Titus Lesson 8 Chapter 3 Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, and to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work “Put them in mind”, (hupomimneiskw) - “to remin…

Titus Lesson 8

Chapter 3
Titus 3:1
Put them in mind to be subject to
principalities and powers, and to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work
“Put them in mind”, (hupomimneiskw) - “to
remind someone about something”.
Here, the Cretans are to be reminded - that is,
taught - that their obligation as believers is to be
submissive to the authorities in their communities.
The Cretans were implacable and rebellious by
nature and culture. They were a law unto
themselves. Many Greek and Roman generals
found them ungovernable as soldiers except by
offers of reward and booty in combat.
The Cretan society was not a society of grace,
mercy, and peace - when there were no foreign
wars to absorb their energies, there were constant
skirmishes between the cities and fighting among
the clans.
Here, the teacher is to stand before the people and
“remind them”.
“to be subject”, (hupotassw) - “to be subordinate;
to be obedient; to submit to authority”
This word had an extensive military usage in the
sense of obedience to regimented command..
“to principalities”, (arkei) - “rulers; kings;
commanding generals”.
In Greece, this word referred to principal leaders
of the Greek city-states, like Athens or Sparta. On
Crete, the cities were rule by the (kosmoi), the
committees.
“and powers”, (exousias) - “rulers; people of
power”
But this word was used more often of subordinate
officials, hence, city officials, police officers,
judges, etc.
“and to obey magistrates”, (peitharkew) - “to obey
rulers”
The verb here is translated into the English verb
and noun “to obey magistrates”. In Acts 5:28,29,
only a verb is used in English because the one to
be obeyed is God.
“Did we not straightly command you that you
should not teach in this name? And behold, you
have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine ... Them
Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
We ought to obey (peitharkew) God rather than
men.”
This speaks of respect for the authority of God,
followed by obedience to his commands.
“to be ready to every good work”
“Ready” is (etoimos), “prepared; in readiness”.
The preparation of a Christian to produce bona
fide good works is outlined in chapters 1 and 2.
The result of being occupied with Christ, growing
in Christ, and becoming a mature believer is
“good works”.
The production of divine good in the Christian life
(gold, silver, and precious stones) stems in part
from the proper response to authority. Therefore,
respect for authority is an essential part of a
believer's personal witness - it has the potential to
save individuals and nations.
Titus 3:2
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but
gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.
“to speak evil of no man”, (blasphemew), “to
injure someone's reputation; to slander; to defame;
to blaspheme; to malign”
Remember in Titus 2:3 the older woman was to be
“not a false accuser”. This is the same word, and
the command is directed at all believers.
The Word of God has a lot of teaching about sins
of the tongue. He seems to know us very well.
The concept of sin in the Bible is actually put there
for our benefit, not God's. He is, after all, perfect
in His infinite righteousness. And he knows each
of us individually and perfectly.
Because He loves us, God wants us to experience
blessing and peace and happiness in this life, and
He knows what it takes to produce this. He knows
that sin interrupts His will for Christians, because
it disturbs a person's progress, growth, and
prosperity, and that of others.
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 5
For example, sinful pride produces selfcenteredness
and blinds us to worth in others.
Envy, jealousy, and covetousness rob a Christian
of happiness.
Hatred and vindictiveness rule out real love for
others. Drunkenness destroys rapport with God
and man. Fornication defrauds, steals, lies because
it does not deliver what it promises.
The slandering of other people is a symptom of
deep mental hatred and evidence of a lack of
adjustment to God's will and plan for other
people. It is an act that is the direct opposite of the
loving care for others that leads to personal
evangelism and Christian fellowship.
“to be no brawlers”, (amaxos) - “peaceable”,
meaning “not to fight; not to quarrel, not to
wrangle.”
This is not the “brawler” of Titus 1:7. There, the
Greek word is (pleikteis), which refers to a bully
or one who goes around looking for fights.
In this verse the term is more general and more
indicative of the peaceable mental attitude of a
person who is not looking for trouble, and it could
equally apply to non-physical confrontations.
We see examples of the *lack* of this quality all
around us in the world. In many people envy,
hatred, venom is barely hidden behind a very thin
facade. We see it in debates between religious
leaders, in confrontations between politicians - the
poorly concealed disdain and hatred people have
for each other.
The Lord expects the Christian to be moving away
from this type of life. This quality of peaceableness
is commanded of all Christians.
“but gentle”, (epieikeis) - “fair; moderate; kind;
forbearing; forgiving; not insisting on strict
justice”.
Phil. 4:5, “Let you moderation (epieikeis) be
known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
James 3:16,17 “For where envying and strife is,
there is confusion and every evil work. But the
wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle (epieikeis), and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and with hypocrisy.”
Topic: Forgiveness
Some of the benefits of a gentle, forgiving spirit:
A great savings in emotional energy.
Minimum time living carnally, maximum time in
divine production.
Relief from an assumed burden - a spin off of the
prosperity package.
Protection from divine discipline (chastisement)
for mental attitude sin.
Leaves one in position to be of service to the
offender.
Is a great testimony to those who would have
acted differently.
“showing all meekness”
The word “showing” is (endeiknumi), “to
demonstrate; to display; to give proof of (in law)”.
The word “meekness” is (prauteis), meaning
“courtesy; considerateness accompanied by
humility”.
Here, the Christian is commanded to
“demonstrate consideration for others in the frame
of mind of true humility.”
The word “meekness” does not carry this meaning
in modern American speech. A Christian man or
woman can have great self-confidence, can walk
erect, can be well organized and forceful, yet can
manifest great courtesy and consideration based
on a Grace attitude in all things.
True humility is not in giving an appearance of
humiliation. True humility is the realization of
God's gracious provision of everything that we
have, and that we have not earned or deserved
even one good thing.
“unto all men” - the evangelical imperative.
In order for us to have respectful listeners when
we witness or teach requires that we have these
personal characteristics shown in our outlook
toward other people and in our responses to
others.
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 6
pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,
and hating one another.
“For we ourselves also”
Here is Paul's description of his own life before
salvation (and perhaps he is reminding Titus of
the same things). These comments are a
description of relying on the pseudo-provision
that the world offers.
Read Romans 6:1-23
The plea in the first two verses of this chapter, that
Christians be forbearing, merciful, considerate of
others, is *reinforced* here by pointing out that all
of us are products of Grace, and recipients of
mercy, so we ought to remember where we came
from and what God has brought us out of.
St. Paul never forgets Grace and his own total
dependency on the Lord.
Read Romans 7:19-25; 8:1-13 for a contrast of the
old life with the new life in Christ. These two
chapters in Romans are a blueprint for exalted
living on this earth.
There is the paramount consideration of personal
volition in all of this; we choose every day whom
we will serve, whether God or mammon.
Matt. 6:24, “No man can serve two masters; for
either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Joshua 24:14 ff, “Now, therefore, fear the Lord,
and serve him in sincerity and truth [volition
plus doctrine]: and put away the gods which
your fathers served on the other side of the
flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord,
choose you this day whom you will serve;
whether the gods which you fathers served that
were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for
me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
“were sometimes foolish”, (anoetos), “were once
unwise”.
To be wise, a person must experience salvation
through belief in Christ. Wisdom is part of the
salvation package.
Read Ephesians 1:7-12
But wisdom must be obtained. “ ... let him ask of
God.”
Read Col. 1:9-13
“disobedient”, (apeitheis), “disobedient”.
Not obedient to authority, in this case, not
responsive to God's authority.
“deceived”, the *passive* voice of (planow) - “to
be led astray; to be deluded”
This is characteristic of the naive, the immature,
the child. This is great gullibility.
Ephesians 4:11-15 shows that there is an antidote
for gullibility. The mechanism to counter
deception, and to remove spiritual ignorance, is
set up. Those with spiritual gifts of
communications teach believers so that they
“grow up into Christ” and so that the church
operates as a mature organization.
It takes great effort to become discerning, wise,
“sophisticated” in life. Satan is a great con man, a
carnival barker, offering something for nothing,
but loading the dice “the sleight of men and
cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to
deceive.”
“serving diverse lusts and pleasures”
Reference to slavery to the details of life, which
may include quite legitimate things which we
desire, as well as the sinful things of the world.
“living”, (diagw) - “to spend one's life doing
something” ...
in this case, wallowing in patterns of sinful mental
activity, described in the following words.
“in malice”, (kakia) - “ill-will; malignity;
maliciousness”
This is from a word which, in the moral sense,
means “badness; depravity; wickedness.”
Believers need to be warned about this, it is not
restricted to non-believers.
Read 1 Peter 2:15,16
“and envy”, (phthnos) - “jealousy”
A result of covetousness. This sin occurs in many
of the catalogues of vices in the New Testament,
notably in Romans 1:29.
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 7
Comment: how easy it is to place great emphasis
on the homosexuality described in Romans 1, and
ignore all of the other areas of weakness to which
we all are subject. The warnings of Romans 2
regarding self-righteous judging are directed at
this tendency to focus on the sins of other people.
“hateful”, (stugetos), “filled with hate”
This could be considered a “spin-off” sin, or a sin
resulting from a chain of sinning. For example:
pride leads to envy; envy leads to bitterness;
bitterness leads to hatred. A person can commit a
lot of sins in a brief period of time.
“and hating one another”, (misew) - “active
pursuit of hatred towards another; detestation;
abhorrence”
This word carries the connotation of venom
toward others. This Greek root is found in the
English “misanthrope; misogamist; misogynist”.
This is the end of Lesson 11. In order to lift our
eyes out of Satan's world and the depressing sight
of our own weaknesses, let us now read Titus 3:4-
7 as an uplifting exercise.
Titus 3:4
But after that the kindness and love of God
our Savior toward man appeared,
“But after that” - “but when”
Here is the contrast with our past life. What we
have become, in contrast to what we once were,
gives a powerful motive for godly living.
What we are is no cause for celebration! Any
change for the better is the result of God's
salvation given freely and to those who had done
nothing to earn or deserve His mercy.
In these verses we have the source (v. 4), the basis
(v. 5a), the means (vv. 5b, 6), and the result (v. 7)
of salvation.
“the kindness and love of God our Savior toward
man”
This is the historical starting point of our
salvation. These are the two aspects of the grace
mentioned in 2:11.
His “kindness” is (chreistoteis) - “goodness;
gentleness; kindness; virtue”
Kindness, or gentleness, is the practical
outworking of God's grace thinking; He thinks
grace at all times. In this case, “kindness” is God's
mental attitude of love toward the human race.
It is through His goodness that we see God's grace
attitude.
Ephesians 2:7 “That in the ages to come he
might show the exceeding riches of his grace
in his kindness (chreistoteis) toward us
through Christ Jesus.”
But some people despise God's goodness.
Romans 4:4 “Do you despise the riches of his
goodness (chreistoteis) and forbearance and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness
of God leads you to repentance?”
Through His goodness, God is always ready to
bestow blessing and forgiveness.
His “love toward man” is (philanthropia) - “love
of mankind; benevolence”
This word when used for a human being means
“humanitarianism”.
On the part of God, (philanthropia) refers to His
infinite divine love for all people, out of His
perfect divine character.
See John 3:16
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than
this, that a man lay down his life for his
friend.”
Contrast this divine attitude to the human
disposition portrayed in verse 3. We see that God
hates the sinner's sin, but He loves the sinner, and
He longs to save him. God is the great
Philanthropist.
And true human philanthropy is based on divine
love.
“The goodness and love of God to man, on which
our salvation is based, should lead us to show
benevolence and gentleness to all men.” (John
Huther, “Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the
Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy and Titus.”)
“appeared”, (epiphainw) - “has been revealed; has
been caused to appear” (the verb in the aorist
passive indicative)
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 8
The noun form is (epiphaneia) - “appearance;
manifestation; glorious display”
Read 2 Tim. 1:9,10
Compare Titus 2:11
The implication here is that these characteristics of
God were always there but that there was a
distinct manifestation of them in the coming of
Christ, leading to a proclamation of the Gospel.
Glimpses of these attributes of God are seen in the
Old Testament, certainly, but it was especially in
the announcement to the world of salvation in
Christ that the kindness and love of God are
brought fully to the world's attention. He now
stands revealed as our Savior.
Topic: Essence of God (Divine Attributes; The
Character of God)
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of the Holy Ghost;
“Not by works of righteousness which we have
done”
The phrase “he saved us” in this verse states that
the act of salvation is an accomplished fact. The
word “us” indicates all those who have accepted
Christ as Savior. Although salvation is not
complete, and awaits its total summing up at the
return of Christ, it is the present possession of all
those who by faith have been united to Christ.
Paul states both the negative and positive of the
salvation process.
Salvation IS NOT by our works of personal
righteousness. We did no works which merited or
called forth God's salvation or which were
acceptable to God in the sphere of righteousness.
“Not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Salvation IS by the grace of God through
regeneration and renewal. Salvation lies entirely
in God. He was moved with compassion for us
sinners; He acted out of love to originate and
bring about our salvation.
“by the washing of regeneration”.
The word translated “washing” is (loutron) which
appears only in one other place in the New
Testament, Ephesians 5:26. It means either “the
place or water in which a bath is taken” or “the act
of bathing or washing”.
In Ephesians 5:26, the Bible speaks of the cleansing
of the church “by the washing of water with the
word.” The cleansing is brought about by
applying the Word of God to the heart and
conscience.
There are other passages where the Word of God
is said to be applied to bring about salvation (1
Peter 1:23: James 1:18).
So, as the Word of God is applied to the heart,
under the Holy Spirit's ministry of revelation and
conviction, when a person believes in Christ
regeneration is brought about by the Spirit.
Regeneration is the initial experience of salvation,
brought about in a person at the moment faith is
placed in Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross.
Some commentators regard the “washing” as a
reference to water baptism. Even if this
interpretation is allowed, then baptism must be
interpreted as the outward sign of the inner
experience. Baptism is the consequent testimony
of the spiritual washing (by the Word) that has
taken place.
In the New Testament, water baptism is the
outward symbol of the inner spiritual reality.
Apart from the inner reality, the outward symbol
has no value. Paul asserts this truth in relation to
circumcision (Rom. 2:25-29).
“regeneration” expresses a new state of things.
The Greek word (paliggenesias) occurs elsewhere
only in Matthew 19:28, where it refers to the
rebirth of external nature and creation at the
revelation of Christ in glory. Here it refers to the
rebirth of the soul, the “born again” of John 3.
Topic: Regeneration
“and renewing of the Holy Spirit”
The statement on this phrase comes from “Titus
and Philemon” by D. Edmond Hiebert, Moody
Press, 1957. [with which I concur. wd]
“Grammatically, two constructions are possible of
the words 'the washing of regeneration and
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 9
renewing of the Holy Spirit.' One view regards
both 'regeneration' and 'renewing' as dependent
on the word 'washing.' (See the text of the
American Standard Version.) On this view the
regeneration is further described as the renewing
of the Holy Spirit, both pointing to the same
divine act.
“The other construction holds that the preposition
“through” governs both the washing of
regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.
This give us two facts instead of just one. The
renewing work of the Holy Spirit, begun at
regeneration, is then viewed as continuing in the
life of the believer. We prefer this view. It is the
reading given in the margin, and implied by the
comma, in the King James.
“In Ephesians 5:26 the mention of the cleansing of
the church is supplemented by the thought of the
sanctification of the church till there shall be no
spot or blemish. In Romans 12:2 this renewal is
presented as a continuing experience. It is the
development and extension of the regeneration
initiating the new life. It is the continuing work of
the Spirit.”
Titus 3:6
Which he shed on us abundantly through
Jesus Christ our Savior;
All three Persons of the Trinity are present and
cooperating in the word of Grace. Each Person has
His function in the salvation of our soul.
Here, the Holy Spirit was made abundantly
available to us to perform His function in the
regeneration and renewal process.
Anger
Everybody gets angry. (Well, I do, anyhow, and I
suppose other people do, too.)
We know that we all have sin natures that have
areas of strength and weakness. You may be
strong where I am weak, and vice-versa. So it may
be that you would never think of committing a
particular sin that I might be having a great deal
of trouble with.
But, in one way or another everyone has problems
with anger. Sometimes the anger is a quiet,
seething resentment or indignation at some large
or small offense, real or imagined. Sometimes
anger explodes into a rage that can turn into
retaliation, violence, or murder.
When we are angry we hurt people, usually those
who are closest to us. And we really hurt
ourselves; an angry person is his own worst
enemy, as we shall see in this topical study.
But Christians can have victory over the sin of
anger! This study is written to lay out what the
Bible says about anger and to answer questions
like the following:
• What’s the difference between sinful anger
and righteous indignation?
• Does God get angry?
• What causes me to get angry, and what can I
do about it?
• How can I have victory over the sin of anger?
Definition
The Bible describes anger as a sin - a sin of mental
attitude. As a sin, anger expresses antagonism,
exasperation, indignation, resentment, outrage.
Anger often produces an emotional feeling, but
the feeling is not the anger. The thought pattern
which produced the feeling is the sinful anger.
In the Bible, the type of anger which is not sinful is
more properly called “righteous indignation”.
The Bible uses two Greek words for anger: orge,
referring to mental anger, and thumos, for mental
anger. It’s possible, but not common, to have
mental anger without an emotional response. In
Eph. 4:31, both types of anger are related to
bitterness.
Anger is a sin which promotes sins against other
people, such as gossip, self-righteous judging,
maligning, complaining.
Both anger and righteous indignation are mental
reactions to events or circumstances. If the mental
reaction is unjustifiable, it becomes an emotional
reaction such as irritation or exasperation, and
may lead to irrationality.
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 10
But if a reaction is justifiable, it is never irrational.
An example would be righteous indignation
regarding heresy.
Righteous Indignation
Righteous indignation is not sinful anger. It is a
clear understanding of a bad situation because
you have a clear understanding (from the Bible) of
what God thinks about. Therefore, there is no
reaction which leads to anger and sin.
In Mark 10:14, Jesus became opposed to the
disciples when they forbade the children to be
brought unto Him. This was not anger, it was an
understanding of a wrong.
Jesus expressed righteous indignation in Matt.
23:13-36 when he condemned the scribes and
Pharisees. And He wasn’t angry when He told
Peter “Get behind me, Satan, you are a stumbling
block to me. You have not concentrated on the
things of God, but on the tings of man.”
Another example of righteous indignation is a
Christian’s mental attitude toward criminal
activity. You can pursue, prosecute, and sentence
a criminal without compromising such principles
as grace, forgiveness, or impersonal love. You are
aware that the criminal’s act is wrong and that he
must be stopped. That is righteous indignation.
But you don’t hate the criminal or fall apart
emotionally because of sinful anger. Impersonal
love is a result of Christian growth and allows
believers to have a regard for even the most
obnoxious people that does not depend on their
character or behavior.
It is righteous indignation that allows God to be
“angry” about sin but to love us anyway. His love
for us depends on His character, not on ours.
Characteristics of Sinful Anger
Anger is sin from the sin nature. Gal. 5:19-21,
“Now the deeds of the flesh [sin nature] are
evident, which are: immorality, impurity,
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife,
jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,
factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and
things like these...”
Anger is related to foolishness. Eccl. 7:9, “Do not
be quick to be angry in your heart, for anger
resides in the bosom of fools.”
The Bible defines a fool as a person without divine
wisdom. He may be a genius, but his thinking is
from human viewpoint. He thinks and acts apart
from God’s standards and controls. The
paramount fool (and the beginning of foolishness)
is the person who has “said in his heart, There is
no God.”
Look at Romans 1:18-31 for a detailed description
of the results of deliberately turning away from
God. A fool is on a rapid downward slide
towards destruction, both in this life and the one
to come. In the list of terrible sins which
characterize the ungodly are several which are
either causes or results of anger.
Anger is associated with grieving the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 4:30-31, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamor and slander be put away from
you, along with all malice. And be kind to one
another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just
as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Notice
the contrast here between conditions of anger and
the results of impersonal love.
Anger is a violation of the Christian’s code of
conduct as a member of the Body of Christ. Col.
3:8,9, “But now you also, put them all aside:
anger, wrath, malice, slander, {and} abusive
speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one
another, since you laid aside the old self with its
{evil} practices”
Anger hinders effective prayer. 1 Tim. 2:8,
“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and
dissension.”
Anger is always accompanied by other sins. Prov.
29:22, “An angry person stirs up strife, and a hot
tempered person abounds in transgression.”
Anger promotes the sins of gossip, self-righteous
judging, maligning, revenge, complaining,
bitterness, and many others. Heb. 12:15, “See to it
that no one comes short of the grace of God; that
Titus Lesson 8
8 - 11
no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble,
and by it many be defiled.”
Anger makes a person his own worst enemy; he
brings misery upon himself. Prov. 22:8, “He who
sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his
fury will perish.” The uphappiness comes from
many sources: failure to be occupied with Christ,
failure to maintain a relaxed mental attitude,
failure to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, thus,
failure to grow in Christ. Lack of growth means
lack of joy, lack of love, lack of divine viewpoint.
Anger promotes jealousy and cruelty. Prov. 27:4.
Anger causes misery for loved ones, friends, and
community. Anger destroys a nation. Prov. 21:19;
22:24; 24:25; 29:22. Amos 1:11, “Thus says the
Lord, "For three transgressions of Edom and for
four I will not revoke its {punishment}, Because he
pursued his brother with the sword, While he
stifled his compassion; His anger also tore
continually, And he maintained his fury forever.”
Other Bible Teaching on Anger
Eph. 4:26 says “Be ye angry, and sin not.” or
“Although you may have become angry, stop
sinning.”
This verse is quoted from Psalm 4, which is about
David’s righteous indignation at the revolt of his
son Absalom. He is resisting the temptation to
become angry. “Tremble with anger, yet do not
sin.” He was tempted to become angry at
Absalom because Abaslom had used his position
to start a revolution against his father. but he
didn’t become angry, he trusted the Lord
(Occupation with Christ), and he asked the army
to spare Absalom. 2 Sam. 18:5.
It is possible to respond to unfairness or offense
without sin. A person may sin against you, yet
you can remain without sin. You can put the
matter in the Lord’s hands, stay in fellowship, and
maintain a relaxed mental attitude. Furthermore,
because you stay in fellowship, you are in the best
position to be of service in the situation. You can
forgive the other person and be open to any
reconciliation he might offer. You will at least do
your part to keep lines of communication open.
The Bible continually emphasizes righteousness
maintained in the face of unfair treatment.
You cannot build your happiness on someone
else’s misery. This is what retailiation tries to do.
But you’ll never obtain happiness through
revenge or by straightening out the other person.
To punish someone else using verbal sins or
violence is a revenge operation; worse yet, it
obstructs divine judgment and discipline. “Judge
not, that you be not judged” is intended to warn
us to let The Lord handle matters of sins against
Himself. The angry person who arrogates to
himself the position of judge is in a position of
compounded divine discipline himself, worse off
than the one who originally caused the trouble.
The Anger of the Lord
The Lord is said to have anger, or to be angry, in
several places in the Bible. The word “anger” is
used as an anthropopathism, a word or phrase
that ascribes human characteristics or feelings to
God, who is not human. God never reacts
emotionally. He is never surprised, shocked, or
outraged. But He does have an attitude of wrath
or anger against some things.
The phrase “the anger of the Lord” is used in the
following passages:
Num. 25:4; 32:14; Deut. 29:20; Judg 3:8; 10:7; 2:14,
20; 2 Kings 24:20; Lam. 4:16; Jer. 4:8,25,37; 30:24;
51:45; 52:3; Zeph. 2:2,3; Psalm 2:5.
The phrase “the wrath of God” is used in the
following:
2 Chron. 28:11; Ezra 10:14; Psalm 78:31; John 3:36;
Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6; Rev. 14:10,19; 15:1,7;
16:1; 19:15.
Victory Over the Sin of Anger
Recognize the sin of anger and confess to the Lord
when you become angry. “If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9.
This will help you maintain your walk with the
Lord and be controlled (filled) by the Holy Spirit.
Continue to “grow in grace and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Forgiveness is an important part of grace being
used by a believer. The more you are oriented to
God’s plan of Grace, the more adept you will be at
using the assets He provides.
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Practice trusting God (or, using Faith). God says,
“Cast your care on Me, because I care for you.”
When you are in bad situations, tell the Lord
about it and let Him handle it.
Forgiveness
The word “forgive” is a Grace word, in the
English as well as in the Greek. An early meaning
in English was “to give or to grant”. Then, forgive
came to mean “to remit a debt; to give up
resentment or claim for requital; to pardon an
offense.”
All of us are debtors to others, to society as a
whole. And we often feel that people owe us
many things in our human relationships. We feel
we are owed courtesy and consideration.
Sometimes we think that we are owed reward or
status or promotion in some enterprise, or on the
job. We are certainly owed fair treatment, justice,
restitution and many other things.
But, many people in America are spiritually,
ethically, and morally bankrupt. They simply
cannot pay society what they owe! They are
thoughtless, selfish, ungracious. What should a
Christian do about all of the debts owed to him.
Answer: forgive them, as Christ forgave you.
A Christian who practices Grace thinking (divine
viewpoint) will become a forgiving person. To
forgive means “to give up a claim; to cease
bearing resentment”.
The rich man in Luke 7 was able to forgive the two
debtors because he was prosperous. He gave to
them out of his prosperity. A person can only
give to others out of what God has already
provided in the way of prosperity. In terms of
money, the principle is “Let him that stole, steal
no more; rather, let him labor, doing with his
hands the thing that is good, that he may have to
give to him that needeth.”
As a growing Christian, you have many other
kinds of prosperity, by the Grace of God. You
have intellectual prosperity (divine viewpoint).
You have spiritual prosperity (peace with God).
You have emotional prosperity (relaxed mental
attitude). You have financial prosperity (mastery
of details of life). You have social prosperity
(stable marriage, stable family life, etc.).
Wherever in your life you find that someone else
owes you something, you have the wherewithal to
forgive him! God has forgiven all of us who are
absolutely without resources of our own. And He
is not expecting or demanding some kind of
payment in return for His Grace gifts. And we are
to be channels of Grace to the world. “Out of your
innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”
Regeneration
Regeneration is the theological term for the
Christian’s “new” or “second” birth in Christ. By
definition, regeneration is the act of God by which
He imparts divine life to man upon the single
condition of faith in Jesus Christ as personal
Savior. Several words and phrases in the Bible
express the concept of regeneration. The
following passages show how frequently the
doctrine of regeneration is found in the Bible.
• In John 3:7 the words “born again” express
regeneration.
• In Eph. 2:5, the words “made alive” refer to
regeneration, the new life
• In 2 Cor. 5:17, the words “new creation” speak
of the new birth
• In 1 John 3:1,2, the expression “children of
God” refers to regeneration.
• In Titus 3:5, the word “regeneration” itself is
used.
There are several aspects about regeneration
which are important to give attention to.
All People Need Regeneration
Our condition demands it. Eph. 2:1 declares us to
be “dead” in sins. Death is a condition for which
“life” (regeneration) is the only solution.
Out family connection demands it. Rom. 5:12
indicates that we are dead because of a family
relationship. Therefore, we need a new birth, a
new family, a new Father, all of which are
provided by regeneration.
The Author of Regeneration: GOD
John 1:12 informs us that we must be “born of
God.” The word “of” points to the source and
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origin of the new life - God is the origin and
source of regeneration.
John 1:13 eliminates all human aspects of
regeneration. The phrase “not of blood”
shows that regeneration cannot be inherited.
The phrase “not of the will of the flesh” shows
that God’s life is not the fruit of a man’s search
for God. “Not of the will of man” - man
cannot generate eternal life.
The Means of Regeneration - The Word
1 Pet. 1:23 makes it clear that the written word
of God is the means of the new birth, because
the written word is actually the living Word
(see also Heb. 4:12; John 6:63; Acts 7:38) In
practice, this means knowledge must precede
the new birth. The miracle of the new birth
cannot occur where the Word of God is not
taught in some form.
The Power of Regeneration - The Resurrection
We are “born again...by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ”, 1 Pet. 1:3. This shows us the kind of
power needed for regeneration. According to
Eph. 1:19,20 the power that raised Christ from the
dead is the greatest power ever displayed. This
same power is applied in bringing regeneration to
us.
The Instrument of Regeneration - Faith
Gal. 3:26 explains that faith is the hand by which
we receive the gift of eternal life.
The Basis of Regeneration - Blood
Those who call on the Father, 1 Pet. 1:1719, the
family concept of regeneration. It is the blood of
Christ that makes this possible (v. 19).
The Agent of Regeneration - The Holy Spirit
John 3:5,6, the necessity of birth through the
agency of the Holy Spirit. “Flesh” begets
“flesh”, “spirit” begets “spirit”. Divine life
requires divine parents.
John 1:12 “...to them gave He power to become
the children of God”
Sin Nature
The Sin Nature is that part of the essence of the
soul acquired at Adam's fall and subsequently
passed on to every person at birth. The Sin
Nature is the center of the soul's rebellion against
God. The essence of the soul contains:
• Self-consciousness
• Mentality
• Volition
• Emotion
• The Sin Nature
The Essence of the Sin Nature
The Sin Nature has an "area" of strengths in which
human good is produced, that is, those good
deeds and thoughts which are acceptable to man
but which are unacceptable to God for purposes of
salvation or spiritual growth. Isa. 64:6; Rom. 8:8.
In the Bible, human good is contrasted with divine
good which is the work produced by the Spirit of
God in the life of a believer who is walking in
daily fellowship with the Lord under the control
of the Holy Spirit.
The Sin Nature also has an "area" of weakness
which directs the production of all personal sin.
Heb. 12:1. Three types of personal sin are
produced here: mental attitude sins, sins of the
tongue, and open sinful activity.
The Sin Nature has patterns of lusts, or desires,
the basic motivators of all the activities of human
life. The basic drives include the desire for power,
approbation, ego satisfaction, sexual satisfaction,
material satisfaction, and so forth.
Trends in the Sin Nature
The Sin Nature has a system of trends, or
inclinations, which vary among individuals.
Some people have an inclination toward
immorality or lasciviousness. Rom. 1. Others
have trends toward morality or asceticism. Either
trend is a product of Sin Nature activity.
The trends of the old sin nature are derived from
the individual lust pattern. There are certain areas
in which we lust, and other areas where we do
not.
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The trends of the old sin nature are classified in
two categories, legalism and lasciviousness.
Legalism unrestrained results in moral
degeneracy.
Lasciviousness unrestrained results in immoral
degeneracy.
Both trends in the old sin nature result in
distortion and erroneous conclusions.
For example, moral degeneracy with its selfrighteousness
and self-vindication is often
mistaken for the Christian way of life. People who
are morally degenerate are often considered to be
great Christians.
Morality originates from the laws of divine
establishment, designed for the entire human race.
Morality is designed for both believer and
unbeliever.
Anything the unbeliever can do is not a part of the
Christian way of life. The Christian way of life is
a supernatural way of life and demands a
supernatural means of execution, i.e., the filling of
the Holy Spirit.
Virtue supersedes morality in the protocol plan of
God. But if your trend is toward legalism, people
assume you're a great Christian.
There is also a distortion involving those with a
trend toward lasciviousness.
Christians say such a person cannot do "those
things” and still be a Christian.
Immoral degeneracy, with its fornication,
violence, terrorism, murder, dope addiction, are
construed as not being Christian.
So in the first distortion, people think that if you're
very moral you're living the Christian life. In the
second distortion, people think that if you raise
hell you're probably not a Christian at all.
Legalistic shock concludes it must have been a
"head belief and not a heart belief.”
Born-again believers still possess an old sin nature
and still commit sins. If the believer has a trend
toward legalism, he will commit sins related to
moral degeneracy. If the believer has a trend
toward lasciviousness, he will commit sins related
to immoral degeneracy .
When born-again believers commit sins related to
immoral degeneracy, they're judged by their
Christian peers as being not really saved. They
erroneously allege, "a person cannot do such
things and be saved.”
What determines the reality of one's salvation is
personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, not the
category of one's sins .
The believer out of fellowship, living in the cosmic
system, can actually commit any sin that his
unbeliever counterpart would commit, i.e., an
unbeliever with a compatible old sin nature.
Bible Synonyms for the Sin Nature
There are several terms used in scripture to refer
to what is known as the Sin Nature.
Sin (in the singular) -- Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12; 7:14; 1
John 1:8.
Flesh -- the emphasis here is on the location of
the Sin Nature in the "flesh" or life of the
individual. Rom. 8:8; 7:18; 13:14; Gal. 5:16-21;
Eph. 2.3.
Old Man -- referring to the the believer's for-mer
manner of life as an unbeliever. Eph. 4:22; Col.
3:5–9.
Heart -- in some usages the word "heart" refers to
a facet of the soul which is the source of sin. Jer.
17:9; Mt. 12:34; 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; Ps. 58:2-5.
Carnality -- derived from the Latin for "flesh".
Rom. 7:14; 8:6-8; 1 Cor. 3:1-3.
Principles Related to the Sin Nature
The Sin Nature is the source of spiritual death.
Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1,5.
The Sin Nature is perpetuated in human beings
through physical birth. Ps. 51:5; 1 Tim. 2:13,14.
The believer continues to have his Sin Nature after
salvation. 1 Cor. 3:1; 1 John 1:8. The believer
under the control of the Sin Nature is called
"carnal". Rom. 7:14; 1 Cor. 3:1ff
The Sin Nature frustrates the production of divine
good. Rom. 7:15.
The Sin Nature is not found in the believer's
resurrection body. 1 Cor. 15:56; Phil. 3:21; Col. 3:4;
1 Thess. 5:23.
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Solutions to the Problem of the Sin Nature
God has arranged to provide all that is needed to
deal with the problems caused by the Sin Nature
in a believer's life. The personal sins of the
individual were borne by Jesus Christ on the
Cross. 1 Pet. 2:24. These sins will never be
mentioned again because they have already been
judged in Christ. Rev. 20:12.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ rejected the human
good produced by the Sin Nature in terms of its
use as "currency" to purchase salvation, Eph. 2:8,9.
This made the way clear for God to provide
salvation by grace. The unbeliever will be at the
Great White Throne judgment because of his
rejection of this grace provision. Rev. 20:11-15.
The believer's sins were borne on the Cross by the
Lord, as were those of all people. 2 Cor. 5:21.
When a believer sins, Satan accuses him in
heaven. Jesus Christ is our Advocate; He pleads
our case, and the case is thrown out of court.
God has provided confession of sin as a means of
restoring the broken fellowship with God caused
by the believer's personal sin. The believer can
repent and confess and be filled with the Spirit. 1
John 1:9; Prov. 1:23.
Human good, rejected by Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8,9),
is never acceptable to God, and it does not
produce blessing in the life of the believer. It is
contrary to the principle of Grace, in which God
does the work. In Christian growth, the Holy
Spirit provides for the production of divine good
in the believer's life, through His filling, control,
and teaching functions. God does the giving; man
does the receiving.
Legalism is human good production for the
purpose of earning and receiving merit or blessing
from God. In Legalism, man does the work and
receives the credit. Therefore, Legalism is a
product of the Sin Nature lust patterns. Under
Grace, God does the work and receives the "credit"
(glory). Human good production of the Sin
Nature will be judged at the Judgment Seat of
Christ. It is called "wood, hay, and stubble" and
will be burned. The "gold, silver, and precious
stones", of divine good production of the Holy
Spirit, will remain. 1 Cor. 3:10-15 to him at sixteen
drachmae...”
Source materials for this article: Unger’s Bible
Dictionary; Kittel’s NT Greek Lexicon; Chester
McCalley’s written notes on imputation; Moulton
and Milligan studies in the papyri.
Essence of God
The phrase "Essence of God" is a theological term
used to refer to God's personal characteristics, or
to the facets of His personality. Sometimes the
term "Attributes of God" is used to refer to God's
essence. The "attributes", or the "essence", of God
are His primary characteristics, so they cannot be
completely communicated to man. They can be
described to a degree, but they cannot be fully
defined.
Finite man cannot define the infinite. The Bible is
the Word of God, and as such it reveals those facts
about the Creator that He has seen fit to reveal
about Himself.
Man suppose that God thinks like a man. We
think God wants revenge, because when we're
insulted, we want revenge. When we are cheated,
we want immediate justice and retribution. We
are indignant and shocked at the behavior of
others, so we expect God to be shocked.
But God does not feel insulted. He does not feel
cheated - He owns everything. He is not
indignant, temperamental, or emotional. He does
not throw tantrums (or lightning bolts). He is not
surprised or shocked by anything. He is never
depressed or moody.
God is not arrogant or egotistical. He knows
Himself, is self-assured, and is humble.
God is a rational, logical, stable-minded, patient;
and all of His thinking is backed up by His
omniscience. And He approaches every issue
from the basis of His perfect character, the subject
of this study.
God approaches every issue regarding human
beings out of His love for all men. His thinking
toward man takes all of His attributes into
consideration - but Love is always present. It is
God's thinking about us, in love, that is His perfect
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Grace thinking. He is always gracious, always
thinks Grace.
Spirituality is one of God's primary attributes.
God is immaterial, in a universe that is made up of
both material and immaterial. God has revealed
something of what He is in the Word, but only He
knows Himself fully. We must rely on what is
written in the Bible for any understanding of what
God is like.
The fact that God is a spiritual being means that
He lives. Spirituality implies life. Jer. 10:10 and 1
Th. 1:9 tell us that God is alive and well. The life
of God has no beginning and no ending. God is
eternal. The Christian shares God's eternal life,
but since his eternal life has a beginning at the
time he accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour, his
eternal life is properly called "everlasting life".
All of the characteristics of the divine essence are
present in God at all times, but not all are manifest
at the same time, just as while all colors are
present in a ray of white light, the individual
colors can be seen only under certain conditions of
reflection or refraction. Various attributes of God
can be seen in certain situations. For example:
• In salvation, God's love and eternal life are
apparent.
• In judgment, His righteousness and justice are
manifested.
• In God's faithfulness, His immutability and
veracity are shown.
• In God's Plan, His omniscience and
sovereignty are seen.
• In God's will, sovereignty is paramount.
• In God's revelation, veracity, love, and
omniscience are obvious.
The rest of this paper is devoted to a description of
the ten characteristics of the Essence of God as
seen in the various Bible passages that describe
them.
Sovereignty
GOD IS THE SUPREME BEING OF THE UNIVERSE.
Deut. 4:39 Know therefore this day, and
consider it in thine heart, that the Lord, he is
God in heaven above, and upon the earth
beneath; there is none else.
I Sam. 2:6-8 The Lord killeth, and maketh
alive; he bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth
up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich;
he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up
the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the
beggar from the refuse, to set them among
princes, and to make them inherit the throne
of glory; for the pillars of the earth are the
Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.
I Chron. 29:11 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. This is the kingdom,
O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
II Chron. 20:6 And said, O Lord God of our
fathers, art not thou God in heaven? And
rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the
nations? And in thine hand is there not power
and might, so that none is able to withstand
thee?
Psalm 83:18 That men may know that thou,
whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most
High over all the earth.
Isaiah 45:5,6 I am the Lord, and there is none
else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee,
though thou hast not known me. That they
may know from the rising of the sun, and from
the west, that there is none beside me. I am
the Lord, and there is none else.
Acts 17:24 God, who made the world and all
things in it, seeing that he is the Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands.
God has a will. He is eternal, infinite, and selfdetermining.
He makes decisions, policies, sets
up principles. This is divine volition.
Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the
earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth
according to his will in the army of heaven,
and among the inhabitants of the earth, and
none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What
doest thou?
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Heb. 6:13 For when God made a promise to
Abraham, because he could swear by no
greater, he swore by himself.
Psalm 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing ye praises with understanding.
Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens; he
hath done whatsoever he pleased.
In His sovereignty, God decided to give man a
free will. The meeting place of Man's will and
God's will is the Cross. (John 3:16)
God's sovereign plan for the human race is first,
salvation, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts
16:31); second, during life on earth as a believer, to
be filled with the Holy Spirit and to grow in Christ
(Eph 5:18; I Peter 3:18); and third, to have eternal
life in heaven, in a resurrection body.
Righteousness
God is absolutely holy, or righteous.
Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his
ways, and holy in all his works.
Lev. 19:2b Ye shall be holy; for I, the Lord
your God, am holy.
I Sam. 2:2 There is none holy like the Lord; for
there is none beside thee, neither is there any
rock like our God.
Psalm 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou who
inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Ps. 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people;
he hath commanded his covenant forever; holy
and reverend is his name.
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried unto another, and
said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the
whole earth is full of his glory.
God is good.
Ps. 25:8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Ps. 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is
good; blessed is the man who trusteth in him.
Ps. 86:5 For thou, Lord, are good, and ready to
forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all those
who call upon thee.
God is free from sin.
II Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him, who knew
no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him.
I John 1:5 This, then, is the message which we
have heard of him, and declare unto you, that
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
God is perfect in His character and Person.
Deut. 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect;
for all his ways are justice; a God of truth and
without iniquity, just and right is he.
Ps. 7:9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked
come to an end, but establish the just; for the
righteous God tests the minds and hearts.
Rom. 1:17 For in it is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith; as it is written The
just shall live by faith.
Psalms 11:7; 97:6; 111:3; 119:137
Jer. 23:6
John 17:25
Rom. 10:3
I John 2:29.
God is righteous in all His attitudes and actions
Deut. 32:4
2 Sam. 22:31
Ps. 119:137; 145:17
Dan. 9:14
Rev. 19:2
In the application of the concept of God's
righteousness (+R) to the unbeliever, it is
important to remember that His righteousness is
absolute. This means that He cannot fellowship
with sin. He must demand the same perfection of
His creatures. Man's concept of righteousness is
relative (Isa. 64:6); but no one can measure up to
the divine standard nor achieve absolute
righteousness by self-effort. However, the
righteousness of God is freely available to all who
believe. Psalm 14:3; Rom. 3:23; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 3:22
Justice
God is Just, and cannot be unfair. His justice
demands that disobedience against His laws be
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punished. Justice administers the penalty that
righteousness demands.
Psalm 19:9 ...the judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 50:6 ...for God is judge himself.
Psalm 58:11 ...verily he is a God that judgeth
in the earth.
Rom. 3:26 To declare at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Heb. 10:30,31 For we know him that hath said,
Vengeance belongs unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The
Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
HEB. 12:23
1 JOHN 1:9
REV. 15:3
God's justice is satisfied because of His grace
provision of redemption. The Lord Jesus Christ,
through his substitutionary, effective death on the
Cross, transferred the guilt of the sinner onto
Himself, thus satisfying the justice of God. God is
now free to pardon the sinner and justify the one
who accepts His saving grace. God is equally free
to justly condemn all who reject salvation. The
basis of their indictment is works, never sins.
1 Pet. 2:24
Rom. 5:12; 6:23; 3:21-28; 4:5; 8:1
John 3:18,36; 5:28-30.
Grace always precedes judgment.
Love
God is eternal and unchangeable love.
Jer. 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old unto
me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an
everlasting love: therefore with
lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
God, in His sovereignty, decided to treat man in
grace. It is His love that motivates His grace.
Righteousness and Justice stood in the way
because of the sin barrier between man and God.
In Love, God the Father sent His Son to the cross
to die for the sins of the whole world.
Righteousness and Justice are thus satisfied, the
barrier is removed, and love and grace can be
given to men.
Eph. 2:8,9
Isa. 59:2
John 3:16.
Eternal Life
God is absolute existence.
Ex. 3:14 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.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
God has neither beginning nor end.
God existed in eternity past, and He will exist
forever.
Gen. 1:1 In the beginning, God...
Isa. 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and
there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I
will work, and who shall let it?
Col. 1:17 And He is before all things, and by
him all things consist.
Deut. 32:40; 33:27
Job 36:26
Psa. 9:7; 90:2; 102:37: 135:13
Lam. 5:19
Hab. 3:6
John 1:1-4
1 Tim. 1:17
1 John 5:11
Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:16
The believer in Christ has everlasting life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth on him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
John 10:28,29 And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. My Father,
which gave them me, is greater than all; and
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no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand.
1 John 5:11
John 8:51: 14:1-3
The unbeliever will experience everlasting
punishment.
Matt 25:46 And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into
life eternal.
Omniscience
God is all-knowledge.
1 Sam. 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly;
let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for
the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him
actions are weighed.
Job 26:6 Hell is naked before him, and
destruction hath no covering.
Job 31:4 Doth he not see my ways, and count
all my steps?
Job 34:21 For his eyes are upon the ways of
man, and he seeth all his goings.
Psalm 139:1-12
Psalm 147:4 He telleth the number of the stars;
he calleth them all by their names.
Jer. 16:17 For mine eyes are upon all their
ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is
their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
Matt. 10:29,30 Are not two sparrows sold for a
farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father. But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered.
Heb. 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is
not manifest in his sight: but all things are
naked and opened unto the eyes of him with
whom we have to do.
Job 37:16; 42:2
Eze. 11:5
God is infinite in wisdom and understanding.
1 Sam. 16:7 ...for the Lord seeth not as man
seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for
he knoewth the secrets of the heart.
Prov. 3:19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded
the earth; by understanding hath he
established the heavens.
Jer. 17:10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the
reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer. 51:15 He hath made the earth by his
power, he hath established the world by his
wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by
his understanding.
Matt. 6:8 ...for your Father knoweth what
things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Rom. 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
Psalm 147:5
Prov. 17:3
Isa. 40:13,14
Nahum 1:7
Rom. 11:33
1 John 3:20
God knows the end from the beginning
(foreknowledge).
Isa. 41:26; 42:9; 43:9
Isa. 46:10
Acts 2:23; 15:18
1 Pet. 1:2
As God, the Lord Jesus Christ knew all things and
all men.
Matt. 9:4
John 2:24; 19:28; 21:17
Application to believers:
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take:
when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as
gold.
Matt. 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles
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seek:) for your heavenly Father knoewth that
ye have need of all these things. But seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be
added unto you.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy
to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Omnipresence
God is ever-present, neither limited by time nor
space, immanent and transcendant.
Jer. 23:24
Acts 17:27
The heavens cannot contain God.
1 Kings 8:27
Acts 17:24
Heaven is His throne, the earth His footstool.
Deut. 4:39
Isa. 66:1
Man cannot escape the presence of God.
Job. 34:21,22
Psalm 139:7-10
Prov. 15:3
The Christian can take great comfort in the
presence of God.
Gen. 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and
will keep thee in all places whither thou goest,
and will bring thee again into this land/ for I
will not leave thee, until I have done that
which I have spoken to thee of.
Josh. 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be
strong and of a good courage: be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy
God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Ex. 33:14
Psalm 121:3,4
Matt. 18:20
1 Cor. 3:16
Heb. 13:5
Omnipotence
God is all-powerful and limitless in ability.
Gen. 17:1; 18:14
Job 26:7; 42:2
Psa. 24:8; 93:1; 147:5
Isa. 40:26; 50:2
Jer. 27:5; 32:27
Matt. 19:26
Mark 14:36
Luke 1:37
Rev. 4:8
God is limitless in authority.
Psa. 33:9
Rom. 13:1
Heb. 1:3 He upholds all things by the word of
His power.
Rev. 19:6
Scriptures show the manifestation of God's power.
2 Chron. 16:9; 25:8
Psa. 74:13
The power of God's Son.
Matt. 9:6; 28:18
John 10:18; 17:2,3
The application of God's omnipotence to the
Christian Way of Life.
1 Sam. 17:47
Psa. 27:1
Isa. 26:4; 40:29
Jer. 33:3
Acts 1:8
1 Cor. 15:43
2 Cor. 9:8
Eph. 1:19; 3:20
Phil. 4:13
2 Tim. 1:12
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8 - 21
Heb. 7:25
1 Peter 1:5
Immutability
God is neither capable of nor susceptible to
change.
Psa. 102:26,27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 1:12
God is absolute stability.
Isa. 40:28
James 1:17
God's Word and His works are unchanging.
Psa. 119:89
Eccl. 3:14
Isa. 40:8
God's great faithfulness is a product of His
immutability.
Psa. 36:5; 89:33; 119:90
Lam. 3:23
He is faithful to keep His promises.
Num. 23:19
1 Kings 8:56
2 Cor. 1:20
Tit. 1:2
Heb. 10:23; 11:11
He is faithful to forgive, 1 JOHN 1:9.
He is faithful to keep us saved, 2 TIM. 2:12,13.
He is faithful to deliver in times of pressure,
1 COR. 10:13.
He is faithful in suffering, 1 PET. 4:19
He is faithful to provide in eternity, 1 THESS. 5:24.
He is faithful to stabilize the believer, 2 THESS. 3:3
The faithfulness of Christ.
Heb. 3:1,2; 13:8
Rev. 1:5; 19:11
Veracity
God is absolute Truth, DEUT. 32:4
God's truth is manifested:
- in His ways.
Psa. 25:10; 86:15
Rev. 15:3
- in His works
Psa. 33:4; 111:7,8
Dan. 4:37
- in His Word
2 Sam. 7:28
1 Kings 17:24
Psa. 19:9; 119:142,151; 138:2
John 8:45; 17:17
2 Cor. 6:7
Eph. 1:13
The Veracity of the Godhead:
The Father -
Psa. 31:5
Isa. 65:16
Jer. 10:10
John 3:33; 17:3
Rom. 3:4
The Son -
John 1:14; 8:32; 14:6
1 John 5:20
Rev. 16:7; 19:11
The Holy Spirit -
John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13
1 John 5:6
Application of God's Veracity to the Christian.
Prov. 6:16,17
Matt. 5:37
2 Tim. 2:15
1 John 4:6
The Trinity
There are three distinct Persons of the Godhead,
each possessing the entire essence of deity. The
three Persons comprise what the Scripture
represents as the ONE TRUE GOD. In the unity of
the Godhead (Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9) there
are three Persons on one substance, power and
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eternity (Isa. 48:16; Luke 3:22; John 14:16; Rom.
15:30; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 1 John 4:13,14)
The full title of God is "God the Father, God the
Son, God the Holy Spirit". (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor.
13:14). Each Person is made up of the same divine
characteristics, making each equal to either of the
other two (John 10:30; 16:15) Therefore, when the
Bible speaks of God as being One, it is a reference
to Essence; when speaking of the members of the
Godhead, it is a reference to the Persons.
FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT
SOVEREIGNTY Psa. 103:19 Rev. 19:16 1 Cor. 12:11
Rev. 7:10 Heb. 1:8 John 3:8
LOVE 1 John 4:8 1 John 3:16 Gal. 5:22
JUSTICE AND
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Deut. 32:4 Zech. 9:9 Called "Holy"
Spirit
ETERNAL LIFE Jer. 10:10 Col. 1:17 Heb. 9:14
OMNISCIENCE Psa. 147:4,5 Col. 2:3 1 Cor. 2:10,11
OMNIPRESENCE Psa. 139:8 Mt. 28:20 Psa. 139:7
OMNIPOTENCE Mt. 19:26 Mt. 28:18 Isa. 11:2
IMMUTABILITY Psa. 102:26,27
VERACITY John 17:3 John 14:6 1 John 5:6
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