GOD TELLS US ABOUT HIMSELF

1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

An agnostic says “I don’t know if there is a god.”

An agnostic says “I don’t know if there is a god.”

An athiest says

“There is no god.”

Time for reflection – How would your family be different if there was no God?

All people can know that there is a God.

Psalm 19:1 ; Hebrews 3:4

Romans 1:20 ; Romans 2:15

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

4For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

All people can know that there is a God.Psalm 19:1 ; Hebrews 3:4

Romans 1:20 ; Romans 2:15

1. From nature (the created universe)

15since [the Gentiles] show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

All people can know that there is a God.Psalm 19:1 ; Hebrews 3:4

Romans 1:20 ; Romans 2:15

1. From nature (the created universe)

2. From conscience (the voice within us)

Natural knowledge of God =

What can be learned about God from nature and one’s conscience

20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Natural knowledge of God =

What can be learned about God from nature and one’s conscience

Nature Conscience

There is a God who is powerful, wise and holy

tells me

The weakness of natural knowledge -

1. Who the true God is (versus idols)

2. About one’s Savior from sin

It doesn’t tell:

Acts 17:26-27

26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

God gives people natural knowledge to lead them toseek after the Lord and know more about him

John 1:18 ; John 14:8-9 ; John 5:39

18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only [Jesus Christ], who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

God gives people natural knowledge to lead them toseek after the Lord and know more about him

John 1:18 ; John 14:8-9 ; John 5:39

God shows what He is really like throughJesus Christ

God gives people natural knowledge to lead them toseek after the Lord and know more about him

John 1:18 ; John 14:8-9 ; John 5:39

God shows what He is really like through

Jesus Christ

We find Jesus Christ in the

Bible God

manJesus

“Bible” =

The book

“Scriptures” =

The writings

Revealed knowledge of God =

What God has made known about Himself in the Bible

The Bible tells us:

Isaiah 43:11-12

11 I, even I, am the LORD , and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD , "that I am God.

The Bible tells us:

Isaiah 43:11-12

1. Who the true God is: the Triune God

2. Who one’s Savior is: Jesus Christ

holy/just (punishes sin)unchangeable

omnipresent (present everywhere)

omnipotent (all-powerful)

eternal (no beginnings or end

omniscient (all-knowing)

loving

What does the awesome natural wonder you mentioned earlier tell you about God?

OR

What do the following tell you about God?A spring garden in bloomOur bodies’ ability to develop immunity

Agree or Disagree – People could come to saving faith if they would only look closely at nature and listen to their conscience.

Agree or Disagree? The Bible is the light of salvation for everyone who reads it.

Our God is TRIUNE =

Three persons in one Godhead or Deity

Deuteronomy 6:4

2 Corinthians 13:14

Genesis 1:26

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

GOD

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

2 CORINTHIANS 13:14

GOD

14May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Son

Holy Spirit

Father

THE PERSONS OF THE GODHEAD

FATHER SON

HOLY SPIRIT

GOD

is not

is not

is

is

is

not

is

1.The Father, who is theCreator (one

who made us all

2. The Son, who is the

Redeemer (one who bought us back)

3. The Holy Spirit, who is theSanctifier (one

who sets us apart)

Note: All of the above descriptions of God – holy, eternal, etc. – apply equally to each person of the Trinity.

Agree or Disagree – We have one God but sometimes he acts like the Father, sometimes He acts like the Son, and sometimes he acts like the Holy Spirit.

Agree or Disagree – Essentially all people believe in the same God. They only call him different names and worship him in different ways.

Question: We said that there are three persons in the Trinity and that they all do divine things. Can we distinguish between the work of the Father, the work of the Son, and the work of the Holy Spirit

Question: Would it be proper to address a prayer to only one member of the Trinity?

“God is three and one at the same time – just as a triangle has three sides but at the same time is only one thing.” In what way is this a useful illustration of the Trinity? In what way is this not very helpful as an explanation of the Triune God?

Why is it a comfort knowing that we have a Triune God?

Hint: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8)

1. Study carefully the notes you have taken in class; be sure you understand them.

2. Study questions 1-5; 148-150 in the Catechism.

3. Complete the “Working with God’s Word” section on this page. Read the Bible sections and fill in all the blanks.

4. Memorize these Bible verses:

Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

VIP John 1:18 – “No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.”

2 Corinthians 13:14 – “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

5. Memorize in order the names of the following New Testament books; and review the ones you learned last week.

1 & 2 Thessalonians Hebrews

1 & 2 Timothy James

Titus 1 & 2 Peter

Philemon 1, 2, & 3 John

Jude

Revelation

6. Complete Worksheet #2 at home and have your parents correct it with workbook.

7. Be ready to take a quiz on the Key Truths, VIP and Bible Books from this Lesson on September 26

Lesson Two• All people can know there is a god from

________________ and from ________________ . We call this kind of knowledge the ________________ knowledge of God. The problem is these things will never tell us who __________________________ or who __________________________ . Only in the Bible, or the ________________ knowledge of God, do we discover who ________________ and who ________________ .

Lesson Two • All people can know there is a god from NATURE and

from CONSCIENCE. We call this kind of knowledge the NATURAL knowledge of God. The problem is these things will never tell us who THE TRUE GOD IS or who OUR SAVIOR IS. Only in the Bible, or the REVEALED knowledge of God, do we discover who THE TRUE GOD IS and who THE SAVIOR IS.