Nature Of God Flashcards
benevolent:
definition & significance
well meaning & kindly;
God demonstrates his benevolence (love & kindness) to humans by being involved with the world + human lives
omniscient:
definition & significance
all-knowing;
He is able to see all of time (past, present + future), etc. - therefore His knowledge is perfect
omnipotent:
definition & significance
all-powerful;
He had the power to create the universe, to perform miracles, and to become human (being incarnate as Jesus Christ)
monotheistic:
definition & significance
relating to the belief that there is only one God;
Christianity preaches belief in the Trinity as a core value, however they believe that those 3 entities make up one God
judge:
definition & significance
assessor of one’s character;
He is able fair & righteous judge of humans - He sees all that humans do, say, & think + has set out rules for humans, providing a perfect example of the ‘right way to live’ as Jesus
eternal:
definition & significance
lasting forever/ without end;
God has always been here as He created the universe, and He will be the one who has control of its end
transcendent:
definition & significance
existing away from the limitations of the material universe;
He exists outside of time & space + above all created things
immanent:
definition & significance
existing within;
God is involved with the world & human lives, + lived as one in the form of Jesus
personal:
definition & significance
affecting/involving a particular person;
God’s relationship with people is often shown in the Bible - through prayer, visions & the Holy Spirit’s presence
forgiving:
definition & significance
ready & willing to pardon;
God judges humans, deciding their eternal consequences & He forgives those who seek forgiveness
Plymouth Brethren view on God’s nature
- focus v. much on God’s purity & holiness
- their understanding of Bible teachings of God means that, (to them) only the Brethren members are able to truly know God’s oneness
- they live as separate + far lives as possible from the rest of the world to remove themselves from evil
- this follows their understanding of Bible passages like 1 John 2:15:
- ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world’
Amish view on God’s nature
- they also live in their own communities, separating themselves from the pollution of sin in the world
- they believe that God, in his love, has provided salvation through Jesus’ death & resurrection; but they also believe that they must practice life of salvation by works
- they believe that God is forgiving; ‘And forgive us our sins’ (Matthew 6:12)
- they also believe that living in accordance with the Bible’s laws in necessary for salvation; way of understanding is linked to teachings like the parable of the sheep & the goats (Matthew 25:31-46)
hillsong church (a free church)’s view on God’s nature
- focus on God’s Grace for forgiveness & do not believe that anything can lead to being rewarded with salvation
- they believe God’s forgiveness is a revelation of his benevolence
- they believe that accepting this is all that’s required for salvation; ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16)
free church (e.g. Baptist church)’s view on God’s nature
- teach that God is directly accessible to all believers
- do not believe that priests are necessary to intercede between humans & God (like Catholics do)
- emphasis on the personal & accessible nature of God
- e.g. Bible speaks of Christians as ‘priests and kings’ (1 Peter 2:9), further highlighting God as immanent
Quote: Exodus 20:3
‘You shall have no other gods before me’
Quote: Jeremiah 10:10
‘But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King…’
