Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 3

GOD

The mightiest human being, whatever may be his claim, is not infinite. He cannot understand infinity. Christ plainly stated, "No man knoweth the Son, but the Father." Matthew 11:27. A teacher was once endeavouring to present the exaltation of God, when a voice was heard, saying, "We cannot as yet understand who He is." The teacher nobly replied, "Were I able to fully to set forth God, I should either be god myself, or God Himself would cease to be God."

Fortunately for us Christ did not end His statement there. He concluded, "neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Matthew 11:27. Throughout the Scriptures God is revealed to us as a loving, merciful being, that is really Three Persons who are one in nature, in character, and in purpose.

God can not be compared with the things His hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of the sins of man. The Father can not be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.

The Son is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be "the express image of His person." Hebrews 1:3. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Here is shown the personality of the Father.

The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour.

There are Three Living Persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.

These Three Living Persons made this wonderful world for man to live in and look after. It was to be man's home forever, as long as he obeyed God and did not eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. This, sadly, did not happen and the Godhead were stirred with pity for the fallen human race and gave themselves to the working out of the plan of salvation. The Son, our Saviour, came to glorify the Father by the demonstration of His love; and the Spirit was to glorify Christ by revealing His grace to the world.

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. What are the first four words in the Bible? Genesis 1:1.

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1.

Note: The Bible does not explain the existence of God but simply states that He is.

2. What must a person do before He can come to God? Hebrews 11:6.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6.

3. How can we tell from the Scriptures that God is more than one? Genesis 1:26.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Genesis 1:26.

4. Who else was there at the creation of this world? Genesis 1:2.

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Genesis 1:2.

5. Jesus commissioned His disciples to go and teach all nations baptising them in the name of whom? Matthew 28:19.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew 28:19.

6. When John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the river Jordan, who of the Godhead were present? Matthew 3:16, 17.

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16, 17.

7. Who sent the Son of God to be this world's redeemer? John 3:16; Isaiah 48:16.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

"Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me." Isaiah 48:16.

8. With and by whom was Jesus anointed? Acts 10:38.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38.

9. Who was with God, was God, and became flesh and dwelt among us? John 1:1-3 and 14.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:1-3, 14.

10. What was the name of the town where the ruler of Israel who is from everlasting, was to be born? Micah 5:2.

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2.

11. When the Jews challenged Jesus about seeing Abraham what was His reply? John 8:58.

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58.

12. What was the name of the God who brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:14.

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14.

Note: The name "I am" is spoken of frequently in the Old Testament when talking of God. In the New Testament Jesus Christ used this name for Himself frequently e.g. I am the bread of life, I am the true shepherd, I am vine, etc. When the priests came to the garden and asked for Jesus of Nazareth, he said "I am" and they fell as dead men. John 18:5, 6. You may have notice that after "I am" the word "he" is in italics. When the King James Version of the Bible was translated they put all additional words that they used to try and make the Bible read properly, in italics.

13. Through whom did Christ offer Himself without spot to God? Hebrews 9:14.

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:14.

14. What is another name for the Comforter who Jesus sent from the Father? John 14:26; John 15:26.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26.

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" John 15:26.

15. When we pray whom are we to pray to, in the name of, and ask for? Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:2; John 14:9, 13, 14, John 15:16; Luke 11:13, John 14:16.

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." Matthew 6:9.

"And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." Luke 11:2.

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John 14:13, 14.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." John 15:16.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;" John 14:16.

Pray to - Our Father which art in heaven.
In the name of - Jesus Christ
Ask for - the Holy Spirit

Commitment:- I believe in God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.