J uly 1 6 , 2 3, pe rha ps J uly 3 0 , 20 0 6
Cha pte r 1 3 : The Cha rac te r of God: Communica ble Attribute s (Pa rt 2 )
Ho w i s Go d li ke u s in attrib u te s o f will a n d in a ttrib ute s th at su mm a ri ze h i s e xcell en ce?
D) God’s Attribute s of P urpos e (21 1 -21 8 )
1 ) Will
a ) Go d’ s wil l i s tha t a ttri b ute o f Go d wh e reb y he ap p ro ve s a n d de te rm in e s to b rin g a bo u t
e ve ry a ctio n n e ce ssa ry fo r th e e xi ste n ce an d a cti vi ty of him se l f a nd all crea ti on .
b ) Go d’ s Wi ll in Ge n e ra l
i ) S crip tu re freq ue n tl y i ndi ca te s Go d’ s wi ll a s th e fin al o r mo st u l tim ate rea so n fo r
e ve rythi ng th a t ha p pe n s.
E ph.1 :1 1 : In h im we ha ve o b ta in ed an i nh e ri tan ce , ha vin g b ee n p re de sti ne d a cco rdin g to th e
p u rp o se o f him who wo rks a l l thi ng s (tou/ evnergou/ntoj ta. pa,nta)) a cco rd in g to
th e co un se l o f hi s will ,
T he "al l thin g s" in cl ud e s:
Creation: Rev 4:11
Go ve rnm en t: Da n. 4 :3 2
Ch ri st's cru ci fi xi on : Ac ts 4 :27 -2 8 :
E ve n the ha rd sh i p a nd su ffe ri ng of Ch ri sti a n s a re som e tim e s sa i d to b e a cco rdi ng to Go d 's wil l:
1 Peter 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing
evil. (next verse: based on example of Christ's suffering)
A ll th e sma ll e ven ts o f ou r l i ve s a re al so in cl u de d: Ja s 4 :1 3 -15
T hi s d o ctri ne of Go d 's wil l sh o ul d b rin g g re at en cou ra ge me n t a nd com fo rt to u s:
 n othi ng can ha pp en to u s o u tsid e o f th e will of ou r in fi ni te l y wi se , m e rci ful , g oo d God
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for
those who are called according to his purpose.
 thi n kin g a b ou t Go d's wi ll sh o uld gi ve u s g re at pe a ce
-- co n ce rni ng wo rl d co n fli cts (Isra e l an d L e ba no n to da y, fo r e xa mpl e )
-- co n ce rni ng trou bli ng e ve n ts o f o u r
li ve s
 No te the re pe a te d a ffi rm a ti on o f tru st i n God 's wi ll i n Ki ng Da vi d 's li fe :
1 Samuel 23:14; 25:32; 25:39; 26:10;
Knowledge of God's will does not mean we should be fatalistic, becoming passive and unfeeling
when evil happens. Rather, we should feel sorrow and we should act:
1 Samuel 30:1-8, 18-19
2 Samuel 5:12; 7:1, 18; 2Sam 8:6; 10:12; 17:14;
B u t th e Bi bl e n e ve r bl am e s God fo r si n s th a t we commi t!
2 Samuel 12:7-11  God hel d Da vid a cco un tabl e fo r th e e vil th at he ha d d on e.
Summary:
God "works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Eph. 1:11)
a. This should give us peace and lead our hearts to frequent thanksgiving
b. But: our choices and actions are real and they do matter!
c. Sin is real, and it does real damage to people, and God holds people accountable for their
sinful choices
d. Pain and sorrow are real, and it is not wrong to feel them deeply
e. Still, we view all of this under the umbrella of the sovereign will of our infinitely wise and
good God – and we can be at peace
c) Di sti n cti on s i n a sp e cts o f Go d’ s wi ll
1 ) Ne ce ssa ry Wi l l a nd Fre e Will
Go d’ s n e ce ssa ry wi ll i n cl ud e s e ve ryth in g tha t h e m u st will a cco rdi ng to hi s o wn n a tu re .
B u t wha t m u st Go d wil l?
 He m u st will him se l f. (hi s o wn e xi ste n ce an d ch a ra cte r) E x 3:14
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Go d’ s fre e wi ll in clu de s a ll thi n g s tha t Go d d e cid e d to will bu t d id n o t h a ve to will a cco rdi ng to hi s
n a tu re
(th i s in clu de s cre a tio n a nd red em p tio n ).
Cre a tio n : Re ve la ti on 4 :1 1 ; Ge n 1 ;26
Re d em p tio n : Isa . 4 8 :9 -11 :
It wo uld be wro ng fo r u s to try to fi nd a ne ce ssa ry ca u se fo r cre a ti on i n the be in g o f God him se l f
-- a s i f God ha d to crea te u s o r sa ve u s i n o rde r to trul y be Go d
-- th i s wo ul d rob Go d o f hi s i n de pe nd e n ce
-- i t wo uld sa y tha t wi tho u t u s Go d co uld no t tru l y b e God
 God 's d e ci sio n s to crea te an d red ee m we re to tall y fre e d e ci si o n s
 al l o f God 's wo rks " o u tsi d e hi m sel f" (o p e ra ad e xtra ) a re co mpl e tel y free
ii ) God 's se cre t wi ll a n d re vea le d Wil l
De ut. 2 9 :29 : Th e se cre t thi ng s b el on g to th e L o rd ou r God , bu t th e thi ng s th a t a re re ve ale d
b el on g to u s a n d to o u r chil d ren fo re ve r, tha t we ma y do all th e wo rd s o f thi s la w.
(a ) Go d’ s se cre t wi ll in clu de s h i s hi d de n d e cree s b y whi ch h e g o ve rn s th e u ni ve rse a n d
d e te rmi ne s e ve rythi ng tha t wil l ha p pe n. Ja s 4 :1 5 ; Gen 50 :20 ; 1 Co r 4:1 9; M a tt 11 :25 -2 6
Go d 's se cre t will i s h i dd en from u s (u n til i t h ap pe n s), a nd th e re fo re i t sh ou ld no t b e the ba si s fo r
o u r de ci sio n m a kin g (b u t so me ti me s Go d re ve al s to hi s se rva n ts wh a t he i s g oi ng to do – a s
i n p ro ph e cie s i n th e Bi bl e )
(b ) Re ve ale d wil l (a l so ca lle d wil l o f p re cep t/ will o f com ma nd ): T hi s i s Go d’ s d e cl a red wi ll
co n ce rnin g wh a t we sh o ul d d o o r wha t Go d com ma nd s u s to d o . De u t 29 :29 , Ep h 5 :1 7
Go d 's re ve ale d wil l tell s u s wh a t ki n d s o f thi ng s we sh o ul d p ra y fo r: M a tt 6 :1 0 ; 1 Jo hn 5 :1 4
Ho w ca n we fi nd ou t Go d 's re vea le d will ?
 Re ad the Bib le !
Imi tatio n o f Go d 's a ttri bu te o f hi s wi ll :
Go d h a s ma d e u s a s cre a tu re s wi th a will ; we e xe rci se ch oi ce an d ma ke re al de ci sio n s.
 Th e se de ci si o n s d o ma tte r.
 Thi s i s a wo nd e rful , am a zi ng pa rt of o u r cre atio n in th e im a ge o f Go d .
2 ) Fre e dom
a ) Go d’ s fre ed om i s th a t a ttri bu te o f Go d wh e reb y h e d oe s wh a te ve r h e pl ea se s. P s 1 1 5 :3
b ) We im ita te Go d 's a ttri b ute o f fre e dom b y o u r a bil ity to ma ke ch oi ce s, to de ci d e thin g s fo r
o u rse l ve s.
(1 ) Go d fre qu e ntl y ap p eal s to ou r a bili ty to ch o o se : Jo sh 2 4 :1 4 -15 ; M att 11 :2 8 -30
+ m an y, m an y o the r ve rse s i n the Bib le
(2) this pattern in Scripture is the basis for establishing and supporting freedom of religion
(example of new mosque being built)
(also regarding our children: we can encourage and teach and pray, but we
cannot
force our children to be Christians)
(3) God has placed in all human beings a deep desire to be free – to exercise self-determination
regarding many aspects of our lives, including the rule of nations
American Revolutionary leader Patrick Henry: "Give me liberty or give me death!"
 this is why people instinctively feel that living under a dictatorship, or being put in
prison, are so de-humanizing: they rob us of a very important God-like quality
(4 ) A d e si re fo r free do m i s se e n i n chil d ren a t an ea rl y a ge – a God -li ke qu ali ty i mi ta ti ng Go d 's
o wn free do m
(5 ) Fre e d om o f co u rse ca n b e a bu se d an d u se d to comm it si n
th a t i s wh y so cie ti e s a nd chu rch e s ma ke ru le s to
re stra i n pe op le 's si n ful con du ct
(6 ) Go d 's fre ed om i s a wo nd e rful a ttri bu te – an d o ne he ha s e n abl e d u s to im ita te i n sig ni fi can t
m ea su re
3 ) Omnipote nc e (powe r, s ov e re ignty)
a ) Go d’ s o mni po ten ce m ea n s tha t Go d i s a bl e to d o all hi s h ol y wil l.
(S o ve rei gn ty: Go d 's u se o f hi s p o we r to rul e o ve r hi s cre a tio n .)
P s . 2 4 :8 : Who i s th i s Ki n g o f gl o ry? Th e L o rd, stro n g a nd m ig h ty, th e L o rd , mi gh ty in ba ttl e!
J e r. 3 2 :17 ; E ph 3 :2 0 ; M a tt 19 :2 6
 God i s a ll -p o we rful : fa r b e yo nd ou r ab ili ty to co mp re he nd
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b ) B u t God can no t wi ll o r do an ythin g th at wo uld d e n y hi s o wn cha ra cte r.
Titus 1 :2 ; 2 Tim 2 :1 3 ; Ja s 1 :1 3
c) Imi ta tio n o f Go d 's p o we r:
Go d h a s gi ven u s p o we r (ph ysi cal , m en ta l, an d spi ri tu al ) to b ri n g ab o ut go od re su l ts in th e
wo rl d . (i t i s a tin y re fl e ctio n o f Go d 's in fi ni te po we r, b u t it i s sti l l a g oo d thi n g!)
 a d e si re to i mi ta te God 's p o we r i s th e re a so n wh y we enj o y b ei ng stro n g ra the r tha n
we a k (a b le to do m o re thi ng s)
 a d e si re to ha ve p o we r to d o g oo d i s a p o si ti ve , God -li ke ch a ra cte ri sti c – b u t p o we r i s so
e a si l y ab u se d b y si n fu l h uma n b ei ng s! (" p o we r co rru p ts" )
-- m i su se o f po we r i s b e st p re ven ted b y the di sp e rsi o n o f p o we r am on g se ve ral d iffe ren t p eo pl e
e xam pl e : mul ti pl e el de rs i n a ch u rch
(o r th eo lo gi an s a t a me e tin g !)
e xam pl e : " ch e cks a n d ba la n ce s" in U.S . g o ve rnme n t
b a d e xamp le : ve ry fe w a b so lu te mo na rch s
h a ve re mai n ed rea ll y g oo d th rou g ho ut
h i sto ry (n ote e ven Da vi d , S olo mo n )
 b e tha n kful fo r yo u r hum a n will , yo u r free do m, you r p o we r – all a re e xce lle n t God -li ke q ual itie s
 u se the m wi se l y!
E ) “ Su mm a ry” A ttri bu te s (2 1 8 -2 21 )
1 ) P e rfec tion
a ) Go d’ s p e rfe cti o n me an s th a t Go d com pl etel y p o sse sse s a l l e xcell en t q u ali ti e s a nd l a cks
n o p a rt o f an y q u ali ti e s tha t woul d b e d e si rab le fo r hi m.
M a tt. 5 :48 : Yo u th e refo re mu st b e pe rfe ct, a s yo u r h ea ven l y Fa th e r i s p e rfe ct.
b ) Go d's p e rfe cti on m ea n s i t i s im po ssi b l e to thi n k o f a n y wa y i n wh i ch Go d co ul d b e "b e tte r"
th an he i s – h e i s b e tte r an d g re ate r th a n an ythi ng th a t co uld be i ma gin e d, an d h e la cks
n o d e si ra ble qu ali ty
c) Imi ta tio n : we wi ll n e ve r b e p e rfe ct a s Go d i s, b ut we sh ou ld ha ve a d e si re to i mp ro ve –
m o rall y, a nd al so in o the r ski ll s o f l ife : the de si re to "d o b e tte r" i s ul ti ma tel y a Go d -gi ve n
h um a n qu ali ty, a n d it e xpl ai n s h um an p ro g re ss th ro u gh o ut hi sto ry
2 ) Ble ss e dnes s
a ) Go d’ s bl e sse d n e ss m e a n s th a t God del ig hts fu ll y i n him se l f a nd i n a ll th at re fl e cts h i s
ch a ra cte r. 1 Tim 1:11
1 Tim. 6 :1 5 : whi ch he wi ll di sp l a y a t th e p rop e r tim e —he who i s th e bl e sse d (Gre e k
ma ka ri o s: "h ap p y, jo yful" ) a nd onl y So ve rei gn , th e Ki ng of ki n g s an d L o rd o f l o rd s,
 How do you feel about the fact that the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, holy, just, wise
God of the universe is supremely happy?
b ) A nd God trul y d eli gh ts i n hi s p e opl e (i n yo u !):
Is a . 6 2 :5 : Fo r a s a you ng m a n ma rri e s a yo un g woma n , so sh all you r so n s m a rry yo u ,
a n d a s th e b rid eg ro om rej oi ce s o ve r the b ri de , so sh al l yo u r Go d rej oi ce o ve r yo u .
c) A s Go d rej oi ce s in u s, he i s re a ll y rejo i cin g i n the re fle cti o n o f hi s o wn e xcel le n t ch a ra cte r:
J a mes 1 :1 7 : E ve ry g oo d gi ft a nd e ve ry pe rfe ct gi ft i s fro m a bo ve, comi n g do wn from th e
Fa th e r o f li gh ts wi th wh om th e re i s n o va ria ti on o r sh ad o w d u e to ch an ge .
d ) Imi ta ti on o f God 's b le sse d n e ss m e an s th a t we sh o ul d fre el y ta ke de lig h t a nd rej oi ce i n
-- a ll tha t i s g oo d in ou rse l ve s (h o w God m ad e u s)
-- a n d i n all tha t i s g oo d i n o th e rs – al l the Go d -li ke qu ali ti e s we se e re fl e cted i n th em
-- a n d ce rtai nl y a ll th at i s g o od i n Go d!
e ) S ho ul d we be fu n dam e ntall y ha pp y o r u nh a pp y wi th o u rse l ve s, wh o we a re ?
 imi tatio n o f Go d 's bl e sse d n e ss d e ci de s thi s q u e stio n !
3 ) Be a uty
a ) Go d’ s b ea u ty i s tha t attrib u te o f Go d wh e reb y he i s th e su m o f al l d e si rabl e q ua li tie s.
(si m il a r to Go d 's p e rfe cti o n, bu t thi s fo cu se s o n the fa ct th a t God 's q u ali ti e s a re
d e si ra bl e, th e y b rin g p le a su re an d d eli gh t)
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P s . 2 7 :4 : On e thi ng ha ve I a ske d o f th e Lo rd , th a t will I se e k a fte r: th a t I m a y d wel l in th e
h o u se of th e L o rd al l the da ys o f m y l ife , to g a ze up on th e b e au ty o f th e L o rd an d to
i nq ui re i n hi s te mpl e .
P s . 7 3 :25 : Wh om ha ve I i n h ea ve n bu t you ? A nd th e re i s n othi ng on ea rth th at I d e si re
b e si de s yo u . My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my
portion forever.
b) The greatest joy of eternity will be to behold the beauty of God – to see his face:
Rev elation 22:3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the
Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name
will be on their foreheads.
c) We re fle ct Go d’ s b e au ty in ou r o wn li ve s wh en we e xhi bi t con d u ct th a t i s pl e a sin g to h im .
1 P e te r 3 :4 : b u t le t yo u r ad o rnin g b e the hi dd en pe rso n o f the he a rt wi th the i mp e ri sh a bl e
b e au ty o f a ge n tl e an d q ui et sp i rit, whi ch i n Go d’ s si g h t i s ve ry p re ci ou s.
Titus 2 :1 0 : n o t pil fe ri ng , bu t sh o wi ng all go od fa ith , so th at i n e ve rythin g th e y ma y ad o rn the
d o ctri n e o f God ou r S a vio r.
E ph. 5 :27 : so th a t he mig h t p re se n t th e chu rch to him se l f in sp l en do r, witho u t sp o t o r wrin kl e
o r a n y su ch thi ng , th at sh e m ig h t be ho l y an d wi tho ut bl emi sh .
A d eli gh t in ph ysi cal be au ty (o f n atu re , o r a bu ild in g o r a p ai ntin g o r a h ome , o r o f m u si c) i s a
g o od , Go d -gi ve n ch a ra cte ri sti c – i f do ne wi th tha n ks to Go d !
-- b u t be wa re : so ci e ty can ma ke b ea u ty an i d ol !
4 ) Glory
a ) Go d’ s gl o ry i s th e crea ted b ri gh tne ss th a t su rro u n d s God ’ s re vel a tio n o f h im se l f.
P s . 2 4 :10 : Wh o i s thi s K i ng of glo ry? T he Lo rd o f ho sts, h e i s the Kin g o f glo ry! Se la h
P s . 1 04 :1 -2 : Bl e ss th e Lo rd , O m y so ul ! O Lo rd m y Go d , you a re ve ry g rea t! Y ou a re clo th e d
wi th spl en d o r a nd m aj e sty, co ve rin g yo u rse l f wi th l ig ht a s wi th a g a rm en t, stre tchi ng o u t
th e h ea ven s l i ke a ten t.
Luk e 2 :9 : A nd an an ge l o f the Lo rd ap pe a red to th em , a n d the glo ry o f th e Lo rd sh o ne a rou nd
th em , a nd the y we re fi lle d wi th fea r.
M a tt. 17 :2 : An d h e wa s tra n sfi g u red b e fo re th em , a nd hi s fa ce sh o n e li ke the su n , a nd hi s clo the s
b e cam e whi te a s li gh t.
Rev . 2 1 :23 : A nd th e ci ty h a s n o n ee d o f su n o r m o on to sh in e o n i t, fo r th e gl o ry o f Go d gi ve s i t
li g ht, a n d its l am p i s the La mb .
b ) Go d's g l o ry i s a n a pp ro p ri a te ou twa rd ma ni fe sta tio n o f hi s e xce lle n ce
-- i t will ca ll fo rth from u s b oth a we a n d d el ig ht
-- we wi ll n e ve r b e ab le to full y co mp re he n d God , b u t wh a t we can se e wi ll fill u s wi th
j o y a nd wo rsh ip
-- Go d 's g lo ry will fil l the ci ty i n whi ch
we li ve fo re ve r!
c) A m a zin gl y, Go d ma de u s to refle ct h i s gl o ry.
2 Cor. 3 :18 : An d we all , wi th u n vei le d fa ce , be hol di ng th e g lo ry o f the Lo rd , a re b ei ng
tra n sfo rm ed i n to th e sa me im a ge from o ne de g ree of gl o ry to a no the r. Fo r th i s com e s
fro m th e L o rd wh o i s the Sp i ri t.
Da n. 1 2 :3 : A nd th o se wh o a re wi se sh a ll sh in e li ke the b ri gh tne ss o f th e sky a b o ve ; an d
th o se wh o tu rn ma n y to ri gh teo u sn e ss, l i ke the sta rs fo re ve r an d e ve r.
M a tt. 13 :4 3 : Th e n the rig hte ou s wi ll shi n e li ke th e su n in the ki ng do m o f th ei r Fathe r. He who
h a s e a rs, l et him he a r.
1 Cor. 15 :4 3 : It i s so wn i n d i sh on o r; i t i s ra i se d in glo ry. It i s so wn i n we a kn e ss; i t i s ra i se d i n
p o we r.
To order tapes or CD's e-mail [email protected] or phone Connie Parker at 480-473-5034.
(Connie also has electronic copies of these outlines starting in about June, 2005), and the
outlines are posted on the web site www.christianethicssbc.com
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