Who Is God and How Do We Know Him?

The search for God has been a journey on which human beings have been since the beginning of time. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we have been trying to discover who God is and how to know him. How do we figure out God, the creator of the universe, and have a relationship with him that is real, genuine, and life changing? In looking at this question, it requires us to formulate our answer based on two concepts: The Doctrine of God and The Doctrine of Revelation.
So, we begin our journey by first exploring who is God? When we look at who God is we see that it is not an easy question to answer. Because God has so many infinite attributes and characteristics, it is hard to narrow it down to a certain amount. In doing so, we tend to minimize the concept of who God is and how powerful he is. Without minimizing God in his infiniteness, to answer this part of the question we must look at how God has revealed himself through the Holy Scriptures, our own faith, and our personal experience of who God has been to us in our own lives and our relationship with him.
So, what does the Bible have to say about who God is? The concept of who God is begins with the Trinity. “The distinctive Christian description of God is Trinity. The one God has revealed himself to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (class notes) This description of God “is one of mysterious grandeur, which defies the comprehension of every finite mind, and must be received as true on the authority of the Bible.” In looking at the Holy Scriptures, we see endless statements of who God is. In Exodus 20:3, 5, he gives a clear statement about him being the one and only God. In Psalms 47:7, his reign and sovereignty over the earth is proclaimed. In Revelation 4:8, his holiness and eternal nature is proclaimed. All these Scriptures and countless others speak to who God is. God shows us through his Holy Word that he is Spirit, he is a Person, he is personal, he is infinite, he is one God, and he is absolute. He is the God who has revealed himself through the Scriptures.
In looking at our own faith and searching for a summary statement of who God is, The Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 gives the greatest all inclusive statement. It covers the infiniteness of God’s characteristics from his personality to his perfection revealing to us that he is the holy God who sits on high and reigns, but he is also the personal God who is involved in our daily lives. As E.Y. Mullins expresses, God is “the supreme personal Spirit; perfect in all his attributes; who is the source, support, and end of the universe.” He is holy and powerful enough to rule the universe, yet he is personal enough that he cares about what goes on in our daily lives. He is the God who we see in power and glory in the Old and New Testament, but loves us enough that he sent his son to die so that we can have relationship with him.
In looking at our personal experience of who God has been to us in our own lives and our relationship with him, we develop a more personal concept of God which combines how we understand God through the Holy Scriptures and our own personal faith because it is based upon who God has revealed himself to be through those two avenues. While who God is isn’t changed by man’s personal experience or opinions, the foundations we find in Scripture and through our faith help us to draw closer to him and to relate to him in a more personal way.
Which leads us to the second part of our question how do we know God? First, we need to make clear that knowing God is our most privileged opportunity, and there is no higher honor. The way we know God and discover who he is, comes through him revealing himself to us. This revelation comes in two forms: general revelation and special revelation. All of humanity has access to general revelation. David says in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” So, humanity in general can see God in the world around them; but to truly know God takes special revelation through which God has revealed himself to people throughout history in the Old and New Testament and now happens only through Jesus Christ revealing himself to us through the Holy Scriptures. As Mullins says, “Revelation is an event in the soul, an act of man’s whole nature in response to God’s self disclosure.” God reveals himself to us through the Bible by the power of the Holy Spirit and the result of that revelation is salvation and a relationship with him. To truly know God, general revelation is not enough. Because even though we can know about God through general revelation, it takes the special revelation of God through Jesus Christ his son and his Holy Word to reach past our sin marred minds and show us who God truly is.
In conclusion, God is so infinite and great that he cannot be fully known. We can see through the Scriptures and our faith some of who he is, but not all. Even though God cannot be fully known, he reveals to us who he truly is and through our relationship with him and that revelation we discover more and more everyday that he loves us and desires for us to know him.

Enjoy the Journey,
Brett

What does it mean to say that in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself?

Since the beginning of time, man has been trying to save himself from himself and has failed miserably in the attempt. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, we as humans have been trying to get back to that state of perfection and knowledge that once existed in the heart of man. How do we get beyond our own depravity? How do we rise above the failed state in which we live? How do we get back to the Garden? How do we become reconciled with the God that created us and desires relationship with us? In looking at these questions, it requires us to formulate our answers based upon one concept: The Work of Christ. In dealing with the work of Christ, we must first look at who we are and the sin state that we are in as humans. Then, we must find the ultimate and final answer in who Jesus is and what He has done and is doing for us.
So, we begin our journey by first looking at who we are as humans and the hopeless state of sin in which we exist. From the beginning of life every human being is born as a fallen creature with the tendency towards sin and depravity. Romans 3:23 says, “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As humans, we come into this world with the nature of sin and being drawn towards the things that are in opposition to God and a relationship with Him. But it is in that depravity that one finds their need for reconciliation with the God that created them and loves them.
In the life of every human we see that “from the first moment of our lives, human beings are dependent creatures. Just as we are dependent on God for the physical necessities of life, we are also spiritually helpless.” It is in that state of spiritual helplessness that every human being finds themselves, and it is in that same state that Christ becomes the reconciliation between mankind and God. In Romans 5:8, it says that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Was there any other way for God to reconcile mankind to Himself? Grudem says that “once God, in His love, decided to save human beings, then several passages in Scripture indicate that there was no other way for God to do this than through the death of His Son.” D.M. Baillie says that “the crucifixion of Jesus set men thinking more than anything else that has ever happened in the life of the human race.” When one looks at this horrific event that changed the course of history; and has the potential to change the lives of all humanity, “it makes them think of the redeeming love of God. Not simply of the love of Jesus, but of the love of God.” So one can see that because of the depravity of mankind, it was necessary for Christ to be the sacrifice that reconciled God and man once and for all.
Which leads us to the second question that must be answered concerning the Work of Christ: Who is Jesus and what has He done and is continuing to do for us? Because of the depravity of mankind and the holiness of God, a sacrifice was required. This sacrifice was to temporarily atone for the sins of the people therefore having to be repeated on a regular basis to appease the wrath of a Holy God. For a depraved human race to be completely and permanently reconciled to a Holy God there must be a sacrifice that would satisfy permanently. This sacrifice would only come through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Scripture points to the reason for this sacrifice in John 3:16. The love of God is an evident reason for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, “but the justice of God also required that God find a way that the penalty due to us for our sins would be paid (for He could not accept us into fellowship with Himself unless the penalty was paid).” D.M. Baillie says that “In discoursing of the love that was shown in the Cross of Christ the New Testament is never able to stop short of tracing it up-stream to the eternal love of God dealing sacrificially with the sins of the world.”
Not only is there the sacrifice that Jesus made upon the cross, but the atonement for the sins of mankind also include “the work Christ did in His life to earn our salvation.” Not only was there the pain of the sacrifice on the cross that Christ endured, but according to Grudem “Christ had to live a life of perfect obedience to God in order to earn righteousness for us.” Christ’s life of obedience to God the Father sets the example for us and lays the foundation for the faith we have in Jesus Christ.
Included in what Christ has done for us beyond his obedience and death is His resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection was not one like the others recorded in the Bible. Jesus’ resurrection was one that set Him apart from any other person in human history.
So, what is the result of the Work of Christ and what He has done? The result is in what He is doing in reconciliation through the salvation of a human race who cannot save themselves, and the sanctification of those saved is “the progressive work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes and moves into Christian maturity.” This is the Work of Christ.

Enjoy the Journey,
Brett

New Beginnings!

It's amazing to see what God is doing! It has been Nov. since we came to Alex City. With all we went through before, we just weren't sure what God was doing. But we have been blessed with amazing friends, students, staff, and community. We are seeing God work in amazing ways. We are seeing students use their gifts like never before. We are having conversation after conversation about how God is moving in lives.
I started seminary Monday. WOW! I haven't been to school in 13 years. It's gonna be interesting, but I can see where it's gonna benefit me tremendously.
We close on our house in Hayden Friday and close on our house in AC. We are excited about the move finally being complete.
God is amazing! I pray I will never lose sight of my amazement of Him. It is easy to do in this crazy life, but I want to fix my attention on Him. That's all for now. Until next time.

It's Christmas!

Christmas is my favorite time of year! I love everything about it-the food, the gifts, family, the music, and the movies(Christmas Vacation of course). It's been said in the past that "Jesus is the reason for the season." And that is true, but my pastor has made a statement several times this season that has brought new light on what the reason for the season really is. He says that "Jesus isn't the reason for the season, we are." Meaning that we are the reason He was born, died, and was resurrected. Makes pretty good sense if you ask me. I have caught myself stressing this year about all the things we have to do and not focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. So, this week I am going to set my eyes on Jesus and my family. The presents are bought and the plans are made. But even if they weren't. Christmas would still be Christmas because I have my family. It's gonna be a great week! Merry Christmas!

Great Quote!

"Jesus made no excuses to avoid dying for us; we should make none to avoid living for Him." Ed McMinn

Great article! Please read and ponder.

student leadership: blind leading the blind
Andy Disher


I’ve finally fulfilled my New Year’s resolution. It’s only taken me 11 months and 10 days, but I finally signed up for a gym membership. I decided to sign up for someone to show me around. I needed some direction, some pushing, and a personal trainer to guide me in this new territory called “getting in shape.”


I started off the experience by jumping on the treadmill, and having the trainer teach me to “feel the burn.” As he left me to warm up, I couldn’t help but begin to do what I do best: people watch. I began to observe a visually impaired gentleman use the equipment with the assistance of another adult.


It struck me as interesting. My mind immediately went to youth ministry. Just as the visually impaired gentleman needed his guide, so student leaders need us to guide them through the journey of learning how to lead.


Trust
Trust is incredibly important in any relationship—even more important if one individual has no idea where they’re going. As leaders of students, we must teach the student leaders to be trustworthy. We must lead by example.


Dependence
As youth pastors / leaders, we have a huge responsibility to be depended on. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. Students of all ages depend on us to be truthful and honest with them. If we’re not, how can we then teach our student leaders to be?


Familiar
If we ourselves aren’t familiar with the territory that we’re walking in, then we’ll be walking into a wall. We must be familiar with where we’re going. How can we teach students how to lead, and what to expect, if we ourselves have yet to do such a thing?


Student leadership should never be about “the blind leading the blind.” As leaders ourselves, we need to show the proper example to our students, so they can, in turn, lead their peers closer to God.

Here's a great article I found by Kurt Johnston, Jr. High Pastor @ Saddleback Church. I shared it with my leadership team and wanted to pass it along to you.

feeling inadequate
kurt johnston
Conner's dad, John, was in his final weeks of a long battle with cancer. Knowing that her 7th grade son was having a hard time recognizing the severity of the situation, Conner's mom asked if I'd be willing to come by on Thursday night to shoot some hoops with him and begin to help prepare him for what was on the horizon.
By the time I got to the house that night, things had suddenly changed. I was greeted at the front door by a friend who shared that John was really struggling and would likely pass away any minute. I'm sure many of you would have viewed this as an incredible opportunity to minister to Conner and his family in a moment of intense need and would have been able to shift into 'Super Pastor' mode, but I couldn't. Instead I became 'Super Wimp'. What do I say? How do I pray? What happens when he dies on the couch and everybody looks to me?
We spent the next half hour or so praying together, holding John's hand, singing and crying. I didn't say a whole lot and really didn't need to. John's entire small group was there and the body of Christ was operating in the way it should sharing life when life is at it's worst.
Not long after I arrived, Conner's dad passed away. We prayed again, I hugged Conner and his sister, spent a few minutes with the family and went home. On the way home I was feeling a bit inadequate. Did I say the right stuff? Did I need to stay longer? Should I have prayed for healing? At that moment I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me that he doesn't need 'Super Kurt', he just needs Kurt. He wants me to be the man he's created me to be and to rely on Him when ministry seems bigger than my gifts.
If it hasn't happened yet, it will. You will be thrown into a situation that feels too big. You will feel like Super Wimp instead of Super Pastor. That's okay. God doesn't need a bunch of Super Pastors. He just needs a bunch of guys and gals like you and me who are willing to trust him in the middle of our inadequacies.

If you're like me, you feel this way alot more than not. When I get in situations on a daily basis and I feel this way, it is at that point that I believe God has me right where he wants me-totally dependent upon Him, which is the best place we could ever be. In times of inadequacy, remember God has equipped us to accomplish what He desires. Hope you have a great Christmas and a Blessed New Year!