I’ve decided to post a bunch of my papers related to theology and the Bible after submitting them for anyone who might find them helpful (I’m thinking mostly Sr. Highers). The format is a bit odd since it was enforced, but it might still be helpful.
Summary: God is an eternal (Isa. 40:28), benevolent (Psa. 73:1, Matt 5:45, 7:11), Creator (Gen 1:1, Joh. 1:3) God who has revealed Himself to us through Scripture (Joh. 5:39) as Yahweh, a gracious, merciful, long-suffering, loving, and just God (Exo. 34:6-7) existing as God the Father (Rom. 1:7), God the Son (Joh. 5:58, Rom. 9:5), and God the Holy Spirit (Act. 5:3-4) while remaining one God (Deu. 6:4).
Existence and Definition: Scripture never tries to prove God’s existence; however His existence is always assumed even from the beginning (Gen. 1:1). Definitions of God will always fail because there is nothing to which God can be compared (Isa. 40:25). God is the creator of all things (Col. 1:16), this is to say that nothing in existence has its existence apart from God (Joh. 1:3). All things, then, exist from and for God (Rom. 11:36). He may, then, be defined as the first and primary cause; though this too falls short.
Names and Attributes: God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, rich in chesed and faithfulness, forgiving of sin, and just (Exo. 34:6-7); He is eternal (Isa. 40:28), omniscient (Job. 37:16, Psa. 147:5), omnipotent (Psa. 115:3, Dan. 4:35), and omnipresent (Psa. 139:7–12). God’s names include: Yahweh-yireh (God will see or provide, Gen. 22:1–14), Yahweh-nissi (God is my banner, Exo. 17:15), Yahweh-rapha (God is healer, Exo. 15:22-27), Adonai (master, Deu. 10:17, Psa. 8:1), El Shaddai (God Almighty, Exo. 6:3), El Elyon (God Most High, Gen. 14:18), and Yehoshua (Jesus, Yahweh is salvation, Mat. 1:21).
Creation: God made everything through His Son for His glory (Col. 1:16, Psa. 19:1–6). Through that which has been created, including ourselves, we can understand aspects of God such as His eternal power and divine nature (Rom 1:19-20); we can know that He exists and that we owe Him honor and thanksgiving (Rom 1:21), but through creation we cannot know anything of the Gospel (Rom. 10:14-17).
Sovereignty: God is in control of all creation (Psa. 115:3) including natural things like planetary motion and provision for animals (Job 38, Mat. 6:26). He is also completely sovereign over human government (Pro. 21:1) and human decisions (Pro. 16:9, Jer. 10:23), including salvation (Joh. 15:16).
Application: God’s eternal nature means that I don’t have to worry about God ever not being there. His sovereignty means that I don’t have to panic because He is in charge. His benevolence means that His sovereignty is a good thing for me. That He is a Creator means that I owe Him everything. That God reveals Himself in Scripture in Christ means that I can truly know Him. His grace, mercy, long-suffering, and love, are that to which I must cling every day because I am not good and did not render to Him any of what He is due. His justice is good news and provides me with hope. God the Father disciplines me as a son and will provide me with anything I need. The Son of God, through union with the same, makes it possible for me to also be a son of God. The Holy Spirit dwells within me, convicts me of sin, gives me life, and allows me to understand things of God which I otherwise could never understand. The unity of these three means that I can fully rely on this Trinitarian God and not fear that He is capricious or that one part of the Godhead doesn’t like me.
