LESSON NO. 3
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD ?
A Look At God's Word By
Oswald Riess

1. WHAT IS GOD ?
    THE BIBLE SAYS -

   (a) John 4:24. God is a spirit.
   (b) Ex. 3:14. God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
   (c) Luke 24:39. A spirit hath not flesh and bones.
   (d) John 1:18. No man hath seen God at any time.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -

     God is
   (A) a spirit, that is
   (B) a personal being
   (C) without flesh and blood, and therefore
   (D) invisible.
 

2. HOW IS GOD ?
   THE BIBLE SAYS -

   (a) Ps. 90:1,2. Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world even FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING, Thou art God.
   (b) Mal. 3:6. I am the Lord, I CHANGE NOT.
   (c) Gen. 17:1. I am the ALMIGHTY God.
   (c) Matt. 19:26. With God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
   (d) Ps. 139:1-4. O Lord, Thou hast searched me and KNOWN ME. Thou KNOWEST MY DOWNSITTING AND MINE UPRISING, Thou understandest MY THOUGHT AFAR OFF. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and ART ACQUAINTED with ALL MY WAYS.  For there is not a word in my tongue but, lo, O Lord, THOU KNOWEST IT ALTOGETHER.
   (e) Jer. 23:24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him ? saith the Lord. Do not I FILL HEAVEN AND EARTH ? saith the Lord.
   (f) Lev. 19:2. I the Lord your God am holy.
   (g) Deut. 32:4. A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
   (h) 2 Tim. 2:13. He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself.
   (i j) Ps. 145:9. The Lord is GOOD To all: and His tender MERCIES are over all His works.
   (j k) Ex. 34:6, 7. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.
   (k) 1 John 4:8. God is LOVE

FROM THIS WE LEARN -

     God is
   (A) Eternal (without beginning and without end);
   (B) Unchangeable;
   (C) Omnipotent (almighty, all-powerful);
   (D) Omniscient (all-knowing);
   (E) Omnipresent (present everywhere);
   (F) Holy (sinless and hating sin);
   (G) Just (fair and impartial);
   (H) Faithful (keeping His promises);
   (I) Benevolent (good, kind, desiring our welfare);
   (J) merciful (full of pity);
   (K) Gracious (showing undeserved kindness, forgiving).
 

3. WHO IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD ?
   THE BIBLE SAYS -

   (a) Deut. 6:4. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is ONE  Lord.
 *(b) Matt. 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST.
   (b) 2 Cor. 13:14. The grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and the love of God (the Father), and the communion of the HOLY GHOST, be with you all.
   (b) Num. 6:24-26. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
   (b) Matt 3:16,17. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE, and lighting upon Him: and,  lo, a VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, in whom I am well pleased.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -

   (A) God is one ("une").
   (B) In this one God there are three ("tri") distinct Persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
   (C) The true God is the Triune God.
        (The Father sent the Son to be our Savior; the Son redeemed us with His suffering and death; the Holy Ghost brings us to saving faith in Jesus Christ.)
 

4. WITH WHAT ATTITUDE OF HEART ARE WE TO CONTEMPLATE THE  MYSTERY  OF THE HOLY TRINITY ?
   THE BIBLE SAYS -

  (a b) 1 Cor. 2:11. What man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWETH NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
   (a b) 1 Tim 6:16. (God dwelleth) in the light which no man can approach unto.
   (a b) John 1:18. NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, HE HATH DECLARED HIM.
   (c) Rev. 4:8. They (the inhabitants of heaven) rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

FORM THIS WE LEARN -

   (A) The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is far beyond our reason; it is therefore altogether unreasonable to try to fathom it, or to reject it because we cannot do so.
   (B) Only God knows God, and He has revealed Himself to us, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, in the Bible, as the Triune God.
   (C) We are to accept this revelation of Himself with unquestioning faith, and to adore and glorify Him with the hosts of heaven.
 

5. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN GOD ?
   THE BIBLE SAYS -

   (a) John 17:3. This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.
   (b) Jas. 1:21. Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.
   (c) Ps. 31:14. I trusted in Thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.

FROM THIS WE LEARN -

      To believe in God means that, on the basis of the Scriptures, I personally, in my heart,
   (A) Know God as my gracious God in Christ Jesus: (Knowledge.)
   (B) Accept as true what He says and promises; (Assent.)
   (C) Trust in Him and rely on Him with firm confidence. (Confidence.)
 

BEFORE THE NEXT LESSON
FILL OUT Work Sheet No. 3.
MEMORIZE Bible passages marked with an asterisk (*).
READ Genesis, chapters 15-21.
 
 

WORK SHEET NO. 3
 
ONE

(A) God is the great driving force in nature. [_]
(B) God is a personal Being. [_]

(Check the correct statement.)
 
TWO

What do the Scriptures mean when they speak of

(A) God's right hand ? .....................................

(B) God's eyes ? ...........................................
 

THREE

Every attribute of God has a special meaning in the life of the Christian.
(A) Which warning is there for us in the omniscience of God
 
      when we are tempted to secret sin ?     ........................................................

(B) Which comfort is there for us in the omnipotence of God
      when we are confronted with great difficulties ?    ........................................................
 

FOUR

(A) There are three distinct Persons in the Trinity. [_]
(B) The three Persons are three gods. [_]
(C) The three Persons are of equal majesty and power. [_]
(D) The Son and the Spirit receive their authority from the Father. [_]
(E) The Father was first, then the Son, then the Holy Ghost. [_]
(F) There is only one God, who has revealed Himself in three Persons, but is one in Essence. [_]

(Check the correct statements.)
 
FIVE

Faith is the resting of the heart upon God. True[_] False[_]

(Check whether true or false.)