Right Thoughts About God....

[Iconoclast]

And believers, how you do injustice towards the Lord when you view Him as cruel, merciless, pitiless, and always angry, because He neither immediately delivers you from your threatening and pressing circumstances, nor grants you your desires, nor answers your prayers. You dishonor God with such thoughts. You imagine things about God that are unbecoming of Him. Humble yourself for entertaining such sinful and God-dishonoring conceptions. Refrain yourself from and be fearful of such thoughts. How detrimental it is to you when you dwell upon such thoughts. It will prevent you from praying believingly. You will rob yourself of a quiet confidence in God, frustrate the expression of your love towards God, and bring upon yourself darkness, restlessness, the hiding of God's countenance, and a vulnerability towards sin. Please conduct yourself no longer thus, but condition yourself to view God always in such a fashion as we have described Him to be on the basis of His Word. Acknowledge Him to be such and magnify Him in these perfections. If you have sinned or are in the way of affliction, believe firmly and seek to maintain a lively impression that God's character is truly of such a nature. Therefore frequently humble yourself before Him as a child and be at liberty to go to God believing Him to be such, not only as far as His character is concerned but also that He is such a God in regard to you. Rejoice in this and without fear commit both yourself and your case to Him. You will experience that it will be to your comfort and joy as well as promote intimate communion with Him, strengthen your faith, and result in progress in the way of sanctification. Then the holiness of God will not discourage you but generate a childlike reverence in you; and it will become your delight to be holy, since He is holy. William Brakel On God's longsuffering

 

[hawkman]

And believers, how you do injustice towards the Lord when you view Him as cruel, merciless, pitiless, and always angry, because He neither immediately delivers you from your threatening and pressing circumstances, nor grants you your desires, nor answers your prayers.

I am very glad believers of that nature are in very short supply on this forum .

 

[Iconoclast]

I am very glad believers of that nature are in very short supply on this forum .

Sometimes because we sit at a computer, and interact with others, we forget that the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the good and the evil. We are told that God is good, pure, and perfect in scripture, but forget that He is Holy in all His ways.
The glorifed saints in heaven are not confused by it at all.
Rev19:
19 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

3 And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

 

[Iconoclast]

John Brown Of Haddington

V. The holiness of God is that essential perfection of his nature, which lies in perfect freedom from, and hatred of all sin, and in perfect love to every thing holy and pure.—That God is infinitely holy appears,

1. From express declarations of Scripture, Josh 24:19; 1 Sam 2:2, Exod 15:11; Ps 89:35; Ps 11:7; Ps 99:9; Prov 30:3; Hab 1:12-13; Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8; John 17:11; Dan 9:24; Ps 16:10; Acts 3:14; Rom 1:4; Luke 1:35.
Nay, holiness is represented as his beauty, Exod 15:11; Ps 27:4; his grandeur, Ps 89:35. Amos 4:2; and more than forty times he is called the Holy One of Israel or Jacob, Hab 3:3; Hab 1:12; Isa 1:4,10,20; Isa 43:14; Isa 29:23, etc.

 

[Iconoclast]

ibid
In giving to all his rational creatures a moral law, requiring the most perfect and uninterrupted holiness of heart and life,
—and enforced with the most powerful sanction of rewards and punishments, Rom 7:12; Matt 22:37,39; Rom 12-13; Col 3-4; Eph 4-6; 1 Thess 4-5; 1 Pet 1-5; Exod 20:3-17

 

[Iconoclast]

continued
In publicly manifesting his detestation of men on account of their most secret sins, Ps 50:21; Ps 10:8,11,14; Ezek 14:3-8; Ezek 8:7-18; 2 Sam 12:11-12; Jer 16:17-18.

In marking all the wicked with the most shameful distance and disgrace in the last judgment, 1 Thess 4:16-17; Matt 25:33; Ps 1:5; Ps 138:6.

 

[Iconoclast]

More from John Brown of Haddington;
—He is unchangeable,
1. In his existence, that he cannot cease to be, 1 Tim 1:17; 1 Tim 6:16; Rom 1:25; Ps102:24-27.

2. In his essence or nature, that he cannot cease to be whatever he is, in his perfections of wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, or truth, etc. 2 Tim 2:13; Isa 26:4; Deut 32:4; Ps 103:17; Ps90:2; Exod 3:14.

3. In his actual knowledge of things, 1 Cor 2:16; Acts 15:18; Heb 4:13; Job 11:7-9.

4. In his will and purpose, Heb 6:17-18; Isa 14:24,27; Isa 46:10; Ps 33:11; Rom 9:11; Job 23:13.

5. In his words,—his doctrines,laws promises,threatenings,or predictions,Num 23:19;1 Sam 15:29; Heb 6:18; Ps 119:87.

6. In his essential presence, that he cannot properly remove from one place to another, 1 Kings 8:27; Jer 23:23-24.

7. In his duration, which is neither less nor greater. He hath never existed longer, nor hath any less future
duration to enjoy, Ps 90:2,4; 2 Pet 3:8.
—His formation of his creatures from nothing, or his changing of their forms in his providence, infers no change in himself.His power and will to create,preserve,or govern them,in such a manner,being the very same from all eternity.
—New relations between him and his creatures infer not a change in him, but in them.

 

[Iconoclast]

cont.
VI. His oneness, in respect of which, on account of his infinite perfection, there neither is, nor can be any other like to, or equal with him. This doth not mean, that there is but one Supreme God, as Arians and Socinians profess, who admit subordinate gods. Nor that there is but one specific divine nature, which different beings may possess, as Tritheists pretend: Nor that there is but one divine person exhibited in different characters, and by different names, as Sabellians contend. But it means, that there neither is, nor can be any more than one individual, or as others speak, numerical divine substance. This the necessary self-existence of God, his absolute eternity, infinity, omnipotence, and sovereignty, which exclude every rival partaker,demonstrate. And multitudes of scriptures expressly
declare it, Deut 4:35,39; Deut 6:4; Deut 32:39; Deut 33:26; 1 Sam2:2; 2 Sam 7:22; 1 Kings 8:23; 2 Kings 19:15; 1 Chron 15:26; Ps 18:31;Ps 35:10; Ps 86:8; Ps 148:13; Ps 89:6,8; Ps 115:4-8; Isa 43:10-15; Isa44:26; Isa 45:5,18-22; Jer 10:8-15; Jer 14:22;Hos 13:4;Exod 20:3;John 17:3; Rom 3:30; 1 Cor 8:6; Eph 4:6; James 2:19; James 4:12; 1Tim 2:5.

 

[Iconoclast]

pt3.
—But none of these texts exclude the Son, or the Holy Ghost,from true and supreme godhead. Nay, the very characters ascribed to the one only true God, are ascribed to each of these two persons,compare Isa 44:6 with Rev 1:8,11.
—Isa 45:22-23 with Rom 14:9-10; Phil 2:10-11.
—John 17:3 with 1 John 5:20-21.
—Rom 3:30 with Isa53:11.
—In 1 Cor 8:6; 1 Tim 2:5. One God means the divine nature, as distinguished from Christ the Mediator.
—Nor are the distinct persons in the godhead represented as having similar, but the very same names, attributes, counsel, will, and work, compare Ps 33:6; Isa 44:24.
—Rom 10:12; Luke 2:11; Rom 11:34; Isa 40:13; 2 Cor 3:18.
—Deut 6:4; Ps 83:18; Jer 23:6.
—Ezek 8:3; Matt 15:31; Luke 1:16-17; 2Sam 23:3.
—Rom 7:25; Gal 6:2; Rom 8:2; Deut 6:16; 1 Cor 10:9; Acts 5:9.
—1 Cor 2:16; Rom 8:27.
—1 Thess 4:3; Acts 22:14; Acts 9:15,17; 2 Pet 1:21 .

 

[Iconoclast]

Many times of such message boards we find people who have not been instructed correctly on the Attributes of God.
What they do is substitute their own God. The God they invent does what they want Him to do.
They find the God of the bible does not meet with their approval.
No where is this demonstrated more then where God has commanded righteous Judgment to fall upon people, nations, or even the world of the ungodly.
Biblically Ignorant comments are then made as if the God of Jn.3:16 is not the very same God who destroyed the world of the ungodly by a worldwide flood.
These same people when presented with bible truth rebel and suggest you are following "man made teachings"
or "Doctrines of men".
They begin to reveal their devotion to the false idol god, by calling the true and living God into question.
The rebellion leads to suggesting that God is not immutable. Sadly ,this drifts into foul suggestions that God can even sin. I would not believe it unless I read it first hand.
I can draw your attention to a thread dealing with ...OT.God/NT.God.
See these things written about as if it is all good.
Then look at sound teaching upholding God's Perfect, Holy Attributes and see for your self.

 

[Iconoclast]

In order to have right thoughts about God, we must see how he has revealed Himself to His Covenant people.
What follows here is not optional but crucial to a sound biblical understanding of God
The Immutability of God
This Is One of the divine perfections which is not sufficiently pondered. It is one of the excellencies of the Creator which distinguishes Him from all His creatures. God is perpetually the same: subject to no change in His being, attributes, or determinations. Therefore God is compared to a rock (Deut. 32:4) which remains immovable, when the entire ocean surrounding it is continually in a fluctuating state. Even so, though all creatures are subject to change, God is immutable. Because God has no beginning and no ending, He can know no change. He is everlastingly "the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17).
First, God is immutable in His essence. His nature and being are infinite, and so, subject to no mutations. There never was a time when He was not; there never will come a time when He shall cease to be.

God has neither evolved, grown, nor improved. All that He is today, He has ever been, and ever will be.
"I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6), is His own unqualified affirmation.

He cannot change for the better, for He is already perfect; being perfect, He cannot change for the worse.

Altogether unaffected by anything outside Himself, improvement or deterioration is impossible.


He is perpetually the same. He only can say, "I AM THAT I AM" (Ex. 3:14). He is altogether uninfluenced by the flight of time. There is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity.
Therefore His power can never diminish, nor His glory ever fade.

 

[hawkman]

Therefore His power can never diminish, nor His glory ever fade.

AMEN !
This is why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in operation in the world we live in now ! Praise God !
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were given through His Power not by our power .

 

[Iconoclast]

AMEN !
This is why the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still in operation in the world we live in now ! Praise God !
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were given through His Power not by our power .

Yes, once the revelatory gifts ceased Paul listed for us those ministry gifts which remain;
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

[Iconoclast]

To have right thoughts of God we must follow what he said. For example if someone suggests that the OT being written thousands of years ago has no relevance for us today, or that God has ..."changed"...It is easily refuted by sound teaching such as this;
Second, God is immutable in His attributes. Whatever the attributes of God were before the universe was called into existence,they are precisely the same now, and will remain so forever.

Necessarily so; for they are the very perfections, the essential qualities of His being.

Semper idem (always the same) is written across every one of them. His power is unabated, His wisdom undiminished, His holiness unsullied.

The attributes of God can no more change than deity can cease to be.

His veracity is immutable, for His Word is "forever settled in heaven" (Ps. 119:89).

His love is eternal: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love" (Jer. 31:3) and, "Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end" (John 13:1). His mercy ceases not, for it is "everlasting" (Ps.100:5).

 

[hawkman]

Yes, once the revelatory gifts ceased Paul listed for us those ministry gifts which remain;

The Gifts came from God and now you suggest God changed or his power diminished .

Therefore His power can never diminish, nor His glory ever fade.

I believe this but I am not sure you do .

 

[Iconoclast]

The Gifts came from God and now you suggest God changed or his power diminished .

I believe this but I am not sure you do .

God's power is undiminished.
I have not seen him parting the Red Sea lately.
Has not levelled any cities like Sodom and Gomorrah.
He does not always do things the same.

 

[Iconoclast]

Many times of such message boards we find people who have not been instructed correctly on the Attributes of God.
What they do is substitute their own God. The God they invent does what they want Him to do.
They find the God of the bible does not meet with their approval.
No where is this demonstrated more then where God has commanded righteous Judgment to fall upon people, nations, or even the world of the ungodly.
Biblically Ignorant comments are then made as if the God of Jn.3:16 is not the very same God who destroyed the world of the ungodly by a worldwide flood.
These same people when presented with bible truth rebel and suggest you are following "man made teachings"
or "Doctrines of men".
They begin to reveal their devotion to the false idol god, by calling the true and living God into question.
The rebellion leads to suggesting that God is not immutable. Sadly ,this drifts into foul suggestions that God can even sin. I would not believe it unless I read it first hand.
I can draw your attention to a thread dealing with ...OT.God/NT.God.
See these things written about as if it is all good.
Then look at sound teaching upholding God's Perfect, Holy Attributes and see for your self.

 

[Iconoclast]

Berkof answers such objectors here;
Louis Berkof

B. The Immutability of God.
The Immutability of God is a necessary concomitant of His aseity. It is that perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change, not only in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises. In virtue of this attribute He is exalted above all becoming, and is free from all accession or diminution and from all growth or decay in His Being or perfections. His knowledge and plans, His moral principles and volitions remain forever the same. Even reason teaches us that no change is possible in God, since a change is either for better or for worse. But in God, as absolute Perfection, improvement and deterioration are both equally impossible. This immutability of God is clearly taught in such passages of Scripture as Ex. 3:14; Ps. 102:26-28; Isa. 41:4; 48:12; Mal. 3:6; Rom. 1:23; Heb. 1:11,12; Jas. 1:17