Theme: Theology begins with God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Finding meaning and purpose in life starts with the realization that God exists and that He is the infinite, holy and good God, and that He desires to be in relationship with His people.
Outline:
1. The Existence of God - The Bible assumes the existence of God. Genesis 1:1. All people have an innate knowledge of God. Psalm 14:1. Romans 1:18-20. God’s self-realization through Creation. Eternal power - size of the universe. Divine nature - the complexity of the universe points to an intelligent designer behind it all.
2. The Attributes of God
A. Independent - Self-existent. Doesn’t need anyone or anything. We need parents, food, clothing, shelter, protection, meaningful work, relationships, air, a body, habitable planet, ability to fight disease. Acts 17:24-25. Exodus 3:13-15. Yahweh - the covenant name for God - “I AM.” Independent minded.
B. Eternal - Outside of time. He created time. No beginning or end. Psalm 90:2. Creation had a starting point. God gives us eternal life, but it’s something He gives us. The Bible is not the story of God, but about our relationship to God.
C. Unchanging - God’s essential nature doesn’t change. Psalm 102:25-27. James 1:17. Numbers 23:19. Malachi 3:6. Does God change His mind? Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:14, Jonah 3:10. He knew He was going to change His mind. He knew His servants would respond. Does God know the future?
Open Theism: States that God knows everything that is knowable, but doesn’t know the future because it does not exist. Determined by “free will” agents. Denies that God is outside of time, but a part of it. Knows the end, promises to intervene. Responding to evil rather than seeing it in advance.
D. Infinite: Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent - Absolute in a variety of ways.
Omnipresent - Everywhere at once. Jeremiah 23:23-24. Psalm 139:7-10
Omniscient - All-knowing. Psalm 139:1-4. Only God knows our thoughts. Matthew 9:3-5
Omnipotent - All powerful. Jeremiah 32:17. Can’t lie, murder (inappropriate), steal, do evil (can’t not be God). He can do anything within His nature. He can’t contradict His nature.
E. Holy - Set apart. Isaiah 6:3. Unique, unlike any other. Exodus 16:11. Set apart from sin; pure. Habakkuk 1:13. Can’t tolerate sin, must judge it. We’re called to be holy. Leviticus 19:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18
F. True - His Word is absolute truth. He cannot lie. 1 Samuel 15:29, John 17:17, Titus 1:1-2, Hebrews 6:18
G. Just - Not just what’s true, but what is right and just. Isaiah 45:19.
Treats everyone fairly. Deuteronomy 32:4, Genesis 18:25
Ultimately will establish justice on earth. Psalm 58:11, Jeremiah 12:1. Why don’t we see justice today? Romans 2:6. Isaiah 11:1-4
He must judge sin. Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23
H. Loving - God IS love. 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16. Results in acts of grace. John 3:16, Titus 2:11-14