GOD IS ...
February 27, 2000 AM
Sermon Outline
Ex 3:13,14
INTRO: It is interesting and instructional to note the verbs associated with God in scripture. Verbs are action words. And God has and does act! In our lesson this morning we will see a verb, however, which may be more descriptive and profound than some of the action words which tell us of how God has acted. The great God verb of which I speak is the verb is. God is or I Am (Ex 3:14).
I. GOD IS - EXISTS
A. Here, of course, is a great, present controversy
1. there are certainly many who take issue
2. some deny His existence; some declared Him dead
3. Ps 14:1 ... God does exist
B. Consider: Intelligent causation
1. cause and effect ... effects demand causes
2. earth, universe, etc. are effects ... but their order, exactness, design insist on intelligent cause
3. Heb 3:4 a house is an effect caused by intelligence - it is characterized by order, plan, design, exactness; so, man built .... universe has same qualities; so, God built - Ps 19:1
C. Gen 1:1 identifies the intelligent cause as God
1. the natural world declares intelligent cause
2. the first words of the Bible identify the Intelligent Cause as God!
3. thence, the Bible tells us of God: Who He is - How He is - His interest in creation, etc.
II. GOD IS - HIS NATURE
A. 1 Pet 1:14-16 God is holy
1. absolutely perfect - absolutely consistent
2. He is separate from all that is evil, unjust
3. nothing evil can abide in His presence or with Him
(cf 2 Pet 2:4)
4. thus, His people must be holy - renouncing sin, conforming to image of Christ, growing in grace and knowledge
B. God is light 1 Jno 1:5
1. in scripture light is good - dark is evil
2. in God there is no darkness .... no trace of evil
3. and people who are His must walk, live in the light - so,
1 Jno 1:6,7
4. note Acts 26:18 and the blessings of light
C. 1 Jno 4:8-11 God is love
1. His love is demonstrated in so many ways
2. obviously, the greatest was the giving of His Son
3. and, because His love is consistent with His holiness, one who is to receive the benefits of His love must conform to His will - so, 1 Jno 5:3
4. this love is no emotional, maudlin love ... it is demanding,; it is sacrificial; it is serving
D. 1 Cor 10:13 God is faithful
1. note Dan 9:4 Keeping the covenant ...
2. God is the God of great promises ... and, unlike man, He is able to keep His promises
3. what God promises, we can enjoy!
4. Jas 1:17 says it so well! not fickle
E. 2 Cor 9:8 God is able
1. Dan 6:20-23 is thy God ... able?
2. two things to note: He was known to be a faithful servant of God and he believed in his God - Rom 11:33
4. but I rejoice in this simple fact: God is able
CLOSE: God is! No two more significant words are in human speech. Everything in life issues from this simple statement: God is.
Cecil A. Hutson
27 February 2000