CHAPTER 2: THE STUDY OF GOD (THEOLOGY PROPER)

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The word "theology" literally means the study of God but since the word has taken on a wider meaning, embracing the whole area of Christian doctrine, writers generally use the term "Theology Proper" for the more specific study of the Person of God.

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1. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

The Holy Bible does not try to prove that God exists. It just assumes all through the Scriptures that there is a God. The first verse of the Bible is an example of this. “I"In the beginning God created¡K" This verse presents God's existence as a fact that does not need to be proved. The man who says there is no God is called a fool in Psalm 14:1.

However, even apart from the Bible there are certain evidences to prove that there is a God.

  1. Men all over the world have always believed in a Supreme Being (i.e. One who is greater than they are).

  2. Everything must be caused by something or someone. The universe could not begin by itself.

  3. There is wonderful design and plan in creation and this means that there must have been someone to design it.

  4. Man is an intelligent being who knows what is right and wrong. His maker must be an intelligent being who is greater than man in order to create him.

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2. THE NATURE OF GOD

God is a spirit (John 4:24). This means that God does not have a body. We cannot see Him. However, God can show Himself to us in a form that we can see. In the person of Jesus Christ, God came into the world in a body like ours (John 1:1, 14, 18; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3).

God is a person. God has the same characteristics as we have. He knows and understands (Isaiah 55:8, 9). He has feelings such as grief (Genesis 6:6), love (John 3:16), pity (Psalm 111:4), jealousy (Exodus 20:5) and anger (Deuteronomy 1:37). He also has a will (Psalm 115:3; John 6:38).

The unity of God. The Bible clearly teaches us that there is one God (Deuteronomy 4:39; Mark 12:29). Read 1 Timothy 2:5. The teaching that there are many Gods is false and is contrary to reason. There can be only one Surpreme Being who is greater than all others.

The Trinity. God is so much greater than man that no one could know what God is like unless God Himself made it known. The Bible teaches us that God is one Being but that there are three-distinct persons in the Godhead, called the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These are not three Gods because the nature of God cannot be divided. We use the word "Trinity" to describe three persons but one God. This is a mystery to the human mind. We cannot fully understand it, but we can believe it because God’s Word says that it is true. We do not find the word "trinity" in the Bible, but this truth is found in the following verses:

  1. At the baptism of Jesus. Read Matthew 3:16, 17.

  2. At the great commission. Read Matthew 28:19.

  3. In the blessing of 2 Corinthians 13:14. Read this verse.

The Father is called God in Romans 1:7. The Son is called God in Hebrews 1:8. The Holy Spirit is called God in Acts 5:3, 4.

The relationship between the persons called Father and Son in the Godhead is not the same as between a human father and his son. God the Father did not beget the Son in the human sense. Jesus Christ said that He was in the Father and the Father in Him (John 14:9-11). He said that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). This is not true of a human father and son.

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3. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

It is not easy to explain what God is like. One of the best ways is to describe some of His qualities or characteristics. We call these the attributes of God.

God is omnipresent. This means that God is present everywhere at the same time (Jeremiah 23:24; Psalm 139:7-12).

God is omniscient. God knows all things. He knows all that we think and all that we do (Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 139:1, 2; Hebrews 4:13).

God is omnipotent. God has all power. He created the universe and now He controls it by His power. God is able to do whatever He wills (Jeremiah 32:17-18; Genesis 17:1; Matthew 19:26). False Bible teachers and false cults denied that the God is omnipotent.

God is eternal. God never had a beginning and He will never stop existing (Psalm 90:2; Genesis 21:33; Psalm 102:26, 27).

God is unchangeable. God will never change because He is absolutely perfect (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

God is holy. God is absolutely pure and sinless (Isaiah 6:3). He hates sin and loves goodness (Proberbs 15:9, 26). God will not allow sin in His presence and therefore He is separated from sinners. He will punish sin (Isaiah 59:1, 2).

God is just. Everything God does is right and fair (Psalm 119:137; Daniel 9:14). He fulfills all of His Promises (1 Kings 8:56).

God is love. It is God's nature to love (1 John 4:8, 16, 19). Although God hates sin, He loves sinners (Romans 5:8). Read John 3:16.

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4. BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR FURTHER STUDY

  1. Tozer, A.W. - The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: Harper and Row).

  2. William MacDonald - What the Bible Teaches (Emmaus Bible College).

  3. R.E. Harlow - Basic Bible Doctrines (Emmaus Bible College).

  4. God News - Moody Bible Institute.

  5. William Baker - Understanding God (Moody Bible Institute).

  6. Henry C. Thiessen - Lectures in Systematic Theology.

  7. J.I. Packer - Knowing God.

  8. J. Oswald Sanders - The Incomparable Christ.

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Return to Table of Contents

Go to Chapter Three

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