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Doctrine of God 0004 - Lesson 6
Attached Audio:
- THE WORKS OF GOD (Continued)
- Providence (Continued)
- The problem of free will (Continued)
- Limited free will (Continued)
- As to service
- The lost man
- A lost man is a servant of sin and brings forth fruit unto death (Romans 6:17-21 [17] But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
[18] Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
[19] I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
[20] For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
[21] What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
See All...; Romans 7:5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
See All...). - A lost man cannot please God (Romans 8:8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
See All...). - Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
See All...). - Therefore, a lost man has no free will to please God.
- The saved man
- Although the saved man now has the Spirit of God in him, his will is the same will he had when he was lost. As such, it has no power to please God in its own strength (Romans 7:15-18 [15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
See All...). - His internal battle with the flesh leaves him powerless to do the will of God by the strength of his will (Galatians 5:17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
See All...). - However, he does have the ability to submit to the rule of God in his life (Romans 6:13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
See All..., 16; Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
See All...). - The surrendered Christian is then enabled by the Spirit and by his union with the Lord Jesus Christ to fulfill the will of the Lord (John 15:5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
See All...; Ephesians 1:18-20 [18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
See All...). - God therefore works in the believer “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
See All...). - The doctrine of miracles
- Definition of miracles
- One modern definition states that a miracle is an event that runs counter to the observed processes of nature.
- This goes back to Augustine who taught that miracles are not events that run counter to nature but rather events that run counter to what is known of nature.
- This definition is used to ease some of the objections that those who question miracles have. It is an act of accommodation to those who would deny the Bible and should therefore be rejected.
- In the Bible, a miracle is a supernaturally caused event. That is, it is caused by something outside the natural world and normally breaks the set laws of nature.
- The source of miracles
- God is the source of most miracles in the Bible
- Jesus, as God the Son, performed many miracles
- Most miracles are performed through the agency of some prophet or man of God
- The devil and the evil spirits can also be a source of miracles on occasion (Matthew 24:24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
See All...; 2 Thessalonians 2:9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
See All...; Revelation 13:14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
See All...; Revelation 16:14For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
See All...). - The aspects of miracles
- Introduction
- In numerous places in the Bible, miracles are often called signs and wonders (Exodus 7:3And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
See All...; Nehemiah 9:10And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.
See All...; Daniel 4:2-3 [2] I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. [3] How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
See All...; John 4:48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
See All...; Acts 14:3Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
See All...). - In some places, a third word or description is added to signs and wonders. However, it is not always the same word.
- Miracles (Acts 2:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
See All...; Hebrews 2:3-4 [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
See All...) - Mighty deeds (2 Corinthians 12:12Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
See All...) - Power (2 Thessalonians 2:9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
See All...) - Ten times in the synoptic gospels, the miracles of Christ are referred to as “mighty works” (Matthew 11:20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
See All...; Mark 6:2And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
See All...; Luke 19:37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
See All...). - In the gospel of John, the miracles of Christ are often referred to as His “works” (John 5:36But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
See All...; John 10:25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
See All..., 32, 37-38; John 14:10-12 [10] Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. [12] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
See All...). - By considering these passages, we can develop four aspects of miracles by using four key words used for them: miracles, signs, wonders, and works.
- The four aspects of miracles
- Miracles
- Point to God
- Acknowledges the event to be an act of God
- Signs
- Point to the message of the miracle
- Signs confirm the prophet as God’s spokesman
- Moses (Exodus 4:4-9 [4] And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
[5] That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
[6] And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.
[7] And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.
[8] And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.
[9] And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.
See All...; Exodus 10:1-2 [1] And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: [2] And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.
See All...) - Elijah (1 Kings 18:36-39 [36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
[39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
See All...) - Jesus (John 3:2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
See All...; Acts 2:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
See All...) - Signs confirm the message of the prophet as true
- The purpose of apostolic signs (Mark 16:17-20 [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
[19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
See All...) - The confirmation of the salvation that was preached (Hebrews 2:3-4 [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
See All...). - The special recipients of signs
- The Jewish people (1 Corinthians 1:22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
See All...) - The lost (1 Corinthians 14:22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
See All...) - However, signs are not limited to the Jews and to the lost (Romans 15:18-19 [18] For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
[19] Through 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...) - Wonders
- Point to the miracle itself showing it to be something that causes great wonder
- Wonders are mighty displays of the power of God
- Works
- Point to the one performing the miracle; the miracle worker. The works point to someone doing the work.
- One of the characteristics of miracles is that they are normally performed at the word or prayer of one on earth.
- The word (Matthew 8:8The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
See All...) - Prayer (1 Kings 18:36-38 [36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
See All...; John 11:41-44 [41] Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. [42] And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. [43] And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. [44] And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
See All...) - The purposes of miracles
- To glorify God (John 2:11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
See All...; John 11:40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
See All...) - To confirm God’s messenger and message (Mark 16:19-20 [19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
[20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
See All...; Acts 2:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
See All...; Hebrews 2:3-4 [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; [4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
See All...) - To bring men to faith in Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31 [30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
[31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
See All...) - Revelation
- Introduction
- Definition
- Dictionary – to remove the veil
- Doctrinal – the act of God by which He imparts knowledge to man which man could otherwise never know (Deuteronomy 29:29The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
See All...; Amos 3:7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
See All...) - Divisions
- Divine Revelation – all the methods by which God makes Himself and His truth known to man
- General Revelation
- A division of divine revelation
- Refers to those ways (circumstances, conscience, creation) by which God has revealed Himself to all men at all times (Romans 1:17-20 [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
[19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] 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:
See All...) - Reveals only general information
- The existence of God
- The guilt of man
- The judgment of God
- NOTE: does not reveal God’s plan of salvation and is therefore not sufficient for salvation
- Special Revelation
- A division of divine revelation
- Refers to those ways (miracles, coming of Christ, visions, prophets, etc.) in which God has revealed Himself to special people at special times
- The only way to truly know God’s truth (John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
See All...) - The identity of God
- How things began
- How things will end
- The heart of man
- The way of salvation
Proverbs 17:27
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.