anger Deut. 32:16
D. Disown us as His people Deut. 32:21
E. Judgment against us Ezek. 36:5-6
F. You can't win I Cor. 10:22
6. The Love of God
I. The four Greek words for "love"
A. Agape - concern for another above one's own
B. Eros - animal passion, lust
C. Phileo - friendship, attraction
D. Storge - family love
II. God is Love
A. I John 4:8
B. Eph. 2:4
C. Jer. 31:3
III. God's love is unearned
A. Not by size or might Deut. 7:7
B. In adultery Hosea 3:1
C. In affliction Is. 63:9
D. While yet sinners Rom. 5:8
IV. My response to God's love
A. Worship Him, praise Him Psalm 91:14
B. Love one another
1. I John 4:7-11
2. I John 4:16
C. Willing to die for brothers
1. I John 3:1
2. I John 3:16-18
D. Motivates us II Cor. 5:14
E. Obey John 14:21-23
F. Walk in love Eph. 5:2
7. The Power of God
I. God is omnipotent
A. God has great power Psalm 147:5
B. God is the potter Rom. 9:21
II. Demonstrations of God's power
A. Freedom from Egypt Exodus 32:11
B. Providence shows His power Exodus 9:16
C. Creation
1. Romans 1:20
2. Jer. 51:15
3. Isaiah 40:26
D. Resurrection
1. Romans 1:4
2. I Cor. 6:14
E. Saved
1. Neh. 1:10
2. Matt. 9:6
3. I Cor. 1:24
4. I Thess. 1:5
III. The blessings of God's power
A. We can win the battle II Chron. 25:8
B. Makes the way perfect II Sam. 22:33
C. Learn the source of our power II Cor. 4:7
D. See God's power in our weakness II Cor. 12:9
E. Given to believers Eph. 1:19
F. Kept ready for heaven I Peter 1:5
IV. The danger of God's power
A. Don't deny the power II Tim. 3:5
8. The Holiness of God
I. God is Holy
A. Joshua 24:19
B. I Samuel 2:2
C. Isaiah 6:3
D. Vine, p. 566 "Fundamentally signifies separated, and hence, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual sense, separated from sin."
E. Vine, p. 565 "In each place character is in view, perfect in lthe case of the Lord Jesus, growing toward perfection in the case of the Christian."
II. God's holiness should make us change our behavior
A. Show holiness in our lives Lev. 19:2
B. Live morally upright
1. Lev. 11:44-45
2. Lev. 10:10
C. Worship
1. Exodus 15:11
2. Psalm 29:2
3. Psalm 99:9
4. I Chron. 16:29
5. Rev. 4:8
D. Obey
1. Lev. 20:26
2. Romans 6:19
E. Care for our physical body
1. I Cor. 3:16-17
2. I Cor. 6:18-20
9. The Righteousness of God
I. God is righteous
A. II Chron. 12:6
B. Psalm 145:17
C. Psalm 116:5
D. Vine, p. 980 Righteousness "is the character or quality of being right or just.... It is used to denote an attribute of God,...the context of which shows that the righteousness of God means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, that which is consistent with His own nature and promises."
II. Righteous judge of the earth
A. Psalm 50:6
B. Psalm 7:9
C. Jer. 12:1
D. Rev. 16:5-7
E. Rev. 19:2
III. Blessings of God's righteousness
A. Helps the poor Psalm 112:9
B. Shall be filled Matt. 5:6
C. To believers Rom. 3:22
D. Give a crowm of life II Tim. 4:8
IV. Danger involved in His righteousness
A. Romans 10:3
B. Romans 3:5-6
10. The Providence of God
I. Two types of providence
A. General providence
1. Job 38:41
2. Psalm 65:9
B. Specific providence
II. Study these cases of providence
A. Abraham Gen. 22:8
B. Joseph
1. Gen. 45:3-8
2. Gen. 50:20-21
C. Esther Es. 4:14
D. Wilderness Psalm 78:20
E. Heaven
1. Heb. 11:40
2. John 14:1-3
11. The Fatherhood of God
I. Universal sense
A. Creator
1. Gen. 1:1
2. Heb. 1:1-2
B. Sustainer
1. Acts 17:28
2. Col. 1:16-17
C. All humanity
1. Gen. 1:26-27
2. Mal. 2:10
II. Spiritual relationship means that God will:
A. Help those in need Psalm 68:5
B. Mold us Is. 64:8
C. Give good gifts Matt. 7:11
D. Love us I John 3:1
E. "Abba"
1. Rom. 8:15
2. Mark 14:36
3. Gal. 4:5-6
F. Not a religious title Matt. 23:9
G. Not prejudiced or partial Rom. 3:29
H. Only one God
1. Eph. 4:6
2. I Cor. 8:6
I. Correct, punish
1. Heb. 12:9
2. II Sam. 7:14
J. Reward
1. James 1:12
2. Rev. 22:12
12. The Revelation of God
I. Discuss:
A. Revelation - Vine, p. 974 " An uncovering, the communication of the knowledge of God to the soul."
B. Inspiration - Breathed of God, God breathed in
II. False theories of inspiration
A. Mechanical - Man was a dictation machine
1. Value - God is the source.
2. Weakness - Eliminates human element
B. Natural - Inspired like other Twain, Milton
1. Value - Involves the human element.
2. Weakness - Eliminates God as the source.
C. Noematical - Thought inspired; Words not
1. Value - Includes both God and human elements
2. Weakness - Can't depend on specific words
a. Galatians 3:16
b. Baptism is a burial.
c. Matt. 10:19
d. Luke 12:11
e. Luke 21:14-15
III. Study these passages:
A. I Cor. 2:9-13
B. Rev. 1:1
C. II Tim. 3:16-17
D. II Peter 1:21
13. The Immutability of God
I. Definition
A. Thiessen, p. 83 "God is unchangeable in his essence, attributes, consciousness, and will. All change must be to the better or the worse, but God cannot change to the better, since he is absolutely perfect; neither can he change to the worse, for the same reason."
B. Thiessen, p. 83 "Immutability is not to be confused with immobility. God is active and enters into relation-ships with changing men. In these relationships it is necessary for an unchangeable God to change in his dealings with men in order to remain unchageable in his character and purposes."
C. James 1:17
II. God does not change:
A. Character
1. Ps. 102:26-28
2. Mal. 3:6
3. Heb. 1:12
B. Power
1. Rom. 4:20-25
C. Plans and purposes
1. Psalm 33:11
2. Is. 46:10
D. Promises
1. I Kings 8:56
2. II Cor. 1:20
E. Love and mercy
1. Psalm 103:17
F. Justice
1. Is. 28:17
2. Gen. 18:25
14. The Forgiveness of God
I. Definition
A.Vine, p. 462 " Primarily, a sending away"
B. "Human forgiveness is to be strictly analogous to Divine forgiveness, Matt. 6:12. If certain conditions are fulfilled, there is no limitation to Christ's law of forgiveness."
C. We should be as forgiving as God is.
1. Eph. 4:32
2. Col. 3:13
II. Study these passages:
A. Matt. 9:2-7
B. John 8:1-11
C. John 5:14-16
D. Luke 11:1-4; Matt. 6:9-15
E. Acts 8:22
F. I John 1:9
III. Limits to God's forgiveness
A. Matt. 12:32
B. I John 5:16
C. Heb. 6:4-6
D. Heb. 10:26-29
IV. Our response to God's forgiveness Matt. 18:21-22
A. How many times?
B. How often?
V. The conditions of forgiveness are:
A. Repentance Luke 17:3-4
B. Confession
15. The Unsearchableness of God
I. Romans 11:33 "Past finding out"
A. Psalm 145:3 "greatness is unsearchable"
B. Job 5:9 "marvellous things without number"
C. Prov. 25:3 too high, too deep to measure
D. Eph. 3:8 "unsearchable riches of Christ"
II. Application for our lives
A. Do not try to out-guess, out-reason, out-think God.
B. Is. 55:6-9 "ways above our ways"
C. Jer. 10:23 "way which seems right"
D. Naaman II Kings 5:11 "Behold, I thought"
E. I Cor. 1:18-28 "foolishness of God"
F. II Cor. 4:5-7 "power is of God, not man"
G. II Cor. 12:9 "strength is made perfect in weakness"