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#47213
Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:49 AM
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I came across this in my NASB The Open Bible, and thought it was neat. What are your thoughts? There are four definitions of God in the Bible. Since God cannot be defined, they are incomplete. However, they do throw light upon the nature of God. They are:
1) God is love (1 John 4:8) - This is the nature of God in His divine compassion. 2) God is light (1 John 1:5) - This is the nature of God in His divine character. (In Him there is no darkness) 3) God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29) - This is the nature of God in His divine holiness. 4) God is spirit (John 4:24) - This is the nature of God in His divine essence.
John Chaney
"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ." Colossians 2:7
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Head Honcho
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,450 Likes: 57 |
Hmmmmm, I see something is missing. Can you guess what it might be? I also noticed that all the references used are from the New Testament and none from the Old Testament. I wonder why that might be?
simul iustus et peccator
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Needs to get a Life
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Needs to get a Life
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Hmmmmm, I see something is missing. Can you guess what it might be? I also noticed that all the references used are from the New Testament and none from the Old Testament. I wonder why that might be? Of the top of my head, I would have to say that God is a God of justice is missing. We are justified through faith in Christ from the wrath of God. Tom
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Head Honcho
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Head Honcho
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Of the top of my head, I would have to say that God is a God of justice is missing. We are justified through faith in Christ from the wrath of God. Here's a hint: What word appears 557 times in the Bible which refers to the very nature of God, all that He does and that which is required of all that pertains to Him, including mankind? This is in comparison to the word "love" which appears some 286 times with all its various uses?
simul iustus et peccator
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Persnickety Presbyterian
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Persnickety Presbyterian
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To be fair, they do mention holiness: 3) God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29) - This is the nature of God in His divine holiness.
Kyle
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Head Honcho
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Head Honcho
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To be fair, they do mention holiness: 3) God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29) - This is the nature of God in His divine holiness. Yes, holiness is mentioned, but notice that it says that consuming fire is the nature of God IN His divine holiness, thus making "divine holiness" a subset of "consuming fire" rather than the other way round. And actually, I think it would be more appropriate to link "consuming fire" with God's justice. The point I was getting at through the 'back door' so to speak, was that IF one were to elevate one single attribute of God above all others, it would have to be God's holiness. But holiness wasn't listed as one of God's main attributes in that definition. Everything about God is holy, e.g., His love is a holy love, holy justice, holy wrath, holy judgment, etc. Now, you may choose to disagree and that's fine. And if so, I would be more than open to find out why.
simul iustus et peccator
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