Great Bible Doctrines
Lesson No. 2: The Doctrine of God

Date: April 10 and April 17, 2002, Wednesday Evening Adult Bible Class
Speaker: John Phillis

We are continuing our study that we began two weeks ago concerning Great Bible Doctrines. At that time, we gave an Introduction to this series, and tonight we will begin the second lesson in this series. In that first introductory lesson, we defined Doctrine. We pointed out that, to many people, “doctrine” is a bad word. In actuality, it is a good word, because it has to do with teaching, instruction, or that which is taught. The Bible is a compendium, a “collection of doctrine,” that is, a collection of God’s teaching, God’s instruction for mankind. Thus, it goes without saying that understanding, that knowing, that implementing God’s instruction, or His doctrine, is absolutely essential to us. To stress the importance of doctrine, we brought out five points in the introductory lesson: First, that the church was established by doctrine; second, that the church continued in the first century, and continues even today, in accordance with the apostles’ doctrine; third, that doctrine is the basis of our faith; fourth, that doctrine is what we will be judged by; and fifth, doctrine is the basis for unity. And so that gave us an introduction to what doctrine is and to the importance of doctrine.

This evening we want to look at the doctrine concerning God. We begin by asking some questions:

All of these questions have been asked time and again. From generation to generation, people have, no doubt, wondered about these very things. Maybe some of you have even asked these questions yourself. Maybe you have pondered on some of these questions.

There are many theories about who God is and what God is. For example, there are some people who believe—and I think this is a very popular belief or theory these days—that God is to each of us what we want Him to be. In effect, we make up our own God. That’s what many people are doing these days. This becomes the “I’ll fashion my own god” theory.

Also, some may think of God as someone to call on, to rely on primarily, or even solely, during the time of trouble or crisis, or in time of need. Now, maybe not many people make that statement in that way, but many people live it by their actions, because the only time they are interested in God or anything associated with God is in a time of trouble or crisis. This is the “911 god” theory.

Then there is the perception that God is a severe Being, that He is just waiting to pounce on us, to punish every misstep. As someone said one time, “There’s a mental picture of God going around heaven zapping us with lighting bolts.” That’s the way some people think about God. Therefore, He is to be feared. Well, of course, God is to be feared, but not in that respect—not as a tyrant or an ogre of some sort. This is the “ogre god” theory.

Going to the other extreme, there are those people who say, “Well, God is a God of great love. He has such a great love that He permits or tolerates anything, everything, and anybody. And He never punishes.” This is the “old grandfather in the sky god” theory.

Some will lay great stress on the omnipotence and the omniscience of God, believing that He has predetermined all things, and that we have no choice, even in our own salvation. This is a doctrine that is believed particularly by those of the Calvinistic persuasion, the “Calvinistic god” theory.

Then what about the agnostics and the atheists? Agnostics say that if there is a God, and they’re not too sure that there is one, then He can’t be known. Atheists are content in believing that there is no God at all.

So, once again, the questions are put before us: Can we know there IS a God; and can we KNOW Him?

In His prayer to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (the night He was to be betrayed; the night before He was to be hung on the cross), Jesus prayed the fervent, passionate prayer recorded in John, chapter 17. In John 17, verse 3, Jesus says, “And this is eternal life,”to “know You, the Only True God…” Jesus is speaking to God in prayer and He says to“know You is eternal life.” [“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent.”]

Well, that’s a rather strong indication, a strong suggestion, that there IS, indeed, a way that we can know God. Jesus would NOT have made that statement if it was impossible to know God. And since it IS possible for us to know God, then we can also know that God has not left us without knowledge and wondering about who He is. He has revealed Himself to us. This revelation has taken place in two ways.