Module 2 Notes

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Module 2 Notes Tripp, Chapter 3 There Is Only One True God. He is infinite in his being and perfection. He is invisible, without body, parts, or passions. He is unchanging, immense, eternal, and beyond human comprehension. He is almighty, most wise, and most holy. He is completely free and absolute, working everything according to the counsel of his own unchanging and righteous will and for his own glory. He is most loving, gracious, merciful, and longsuffering. He is abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. He rewards those who diligently seek him. He is just and fearsome in his judgments. He hates sin and will not clear the guilty. God is the source of all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness, in and of himself. He alone is all-sufficient in and unto himself. He does not stand in need of any of the creatures that he made, nor does he acquire any glory from them. Rather, he reveals his glory in, by, to, and on them. He alone is the fountain of all being. All things are from him, through him, and to him. He is sovereign over all things, to do by, for, and on them whatever he pleases. He sees all things, and nothing is ever hidden from him. God’s knowledge is infinite, without error, and without dependence on anything he created. For God there is no chance or uncertainty. All his purposes, works, and commands are holy. He is due whatever worship, service, and obedience he is pleased to require from angels, people, and every other creature. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is neither begotten nor proceeds from anyone. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son. Few believers suffer from a God who is too big, but many suffer from a God who is sadly too small. We all have to take care that our limited ability to conceive or imagine doesn’t restrict our theology of God and his glory. To squeeze what is infinite into what is finite is vastly more impossible to do than trying to insert the full body of an elephant into a thimble so that no part of it sticks out. No single picture could ever capture glory. Glory simply cannot be photographed. Glory is not so much a thing as it is a description of a thing. Glory is not a part of God; it is all that God is. Every aspect of who God is and every part of what God does is glorious. But that’s not even enough of a description of God’s glory. Not only is he glorious in every way, but his glory is glorious. God’s glory is the greatness, beauty, and perfection of all that he is. Each of us is hardwired by God for glory. We are glory-oriented human beings. We are attracted to glorious things, whether it’s an exciting drama, an enthralling piece of music, or the best meal ever. God built this glory-orientation into us so that it would drive us to him. Because we’re glory-oriented, our lives will always be shaped by the pursuit of some kind of glory. Sin turns us all into glory thieves. We demand to be in the center of our world, the one place that should be for God and God alone.

Only God’s glory can satisfy the glory hunger in our hearts. Inside every one of us is a glory hunger. There is a way in which everything we think, desire, choose, do, and say is done in the quest for glory. God’s grace alone has the power to defeat the glory war in our hearts. This glory war doesn’t rage outside of us, no, it rages inside of us. Deep and abiding glory disloyalty resides in the heart of every sinner. In our self-deception we tell ourselves that we really can satisfy our thirst by drinking from dry wells. Tripp, Chapter 4 First are the people who deny God’s existence. Because of God’s common grace, people who deny his existence still make wonderful contributions to our lives. And we have been called by God to live “in” the world but not be “of” the world. A second category of people respond to the existence of God by saying they believe in the concept of god but seem to have little desire to know him, and it appears that their “belief” makes no difference in the way they live. Their god is distant, impersonal, unattached, uninvolved, uncaring, inactive, powerless, and without authority. The third group of people believe in the God of the Bible and, because they do, have come to God in confession, surrender, and worship. There is a final category of response to the existence of God. I confess that this category includes me and, I would think, everyone reading this book. There is nothing more important, more central, more heart engaging, and more formative than my belief in and my relationship with my Savior and Lord. It is not only the center of my worldview, but he is the source of all of my hope in this life and in the life to come. Practical atheism is not first a function of the mind; at root it is a struggle of the heart. How to Tune Your Heart Daily Gaze Search Worship Surrender Examine Confess Cry Out Celebrate Repeat

Akin, Chapter 4 The Nature of God: Being, Attributes, and Acts The Doctrine of God - Chapter 4: The Nature of God: Being, Attributes, and Acts  The chapter discusses the profound statement of belief in God, emphasizing God's reality being more real than one's own life.  James Petigru Boyce, a theological educator, defined theology as "the science which treats of God."  The first sixteen chapters of Boyce's Abstract of Systematic Theology focus on the being, attributes, and decrees of God. Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742) - Chapter 2 Summary:  The Lord our God is one living and true God, infinite in being and perfection, a pure Spirit without body, parts, or passions.  God is immutable, eternal, incomprehensible, Almighty, holy, wise, free, absolute, and works according to His righteous will for His glory.  God is the fountain of all being, all-sufficient, not dependent on creatures, and has sovereign dominion over all things.  God is holy, all-knowing, and demands worship, service, and obedience from angels and humans. Practical Implications of the Doctrine of God:  The anecdote about Boyce highlights the immediate and practical implications of the doctrine of God on worship, preaching, prayer, and daily life.  Theology is considered a necessary spiritual discipline for every believer, especially in understanding the ultimate author and subject of the Bible. Caveats and Commentary:  Boyce's confident and reverent proclamation of "God" contrasts with the contemporary theology that may lack a sense of God's grandeur and glory.  The author expresses concern about the current state of theology, mentioning the doxological deficit and the loss of joy in theological pursuits.  The importance of rediscovering the reality of God from the infallible standard of religious truth, the Bible, is emphasized.

Challenges to Contemporary Theology:  The Bible assumes the existence of God without attempting to prove it, and it focuses more on those who may believe the right things but lack room for God in their lives.  God's jealousy, the imperative not to worship other gods, challenges pluralism and relativism in a world with diverse religious beliefs.  The God of the Bible requires accountability from all, contrasting with the idea of God as a mere human construct, emphasizing that every individual has business with God. What Does the Bible Say? Incomprehensibility of God:  The Bible emphasizes that there is much about God that humans cannot know due to God's infinite nature.  God dwells in "unapproachable light," and His greatness is beyond human comprehension. Responses to God's Mystery:  The Christian apophatic tradition and mystical theology adopt the way of silence in response to the ineffable mystery of God.  Natural theology argues from God's visible effects in the world to His existence but has limitations due to human finitude and fallenness. Knowledge of God through Revelation:  The Bible asserts that true knowledge of God comes from His self- revelation in words and deeds, primarily found in the Bible.  The Bible is not just a symbolic representation but the actual Word of God written, paralleling Jesus Christ as the Word of God living. God the Holy Trinity:  The one, eternal, and living God is revealed in the Bible as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, constituting the Holy Trinity.  The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to understanding the biblical account of Jesus and is not a later speculative construct but grounded in first-century Christianity. Biblical Basis for the Trinity:

 Trinitarian vestiges are seen in the Old Testament, including the triadic note in the creation narrative and references to the threefold character of God.  The New Testament explicitly reveals the triune nature of God, especially in the baptism of Jesus and the Great Commission, where believers are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Trinitarian Formula in the New Testament:  The three divine persons are named in various New Testament passages, and the Trinity is assumed as the basis for Christian life, liturgy, and ethics.  The Gospel of John plays a significant role in emphasizing the divinity of Jesus and the distinct functions of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Development of Trinitarian Doctrine:  The mature doctrine of the Trinity, fully expressed in the classic creeds of the fourth century, is considered a necessary implication of Christian conversion.  The Gospel of John is highlighted as a supreme biblical pattern of trinitarian thought, affirming the divinity of Jesus and the distinct roles within the Trinity. Trinitarian Worship and Experience:  The worship experience and thought of first-century Christianity, especially reflected in baptism, provide a foundation for the mature doctrine of the Trinity.  Believers, through their prayers, hymns, witness, and participation in the sacraments, express love, praise, and adoration for the triune God revealed in the Bible. Introduction  Praises to the God of gods and King of kings are sung.  The Bible is a unified text with theological coherence.  God, existing as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reveals Himself. God's Self-Revelation in the Pentateuch  The Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) is foundational for understanding God’s self-revelation.  God's nature and character are revealed through the names He gives Himself.  God distinguishes Himself from philosophical deities and polytheistic gods. Anthropomorphic Descriptions of God  The Old Testament uses various anthropomorphic images and analogies for God.

 Descriptions include God as a shepherd, physician, bridegroom, father, and more.  These descriptions accommodate human understanding but don't equate God with creaturely realities. Avoiding Idolatry  It's a mistake to equate God with creaturely realities; it would lead to idolatry.  God accommodates Himself to human understanding through language.  God is not to be equated with Deism, Neoplatonism, pantheism, or process theology. Loyalty to the Name of God  God having a name indicates His intrinsic personality.  Loyalty to God's name is central to biblical faith. Names of God in the Pentateuch  Elohim  Plural form of El, occurring 225 times in the Pentateuch.  Represents the one God who concentrates all deity in Himself.  El  Generic Semitic name for God, meaning "the strong and mighty one."  Often combined with adjectives or in genitive constructions.  El Shaddai  Translated as "God Almighty" or better as "God the All Sufficient."  Nourishes and sustains creation with infinite power.  El Roy  "God who sees all," revealed to Hagar.  Eyes run throughout the whole earth; nothing is hidden.  El Olam  Means "the everlasting God."  Used in the context of a loyalty oath between Abraham and Abimelech.  Yahweh  Most common designation of God, occurring 6,000 times.  God's personal proper name, never used generically for false gods.  Yah  Shortened form of Yahweh, occurring in various combinations.  Examples include Yehosua, Yokebed, and others. Meaning of Yahweh  God's encounter with Moses at the burning bush reveals the name Yahweh.  Yahweh means "I am who I am" or "I will be who I will be."  God's nature is eternal, unchanging, and forever. Response to God's Holiness  Moses, in God's presence, responds with reverence, awe, and wonder.  God's holiness demands a respectful response. Conclusion  Augustine reflects on encountering God as "He Who Is" in a prayer.  The prayer highlights aspects of turning, dwelling, seeking, finding, abandoning, reaching out, and true possession in relation to God.

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