Knowing God - Lesson 7: “The Goodness of God” - Cameron Jungels - Wed PM, Feb. 26, 2014

“Knowing God”

Lesson 7: “The Goodness of God” (Eastside Baptist/Wed PM/Feb. 26, 2014)

The Attributes of God

v  God’s attributes are his essential characteristics or the necessary parts of his nature.

v  God’s attributes can be classified according to those of his greatness and those of his goodness.

v  The key difference between the two kinds of God’s attributes is the word “share.”

v  God’s greatness cannot be shared or imitated; God’s goodness can be shared or imitated by human beings.

The Attributes of God’s Goodness

v  God’s attributes of goodness are those qualities that express God’s character in relationship to his creatures.

v  By grace, in dependence on the Spirit, and in a finite way, we can emulate these qualities.

1. God is holy.

Separate from Creation

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isa. 6:1–3 NIV)

Separate from Sin and Evil

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:15–16 NIV)

2. God is truthful.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (Jn. 17:3 NIV)

in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, (Tit. 1:2 NIV)

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Jn. 14:6 NIV)

3. God is loving.

God’s Will to Love

The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Deut. 7:7–8 NIV)

God’s Love & Other Attributes

The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. (Ps. 33:5 NIV)

God’s Love Is Sacrificial

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn. 3:16 NIV)

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 Jn. 4:9–10 NIV)

God’s Love Is Unconditional

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8 NIV)

God’s Love Is Eternal

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jer. 31:3 NIV)

4. God is righteous.

I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.  (Deut. 32:3–4 NIV)

5. God is faithful.

Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. (Ps. 119:90 NIV)

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Co. 10:13 NIV)

6. God is merciful.

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  (Lam. 3:22–23 NIV)

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven  ⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."  (Lk. 1:78–79 NIV)

7. God is gracious.

God’s Common Grace

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  (Matt. 5:44–45 NIV)

God’s Saving Grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.  (Eph. 2:8–9 NIV)

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Rom. 11:6 NIV)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. (Rom. 4:4–5 NIV)

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom. 3:24 NIV)

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring-- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. (Rom. 4:16 NIV)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. (Eph. 1:4–8 NIV)