About a year and a half ago, Trenton and I entered a small race up in Groom Creek. Trenton entered the 5K and was clearly the fastest in his category. He started out strong – running at the front of the pack. He was running so strong that he missed a turn and found himself on the 10K course instead of the 5K. In spite of his efforts, he didn’t finish well that day because he was running hard in the wrong direction.
Similarly, not all religious activity ends in a better relationship with God. A person can work very hard engaging in religious activities and, in the end, they don’t really know God better. Jesus and Isaiah made the exact same accusation of religious people when they said, “This
So, from the beginning, I want to make it clear that our journey, as well as our destination, is God Himself. We will strive to obtain a clearer understanding of who God is, based upon what He wrote about Himself in the scriptures. This process is the essence of theology. Theology is defined as “the study of the nature of God.”
Someone might say, “Is this journey really necessary, pastor? A couple hundred years ago (before there was television), smart people would sit around and talk about theology. This is not the 19th Century. Quite honestly, most people who live in the 21st Century find theology kind of old fashioned and un-cool. Theology is for pastors – not for me. Surely a layperson could get by without knowing theology!”
I love what Dr. John Piper had to say about the study of God. He said “Being infinite, God is inexhaustibly interesting. It is therefore impossible that God be boring.” A man’s presentation about God might be boring, but our God is infinitely interesting. It takes an uninterested, dis-passionate, sinful man to make the study of God boring because there is nothing else comparable to our God. His character is so great, the psalmist says He is worthy to be praised by every person and every nation. Psalm 117 says,
“Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
2 For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!”
During the next few weeks, we are going to look at some pretty compelling reasons to “praise the Lord.” Our God is Greater! He is greater than anything else in the universe. By His very nature, He is elevated above everything else. Remarkably, in all His glory, He displays not pride, but humility. He doesn’t hide away from his subjects like a self-consumed, prideful, earthly king, but (in humility) He makes himself known to His people. Psalm 113 says:
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Why should we praise God?
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
God is ruling and reining, but that doesn’t mean he’s unapproachable. No, He humbles Himself to take notice of us and watch over what occurs on the earth He created.
5 Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
This is a God who calls us to know Him. He chooses to make Himself known and has made every effort for us to enter into a relationship with Him. Paul said in Romans 8:15b that God’s people, “…have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””
So what comes to your mind when you think about God? Your view of God is of such huge significance that it impacts absolutely every other area of your life. As you think about God, it plays a main role in your standards for behavior, it is central to your value system and it manages the relationships you have with other people. Your view of God affects absolutely EVERYTHING else about you!
#1 Your Concept of God is What Most Clearly Defines You
AW Tozer said it this way, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
- Radical Muslims become terrorists ultimately on their view of who God is.
- Buddhists and New Agers meditate and empty their minds to obtain Nirvana based on their view of who God is.
- Mormons make decisions based on their view that one day they will also be gods.
- Ahteists don’t believe there is a God, so they make themselves into gods and make decisions based on their own personal ethics.
However, the concept of a Godless universe goes directly against the hard-wiring of our own minds. Absolutely every culture in the history of the world has had some form of deity. They have some concept of God – even if it’s a radically unbiblical concept.
Theologians call this phenomenon “general revelation.” Paul says in Romans 1:20, “ 20 For his [God’s] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they [those who try to deny God] are without excuse.” (Atheists are without an excuse for their unbelief.)
It is so much a part of our most basic nature that even a young child does not struggle with the concept of God. In fact, most children are ready to believe in God as soon as He is described by a trusted adult. Kids often embrace the concept of deity with little or no resistance.
There is no race known to history or anthropology that does not have some form of deity in their customs and traditions. In fact, the notion of deity is so natural to the human mind that atheism can only be maintained with constant propaganda. Atheists have to continually convince themselves to deny God. Given enough time, even the propaganda will break down and many atheists eventually turn to some form of a god or an idol.
Just because someone has a concept of God does not mean that their concept of God is biblically accurate or biblically compatible. Here is where the church steps in to culture. As a church, it is our job to open the scriptures and teach people in our culture about what the Bible says about its God. One of our greatest contributions to our country, our culture, and our neighbors is to communicate a biblical view of God. Look at Paul’s charge to the Colossians in chapter 4.
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
The history of mankind shows that there has never been a people group who has risen above its idea of what God is like. Ultimately, the over-riding idea of ‘what God is like’ is established, upheld, and promoted by the church. For this reason, the question of ‘what God is like’ is of critical significance to those of us who take God’s Word seriously so that we can rightly (v.3) “declare the mystery of Christ” and (v.6) “know how to answer each person.”
The church will tend to move towards its mental image of God. Here are three common errors in how churches often view God:
- If the church views God primarily as a “cosmic kill-joy” and “police officer”, then the behavior, relationships, and values in the church will tend towards legalism.
- If the church views God primarily as “tolerant” and “unconcerned with sin”, then the behavior, relationships, and values in the church will tend towards liberal leniency.
- If the church views God primarily as “ethereal” and “mystical”, then the behavior, relationships, and values in the church will tend towards experiential emotionalism.
These three errors are extremely common in the Christian church today. We’ll never have an effective witness for Christ if the church is confused about what the Bible says God is like. AW Tozer said, “I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God.”[2]
On the other hand, when the church begins to wrestle with weighty matters related to God’s intertwining attributes, it not only improves our theology but it also dramatically impacts our daily Christian life.
Personally, I have another reason for my excitement about the next two months here at Canyon. Every time I look further into the depth, reach, and infinitude of our God, I am awestruck by who He is. When I have a huge thought about God to share with you on Sunday morning, I can’t wait to get to church. I love to preach on how AWESOME our God is. It makes me a better worshipper and, I think, a better pastor. I believe it will make you more on fire for your faith.
#2 A Deep, Personal, and Biblical Understanding of God will Make You a Better Worshipper
If we want to learn what the church should be like, then we need to begin by asking “what is God like?” The most compelling subject, the highest level of reasoning, and the deepest thought of philosophy that could ever engage God’s children is the study of the attributes of the God. Paul made this great exclamation about God in Romans 11:
“33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
When God’s people begin to contemplate divinity, their thought process is transformed. God’s nature is so vast that our petty thoughts are simply lost in His infinite expanse. The next three verses in Romans 11 say,
“34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
When we compare ourselves to God, it’s like a single molecule contemplating its significance in relation to the universe. When we consider our significance in relation to an infinite God, it causes our pride to melt away.
There are other subjects we might be able to master in a lifetime. We may become an expert in a trade, hobby, or profession. However, when we approach the master science of knowing God, we find that there is no bottom to His depth. Our eyes can see no end to His expanse. There is no ceiling to His height.
Compared to Him, we are terribly insignificant. We are yesterday’s news. We are obsolete. We are like the box full of used electronics that Goodwill throws away, not bothering to try and sell them.
- There is nothing that will humble a man more than thinking about our God.
- AND… there is nothing more exhilarating to know than we are loved by that God!
Look at the words of the Apostle Peter:
“…Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:5b-7)
That brings me to the final reason for this series: considering the nature of our God is of great consolation during times of trial.
#3 An Enlarged View of God is Real Comfort During Trials
Paul said, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
As we contemplate the nature of God, there is an ointment for every wound – no matter how deep. When we are convinced that God is good, merciful, and just – when we grapple with His limitless power, infinite wisdom, and perfect holiness – our trials come into a different light.
Here is a very important truth: God doesn’t act contrary to his character. In other words, He doesn’t allow a trial into our lives that goes against His perfect love and mercy. He doesn’t act in justice without also displaying perfect grace and wisdom. His is not limited in doing good because of a lack of power. God never acts contrary to who He is. In the midst of his terrible ordeal, Job uttered these words about God:
“13 “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.” Job 12:13-16
It is in our best interest to find out who God is and how He works. Are you overwhelmed by sorrow? Do you have grief that is too much to bear? Then dive into the infinity of God’s strength, wisdom, and power. I don’t know anything more comforting than the firm assurance that God is in control and has the very best interest of His people in mind at all time.
What better consolation can you give the person who lost a spouse or a child than that God is good? He does not work contrary to His nature. From our limited vantage point, the situation might look grim. However, if we were to see the same situation from God’s perspective, we would see His perfect wisdom. “With him are strength and sound wisdom,” Job says, even in a terrible trial.
What we believe about God is often revealed during difficult times. AW Tozer said, “Only after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God.”[3] In other words, what we truly believe about God and His sovereignty is often revealed when we suffer grief or a broken heart.
All the problems of heaven and earth would be far less devastating to the person who has a proper view of God. A man who has a right idea about God is spared 10,000 other lesser concerns. A man who is focused on eternity and the Maker of heaven can praise God in the midst of a heavy situation. Isaiah made this request when God’s people were facing a difficult trial:
“…give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
I know nothing that can heal a broken heart, comfort the grieving or calm the winds of a severe trial more effectively than the intense study of God’s attributes. To that end, I invite you to study with us this summer.
Conclusion / Application
Now that we’ve recognized that the study of God is a worth-while pursuit, how do we move forward? We live in a turbulent time that is constantly trying to discredit or redefine who God is.
- Some of us are concerned with the efforts to water down Christian doctrine.
- Some of us are concerned about the open hostility often displayed towards the church.
- Some of us are concerned with the systematic removal of all references to God in our schools, government and social institutions.
The doctrine of God is a storm-center and the winds are raging around us. Some people accuse Christianity of being a refined sort of nonsense. Others buy into the secular propaganda claiming that the concept of a deity is irrational and illogical. There are even those in religious circles who would criticize solid Biblical teaching – calling it outdated. What are we to do as a church? Should we lie down and wait for the storm to pass?
My conviction is that we should continue to proclaim truth about the God of the Bible! Eternal life is at stake. The question of knowing God has everlasting ramifications. Consider what Jesus said in John 17:3, “…this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
Storm or no storm, we are going to start down this road of knowing God more deeply, more biblically, more accurately and more intimately. So it’s time to ask a few question of ourselves in light of the truth we looked at this morning:
- If you are most foundationally defined by your concept of God, is your view of God high enough?
- Is knowing God truly your greatest treasure? Is there anything you value more than Him?
[1] Is. 29:13, Matthew 15:8, Mark 7:6
[2] Tozer, AW “Knowledge of the Holy,” Pg 2
[3] Tozer, AW, “Knowledge of the Holy,” Pg 2
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