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The Doctrine of God

The Doctrine of God. Survey of Christian Doctrine. Current Challenges. Eastern Religions (Hinduism & Buddhism)>Pantheism, Non-Personal God New Age Movement> Pantheism, Pan en theism, Non-Personal God Islam>Non-Trinitarian, Mormonism>Non- Trinitarian , Polytheism & Materialism

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The Doctrine of God

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  1. The Doctrine of God Survey of Christian Doctrine

  2. Current Challenges • Eastern Religions (Hinduism & Buddhism)>Pantheism, Non-Personal God • New Age Movement> Pantheism, Panentheism, Non-Personal God • Islam>Non-Trinitarian, • Mormonism>Non-Trinitarian, Polytheism & Materialism • Jehovah’s Witnesses>Non-Trinitarian Survey of Christian Doctrine

  3. What is God Like? I. God is Transcendent (Jer 23:24; Isa 6: 1; 55: 8f) A. God transcends Creation. B. An example of the transcendence of God is the act of Creation from outside it. II. God is Immanent (Isa 6:3).   A. God is present and active within His Creation.   B. An example of the immanence of God is the incarnation of God in Christ. Survey of Christian Doctrine

  4. The Bible is BOTH… AND • The Islamic view is more transcendent than the Biblical view • The Hindu view is more pantheistic than the Bible • God is not EITHER Transcendent OR Immanent, BUT God is BOTH Transcendent AND Immanent Survey of Christian Doctrine

  5. The Natural Attributes of God • A. Spirit(Jn 4:24; Jn 1:18; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:15f) • B. Alive (Brute Existence) (Ex 3:14; Heb 11:6). • C. Personal (Ex 3:14; Gen 3) (God knows, feels, wills, acts). • D. Constant (Immutable, Unchanging) (Ps 102: 26-27; Mal 3:6). • E. Infinite (Unlimited)…. Survey of Christian Doctrine

  6. Infinite means… 1. God is NOT limited by Space (Omnipresent) (Ps 139: 7-12). 2. God is NOT limited by Time (Eternal) (Ps 90:1-2; Jude 25). 3. God is NOT limited in Knowledge (Omniscient) (Ps 147:5). 4. God is NOT limited in Power (Omnipotent) (Gen 17:1; Mat 19:26). Survey of Christian Doctrine

  7. The moral attributes of God 1 • HOLY • Morally Pure. • Righteous • Just (fair in the administration of His law). • Integral (He has integrity, is truthful). • Genuine (is true, real, not fabricated, not an illusion). • Veracious (tells the truth). • Faithful Survey of Christian Doctrine

  8. The moral attributes of God 2 • LOVE • Benevolent (cares for and provides for those He loves). • Gracious (deals with man on the basis of His love, not man’s merit or worth). • Merciful (tenderhearted toward needy). • Persistent (patient to withhold judgment while continuing to offer salvation). Survey of Christian Doctrine

  9. Truth in both extremes • God’s Love and Moral Purity are NOT in conflict. The atonement of Christ is God’s great act of Love that also satisfies His Moral Purity. • (And neither God’s Power or Benevolence are compromised by the existence of Evil.) Survey of Christian Doctrine

  10. God is Trinity • 1. The Father is God (1 Cor 8:4, 6; 1 Tim 2:5f) • 2. The Son is God (Jn 1; Heb 1; Col 1; Phil 2) • 3. The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5; Jn 14-16; ) • 4. God is ONE (Ex 20:2-3; Deut 6:4; Jas 2:19) • 5. The Bible is True and Truth Does not Contradict Itself. •  6. The Tri-Unity is a Unique Mystery with NO Exact Analogy. Survey of Christian Doctrine

  11. The Doctrine is NOT… • Three Gods with one Purpose only (Mormons). • One God known by three titles: Father, Son, H.S., (Like one man known as Father, Son and Brother). • One whole God that can be divided into three absolutely distinct parts (Like an Egg or a Pie). • One God in three “Modes,” (like water in three states of matter: liquid, solid, gas). • Expressed well by Formula 1 x 1 x 1 = 1. • Expressed well by the Formula 3=1. Survey of Christian Doctrine

  12. Trinity is best expressed… … by the Formula 3 & 1, (God is Three Personal Consciousnesses AND One God). 1. God is Three with reference to “Personal Consciousness” …a. The Eternal Personal Consciousness of the Father. b. The Eternal Personal Consciousness of the Son. c. The Eternal Personal Consciousness of the Holy Spirit. 2. God is One with reference to Essence (Being or Nature). Survey of Christian Doctrine

  13. Think about it… • “Most Christians live as practical unitarians.” • “The doctrine of the Trinity is not Biblical and so is irrelevant.” • What do you think? Survey of Christian Doctrine

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