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Randolph |
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has determined, and set forth in the Bible. This does not mean that how we live does not matter, so long as we know truth. How we live is surely important. But to know how to live, the saved child of God must first know truth. Knowing the truth leads to right living. So what truths must we know, to enjoy salvation? In this and future mailings, if God wills, we hope to answer this question. We begin with this truth: God is God. The statement God is God might seem obvious and redundant. But let us explain it, and you will see better why this truth is foundational. First, the statement means to say, God exists. There is a God. There is a Supreme Being. Many deny that there is a God. Some today desire to remove the name of God from our money, our courtrooms, our Pledge of Allegiance, and all of our thinking and speaking. This is not surprising. Every human, living out of our sinful nature, hates God. And hating God, we deny that God is God. Psalm 14:1 reads: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Each of us are foolish, apart from grace. Each of us wants to be God ourselves, or wants mankind to be God; so we deny that another God, a true God, exists. Although we might deny Gods existence, God makes His existence and power plainly known. He does so in creation. Romans 1:20 reads: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. He also makes Himself known in the Bible. The very first verse of the Bible asserts Gods existence: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God exists. Next, that God is God means that this God is a distinct, particular being. He is not simply the Supreme Being. He is not simply the man up there. He is one, particular, distinct Being, who has a name. His name is Jehovah! By this name, God is distinguished from all creatures. God is not created; He is the Creator. God is not bound by time; He is above time. God does not change; He is eternally the same. By this name, God is distinguished from all other beings that are called gods. He is distinguished from any image which one might have in ones house, and call ones god. He is distinguished from any other possession or being in which we might place our trust. He is distinguished from all pagan gods. The one and only true God, who exists as a distinct and particular being, is Jehovah, the Father of Jesus Christ, the God of Christian believers. Thirdly, that God is God means that all the characteristics of deity are found perfectly in Him. He is powerful - all powerful. He created the world! He sends the rain, the snow, the ice, the warm winds of spring, the floods and tornados of summer! He causes crops to grow! He gives to each of us life! He is also sovereign. To be sovereign is to have all authority to act as one pleases, within ones realm. Gods realm is the whole world, and every creature, for He created all things. In this realm He may do as He pleases. But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased (Psalm 115:3). Even Nebuchadnezzar, head of the Babylonian empire, said: he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:35). He may make what laws He desires to make; He may judge men as He sees fit; He may send us whatever He wants - whether good things or bad, hunger or plenty, floods or droughts, health or sickness - and He does not have to answer to any person for what He does, or how He does it. We might demand Him to answer our questions, when things happen in life that we do not like. But that is to act as though we are His God. Or, we might shake our fist at Him, as though we will get revenge. But that is to fool ourselves. God is God. We are men - mere men, men who are creatures of this God, men who will die and one day give answer to this God. We must acknowledge His Godhead, and bow before Him in humility. Why must we know this truth? To be saved, is to enjoy friendship with this God. Such friendship is not possible, if we deny that He exists, or pretend not to know Him. Pastor Douglas Kuiper To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? ... for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that he is eternal , incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good. - Belgic Confession, Art. 1 |
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