Walking Closer with God https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com prayer, meditation, intimacy with God, growth, maturity, in Christ Mon, 18 Mar 2024 22:03:02 -0700 http://churchplantmedia.com/ The Christian and Politics https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-christian-and-politics-2020 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-christian-and-politics-2020#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-christian-and-politics-2020 Back in 2018, through the month of October, our church held a gathering on Sunday evenings to talk through contemporary cultural issues. We called it “Sunday Night Live”. Our desire was to see each issue from the vantage point of the Bible. One of those evenings focused on “The Christian and Politics”.

Since that time our nation’s political life has become more and more brittle. Our folks have asked more questions about politics and the Bible, many who were not with us back in 2018. We’ve decided to make these videos available (see below) in the hopes they might be helpful as Christian brothers and sisters wrestle through living out the gospel in the political realm.

This is an introductory treatment of the topic. Originally, these materials were presented in one session consisting of several rounds of Pastor Chris sharing for a time, followed by discussion leaders talking their tables through discussion questions. The video has been edited into four sections for ease of viewing and to enable a more focused approach in exploration. May the Lord be glorified as we grow to honor Him in all things, especially the way we approach politics.

 

 

 

 

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Back in 2018, through the month of October, our church held a gathering on Sunday evenings to talk through contemporary cultural issues. We called it “Sunday Night Live”. Our desire was to see each issue from the vantage point of the Bible. One of those evenings focused on “The Christian and Politics”.

Since that time our nation’s political life has become more and more brittle. Our folks have asked more questions about politics and the Bible, many who were not with us back in 2018. We’ve decided to make these videos available (see below) in the hopes they might be helpful as Christian brothers and sisters wrestle through living out the gospel in the political realm.

This is an introductory treatment of the topic. Originally, these materials were presented in one session consisting of several rounds of Pastor Chris sharing for a time, followed by discussion leaders talking their tables through discussion questions. The video has been edited into four sections for ease of viewing and to enable a more focused approach in exploration. May the Lord be glorified as we grow to honor Him in all things, especially the way we approach politics.

 

 

 

 

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Practical Helps Against Sexual Sin https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/helps-against-sexual-sin https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/helps-against-sexual-sin#comments Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0800 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/helps-against-sexual-sin In our Colossians series this week we discussed the battle for sexual purity. It is a battle that is often a part of the Christian life. So much so, the Apostle Paul addresses it head on in several passages (1 Cor. 5:1-5, 6:12-20; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; 1 Thess. 4:1-8). In Colossians 3:5-11 we found a vivid description of the supply lines for lust. We are called to destroy these supply lines by resetting our minds (Col. 3:2) and recalling our union with Christ (Col. 3:3). If we are going to cut them off, we need to know how to locate them. Paul gives a helpful schematic in Col. 3:5. As we explored his description we found that some of these supply lines are "above ground" while others are "below ground".

Killing Sin part 2.001The "above ground" supply lines are external provisions for lust. "Immorality" is the term "pornea" and can refer to any kind of sexual relationship outside of a one man, one woman, life-long covenant of marriage. 

Supply lines "below ground" are internal; they reside within us. For example the next term "impurity" carries the idea of ungodly motives, thoughts or intentions. Other below ground supply lines include things listed like "evil desires and greed" (Col. 3:5).

As we further explored this rich passage we found the number one provision from God for the believer against sexual sin is "union with Christ" (Col. 3:1-4). If you'd like, you can hear these messages here.

Because of the limits of time, I said I would post some practical helps and resources for the battle for sexual purity. Below are some key helps organized using the 'above ground' and 'below ground' or external and internal categories.

 Here are some helps for cutting off external supply lines for sexual sin:

  • Covenant Eyes - an online accountability service. Set up accountability partners. Works on many handheld devices including: iPhones, iPads, Pixel and other Android phones.

  • Open DNS - a service that blocks pornographic content at the DNS server. They have both free and subscription based services.

  • Jonathan McKee - is an expert on teens and social media and shows parents how to be involved in the social media choices of their kids. You can find helpful materials here at the "Focus on the Family" website.

Here are some helps for cutting off internal supply lines for sexual sin. Aside from the Bible itself, these are some of the most helpful materials we have used in counseling men and women through this issue.

I hope this brief summary of resources will be a help to you. My brother or sister, if you are wrestling through this battle, be sure to remember the Lord's grace (Eph. 2:1-10). If you have fallen, run to Him in prayer and confession (1 John 1:9). He is eager to receive you, to cleanse you and to set you back on the path of walking hand in hand with Him. Turn away from the lie, turn to Him, trust Him. The grace that saves you (Titus 2:11), is the grace that instructs and enables you to grow in Him (Titus 2:12).

As you continue to fight to put sin to death in your life, remember the commands we talked about on Sunday from Colossians 3: Reset your mind, Recall your union and Slay your sin.

Also, be sure to join us this weekend for The Gospel Coalition East Bay Pre-conference on Sexuality. It will be an encouraging and informative evening focused on this very topic. We hope to see you there.

 

]]>
In our Colossians series this week we discussed the battle for sexual purity. It is a battle that is often a part of the Christian life. So much so, the Apostle Paul addresses it head on in several passages (1 Cor. 5:1-5, 6:12-20; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; 1 Thess. 4:1-8). In Colossians 3:5-11 we found a vivid description of the supply lines for lust. We are called to destroy these supply lines by resetting our minds (Col. 3:2) and recalling our union with Christ (Col. 3:3). If we are going to cut them off, we need to know how to locate them. Paul gives a helpful schematic in Col. 3:5. As we explored his description we found that some of these supply lines are "above ground" while others are "below ground".

Killing Sin part 2.001The "above ground" supply lines are external provisions for lust. "Immorality" is the term "pornea" and can refer to any kind of sexual relationship outside of a one man, one woman, life-long covenant of marriage. 

Supply lines "below ground" are internal; they reside within us. For example the next term "impurity" carries the idea of ungodly motives, thoughts or intentions. Other below ground supply lines include things listed like "evil desires and greed" (Col. 3:5).

As we further explored this rich passage we found the number one provision from God for the believer against sexual sin is "union with Christ" (Col. 3:1-4). If you'd like, you can hear these messages here.

Because of the limits of time, I said I would post some practical helps and resources for the battle for sexual purity. Below are some key helps organized using the 'above ground' and 'below ground' or external and internal categories.

 Here are some helps for cutting off external supply lines for sexual sin:

  • Covenant Eyes - an online accountability service. Set up accountability partners. Works on many handheld devices including: iPhones, iPads, Pixel and other Android phones.

  • Open DNS - a service that blocks pornographic content at the DNS server. They have both free and subscription based services.

  • Jonathan McKee - is an expert on teens and social media and shows parents how to be involved in the social media choices of their kids. You can find helpful materials here at the "Focus on the Family" website.

Here are some helps for cutting off internal supply lines for sexual sin. Aside from the Bible itself, these are some of the most helpful materials we have used in counseling men and women through this issue.

I hope this brief summary of resources will be a help to you. My brother or sister, if you are wrestling through this battle, be sure to remember the Lord's grace (Eph. 2:1-10). If you have fallen, run to Him in prayer and confession (1 John 1:9). He is eager to receive you, to cleanse you and to set you back on the path of walking hand in hand with Him. Turn away from the lie, turn to Him, trust Him. The grace that saves you (Titus 2:11), is the grace that instructs and enables you to grow in Him (Titus 2:12).

As you continue to fight to put sin to death in your life, remember the commands we talked about on Sunday from Colossians 3: Reset your mind, Recall your union and Slay your sin.

Also, be sure to join us this weekend for The Gospel Coalition East Bay Pre-conference on Sexuality. It will be an encouraging and informative evening focused on this very topic. We hope to see you there.

 

]]>
Reaching Farther Worldwide - Kenya https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/reaching-farther-worldwide---kenya https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/reaching-farther-worldwide---kenya#comments Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/reaching-farther-worldwide---kenya It is a joy to celebrate our longstanding partnership with Hoyt and Lois Osborne. Over 25 years ago they left for Kenya to further God’s kingdom, today over 27 churches brightly shine the beacon of the Gospel throughout that land. You can see for yourself by watching this video.

If you would like to support Kenya Evangelical Mission in prayer check out their website. You can also give financially to this exciting ministry by going here.

Kenya Evangelical Mission from Clayton Valley Church on Vimeo.

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It is a joy to celebrate our longstanding partnership with Hoyt and Lois Osborne. Over 25 years ago they left for Kenya to further God’s kingdom, today over 27 churches brightly shine the beacon of the Gospel throughout that land. You can see for yourself by watching this video.

If you would like to support Kenya Evangelical Mission in prayer check out their website. You can also give financially to this exciting ministry by going here.

Kenya Evangelical Mission from Clayton Valley Church on Vimeo.

]]>
The Attributes of God - Session 3 Highlights https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god-session-3 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god-session-3#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god-session-3 II. The Communicable Attributes

1. truthfulness

Definition - God is the true God whose knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth. (Ex. 34:6; Psa. 25:10; Jer. 10:10; John 14:6, 17:3)

Considered Comprehensively

When God is called the truth, this is to be understood in its most comprehensive sense. (Berkhof, Sys. Theo. , p. 69)

Metaphysically

"He is the truth first of all in a metaphysical sense, that is, in Hirn the idea of the Godhead is perfectly realized; He is all that He as God should be, and as such is distinguished from all so-called gods, which are called vanity and lies, Ps. 96:5; 97:7; 115:4-8; Isa. 44:9, 10.

Ethically

"He is also the truth in an ethical sense, and as such reveals Himself as He really is, so that His revelation is absolutely reliable, Num. 23:19; Rom 3:4; Heb. 6:18. 

Logically

"Finally, He is also the truth in a logical sense, and in virtue of this He knows things as they really are, and has so constituted the mind of man that the latter can know, not merely the appearance, but also the reality, of things." Ibid

We may define the veracity or truth of God as that perfection of His Being by virtue of which He fully answers to the idea of the Godhead, is perfectly reliable in His revelation, and sees things as they really are. It is because of this perfection that He is the source of all truth, not only in the sphere of morals and religion, but also in every field of scientific endeavor." Ibid

2. Knowledge

Definition: God fully knows Himself and all actual and possible things (this is also known as His omniscience). (1Chr. 28:9; Job 37:16; Psa. 33:13, 139:1-6; Is. 40:28; Ezek. 11:5; Heb. 4:13)

Explanation of the Attribute:

"The knowledge of God may be defined as that perfection of God whereby He, in an entirely unique manner, knows Himself and all things possible and actual in one eternal and most simple act." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 66

Elements in God’s knowledge:

"It is archetypal, which means that He knows the universe as it exists in His own eternal idea previous to its existence as a finite reality in time and space; and that His knowledge is not, like ours, obtained from without.

It is innate and immediate, and does not result from observation or from a process of reasoning.

 

Note: In other words God’s knowledge is “trans-logical” (not "illogical" or "sub-logical"). God knows all immediately, rendering the need to process thoughts unnecessary. (no need for premise 'A' + premise 'B' = conclusion 'C')

 

It is complete and fully conscious, while man’s knowledge is always partial, frequently indistinct, and often fails to rise into the clear light of consciousness. Ibid

It is not discursive, i.e., proceeding logically from the known to the unknown; but intuitive, i.e., discerning all things directly in its own light.

It is independent, i.e., it does in no way depend upon his creatures or their actions, but solely upon his own infinite intuition of all things possible in the light of his own reason, and of all things actual and future in the light of his own eternal purpose.

It is total and simultaneous not successive. It is one single indivisible act of intuition, beholding all things in themselves, their relations and successions, as ever present. 

It is perfect and essential, not relative, i.e., he knows all things directly in their hidden essences, while we know them only by their properties, as they stand related to our senses.” A. Hodge, Out. Theo., pp. 144-45 

Consequence of God’s Knowledge:

“Because God knows all things perfectly, He knows no thing better than any other thing, but all things equally well. He never discovers anything, He is never surprised, never amazed. He never wonders about anything nor (except when drawing men out for their own good) does He seek information or ask questions.” Tozer, Knowledge Holy, pp. 62-63

 

Note: This means that God has never thought a new thought.

 

“We know the present imperfectly, the past we remember dimly, the future we know not at all. But God knows all things, past, present, and future, by one total, unsuccessive, all­ comprehensive vision.”. A. A. Hodge, Out Theo., p. 145

 

Note: God forgets nothing and yet He has no memory because He doesn’t need one.

 

Think about it: God is not playing a chess game waiting for your move so He can make a counter move. As far as He is concerned the game is over and He won.

 

 

Encouragement gained by the attribute of God’s knowledge:

For prayer

"Here is encouragement to prayer. There is no cause for fearing that the petitions of the righteous will not be heard, or that their sighs and tears shall escape the notice of God, since He knows the thought and intents of the heart. There is no danger of the individual saint being overlooked amidst the multitude of supplicants who daily and hourly present their various petitions, for an infinte Mind is as capable of paying the same attention to millions as if only one individual were seeking its attention." Pink, Attrib, God, pp. 18-19

Evaluation of the Attribute:

By those who reject God:

"That God knows each person through and through can be a cause of shaking fear to the man that has something to hide-- some unforsaken sin, some secret crime committed against man or God, The unblessed soul may well tremble that God knows the flimsiness of every pretext and never accepts the poor excuses given for sinful conduct, since He knows perfectly the real reason for it."         Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 63

The wicked do as naturally hate this Divine perfection as much as they are naturally compelled to acknowledge it. They wish there might be no Witness of their sins, no Searcher of their hearts, no Judge of their deeds. They seek to banish such a God from their thoughts" Pink, Attrib, God, p. 18 

By those who trust in Christ:

Amazement!

"The infinite knowledge of God should fill us with amazement. How far exalted above the wisest man is the Lord. None of us knows what a day may bring forth, but all futurity is open to His omniscient gaze…” Pink, Attrib. God, p. 20

Awe!

"The infinite knowledge of God ought to fill us with holy awe. Nothing we do, say, or even think, escapes the cognizance of His with whom we have to do. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3). What a curb this would be unto us, did we but meditate upon it more frequently!" Ibid.

Adoration!

The apprehension of God's infinite knowledge should fill the Christian with adoration. The whole of my life stood open to His view from the beginning. He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me. Oh, how the realization of this should bow me in wonder and worship before Him!" Ibid., p. 19

 

3. Wisdom

Definition – God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals.

  1. In Creation (Psa. 19:1-6; Pro. 3:19-20)
  2. In Providence (Psa.33:10-11)
  3. In Redemption (Rom. 11:33; 1Cor. 2:7)

 

Descriptions of God's Wisdom

Wisdom is…”that perfection of God whereby He applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him most. It implies a final end to which all secondary ends are subordinate; and according to Scripture this final end is the glory of God, Rom. 11:331 14:7, 81 Eph. 1:11, 121 Col. 1:16." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p.

69

Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision. Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 66

The difference between knowledge and wisdom

 The wisdom of God may be regarded as a particular aspect of His knowledge. It is quite evident that knowledge and wisdom are not the same, though they are closely related. They do not always accompany each other. An uneducated man may be superior to a scholar in wisdom. Knowledge is acquired by study, but wisdom results from an intuitive insight into things. The former is theoretical, while the latter is practical, making knowledge subservient to some specific purpose. Both are imperfect in man, but in God they are characterized by absolute perfection. God's wisdom is His intelligence as manifested in the adaptation of means to ends. Berkhof, Sys. Theo., pp. 68-69

Declaration of God’s Wisdom

As there is abundant evidence of design in the works of nature, so all the works of God declare his wisdom. They show, from the most minute to the greatest, the most wonderful adaptation of means to accomplish the high end of the good of his creatures and the manifestation of his own glory. Hodge, Sys. Theo. 1:401

 

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA
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II. The Communicable Attributes

1. truthfulness

Definition - God is the true God whose knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth. (Ex. 34:6; Psa. 25:10; Jer. 10:10; John 14:6, 17:3)

Considered Comprehensively

When God is called the truth, this is to be understood in its most comprehensive sense. (Berkhof, Sys. Theo. , p. 69)

Metaphysically

"He is the truth first of all in a metaphysical sense, that is, in Hirn the idea of the Godhead is perfectly realized; He is all that He as God should be, and as such is distinguished from all so-called gods, which are called vanity and lies, Ps. 96:5; 97:7; 115:4-8; Isa. 44:9, 10.

Ethically

"He is also the truth in an ethical sense, and as such reveals Himself as He really is, so that His revelation is absolutely reliable, Num. 23:19; Rom 3:4; Heb. 6:18. 

Logically

"Finally, He is also the truth in a logical sense, and in virtue of this He knows things as they really are, and has so constituted the mind of man that the latter can know, not merely the appearance, but also the reality, of things." Ibid

We may define the veracity or truth of God as that perfection of His Being by virtue of which He fully answers to the idea of the Godhead, is perfectly reliable in His revelation, and sees things as they really are. It is because of this perfection that He is the source of all truth, not only in the sphere of morals and religion, but also in every field of scientific endeavor." Ibid

2. Knowledge

Definition: God fully knows Himself and all actual and possible things (this is also known as His omniscience). (1Chr. 28:9; Job 37:16; Psa. 33:13, 139:1-6; Is. 40:28; Ezek. 11:5; Heb. 4:13)

Explanation of the Attribute:

"The knowledge of God may be defined as that perfection of God whereby He, in an entirely unique manner, knows Himself and all things possible and actual in one eternal and most simple act." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 66

Elements in God’s knowledge:

"It is archetypal, which means that He knows the universe as it exists in His own eternal idea previous to its existence as a finite reality in time and space; and that His knowledge is not, like ours, obtained from without.

It is innate and immediate, and does not result from observation or from a process of reasoning.

 

Note: In other words God’s knowledge is “trans-logical” (not "illogical" or "sub-logical"). God knows all immediately, rendering the need to process thoughts unnecessary. (no need for premise 'A' + premise 'B' = conclusion 'C')

 

It is complete and fully conscious, while man’s knowledge is always partial, frequently indistinct, and often fails to rise into the clear light of consciousness. Ibid

It is not discursive, i.e., proceeding logically from the known to the unknown; but intuitive, i.e., discerning all things directly in its own light.

It is independent, i.e., it does in no way depend upon his creatures or their actions, but solely upon his own infinite intuition of all things possible in the light of his own reason, and of all things actual and future in the light of his own eternal purpose.

It is total and simultaneous not successive. It is one single indivisible act of intuition, beholding all things in themselves, their relations and successions, as ever present. 

It is perfect and essential, not relative, i.e., he knows all things directly in their hidden essences, while we know them only by their properties, as they stand related to our senses.” A. Hodge, Out. Theo., pp. 144-45 

Consequence of God’s Knowledge:

“Because God knows all things perfectly, He knows no thing better than any other thing, but all things equally well. He never discovers anything, He is never surprised, never amazed. He never wonders about anything nor (except when drawing men out for their own good) does He seek information or ask questions.” Tozer, Knowledge Holy, pp. 62-63

 

Note: This means that God has never thought a new thought.

 

“We know the present imperfectly, the past we remember dimly, the future we know not at all. But God knows all things, past, present, and future, by one total, unsuccessive, all­ comprehensive vision.”. A. A. Hodge, Out Theo., p. 145

 

Note: God forgets nothing and yet He has no memory because He doesn’t need one.

 

Think about it: God is not playing a chess game waiting for your move so He can make a counter move. As far as He is concerned the game is over and He won.

 

 

Encouragement gained by the attribute of God’s knowledge:

For prayer

"Here is encouragement to prayer. There is no cause for fearing that the petitions of the righteous will not be heard, or that their sighs and tears shall escape the notice of God, since He knows the thought and intents of the heart. There is no danger of the individual saint being overlooked amidst the multitude of supplicants who daily and hourly present their various petitions, for an infinte Mind is as capable of paying the same attention to millions as if only one individual were seeking its attention." Pink, Attrib, God, pp. 18-19

Evaluation of the Attribute:

By those who reject God:

"That God knows each person through and through can be a cause of shaking fear to the man that has something to hide-- some unforsaken sin, some secret crime committed against man or God, The unblessed soul may well tremble that God knows the flimsiness of every pretext and never accepts the poor excuses given for sinful conduct, since He knows perfectly the real reason for it."         Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 63

The wicked do as naturally hate this Divine perfection as much as they are naturally compelled to acknowledge it. They wish there might be no Witness of their sins, no Searcher of their hearts, no Judge of their deeds. They seek to banish such a God from their thoughts" Pink, Attrib, God, p. 18 

By those who trust in Christ:

Amazement!

"The infinite knowledge of God should fill us with amazement. How far exalted above the wisest man is the Lord. None of us knows what a day may bring forth, but all futurity is open to His omniscient gaze…” Pink, Attrib. God, p. 20

Awe!

"The infinite knowledge of God ought to fill us with holy awe. Nothing we do, say, or even think, escapes the cognizance of His with whom we have to do. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3). What a curb this would be unto us, did we but meditate upon it more frequently!" Ibid.

Adoration!

The apprehension of God's infinite knowledge should fill the Christian with adoration. The whole of my life stood open to His view from the beginning. He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me. Oh, how the realization of this should bow me in wonder and worship before Him!" Ibid., p. 19

 

3. Wisdom

Definition – God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals.

  1. In Creation (Psa. 19:1-6; Pro. 3:19-20)
  2. In Providence (Psa.33:10-11)
  3. In Redemption (Rom. 11:33; 1Cor. 2:7)

 

Descriptions of God's Wisdom

Wisdom is…”that perfection of God whereby He applies His knowledge to the attainment of His ends in a way which glorifies Him most. It implies a final end to which all secondary ends are subordinate; and according to Scripture this final end is the glory of God, Rom. 11:331 14:7, 81 Eph. 1:11, 121 Col. 1:16." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p.

69

Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision. Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 66

The difference between knowledge and wisdom

 The wisdom of God may be regarded as a particular aspect of His knowledge. It is quite evident that knowledge and wisdom are not the same, though they are closely related. They do not always accompany each other. An uneducated man may be superior to a scholar in wisdom. Knowledge is acquired by study, but wisdom results from an intuitive insight into things. The former is theoretical, while the latter is practical, making knowledge subservient to some specific purpose. Both are imperfect in man, but in God they are characterized by absolute perfection. God's wisdom is His intelligence as manifested in the adaptation of means to ends. Berkhof, Sys. Theo., pp. 68-69

Declaration of God’s Wisdom

As there is abundant evidence of design in the works of nature, so all the works of God declare his wisdom. They show, from the most minute to the greatest, the most wonderful adaptation of means to accomplish the high end of the good of his creatures and the manifestation of his own glory. Hodge, Sys. Theo. 1:401

 

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA
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The Attributes of God - Session 4 Highlights https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god---session-4 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god---session-4#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2017 16:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god---session-4 4. Omnipotence

Definition: God is able to do all His holy will. God exercises complete power over His creation and rules as sovereign. (Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37)

  • Applied to Creation (John 1:3; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16)
  • Applied to Preservation (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17)
  • Applied to Redemption (Rom. 1:6; 1Cor. 1:24; Eph. 1:19)

 

Contrast between Man's power and God's power

Our Power

"We are conscious with respect to our own casual efficiency:

  • That it is very limited. We have direct control only over the course of our thoughts and the contractions of a few muscles.

  • That we depend upon the use of means to produce the effects we design.

  • We are dependent upon outward circumstances which limit and condition us continually."  A. A. Hodge, Out, pp. 149-50

 
 God's Power

"Since He has at His command all the power in the universe, the Lord God omnipotent can do anything as easily as anything else. All His acts are done without effort. He expends no energy that must be replenished. His self-sufficiency makes it unnecessary for Him to look outside of Himself for a renewal of strength. All the power required to do all that He wills to do lies in undiminished fullness in His own infinite being." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 72

 Note: He spoke into existence the creation effortlessly.

 

"The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve… As holiness is the beauty of all God’s attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the Divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them.

Without power His mercy would be but feeble pity, His promises an empty sound, His threatenings a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself: infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature" Charnock, Exist. Attrib. of God 2:13, 15

 

How will better understanding God's power change our lives?

"Well may all tremble before such a God! To treat with impudence One who can crush us more easily than we can a moth, is a suicidal policy. To openly defy Him who is clothed with omnipotence, who can rend us in pieces or cast us into Hell any moment He pleases, is the very height of insanity.” Pink, Attrib. God., p. 51

 

 Note: Our sin is exactly that, "the very height of insanity".

 

 "Well may the enlightened soul adore such a God! The wondrous and infinite perfections of such a Being call for fervent worship. If men of might and renown claim the admiration of the world, how much more should the power of the Almighty fill us with wonderment and homage." Ibid.

 

Observation: The best way to improve the worship at any church is to help people grow in understanding the power of God.

 

 “Well may the saint trust such a God! He is worthy of implicit confidence. Nothing is too hard for Him. If God were stinted in might and had a limit to His strength we might well despair. But seeing that He is clothed with omnipotence, no prayer is too hard for Him to answer, no need too great for Him to supply, no passion too strong for Him to subdue; no temptation too powerful for Him to deliver from, no misery too deep for Him to relieve." Ibid.

 

Note: The motive of our prayer life and confidence in Him in all of life come from an accurate appraisal of God’s omnipotence.

 

 

5. Goodness

Definition: God is the final standard of all good, and all He is and does is worthy of approval. (Psa. 34:8; Matt. 5:45; Luke 6:35; Acts 14:17

 

God's Goodness Considered

"This may be defined as that perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all His creatures. It is the affection which the Creator feels towards His sentient creatures as such." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 70

"And not only that, but God is also the summum bonum, the highest good, for all His creatures, though in different degrees and according to the measure in which they answer to the purpose of their existence."  Ibid.

"This benevolent interest of God is revealed in His care for the creature's welfare, and is suited to the nature and the circumstances of the creature. It naturally varies. in degree according to the capacity of the objects to receive it.     And while it is not restricted to believers, they only manifest a proper appreciation of its blessings, desire to use them in the service of their God, and thus enjoy them in a richer and fuller measure." Ibid., p. 71

 

Goodness Expressed in God's Being

He is originally good, good of Himself, which nothing else is; for all creatures are good only by participation and communication from God. He is essentially good; not only good, but goodness itself: the creature's good is a superadded quality, in God it is His essence, He is infinitely good; the creature's good is but a drop, but in God there is an infinite ocean or gathering together of good. He is eternally and immutably good, for He cannot be less good than He is; as there can be no addition made to Him, so no subtraction from Him" (Thomas Manton) in Pink, Attrib. God, p. 57

 

Goodness Evidenced in God's Actions

The goodness of God is seen in that when man transgressed the law of His Creator a dispensation of unmixed wrath did not at once commence. Well might God have deprived His fallen creatures of every blessing, every comfort, every pleasure. Instead, He ushered in a regime of a mixed nature, of mercy and judgment. This is very wonderful if it be duly considered, and the more thoroughly that regime be examined the more will it appear that "mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (James 2:13). Notwithstanding all the evils which attend our fallen state, the balance of good greatly preponderates. With comparatively rare exceptions, men and women experience a far greater number of days of health than they do of sickness and pain. There is much more creature-happiness than creature-misery in the world. Even our sorrows admit of considerable alleviation, and God has given to the human mind a pliability which adapts itself to circumstances and makes the most of them." Pink, Attrib. God, pp. 58-59

 

How will growing in our understanding of God's goodness change our lives?

"When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant's unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good, His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same." (C.H. Spurgeon) quoted in Pink, Attrib. God, p, 60

 

6. Holiness

Definition: God is separated from sin and He is committed to seeking His own honor. (Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; Luke 1:49)

The Concept of Holiness in the Old Testament

"The Hebrew word for 'holy' (qadosh) means 'marked off' or 'withdrawn from common, ordinary use. The verb from which it is derived suggests 'to cut off' or 'to separate.' whereas in the religions of the peoples around Israel the adjective holy was freely applied to objects, actions, and personnel involved in the worship, in Israel's covenant worship it was very freely used of the Deity himself." Erickson, Chr. Theo., p. 284

 

The Concept of Holiness in the New Testament

"The same idea is conveyed by the New Testament words hagiazo and hagios. From this it already appears that it is not correct to think of holiness primarily as a moral or religious quality, as is generally done.Its fundamental idea is that of a position or relationship existing between God and some person or thing." Berkhof, sys. Theo., p. 73

 

Categories of Holiness
  1. Natural Holiness

    "The Scriptural idea of the holiness of God is twofold. In its original sense it denotes that He is absolutely distinct from all His creatures, and is exalted above them in infinite majesty. So understood, the holiness of God is one of His transcendental attributes, and is sometimes spoken of as His central and supreme perfection.

    It is quite evident, however, that holiness in this sense of the word is not really a moral attribute, which can be co-ordinated with the others, such as love, grace and mercy, but is rather something that is co-extensive with, and applicable to, everything that can be predicated of God." (1Sam. 2:2; Hos. 11:9)

  2. Moral Holiness

    "This ethical holiness of God may be defined as that perfection of God, in virtue of which He eternally wills and maintains His own moral excellence, abhors sin, and demands purity in his moral creatures." Ibid p. 74

    “The fundamental idea of the ethical holiness of God is also that of separation, but in this case it is a separation from moral evil or sin. In virtue of His holiness God can have no communion with sin,

    But the idea of ethical holiness is not merely negative (separation from sin); it also has a positive content, namely, that of moral excellence, or ethical perfection." Ibid p. 73 (Ex. 15:11; 1Sam. 2:2; Hos. 11:9)

    Note: When Scripture says we shall be like Him, it means like Him morally, not essentially.

  

Holiness seen in God's works

"Man was made 'upright' (Eccles. 7:29), in the image and likeness of his Creator."

"The angels that fell were created holy, for we are told that they 'kept not their first habitation' (Jude 6).”

Of Satan it is written, 'Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee (Ezek. 28:15)." Pink, Attrib. God, p. 4

 

Holiness Seen in God's Law

"God's holiness is manifested in His law. That law forbids sin in all of its modifications: in its most refined as well as its grossest forms, the intent of the mind as well as the pollution of the body, the secret desire as well as the overt act."

That law in all its aspects was calculated to impress upon Israel the idea of the holiness of God, and to urge upon the people the necessity of leading a holy life.

This was the purpose served by such symbols and types as the holy nation, the holy land, the holy city, the holy place, and the holy priesthood." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 74 (Psalm 19:8-9; Rom. 7:12)

 

Point: The Law has been done away with as the means to salvation but not as the end.

 

 Holiness Seen at the Cross

"God's holiness is manifested at the Cross. Wondrously and yet most solemnly does the Atonement display God's infinite holiness and abhorrence of sin.         How hateful must sin be to God for Him to punish it to its utmost deserts when it was imputed to His Son!" Pink, Attrib. God, p. 43

 

Consequences of God's Holiness

For God

"Because God is holy He hates all sin. He loves everything which is in conformity to His law, and loathes everything which is contrary to it." Pink, Attrib. God, p. 43

"It follows, therefore, that He must necessarily punish sin. Sin can no more exist without demanding His punishment than without requiring His hatred of it. God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of another having borne his punishment;" Ibid. (Prov. 15:26; Psa. 5:5; Heb. 9:22)

 

For Sinners

"When one measures one's holiness, not against the standard of oneself or of other humans, but against God, the need for a complete change of moral and spiritual condition becomes apparent.” Erickson Chr. Theo., p. 286

Caution:

"But men refuse to believe in this God, and gnash their teeth when His hatred of sin is faithfully pressed upon their attention. No, sinful man was no more likely to devise a holy God than to create the Lake of Fire in which he will be tormented for ever and ever." Pink, Attrib. God p. 44

God’s wrath related to holiness:

"The greatest miracle in the world is God's patience and bounty to an ungrateful world. If a prince hath an enemy got into one of his towns, he doth not send them in provision, but lays close siege to the place, and doth what he can to starve them. But the great God, that could wink all His enemies into destruction, bears with them, and is at daily cost to maintain them. Well may He command us to bless them that curse us, who Himself does good to the evil and unthankful. But think not, sinners, that you shall escape thus; God's mill goes slow, but grinds small1 the more admirable His patience and bounty now is, the more dreadful and unsupportable will that fury be which ariseth out of His abused goodness. Nothing smoother than the sea, yet when stirred into a tempest, nothing rageth more. Nothing so sweet as the patience and goodness of God, and nothing so terrible as His wrath when it takes fire." - William Gurnall, 1660, quoted by Pink, Attrib. God. p. 86

 

For Saints

"God is holy with an absolute holiness that knows no degrees, and this He cannot impart to His creatures. But there is a relative and contingent holiness which He shares with angels and seraphim in heaven and with redeemed men on earth as their preparation for heaven. This holiness God can and does impart to His children. He shares it with them by imputation and by impartation, and because He has made it available to them through the blood of the Lamb, He requires it of them." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 113

 

How will growing in our understanding of God's holiness change our lives?

"This is the prime way of honoring God. We do not so glorify God by elevated admirations, or eloquent expressions, or pompous services of Him, as when we aspire to a conversing with Him with unstained spirits, and live to Him in living like Him." Charnock, Exist. Attrib. God

"By faith and obedience, by constant meditation on the holiness of God, by loving righteousness and hating iniquity, by a growing acquaintance with the Spirit of holiness, we can acclimate ourselves to the fellowship of the saints on earth and prepare ourselves for the eternal companionship of God and the saints above." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 114

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA
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4. Omnipotence

Definition: God is able to do all His holy will. God exercises complete power over His creation and rules as sovereign. (Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37)

  • Applied to Creation (John 1:3; Rom. 1:20; Col. 1:16)
  • Applied to Preservation (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17)
  • Applied to Redemption (Rom. 1:6; 1Cor. 1:24; Eph. 1:19)

 

Contrast between Man's power and God's power

Our Power

"We are conscious with respect to our own casual efficiency:

  • That it is very limited. We have direct control only over the course of our thoughts and the contractions of a few muscles.

  • That we depend upon the use of means to produce the effects we design.

  • We are dependent upon outward circumstances which limit and condition us continually."  A. A. Hodge, Out, pp. 149-50

 
 God's Power

"Since He has at His command all the power in the universe, the Lord God omnipotent can do anything as easily as anything else. All His acts are done without effort. He expends no energy that must be replenished. His self-sufficiency makes it unnecessary for Him to look outside of Himself for a renewal of strength. All the power required to do all that He wills to do lies in undiminished fullness in His own infinite being." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 72

 Note: He spoke into existence the creation effortlessly.

 

"The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve… As holiness is the beauty of all God’s attributes, so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the Divine nature. How vain would be the eternal counsels, if power did not step in to execute them.

Without power His mercy would be but feeble pity, His promises an empty sound, His threatenings a mere scarecrow. God's power is like Himself: infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature" Charnock, Exist. Attrib. of God 2:13, 15

 

How will better understanding God's power change our lives?

"Well may all tremble before such a God! To treat with impudence One who can crush us more easily than we can a moth, is a suicidal policy. To openly defy Him who is clothed with omnipotence, who can rend us in pieces or cast us into Hell any moment He pleases, is the very height of insanity.” Pink, Attrib. God., p. 51

 

 Note: Our sin is exactly that, "the very height of insanity".

 

 "Well may the enlightened soul adore such a God! The wondrous and infinite perfections of such a Being call for fervent worship. If men of might and renown claim the admiration of the world, how much more should the power of the Almighty fill us with wonderment and homage." Ibid.

 

Observation: The best way to improve the worship at any church is to help people grow in understanding the power of God.

 

 “Well may the saint trust such a God! He is worthy of implicit confidence. Nothing is too hard for Him. If God were stinted in might and had a limit to His strength we might well despair. But seeing that He is clothed with omnipotence, no prayer is too hard for Him to answer, no need too great for Him to supply, no passion too strong for Him to subdue; no temptation too powerful for Him to deliver from, no misery too deep for Him to relieve." Ibid.

 

Note: The motive of our prayer life and confidence in Him in all of life come from an accurate appraisal of God’s omnipotence.

 

 

5. Goodness

Definition: God is the final standard of all good, and all He is and does is worthy of approval. (Psa. 34:8; Matt. 5:45; Luke 6:35; Acts 14:17

 

God's Goodness Considered

"This may be defined as that perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all His creatures. It is the affection which the Creator feels towards His sentient creatures as such." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 70

"And not only that, but God is also the summum bonum, the highest good, for all His creatures, though in different degrees and according to the measure in which they answer to the purpose of their existence."  Ibid.

"This benevolent interest of God is revealed in His care for the creature's welfare, and is suited to the nature and the circumstances of the creature. It naturally varies. in degree according to the capacity of the objects to receive it.     And while it is not restricted to believers, they only manifest a proper appreciation of its blessings, desire to use them in the service of their God, and thus enjoy them in a richer and fuller measure." Ibid., p. 71

 

Goodness Expressed in God's Being

He is originally good, good of Himself, which nothing else is; for all creatures are good only by participation and communication from God. He is essentially good; not only good, but goodness itself: the creature's good is a superadded quality, in God it is His essence, He is infinitely good; the creature's good is but a drop, but in God there is an infinite ocean or gathering together of good. He is eternally and immutably good, for He cannot be less good than He is; as there can be no addition made to Him, so no subtraction from Him" (Thomas Manton) in Pink, Attrib. God, p. 57

 

Goodness Evidenced in God's Actions

The goodness of God is seen in that when man transgressed the law of His Creator a dispensation of unmixed wrath did not at once commence. Well might God have deprived His fallen creatures of every blessing, every comfort, every pleasure. Instead, He ushered in a regime of a mixed nature, of mercy and judgment. This is very wonderful if it be duly considered, and the more thoroughly that regime be examined the more will it appear that "mercy rejoiceth against judgment" (James 2:13). Notwithstanding all the evils which attend our fallen state, the balance of good greatly preponderates. With comparatively rare exceptions, men and women experience a far greater number of days of health than they do of sickness and pain. There is much more creature-happiness than creature-misery in the world. Even our sorrows admit of considerable alleviation, and God has given to the human mind a pliability which adapts itself to circumstances and makes the most of them." Pink, Attrib. God, pp. 58-59

 

How will growing in our understanding of God's goodness change our lives?

"When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant's unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good, His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same." (C.H. Spurgeon) quoted in Pink, Attrib. God, p, 60

 

6. Holiness

Definition: God is separated from sin and He is committed to seeking His own honor. (Ex. 15:11; Isa. 6:3; Luke 1:49)

The Concept of Holiness in the Old Testament

"The Hebrew word for 'holy' (qadosh) means 'marked off' or 'withdrawn from common, ordinary use. The verb from which it is derived suggests 'to cut off' or 'to separate.' whereas in the religions of the peoples around Israel the adjective holy was freely applied to objects, actions, and personnel involved in the worship, in Israel's covenant worship it was very freely used of the Deity himself." Erickson, Chr. Theo., p. 284

 

The Concept of Holiness in the New Testament

"The same idea is conveyed by the New Testament words hagiazo and hagios. From this it already appears that it is not correct to think of holiness primarily as a moral or religious quality, as is generally done.Its fundamental idea is that of a position or relationship existing between God and some person or thing." Berkhof, sys. Theo., p. 73

 

Categories of Holiness
  1. Natural Holiness

    "The Scriptural idea of the holiness of God is twofold. In its original sense it denotes that He is absolutely distinct from all His creatures, and is exalted above them in infinite majesty. So understood, the holiness of God is one of His transcendental attributes, and is sometimes spoken of as His central and supreme perfection.

    It is quite evident, however, that holiness in this sense of the word is not really a moral attribute, which can be co-ordinated with the others, such as love, grace and mercy, but is rather something that is co-extensive with, and applicable to, everything that can be predicated of God." (1Sam. 2:2; Hos. 11:9)

  2. Moral Holiness

    "This ethical holiness of God may be defined as that perfection of God, in virtue of which He eternally wills and maintains His own moral excellence, abhors sin, and demands purity in his moral creatures." Ibid p. 74

    “The fundamental idea of the ethical holiness of God is also that of separation, but in this case it is a separation from moral evil or sin. In virtue of His holiness God can have no communion with sin,

    But the idea of ethical holiness is not merely negative (separation from sin); it also has a positive content, namely, that of moral excellence, or ethical perfection." Ibid p. 73 (Ex. 15:11; 1Sam. 2:2; Hos. 11:9)

    Note: When Scripture says we shall be like Him, it means like Him morally, not essentially.

  

Holiness seen in God's works

"Man was made 'upright' (Eccles. 7:29), in the image and likeness of his Creator."

"The angels that fell were created holy, for we are told that they 'kept not their first habitation' (Jude 6).”

Of Satan it is written, 'Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee (Ezek. 28:15)." Pink, Attrib. God, p. 4

 

Holiness Seen in God's Law

"God's holiness is manifested in His law. That law forbids sin in all of its modifications: in its most refined as well as its grossest forms, the intent of the mind as well as the pollution of the body, the secret desire as well as the overt act."

That law in all its aspects was calculated to impress upon Israel the idea of the holiness of God, and to urge upon the people the necessity of leading a holy life.

This was the purpose served by such symbols and types as the holy nation, the holy land, the holy city, the holy place, and the holy priesthood." Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 74 (Psalm 19:8-9; Rom. 7:12)

 

Point: The Law has been done away with as the means to salvation but not as the end.

 

 Holiness Seen at the Cross

"God's holiness is manifested at the Cross. Wondrously and yet most solemnly does the Atonement display God's infinite holiness and abhorrence of sin.         How hateful must sin be to God for Him to punish it to its utmost deserts when it was imputed to His Son!" Pink, Attrib. God, p. 43

 

Consequences of God's Holiness

For God

"Because God is holy He hates all sin. He loves everything which is in conformity to His law, and loathes everything which is contrary to it." Pink, Attrib. God, p. 43

"It follows, therefore, that He must necessarily punish sin. Sin can no more exist without demanding His punishment than without requiring His hatred of it. God has often forgiven sinners, but He never forgives sin; and the sinner is only forgiven on the ground of another having borne his punishment;" Ibid. (Prov. 15:26; Psa. 5:5; Heb. 9:22)

 

For Sinners

"When one measures one's holiness, not against the standard of oneself or of other humans, but against God, the need for a complete change of moral and spiritual condition becomes apparent.” Erickson Chr. Theo., p. 286

Caution:

"But men refuse to believe in this God, and gnash their teeth when His hatred of sin is faithfully pressed upon their attention. No, sinful man was no more likely to devise a holy God than to create the Lake of Fire in which he will be tormented for ever and ever." Pink, Attrib. God p. 44

God’s wrath related to holiness:

"The greatest miracle in the world is God's patience and bounty to an ungrateful world. If a prince hath an enemy got into one of his towns, he doth not send them in provision, but lays close siege to the place, and doth what he can to starve them. But the great God, that could wink all His enemies into destruction, bears with them, and is at daily cost to maintain them. Well may He command us to bless them that curse us, who Himself does good to the evil and unthankful. But think not, sinners, that you shall escape thus; God's mill goes slow, but grinds small1 the more admirable His patience and bounty now is, the more dreadful and unsupportable will that fury be which ariseth out of His abused goodness. Nothing smoother than the sea, yet when stirred into a tempest, nothing rageth more. Nothing so sweet as the patience and goodness of God, and nothing so terrible as His wrath when it takes fire." - William Gurnall, 1660, quoted by Pink, Attrib. God. p. 86

 

For Saints

"God is holy with an absolute holiness that knows no degrees, and this He cannot impart to His creatures. But there is a relative and contingent holiness which He shares with angels and seraphim in heaven and with redeemed men on earth as their preparation for heaven. This holiness God can and does impart to His children. He shares it with them by imputation and by impartation, and because He has made it available to them through the blood of the Lamb, He requires it of them." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 113

 

How will growing in our understanding of God's holiness change our lives?

"This is the prime way of honoring God. We do not so glorify God by elevated admirations, or eloquent expressions, or pompous services of Him, as when we aspire to a conversing with Him with unstained spirits, and live to Him in living like Him." Charnock, Exist. Attrib. God

"By faith and obedience, by constant meditation on the holiness of God, by loving righteousness and hating iniquity, by a growing acquaintance with the Spirit of holiness, we can acclimate ourselves to the fellowship of the saints on earth and prepare ourselves for the eternal companionship of God and the saints above." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 114

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA
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The Attributes of God - Session 2 Highlights https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god---session-2-highlights https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god---session-2-highlights#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2017 11:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god---session-2-highlights Here are some highlights and quotations from The Attributes of God, session 2:

6. Eternality

Definition: God has always existed, having no beginning and no end, and is not subject to the limitations of time, experiencing no succession of moments. (Ps. 90:2, 102:25-27; Is. 44:6; Heb. 13:8; 2 Pet. 3:8; Rev. 1:4)

"He does not exist during one period of duration more than another. With Him there is no distinction between the present, past, and future; but all things are equally and always present to Him. With Him duration is an eternal now. This is the popular and the Scriptural view of God's eternity." (Hodge, Theo. 1:385)

By the word eternity, the relation which God sustains to duration is denoted. God, being the Author of time, is in no way conditioned by it.He is free to act in relation to time and is equally free to act outside its limitations. (Chafer, Sys. Theo 1:216)

What is taught in these and similar passages, is, first, that God is without beginning of years or end of days. He is, and always has been, and always will be; and secondly, that to Him there is neither past nor future; that the past and the future are always and equally present to Him. (Hodge, Sys. Theo. 1:386)

 

7. Immutability

Definition: God is devoid of all change, not only in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises. (Ps. 33:11; Is. 14:24, 46:9-13; Mal. 3:6; Ja. 1:7)

Clarification - This divine constancy involves several aspects

  • There is first no quantitative change. God cannot increase in anything, because he is already perfection. Nor can he decrease, for if he were to, he would cease to be God.There also is no qualitative change. The nature of God does not undergo modification, therefore, God does not change his mind, plans, or actions, for these rest upon his nature, which remains unchanged no matter what occurs." (Erickson, Chr. Theo., p. 278)
  • Some interpretations of the doctrine of divine constancy, expressed as immutability, have actually drawn heavily upon the Greek idea of immobility and sterility. This makes God inactive.
  • But the biblical view is not that God is static but stable. He is active and dynamic, but in a way which is stable and consistent with his nature. What we are dealing with here is the dependability of God. He will be the same tomorrow as he is today.  He will act as he has promised. He will fulfill his commitments." (Ibid. p.279)

Question: If God is immutable or unchanging, how do we deal with Jonah 3:10?

Jonah 3:10

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

Key:

  • From a temporal perspective, God responds to human action;

  • from an eternal perspective, God chooses the means (human repenting) as well as the end (divine relenting).

Note: Here in Jonah, the main point is to highlight the repentance of Gentiles in sharp contrast with the repeated lack of repentance on the part of Israel (see note on vv. 7–8).

"If Scripture speaks of His repenting, changing His intention, and altering His relation to sinners when they repent, we should remember that this is only an anthropopathic way of speaking. In reality the change is not in God, but in man and in man's relations to God." (Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 59)

Illustration:

"In trying to solve this problem it may help to consider the question: 'Which changes, the wind or the weather­ vane?' or, 'Which changes, the temperature or the thermometer?' In one sense they both change, but in a truer sense the weather-vane and the thermometer do not change. The vane always points in the direction of the wind and the thermometer always registers the correct temperature. God said He was going to destroy the great city of Nineveh because of their great sin (Jonah 3:4). But the inhabitants of Nineveh believed the prophet and repented in sackcloth and ashes from the king on down, saying 'Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And we read that God did repent (vs. 10). This is the kind of repenting which the weather-vane does. Actually God has not changed, for He has declared that this is the unchanging nature of His character: 'If that nation, concerning which I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them' (Jeremiah 18:8)"  (Baker, Disp. Theo., p. 137)

Practical Application:

Positively

Herein is solid comfort. Human nature cannot be relied upon; but God can! However unstable I may be, however fickle my friends may prove, God changes not… all praise to His glorious name, He is ever the same.       His purpose is fixed, His will is stable, His word is sure. Here then is a rock on which we may fix our feet, while the mighty torrent is sweeping away everything around us." (Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 39)

"Herein is encouragement to prayer. 'What comfort would it be to pray to a god that, like the chameleon, changed color every moment? Who would put up a petition to an earthly prince that was so mutable as to grant a petition one day, and deny it another?'" (Charnock, quoted in Tozer, p. 39)

Negatively

"Herein is terror for the wicked. Those who defy Him, who break His laws, who have no concern for His glory, but who live their lives as though He existed not, must not suppose that, when at the last they shall cry to Him for mercy, He will alter His will, revoke His word, and rescind His awful threatenings." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 40

Ezek. 8:17-18

He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. “Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.”

“Many people think that grace is a matter of God simply turning his eyes away from sin—ignoring it or “sweeping it under the rug.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Grace is something entirely different; it is God pouring out his full judgment against sin, but doing so on his Son rather than on the sinner. God does not ignore our sin, even as he saves us. He punishes his Son in our place. In this way he shows supreme mercy while upholding perfect justice (Rom. 3:26). “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33).” (Byran Chapell, Gospel Transformation Bible)

"The Divine immutability, like the cloud which interposed between the Israelites and the Egyptian army, has a dark as well as a light side. It insures the execution of His threatenings, as well as the performance of His promises; and destroys the hope which the guilty fondly cherish, that He will be all lenity to His frail and erring creatures, and that they will be much more lightly dealt with than the declarations of His own Word would lead us to expect. We oppose to these deceitful and presumptuous speculations the solemn truth, that God is unchanging in veracity and purpose, in faithfulness and justice (John Dick, 1850)." (Quoted in Tozer, p. 40)

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA
]]>
Here are some highlights and quotations from The Attributes of God, session 2:

6. Eternality

Definition: God has always existed, having no beginning and no end, and is not subject to the limitations of time, experiencing no succession of moments. (Ps. 90:2, 102:25-27; Is. 44:6; Heb. 13:8; 2 Pet. 3:8; Rev. 1:4)

"He does not exist during one period of duration more than another. With Him there is no distinction between the present, past, and future; but all things are equally and always present to Him. With Him duration is an eternal now. This is the popular and the Scriptural view of God's eternity." (Hodge, Theo. 1:385)

By the word eternity, the relation which God sustains to duration is denoted. God, being the Author of time, is in no way conditioned by it.He is free to act in relation to time and is equally free to act outside its limitations. (Chafer, Sys. Theo 1:216)

What is taught in these and similar passages, is, first, that God is without beginning of years or end of days. He is, and always has been, and always will be; and secondly, that to Him there is neither past nor future; that the past and the future are always and equally present to Him. (Hodge, Sys. Theo. 1:386)

 

7. Immutability

Definition: God is devoid of all change, not only in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises. (Ps. 33:11; Is. 14:24, 46:9-13; Mal. 3:6; Ja. 1:7)

Clarification - This divine constancy involves several aspects

  • There is first no quantitative change. God cannot increase in anything, because he is already perfection. Nor can he decrease, for if he were to, he would cease to be God.There also is no qualitative change. The nature of God does not undergo modification, therefore, God does not change his mind, plans, or actions, for these rest upon his nature, which remains unchanged no matter what occurs." (Erickson, Chr. Theo., p. 278)
  • Some interpretations of the doctrine of divine constancy, expressed as immutability, have actually drawn heavily upon the Greek idea of immobility and sterility. This makes God inactive.
  • But the biblical view is not that God is static but stable. He is active and dynamic, but in a way which is stable and consistent with his nature. What we are dealing with here is the dependability of God. He will be the same tomorrow as he is today.  He will act as he has promised. He will fulfill his commitments." (Ibid. p.279)

Question: If God is immutable or unchanging, how do we deal with Jonah 3:10?

Jonah 3:10

When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

Key:

  • From a temporal perspective, God responds to human action;

  • from an eternal perspective, God chooses the means (human repenting) as well as the end (divine relenting).

Note: Here in Jonah, the main point is to highlight the repentance of Gentiles in sharp contrast with the repeated lack of repentance on the part of Israel (see note on vv. 7–8).

"If Scripture speaks of His repenting, changing His intention, and altering His relation to sinners when they repent, we should remember that this is only an anthropopathic way of speaking. In reality the change is not in God, but in man and in man's relations to God." (Berkhof, Sys. Theo., p. 59)

Illustration:

"In trying to solve this problem it may help to consider the question: 'Which changes, the wind or the weather­ vane?' or, 'Which changes, the temperature or the thermometer?' In one sense they both change, but in a truer sense the weather-vane and the thermometer do not change. The vane always points in the direction of the wind and the thermometer always registers the correct temperature. God said He was going to destroy the great city of Nineveh because of their great sin (Jonah 3:4). But the inhabitants of Nineveh believed the prophet and repented in sackcloth and ashes from the king on down, saying 'Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And we read that God did repent (vs. 10). This is the kind of repenting which the weather-vane does. Actually God has not changed, for He has declared that this is the unchanging nature of His character: 'If that nation, concerning which I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them' (Jeremiah 18:8)"  (Baker, Disp. Theo., p. 137)

Practical Application:

Positively

Herein is solid comfort. Human nature cannot be relied upon; but God can! However unstable I may be, however fickle my friends may prove, God changes not… all praise to His glorious name, He is ever the same.       His purpose is fixed, His will is stable, His word is sure. Here then is a rock on which we may fix our feet, while the mighty torrent is sweeping away everything around us." (Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 39)

"Herein is encouragement to prayer. 'What comfort would it be to pray to a god that, like the chameleon, changed color every moment? Who would put up a petition to an earthly prince that was so mutable as to grant a petition one day, and deny it another?'" (Charnock, quoted in Tozer, p. 39)

Negatively

"Herein is terror for the wicked. Those who defy Him, who break His laws, who have no concern for His glory, but who live their lives as though He existed not, must not suppose that, when at the last they shall cry to Him for mercy, He will alter His will, revoke His word, and rescind His awful threatenings." Tozer, Knowledge Holy, p. 40

Ezek. 8:17-18

He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose. “Therefore, I indeed will deal in wrath. My eye will have no pity nor will I spare; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, yet I will not listen to them.”

“Many people think that grace is a matter of God simply turning his eyes away from sin—ignoring it or “sweeping it under the rug.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Grace is something entirely different; it is God pouring out his full judgment against sin, but doing so on his Son rather than on the sinner. God does not ignore our sin, even as he saves us. He punishes his Son in our place. In this way he shows supreme mercy while upholding perfect justice (Rom. 3:26). “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom. 11:33).” (Byran Chapell, Gospel Transformation Bible)

"The Divine immutability, like the cloud which interposed between the Israelites and the Egyptian army, has a dark as well as a light side. It insures the execution of His threatenings, as well as the performance of His promises; and destroys the hope which the guilty fondly cherish, that He will be all lenity to His frail and erring creatures, and that they will be much more lightly dealt with than the declarations of His own Word would lead us to expect. We oppose to these deceitful and presumptuous speculations the solemn truth, that God is unchanging in veracity and purpose, in faithfulness and justice (John Dick, 1850)." (Quoted in Tozer, p. 40)

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA
]]>
The Attributes of God - Session 1 Highlights https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god- https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god-#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2017 09:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/the-attributes-of-god- Here are some highlights and quotations from our Attributes of God study:

“ A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God” (A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy p. 10)

 

The Danger of idolatry

“Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is--in itself a monstrous sin—and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him, It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.” (Ibid., pp. 11-12)

Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms. We want to get Him where we can use Him, or at least know where He is when we need Him. We want a God we can in some measure control. We need the feeling of security that comes from knowing what God is like, and what He is like is of course a composite of all the religious pictures we have seen, all the best people we have known or heard about, and all the sublime ideas we have entertained.

If all this sounds strange to modern ears, it is only because we have for a full half-century taken God for granted. The glory of God has not been revealed to this generation of men. The God of contemporary Christianity is only slightly superior to the gods of Greece and Rome, if indeed He is not actually inferior to them in that He is weak and helpless while they at least had power." (Ibid., pp. 15-16)

 

Definition of an Attribute

“…an attribute of God is whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.” (Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy p. 20)

 

1. Transcendence 

Definition: God is far “above” the creation in the sense that he is greater than the creation and he is independent of it. (Psalm 113:5; Isaiah 55:8-9)     

 

2. Immanence

Definition: God is active in this world and in our daily lives. God cares about every aspect of our existence and invites us to welcome His guidance, grace and love. (Psalm 34:14-15, 104:14-15; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:27-28; Colossians 1:17)

 

3. Independence

Definition: God is Self-existent and self-sufficient and has no need of human beings or the rest of creation. (Isaiah 40:15-17, 18, 22-23; Romans 11:34-35; 1 Timothy 6:16)

 

 4. Unity

Definition: God’s whole being includes all of His attributes at all times. He is free from division into parts, thus His attributes are never in opposition (1 John 1:5, 4:8; Exodus 34:6-7)

Practical Application:

This means that we should never think that God is

  • a loving God at one point in history and

  • a just or wrathful God at another point in history

  • He is the same God always, and everything he says or does is fully consistent with all his attributes.

  • It is not accurate to say, as some have said, that God is a God of justice in the Old Testament and a God of love in the New Testament.

  • God is and always has been infinitely just and infinitely loving as well, and everything he does in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament is completely consistent with both of those attributes. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology)

 

5. Omnipresence

Definition: God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being. (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-12; Isaiah 66:1; Acts 17:27-28)

Note: yet God acts differently in different places.

"The immensity of God is the phrase used to express the fact that God is infinite in his relation to space, i.e., that the entire indivisible essence of God is at every moment of time cotemporaneously present to every point of infinite space.

This is not in virtue of the infinite multiplication of his Spirit, since he is eternally one and individual; nor does it result from the infinite diffusion of his essence through infinite space, as air is diffused over the surface of the earth, since, being a Spirit he is not composed of parts, nor is he capable of extension, but the whole Godhead in the one indivisible essence is equally present in every moment of eternal duration to the whole of infinite space, and to every part of it."         (A. A. Hodge Out Theo., pp. 141-42)

With God, however, the question of whereness or location is not applicable. God is the one who brought space (and time) into being. He was before there was space. He cannot be localized at a particular point. There can be no plotting of his location on a set of coordinates. (Erikson, Chr. Theo., p. 273)

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA 
]]>
Here are some highlights and quotations from our Attributes of God study:

“ A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God” (A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy p. 10)

 

The Danger of idolatry

“Among the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is--in itself a monstrous sin—and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him, It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.” (Ibid., pp. 11-12)

Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms. We want to get Him where we can use Him, or at least know where He is when we need Him. We want a God we can in some measure control. We need the feeling of security that comes from knowing what God is like, and what He is like is of course a composite of all the religious pictures we have seen, all the best people we have known or heard about, and all the sublime ideas we have entertained.

If all this sounds strange to modern ears, it is only because we have for a full half-century taken God for granted. The glory of God has not been revealed to this generation of men. The God of contemporary Christianity is only slightly superior to the gods of Greece and Rome, if indeed He is not actually inferior to them in that He is weak and helpless while they at least had power." (Ibid., pp. 15-16)

 

Definition of an Attribute

“…an attribute of God is whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.” (Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy p. 20)

 

1. Transcendence 

Definition: God is far “above” the creation in the sense that he is greater than the creation and he is independent of it. (Psalm 113:5; Isaiah 55:8-9)     

 

2. Immanence

Definition: God is active in this world and in our daily lives. God cares about every aspect of our existence and invites us to welcome His guidance, grace and love. (Psalm 34:14-15, 104:14-15; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:27-28; Colossians 1:17)

 

3. Independence

Definition: God is Self-existent and self-sufficient and has no need of human beings or the rest of creation. (Isaiah 40:15-17, 18, 22-23; Romans 11:34-35; 1 Timothy 6:16)

 

 4. Unity

Definition: God’s whole being includes all of His attributes at all times. He is free from division into parts, thus His attributes are never in opposition (1 John 1:5, 4:8; Exodus 34:6-7)

Practical Application:

This means that we should never think that God is

  • a loving God at one point in history and

  • a just or wrathful God at another point in history

  • He is the same God always, and everything he says or does is fully consistent with all his attributes.

  • It is not accurate to say, as some have said, that God is a God of justice in the Old Testament and a God of love in the New Testament.

  • God is and always has been infinitely just and infinitely loving as well, and everything he does in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament is completely consistent with both of those attributes. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology)

 

5. Omnipresence

Definition: God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being. (1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-12; Isaiah 66:1; Acts 17:27-28)

Note: yet God acts differently in different places.

"The immensity of God is the phrase used to express the fact that God is infinite in his relation to space, i.e., that the entire indivisible essence of God is at every moment of time cotemporaneously present to every point of infinite space.

This is not in virtue of the infinite multiplication of his Spirit, since he is eternally one and individual; nor does it result from the infinite diffusion of his essence through infinite space, as air is diffused over the surface of the earth, since, being a Spirit he is not composed of parts, nor is he capable of extension, but the whole Godhead in the one indivisible essence is equally present in every moment of eternal duration to the whole of infinite space, and to every part of it."         (A. A. Hodge Out Theo., pp. 141-42)

With God, however, the question of whereness or location is not applicable. God is the one who brought space (and time) into being. He was before there was space. He cannot be localized at a particular point. There can be no plotting of his location on a set of coordinates. (Erikson, Chr. Theo., p. 273)

 

 

*  THE CONTENT OF THESE SESSIONS EXCERPTED FROM KEN SARLES, THOLOGY I, FALL 1993 THE MASTER'S SEMINARY, SUN VALLEY CA 
]]>
Shining Genuine Light https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/shining-genuine-light https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/shining-genuine-light#comments Sat, 15 Oct 2016 21:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/shining-genuine-light Counterfeits are destructive and dangerous. In the area of commerce they undermine our business owners’ hard work and cost our economy millions of dollars per year. Can you spot the counterfeit here?

Edited Counterfeit 100 dollar bills

Yes there are many clues to be gathered here. On the upper bill, did you notice Ben Franklin’s raised eyebrow? Or the text declaration to the right of his head that says, “For Motion Picture Use Only”? These are clear indicators that the upper $100 bill is a counterfeit.

Counterfeiting is dangerous and costly, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. Are we really followers of Jesus? Are we genuine in our faith? How can we tell before God.

The Apostle Paul describes for us what a real follower of Jesus looks like in the book of Philippians.

In Philippians 2:5-13 Paul has described the life and ministry of Jesus, God Almighty humbling himself to the point of death on the cross for us (Phil. 2:8). He has called the Philippians, in light of this, to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, because it is God at work in them to will and work His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13).

When answering the Philippians’ anticipated question, “Well Paul, how are we to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?” Paul’s response is startling. He does not answer with the things we often consider as key signs of a true walk with Jesus, such as: zeal for truth, sexual purity, eagerness for wisdom, or even a fervent love for God and others (all of which are absolutely critical marks of a genuine Christian life!). Instead Paul in essence says, “You want to know how to work out your salvation with fear and trembling? You want to know what it looks like to labor hard after holiness because He is at work within you to will and work for His good pleasure? It looks like this: DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING OR DISPUTING.” (Phil. 2:14)

This is the mark given for the genuine Christian walk.

When we stop to think about this we are amazed. Grumbling is the pastime of our time. We grumble about: our culture, politics, people (neighbors, friends, family), the authorities over our lives (parents, employers). We even grumble about the weather. Yes I live here in California, the beautiful East Bay and I still manage to complain about the weather. One day I caught myself complaining with someone about the heat, later I thought to myself, “Really Chris? You live in California, an area that has some of the best weather in all of the North American Continent. How can you complain?”

As we look at Paul’s injunction in v. 14 several things stand out. First we find that the word “all” is in the emphatic position. In other words Paul is saying, “All things do without grumbling or disputing”.

What is grumbling? The greek word for “grumbling” is the term ‘goggusmos’. It is a word that actually sounds like what it means. Its pronunciation is much like muttering or grumbling in a low tone of voice. It is a word describing an emotional rejection of God’s providence, will, and circumstances for one’s life. The word for disputing conveys the idea of someone that likes to argue. This is someone who has a difference of opinion with God about the way things have gone for them and is arguing with Him.

The Scriptures teach us there is always a reason for the things we say. Jesus teaches us that our words ultimately reveal what is in our heart. We are telling God he might be sovereign, but He messed up. The grumbler says, “God you might be in control but if I were in control the universe would be a much better place. I could do a much better job than you.”

The Lord considers grumbling a great evil, because it is (Ex. 16:2-8; Num. 11:1-3; 1Cor. 10:10-12) . We are called to be different. What does the Bible give us as the opposite alternative to grumbling and disputing? Contentedness. One of the clearest signs you are following Christ is growth in contentedness. The rest of the passage (Phil. 2:15-18) shows us the result of a life lived without grumbling, a life lived in contentedness. There are several contrasts we can learn from Paul’s instruction here. The contrast between living as a grumbler / disputer and living in contentedness.

One of the clearest signs you are following Christ is growth in contentedness.

The rest of the passage (Phil. 2:15-18) shows us the result of a life lived without grumbling, a life lived in contentedness. There are several contrasts we can learn from Paul’s instruction here. The contrast between living as a grumbler / disputer and living in contentedness.

 When you live as a grumbler / disputer you:  When you live in Christ-like contentedness you:
Blend into the twisted and dark culture around you.  Shine like stars in a dark world. (Phil. 2:15)
Neglect the word.  Hold fast the word. (Phil. 2:16)
Ignore the coming Day of Christ.  Live with a deep ongoing awareness of the coming the Day of Christ. (Phil. 2:16)
Try avoid suffering. As a result you live a lonely, joyless life.  Rejoice while suffering together. (Phil. 2:17)

 

Contentedness is one of the clearest signs you really follow Jesus. Are you growing in contentedness? If so, be encouraged, you are shinning like a star in a dark world. If not, ask Him for forgiveness, repent of blending in the dark world around you. How can you do that? Paul tells us to look at Jesus and cultivate His attitude in us (Phil. 2:5). As we grow and become more like Him, we begin to shine His bright light in our dark world (Phil. 2:15).

 

Shining Bright.007

]]>
Counterfeits are destructive and dangerous. In the area of commerce they undermine our business owners’ hard work and cost our economy millions of dollars per year. Can you spot the counterfeit here?

Edited Counterfeit 100 dollar bills

Yes there are many clues to be gathered here. On the upper bill, did you notice Ben Franklin’s raised eyebrow? Or the text declaration to the right of his head that says, “For Motion Picture Use Only”? These are clear indicators that the upper $100 bill is a counterfeit.

Counterfeiting is dangerous and costly, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. Are we really followers of Jesus? Are we genuine in our faith? How can we tell before God.

The Apostle Paul describes for us what a real follower of Jesus looks like in the book of Philippians.

In Philippians 2:5-13 Paul has described the life and ministry of Jesus, God Almighty humbling himself to the point of death on the cross for us (Phil. 2:8). He has called the Philippians, in light of this, to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, because it is God at work in them to will and work His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13).

When answering the Philippians’ anticipated question, “Well Paul, how are we to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?” Paul’s response is startling. He does not answer with the things we often consider as key signs of a true walk with Jesus, such as: zeal for truth, sexual purity, eagerness for wisdom, or even a fervent love for God and others (all of which are absolutely critical marks of a genuine Christian life!). Instead Paul in essence says, “You want to know how to work out your salvation with fear and trembling? You want to know what it looks like to labor hard after holiness because He is at work within you to will and work for His good pleasure? It looks like this: DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING OR DISPUTING.” (Phil. 2:14)

This is the mark given for the genuine Christian walk.

When we stop to think about this we are amazed. Grumbling is the pastime of our time. We grumble about: our culture, politics, people (neighbors, friends, family), the authorities over our lives (parents, employers). We even grumble about the weather. Yes I live here in California, the beautiful East Bay and I still manage to complain about the weather. One day I caught myself complaining with someone about the heat, later I thought to myself, “Really Chris? You live in California, an area that has some of the best weather in all of the North American Continent. How can you complain?”

As we look at Paul’s injunction in v. 14 several things stand out. First we find that the word “all” is in the emphatic position. In other words Paul is saying, “All things do without grumbling or disputing”.

What is grumbling? The greek word for “grumbling” is the term ‘goggusmos’. It is a word that actually sounds like what it means. Its pronunciation is much like muttering or grumbling in a low tone of voice. It is a word describing an emotional rejection of God’s providence, will, and circumstances for one’s life. The word for disputing conveys the idea of someone that likes to argue. This is someone who has a difference of opinion with God about the way things have gone for them and is arguing with Him.

The Scriptures teach us there is always a reason for the things we say. Jesus teaches us that our words ultimately reveal what is in our heart. We are telling God he might be sovereign, but He messed up. The grumbler says, “God you might be in control but if I were in control the universe would be a much better place. I could do a much better job than you.”

The Lord considers grumbling a great evil, because it is (Ex. 16:2-8; Num. 11:1-3; 1Cor. 10:10-12) . We are called to be different. What does the Bible give us as the opposite alternative to grumbling and disputing? Contentedness. One of the clearest signs you are following Christ is growth in contentedness. The rest of the passage (Phil. 2:15-18) shows us the result of a life lived without grumbling, a life lived in contentedness. There are several contrasts we can learn from Paul’s instruction here. The contrast between living as a grumbler / disputer and living in contentedness.

One of the clearest signs you are following Christ is growth in contentedness.

The rest of the passage (Phil. 2:15-18) shows us the result of a life lived without grumbling, a life lived in contentedness. There are several contrasts we can learn from Paul’s instruction here. The contrast between living as a grumbler / disputer and living in contentedness.

 When you live as a grumbler / disputer you:  When you live in Christ-like contentedness you:
Blend into the twisted and dark culture around you.  Shine like stars in a dark world. (Phil. 2:15)
Neglect the word.  Hold fast the word. (Phil. 2:16)
Ignore the coming Day of Christ.  Live with a deep ongoing awareness of the coming the Day of Christ. (Phil. 2:16)
Try avoid suffering. As a result you live a lonely, joyless life.  Rejoice while suffering together. (Phil. 2:17)

 

Contentedness is one of the clearest signs you really follow Jesus. Are you growing in contentedness? If so, be encouraged, you are shinning like a star in a dark world. If not, ask Him for forgiveness, repent of blending in the dark world around you. How can you do that? Paul tells us to look at Jesus and cultivate His attitude in us (Phil. 2:5). As we grow and become more like Him, we begin to shine His bright light in our dark world (Phil. 2:15).

 

Shining Bright.007

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Reflecting on the Incarnation https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/looking-at-the-incarnation https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/looking-at-the-incarnation#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2016 17:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/looking-at-the-incarnation This past Sunday we looked at the voluntary humiliation of Christ in Philippians 2:5-8. As we examined this incredible passage, we asked one simple quesiton, "Since Jesus gave up His rights and privileges will you give up your rights and privileges?" It is an important question; the question Paul intends we ask from this passage. It also raises many other questions about the Incarnation of the Son of God. I mentioned that I would post some resources for you that will be helpful in addressing some of those questions. You will find those resources below. Use them to dig deeper into the doctrine of the Incarnation.

Resources for study on the Incarnation:

Dr. Bruce Ware on the Humanity of Jesus

Dr. Bruce Ware on the Divinity of Jesus

Athanasius' classic work entitiled "On the Incarnation"

Jonathan Edwards "Of Christ's Incarnation"

 

In addition to the links presented above, there are more resources available in book form. If you would like, you can purchase Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" here.  His treatment of the Incarnation is found in Chapter 26 - The Person of Christ "How is Jesus fully God and fully man, yet one person?" It is an excellent resource worth having on your bookshelf.

 

 

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This past Sunday we looked at the voluntary humiliation of Christ in Philippians 2:5-8. As we examined this incredible passage, we asked one simple quesiton, "Since Jesus gave up His rights and privileges will you give up your rights and privileges?" It is an important question; the question Paul intends we ask from this passage. It also raises many other questions about the Incarnation of the Son of God. I mentioned that I would post some resources for you that will be helpful in addressing some of those questions. You will find those resources below. Use them to dig deeper into the doctrine of the Incarnation.

Resources for study on the Incarnation:

Dr. Bruce Ware on the Humanity of Jesus

Dr. Bruce Ware on the Divinity of Jesus

Athanasius' classic work entitiled "On the Incarnation"

Jonathan Edwards "Of Christ's Incarnation"

 

In addition to the links presented above, there are more resources available in book form. If you would like, you can purchase Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" here.  His treatment of the Incarnation is found in Chapter 26 - The Person of Christ "How is Jesus fully God and fully man, yet one person?" It is an excellent resource worth having on your bookshelf.

 

 

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Impostors of Hope https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/impostors-of-hope https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/impostors-of-hope#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2016 17:00:00 -0700 https://www.claytonvalleychurch.com/walking-closer-with-god/post/impostors-of-hope I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan. He is not only a brilliant detective; he’s also a master of disguise. sherlock
One moment he can appear as an old beggar in a dark London alleyway, the next he is disguised as a dashing prince from a far away land. Disguises can be fun, until the "make believe" becomes deadly. We recently spent some time in Psalm 62 where we found David declaring that God ALONE stands as His refuge (Ps 62:1-2). As he makes this bold declaration he calls all of us to trust in Yahweh alone to be our help. Yahweh is our exclusive refuge, our only rock and salvation. He is the only source of true, unassailable safety.

Yet even as David declares these truths he finds that there are enticing imposters who pose as additional sources of security. He exposes these three imposters in Ps 62:9-10 where David sings:

Psa. 62:9-10 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

The three imposters David exposes are: People, Plans and Plenty. For remainder of this blog post we will briefly examine the first false hope for security:

People (Ps 62:9)

We are often tempted to rest our hope in people. We often want them to treat us or respond to us in a certain way. We care too much about how they might see us. In Psalm 62:9 we are told that all people, whether of the lowest degree or of the highest status, if weighed in the balances of God’s divine scale, are “lighter than breath”. In other words when compared with the weight of God’s majesty, power and faithfulness, they don’t even register. Elsewhere the Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” (Prov. 29:25) In other words, when facing difficulty, confusion or fear, consult God’s wishes first and foremost. Know that He can and will deal with the people you fear.

Are you resting your hope in people? How can you tell? Are you often preoccupied or anxious about the way others see you? This kind of anxiety expresses itself when we make statements like:

  • “I’m not prepared to meet this person.”
  • “What does he think of me?”
  • “I’ll probably make a fool of myself.”
  • “I can’t reveal too much of myself or she will know what I’m really like and reject me.”
  • “I can’t bear the thought of being hurt again.”
  • “I must get away from this person (those people) as quickly as possible.

Do you avoid conflict at all costs? Not all conflict is bad. Sometimes it is even necessary to help us and others. A person who seeks to avoid all forms of conflict will often think, “I better be careful to not say anything that could set things off here.” This is living a sham and leads to many long term problems with others.

As Lou Priolo puts it, “A people-pleaser is not a peacemaker, but rather a peace-lover.”

Do you treat others in sinful ways (harshly, condescendingly, sarcastically) when they hurt you? Is it a sin for someone to disagree with you? If not, then why do you treat them that way when they disagree with you?

Where do you first run when you encounter a fearful trial?

  • To God?
  • To a your ingenuity, skills, resources?
  • Other people?

Do you frequently fail to thank God in prayer after being rescued from a trial?

  • In your mind did the trial simply ‘pass’?
  • Did your own ingenuity, skills or resources rescue you?

People are made by God and can be used by Him as gifts and blessings in our lives. Yet, they cannot be the foundation of our hope. When we rest our security in people, and the way they treat us, we end up resting in one of God’s blessings, rather than God Himself. Are the symptoms of resting hope in people we discussed an ongoing part of your life? If so, it could be that you are trusting in people rather than God and you are heading for a fall. It is time to repent and reaffirm in your heart that God alone is your refuge. He is the only One who can really keep you in His almighty grace (Ps 62:1-2).

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I’m a big Sherlock Holmes fan. He is not only a brilliant detective; he’s also a master of disguise. sherlock
One moment he can appear as an old beggar in a dark London alleyway, the next he is disguised as a dashing prince from a far away land. Disguises can be fun, until the "make believe" becomes deadly. We recently spent some time in Psalm 62 where we found David declaring that God ALONE stands as His refuge (Ps 62:1-2). As he makes this bold declaration he calls all of us to trust in Yahweh alone to be our help. Yahweh is our exclusive refuge, our only rock and salvation. He is the only source of true, unassailable safety.

Yet even as David declares these truths he finds that there are enticing imposters who pose as additional sources of security. He exposes these three imposters in Ps 62:9-10 where David sings:

Psa. 62:9-10 Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

The three imposters David exposes are: People, Plans and Plenty. For remainder of this blog post we will briefly examine the first false hope for security:

People (Ps 62:9)

We are often tempted to rest our hope in people. We often want them to treat us or respond to us in a certain way. We care too much about how they might see us. In Psalm 62:9 we are told that all people, whether of the lowest degree or of the highest status, if weighed in the balances of God’s divine scale, are “lighter than breath”. In other words when compared with the weight of God’s majesty, power and faithfulness, they don’t even register. Elsewhere the Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” (Prov. 29:25) In other words, when facing difficulty, confusion or fear, consult God’s wishes first and foremost. Know that He can and will deal with the people you fear.

Are you resting your hope in people? How can you tell? Are you often preoccupied or anxious about the way others see you? This kind of anxiety expresses itself when we make statements like:

  • “I’m not prepared to meet this person.”
  • “What does he think of me?”
  • “I’ll probably make a fool of myself.”
  • “I can’t reveal too much of myself or she will know what I’m really like and reject me.”
  • “I can’t bear the thought of being hurt again.”
  • “I must get away from this person (those people) as quickly as possible.

Do you avoid conflict at all costs? Not all conflict is bad. Sometimes it is even necessary to help us and others. A person who seeks to avoid all forms of conflict will often think, “I better be careful to not say anything that could set things off here.” This is living a sham and leads to many long term problems with others.

As Lou Priolo puts it, “A people-pleaser is not a peacemaker, but rather a peace-lover.”

Do you treat others in sinful ways (harshly, condescendingly, sarcastically) when they hurt you? Is it a sin for someone to disagree with you? If not, then why do you treat them that way when they disagree with you?

Where do you first run when you encounter a fearful trial?

  • To God?
  • To a your ingenuity, skills, resources?
  • Other people?

Do you frequently fail to thank God in prayer after being rescued from a trial?

  • In your mind did the trial simply ‘pass’?
  • Did your own ingenuity, skills or resources rescue you?

People are made by God and can be used by Him as gifts and blessings in our lives. Yet, they cannot be the foundation of our hope. When we rest our security in people, and the way they treat us, we end up resting in one of God’s blessings, rather than God Himself. Are the symptoms of resting hope in people we discussed an ongoing part of your life? If so, it could be that you are trusting in people rather than God and you are heading for a fall. It is time to repent and reaffirm in your heart that God alone is your refuge. He is the only One who can really keep you in His almighty grace (Ps 62:1-2).

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