GOD THE FATHER

GOD reveals Himself to us by way of Creation itself, the Bible, and Jesus Christ.  In those ways, we begin to know the infinite God.  In those ways, we find GOD reveals Himself in a relational order. The primary source is the Bible.  The truths of the Bible are also reflected in the rest of Creation, and describe specifically the Persons Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  The Bible teaches God is one in Nature and Three in relationship.

However, this is not a ranking order (1, 2, 3) or some kind of class system among the Person of the Godhead, but rather an interdependent relationship of mutual giving and receiving or maybe better put, perfect love.  This is an absolute relationship.  He is an absolute relationship.  There is an order.  This order is ‘The Way of Life.’ 

From the Father comes forth the Son. 

Through the Son comes forth the Holy Spirit.

When we think about GOD, each Person is Eternal (not created) and thus called forth from Himself.  He is self-existent which means He has relationship in Himself.  By the Three, are we enabled to interact with and appreciate God. His pattern of relationship is the manner God allows us to have life in Him as we follow the giving and receiving pattern of love as depicted by God in Scripture.

Is this complicated?  Yes.  It is complicated because God is far above us in His unchanging essence, absolute nature, and divine character.  We are simply not complete like Him.  His nature is what makes Him so magnificent for He is life-giving.  Each (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are the same in their Nature, but they relationally participate One with the Other in roles.  This is revealed Biblically as interpreted in the Christian context that human beings might reflect in likeness back to God and into Creation.  Full comprehension of God’s Nature seems beyond us, but we can apprehend some because we are created in God’s image.

God, it should be emphasized, is “Other” from all the rest of Creation (which He made).  He is unique and beyond full comprehension.  He is the Uncreated Cause and the Only Being Who is eternal.  Only He is eternal.   He alone is immortal.  Psalm 104:1-2 (ESV) says: “Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great!  You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering Yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.”  Also, Isaiah 64:8 (ESV): “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  The passages in the Bible that express this Truth about God are endless.  Malachi 2:10 (ESV): “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?”

Note that the Old Testament (Genesis–Malachi) and the New Testament (Matthew–Revelation) reveals a Heavenly Father Who is a protector and giver (Psalm 68:5, Luke 11:13, Ephesians 1:17).  It is also important to note, and we will see this in more depth below, that many of the Father’s gifts come from and through the Person of Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 8:6 (ESV) for example: “Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist” (see also John 14:15-17, 26; Acts 2:33).

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Basic Assumptions:

* GOD (as described in the Bible) is the Creator of all things and nothing has existed without His design.

* GOD created all human beings to be His imagers on the Earth.

* Sin is the rejection of God (YHWH) and His design in any capacity.

* All human beings have sinned.

* ‘The Law’ refers to Genesis-Deuteronomy in the Old Testament or can refer to the whole Old Testament.

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