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Doctrine of God 0002 - Lesson 1
Attached Audio:
- THE ESSENCE OF GOD
- His Spirituality
- Key verse: John 4:24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
See All... - “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
- Translation conflict
- Modern scholarship criticizes the King James reading and prefers “God is spirit.” The argument is that “God is a Spirit” makes God just another spiritual being.
- Counter argument:
- “God is a Spirit” simply identifies the essential nature of God. He is not made up of a fleshly body, but is a spiritual being.
- “God is spirit” tends towards the idea that God is not a distinct being but is identified with all that is spiritual. This lends support to a dangerous form of pantheism.
- Many older Bible commentators and theologians had no problem with “God is a Spirit.” This is one of those faddish theological arguments designed to make the theologian look wiser than the earlier translators (like Yahweh for Jehovah). The text should be allowed to stand as it is.
- Argument in context
- John 4:19-24 [19] The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
[20] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
[21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
[22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
[24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
See All... makes up one unified piece. - In order to take Jesus off track in His witnessing approach, the Samaritan woman brings up the argument between the Jews and the Samaritans as to where God should be worshipped. Should He be worshipped in Samaria as the Samaritans say or in Jerusalem as the Jews claim?
- Although Jesus maintains the authority of the Jewish teachings (“salvation is of the Jews”), He points to the time when the Father will not be worshipped in a particular location (“neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem").
- The reason for this development has to do with the essential nature of God. He is a Spirit and therefore His worship is not limited to a physical location. True worship of Him is not physical worship in a physical location; it is spiritual worship.
- The point of the argument contrasts the physical with the spiritual and declares that God is spiritual; not physical.
- Distinction between flesh and spirit
- Numerous scriptures contrast flesh and spirit as two opposites (Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
See All...; Luke 24:39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
See All...; John 3:6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
See All...; John 6:63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
See All...). - Men and horses as flesh are contrasted to God as spirit. Isaiah 31:3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
See All... states, "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together." - The biblically-defined distinctions between flesh and spirit can help us to understand the significance of God being a Spirit.
- Flesh is visible; but spirit is invisible--as is God (Colossians 1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
See All...; 1 Timothy 1:17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
See All...; 1 Timothy 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
See All...; Hebrews 11:27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
See All...). - Flesh as matter takes up space and has weight; but spirit is not matter and is incorporeal (Isaiah 31:3Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
See All...; Luke 24:39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
See All...). - Flesh is corruptible; but spirit is incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
See All...). - Flesh is temporal and time-limited; but spirit is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
See All...). - Flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
See All...); but spirit is powerful (Luke 4:14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
See All...; Romans 15:19Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 2:4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
See All...; 1 Corinthians 5:4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
See All...). - Note: Men often think of flesh as being real and spirit as being not quite so real. This is an absolute fallacy brought on by our complete lack of understanding the divine perspective. It is the flesh that is fleeting and temporary and the spirit that is permanent in the universe. We have very little knowledge of the spiritual, but we must begin by questioning our assumptions about the spirit in the light of biblical teaching.
- Warnings against thinking of God the Father in physical terms
- Isaiah 40:18To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
See All... asks, "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?" This is in the context of the sin of making idols of God in any form. God is not to be conceived of as having a likeness understandable to man. - The Lord pointed out to the Israelites that when He appeared to them they "saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female" (Deuteronomy 4:15-16 [15] Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
[16] Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
See All...). That is, God did not appear to them in any form; therefore, they are not to think of Him in any form--even in human form, either male of female. - In Psalm 50:21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
See All..., God reproves the wicked because, “thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” We are not to imagine or picture God as being like ourselves. - Romans 1:23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
See All... states that depraved men "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." Some may think that this only has to do with physical idols that are worshipped. However, images come from the imaginations of the heart. We are not to imagine (or put into an image) the glory of God in the form of a man. - His Self-existence (Exodus 3:14And 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.
See All...) – This doctrine is covered in the previous notes dealing with the name Jehovah as referring to the self-sufficient God. - Here is a repetition of some of those notes:
- He revealed Himself to Moses as the great I AM (Exodus 3:13-15 [13] And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
[14] And 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.
[15] And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
See All...). He calls Himself. I AM THAT I AM. This is an identification of who the LORD is. - According to John 5:26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
See All..., "the Father hath life in himself." That is, the life of God comes from God. According to John 5:26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
See All..., "the Father hath life in himself." That is, the life of God comes from God. - Of Him scripture declares, "Who only hath immortality" (1 Timothy 6:16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.
See All...). Only God has full control over His own existence. - God powerfully proclaims His own existence in Deuteronomy 32:40For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
See All... - “For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever." Coming from anyone other than God, this would be the ravings of a madman. From God, it is simply the truth. - Seven times in the Bible, God declares Himself to be the first and the last (Isaiah 41:4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
See All...; Isaiah 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
See All...; Isaiah 48:12Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
See All...; Revelation 1:11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
See All..., 17; Revelation 2:8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
See All...; Revelation 22:13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
See All...). Nothing came before Him and nothing will exist beyond Him. - Thirty times the scriptures refer to him as the “living God” (Deuteronomy 5:26For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
See All... [first reference]; 1 Samuel 17:36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
See All...; Psalm 42:2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
See All...; Jeremiah 10:10But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
See All...; Jeremiah 23:36And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.
See All...; Daniel 6:20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
See All...; John 6:69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 3:3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
See All...; 1 Timothy 3:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
See All...; 1 Timothy 4:10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
See All...; Revelation 7:2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
See All... [last reference]). - Further thoughts on the self-existence of God
- Theologically, this is called the aseity of God. This word is from a Latin phrase meaning from himself. Other synonyms for this quality are independence, self-existence, and self-sufficiency.
- In this matter of independence, the relationship of God to His creation is one of great contrast:
- God is the possessor of all things (Genesis 14:19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
See All...; Psalm 24:1The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
See All...; Psalm 50:10-12 [10] For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. [11] I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. [12] If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
See All...) - Everything we possess came from God (1 Chronicles 29:11-16 [11] Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
[12] Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
[13] Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
[14] But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
[15] For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
[16] O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
See All...; John 3:27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
See All...; 1 Corinthians 4:7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
See All...) - We can only give back to God that which He has already given us (1 Chronicles 29:11Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
See All...) - No man can give to God anything that makes God obligated to Him (Job 22:2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
See All...; Job 35:7-8 [7] If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? [8] Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
See All...; Job 41:11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
See All...; Luke 17:10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
See All...; Romans 11:35-36 [35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? [36] For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
See All...). - God needs nothing from man that He cannot accomplish for Himself without man (Psalm 50:8-15 [8] I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
[9] I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
[10] For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
[11] I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
[12] If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
[13] Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
[14] Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
[15] And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
See All...). - Therefore, God is independent of man and has no need of him. His dealings with man are purely from the motives of love and grace; not need (Exodus 3:14And 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.
See All...). - Man, on the other hand, must depend on God for everything. Even his ability to breathe (Job 12:10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
See All...), live, move, and to have our very being (Acts 17:28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
See All...). - His Eternity
- Related titles
- The everlasting God (Genesis 21:33And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
See All...; Isaiah 40:28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
See All...; Romans 16:26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
See All...) - The eternal God (Deuteronomy 33:27The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
See All...) - The everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
See All...) - The King eternal (1 Timothy 1:17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
See All...) - The eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
See All...) - The everlasting existence of God (Psalm 90:2Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
See All...; Psalm 93:2Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
See All...; Habakkuk 1:12Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
See All...) - Unto everlasting: His days will never end
- From everlasting:
- He never had a beginning
- Also an attribute of the Son (Micah 5:2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
See All...) - The habitation of eternity
- God is the One who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
See All...). - This is much more than eternal existence. God exists without time and outside of time. His true dwelling is timeless.
- This eternal existence gives special quality to His power (Romans 1:20For 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:
See All...) and sovereign authority (1 Timothy 1:17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
See All...; Psalm 145:13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
See All...). - God’s habitation in eternity is connected to His immutability (Malachi 3:6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
See All...; Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
See All...). - God’s habitation in eternity is connected to His full knowledge of the future (Isaiah 46:9-10 [9] Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
[10] Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
See All...). All events at all times are alike present to Him. - As such, God is a secure dwelling place for His people (Deuteronomy 33:27The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
See All...; Psalm 90:1-2 [1] Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. [2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
See All...) - The balance of time and eternity
- As to who He is, God inhabits eternity and is unaffected by the events of history.
- As to what He does, God works with His creation in time and operates throughout history.
Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.