Updated: Jun 9, 2019
Week 2 Doctrine: The Attributes and triune nature of God.
Day 1 - Nature of God
Scripture - 1 Corinthians 8:6 & Psalm 90:2
Devotional - There is only one true and living God. He is the creator of all things, visible and invisible. He himself is not created but has always existed. God is an infinite spirit, and absolutely holy and perfect. Because He is almighty, everlasting, most wise and Holy, His creation owes Him their full obedience and praise.
Questions:
1. Who is God?
2. How many Gods are there?
3. What does creation owe God?
Day 2 - Three Persons one Essence of God
Scripture- Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19 & Genesis 1:1-3
Devotional - There is one living and true God. In this Godhead exists three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We call this the Holy Trinity. Trinity means three-in-one. The members of the Trinity are all equal in substance, power, and glory. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. How God can be one in essence but exist in three persons is a great mystery to our human minds, but a mystery we believe by faith.
Questions:
1. How many persons are in the Godhead?
2. Who are the three persons of God?
3. What is the great mystery of the Trinity?
Day 3 - God's Character
Scripture - Acts 17:24-25, 1 Kings 8:22-23, & Malachi 3:6
Devotional - As we talk about God, we must properly understand the character of God. That means we must understand what God is like. Throughout scripture, we see many different words describing God's character. A few descriptions found are: faithful, loving, creative, sustaining, and unchanging. When we observe the character of God, we can see how He is Holy and unlike us. Learning about God's character strengthens the foundation of our faith and points us to our need for a savior.
Questions:
1. Can you explain why it's important to understand God's character?
2. Can you list a few descriptions of God's character?
3. Where can we learn about God's character?
Day 4 - God's Incommunicable Attributes
Scripture - 1 Timothy 1:17, Isaiah 46:9-10, Job 11:7-8 & Hebrews 13:8
Devotional - Incommunicable Attributes are attributes or characteristics that God possesses and His creation does not. God is Holy, all present, all knowing, and all powerful; we are not. Though some of God's attributes are communicated, or imparted to his creation, the incommunicable attributes are not. They can only be found in God.
Questions:
1. What does incommunicable mean?
2. What are some of God's incommunicable attributes?
3. What do His incommunicable attributes teach us?
Day 5 - God's Communicable Attributes
Scripture - Galatians 5:22-23 & Genesis 1:26-27
Devotional - A communicable attribute is an attribute found in God that is also displayed imperfectly in His creation. Because we are created in the image of God, we resemble Him in certain ways. God is Holy and perfect, so only He can perfectly display communicable attributes. We as His creation can certainly love others, pursue justice, forgive and show mercy, but we can never do so perfectly. Growing in communicable attributes is how we pursue holiness, glorify God and enjoy Him forever (2 Peter 1:4).
Questions:
1. What is a communicable attribute?
2. How does creation reflect some of God’s communicable attributes?
3. Why does God display communicable attributes differently than we do?
Resources Referenced:
ESV Bible: www.esvbible.org
Westminster Confession of Faith & Larger and Shorter Catechisms: https://www.amazon.com/Westminster-Confession-Catechisms-Adopted-Presbyterian/dp/0979377005/ref=sr_1_2?crid=NLMB9B71ROL3&keywords=westminster+confession+of+faith+and+catechisms&qid=1558915443&s=gateway&sprefix=westminster%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-2
Louis Berkof Systematic Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Louis-Berkhof/dp/1941129560/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1558915533&sr=8-1 Ligonier Free Resources: www.ligonier.org