God Our Father As a father pities his

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God Our Father As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those

God Our Father As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him (Psalm 103: 13)

WHY STUDY THEOLOGY? HOW DOES THIS HELP MY LIFE? DOSEN’T DOCTRINE “DIVIDE” PEOPLE?

WHY STUDY THEOLOGY? HOW DOES THIS HELP MY LIFE? DOSEN’T DOCTRINE “DIVIDE” PEOPLE?

WHY STUDY THEOLOGY? Theology is a systematic study of what the Bible says about

WHY STUDY THEOLOGY? Theology is a systematic study of what the Bible says about God. There is no higher or greater subject for man to consider. Therefore, theology is the highest level of study and learning available to humanity.

HOW DOES THE STUDY OF THEOLOGY HELP MY LIFE? Theology helps us to put

HOW DOES THE STUDY OF THEOLOGY HELP MY LIFE? Theology helps us to put the truth into an organized system. We can then study and learn in an organized way. This approach enables us to build up God’s people into Christ’s likeness. This produces better worshipers. In turn, God is more glorified, for we actually worship and serve Him truthfully, rather than randomly or thoughtlessly. Theology has some hard concepts in it, but the majority of it can be understood by each Christian.

DOESN’T DOCTRINE DIVIDE PEOPLE? Actually, a clear grasp of biblical theology helps to stabilize

DOESN’T DOCTRINE DIVIDE PEOPLE? Actually, a clear grasp of biblical theology helps to stabilize God’s people. To be sure, it does define people in some ways. However, this defining process helps Christians to sharpen each other in faith, and it creates clear paths through which we can cooperate; or not. “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division” (Jesus in Mark 12: 51). So much for our “universal unity”!

On a local church level, sound doctrine stabilizes the church. If churches find their

On a local church level, sound doctrine stabilizes the church. If churches find their unity around affinity/age groups, ethnicity, favorite ministries, music styles, and fads, then that church will eventually find itself in chaos as the opinions of man drive the agenda of the church. Building on low theological convictions “works” in the short-term. Eventually, this approach destroys the church. However, biblical theology transcends all of these earthly things, and builds a church unified around the eternal truth. That church will stand through all the fads and “hip” methods of our time.

Article 2 A GOD the FATHER “God as Father reigns with providential care over

Article 2 A GOD the FATHER “God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in his attitude toward all men. ”

Why Not “God Our Mother? ” • We know that God has no body

Why Not “God Our Mother? ” • We know that God has no body parts, so this question is about one of imagery; not biology. • God’s names are masculine. That is how He reveals Himself. To change that would indeed change our concept of God, and that we have no right to do. • God’s order for His people, His church, and the families that follow Him are all organized through male headship. To change God to a female would demolish all of the covenantal authority and order that God has established. • Why not eliminate gender distinctive language about God? The result would be to make Him impersonal, indistinct, and something other than the Father He reveals Himself to be.

GOD the FATHER’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE “Providential care” refers to the fact that God is

GOD the FATHER’S PROVIDENTIAL CARE “Providential care” refers to the fact that God is actively at work in all of His creation. It does not run on its own. It cannot! “You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, The earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You” (Nehemiah 9: 6).

God is the Ruler over the universe. He cares for every part of His

God is the Ruler over the universe. He cares for every part of His creation. Evolution, on the other hand, is a theory built on the premise that there is no God at work in the universe, and therefore there is no one who cares!

GOD’S GENERAL PROVIDENTIAL CARE “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither

GOD’S GENERAL PROVIDENTIAL CARE “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6: 26).

GOD’S SPECIAL FATHERLY CARE “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He

GOD’S SPECIAL FATHERLY CARE “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1: 12). “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8: 15).

Our Father is All-Powerful We have explored this fact already. You can read more

Our Father is All-Powerful We have explored this fact already. You can read more on page 35 in your book. God our Father is El-Shaddai!

Our Father is All-Knowing He knows all things, and is powerful over all things,

Our Father is All-Knowing He knows all things, and is powerful over all things, but He does not always directly cause all things. He never learns anything; nor is He surprised by anything. “God does not wait to see what will happen” (p. 36).

Our Father is All-Loving “God is love” (1 John 4: 8). Yet, we must

Our Father is All-Loving “God is love” (1 John 4: 8). Yet, we must be careful not to divorce His love from His holiness and purity. He does not indulge or excuse sin. Sin is the one factor that interrupts God’s fatherly actions toward people. He is not more loving than He is just and holy. One attribute cannot be compromised for the sake of the other. Nevertheless, God is sacrificially loving. His other attributes cause us to stand in awe of Him. His love draws us to Him!

The Father’s Ultimate Expression of Love “But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

The Father’s Ultimate Expression of Love “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8). It is one thing to choose to give your life up for others; it is love of a different kind to give up for others the one you most love!

OUR RESPONSE: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,

OUR RESPONSE: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12: 30).