Knowing the True God Copyright Norman L. Geisler 2002

Outline: I.The Importance of Knowing God I.The Importance of Knowing God II.The Two Kinds of Attributes of God II.The Two Kinds of Attributes of God A. Non-Moral Attributes--Greatness B. Moral Attributes Goodness B. Moral Attributes Goodness

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 5.Idols are idols whether they are mental or metal. 5.Idols are idols whether they are mental or metal.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 5.Idols are idols whether they are mental or metal. 5.Idols are idols whether they are mental or metal. 6. We tend to become like the object we worship. 6. We tend to become like the object we worship.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 1. The most important thing about us is what we think of God. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 2. We can’t be like God unless we know what God is like. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 3. We can’t know the true God unless we know the truth about God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 4. We can’t recognize false gods unless we know the true God. 5.Idols are idols whether they are mental or metal. 5.Idols are idols whether they are mental or metal. 6. We tend to become like the object we worship. 6. We tend to become like the object we worship. 7. An ultimate commitment to anything less than ultimate will not ultimately satisfy. 7. An ultimate commitment to anything less than ultimate will not ultimately satisfy.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. –A. The best way to know humans who are made in the image of God is to know the God in whose image we are made.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. –A. The best way to know humans who are made in the image of God is to know the God in whose image we are made. –B. The best way to understand a copy is to study the original.

I. The Importance of Knowing God I. The Importance of Knowing God 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. 8. We cannot know ourselves properly unless we know our God truly. –A. The best way to know humans who are made in the image of God is to know the God in whose image we are made. –B. The best way to understand a copy is to study the original. 9. If we do not live by what is above us, then what is below us will drag down what is within us.

Outline: I.The Importance of Knowing God I.The Importance of Knowing God II.The Attributes of God II.The Attributes of God A. Non-Moral Attributes--Greatness A. Non-Moral Attributes--Greatness B. Moral Attributes--Goodness B. Moral Attributes--Goodness

Outline: I.The Importance of Knowing God I.The Importance of Knowing God II.The Attributes of God II.The Attributes of God A. Non-Moral Attributes A. Non-Moral Attributes B. Moral Attributes B. Moral Attributes

A.Non-Moral Attributes (We can not be like these) 1.Infinite (unlimited) 1.Infinite (unlimited) 2. Self-existent (uncaused) 2. Self-existent (uncaused) 3. Immutable (unchangeable) 3. Immutable (unchangeable) 4. Eternal (non-temporal) 4. Eternal (non-temporal) 5. All-powerful (omnipotent) 5. All-powerful (omnipotent) 6. All-knowing (omniscient) 6. All-knowing (omniscient) 7.Everywhere present (omnipresent) 7.Everywhere present (omnipresent)

B. Moral Attributes (We can be like these) 1. Holy 1. Holy 2. Just 2. Just 3. Truthful 3. Truthful 4. Perfect 4. Perfect 5. Love 5. Love

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being.

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being.

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Heb. 6:18—”For it is impossible for God to lie.” Heb. 6:18—”For it is impossible for God to lie.”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Heb. 6:18—”For it is impossible for God to lie.” Heb. 6:18—”For it is impossible for God to lie.” Titus 1:2—”…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began….” Titus 1:2—”…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began….”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Support: Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” Num. 23:19—”God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that he should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 1Sam. 15:29—”The Strength of Israel will not lie or change His mind. For He is not a man that He should change His mind.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Psa. 102:25-27—”The heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will endure. Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment,…and they will be changed. But you are the same.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Mal. 3:6—”I the LORD change not.” Heb. 6:18—”For it is impossible for God to lie.” Heb. 6:18—”For it is impossible for God to lie.” Titus 1:2—”…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began….” Titus 1:2—”…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began….” Jas. 1:17—”Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” Jas. 1:17—”Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Implications: Implications: 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us.

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Implications: Implications: 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 2. Prayer is not a means by which we change God; It is a means by which God changes us.

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Implications: Implications: 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 2. Prayer is not a means by which we change God; It is a means by which God changes us. 3. We have a foundation for our life that we can always trust.

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Implications: Implications: 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 2. Prayer is not a means by which we change God; It is a means by which God changes us. 3. We have a foundation for our life that we can always trust.

God’s Immutability Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Meaning: God is unchangeable; He cannot change in His Being. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Support: Num. 23:9; 1Sam. 15:29; Psa. 102:25-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2; Jas. 1:17. Implications: Implications: 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 1. We change in relation to God; He does not change in relation to us. 2. Prayer is not a means by which we change God; It is a means by which God changes us. 3. We have a foundation for our life that we can always trust.

Conclusions: Our life can rise no higher than our view of the Highest (God). Our life can rise no higher than our view of the Highest (God).

Conclusions: Our life can be no more stable than its ultimate Foundation (God). Our life can be no more stable than its ultimate Foundation (God).

Conclusions: Our life can rise no higher than our view of the Highest (God). Our life can rise no higher than our view of the Highest (God). Our life can be no more stable than its ultimate Foundation (God). Our life can be no more stable than its ultimate Foundation (God). Our life won’t be ultimately satisfied with anything less than the Ultimate. Our life won’t be ultimately satisfied with anything less than the Ultimate.

To Make a Person Happy… 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism

To Make a Person Happy… 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 2. Take away from their Passions--Buddhism 2. Take away from their Passions--Buddhism

To Make a Person Happy… 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity

To Make a Person Happy… 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity An infinite thirst will never be satisfied with the finite.

To Make a Person Happy… 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity An infinite thirst will never be satisfied with the finite. An eternal desire will never be content with the temporal.

To Make a Person Happy… 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 1.Add to their Possessions—Materialism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 2. Take away from their Passions—Buddhism 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity 3. Redirect their Passions to God—Christianity An infinite thirst will never be satisfied with the finite. An eternal desire will never be content with the temporal. A quest for ultimate satisfaction will never be happy with anything less than the Ultimate.

Some Helpful Books… J. I. Packer, Knowing God. J. I. Packer, Knowing God. J. B. Philips. Your God is Too Small. J. B. Philips. Your God is Too Small. A. J. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy. A. J. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy. A. J. Tozer, The Pursuit of God. A. J. Tozer, The Pursuit of God. R. C. Sproul. The Holiness of God. R. C. Sproul. The Holiness of God. Stephen Charnock. The Existence and Attributes of God. Stephen Charnock. The Existence and Attributes of God. Thomas Aquinas. The Summa Theologica. Thomas Aquinas. The Summa Theologica. Peter Kreeft. A Summa of the Summa. Peter Kreeft. A Summa of the Summa. Norman Geisler. Systematic Theology, Vol. 2. Norman Geisler. Systematic Theology, Vol. 2.

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