WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GOD? (5)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What Does the Bible Say About God?
a) Background
a) In ancient times, most people were pagans who worshiped multiple gods and goddesses. But around 1800 B.C., God revealed Himself to a man named Abram, who was later known as Abraham. God promised Abraham that He would make two great nations of his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3, 17:20-22, 22:15-18). Those two great nations are the Jews (also known as Hebrews or Israelites) and the Arabs. The Muslim Arabs trace their lineage to Abraham through his son Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-18). The Jews trace their lineage to Abraham through his son Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob, also known as Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel descended from Jacob's twelve sons (Genesis 35:22-26).
b) Jesus and His disciples were all Jews, and Christianity began as a small sect of Jesus' followers within Judaism. So Christians trace their spiritual heritage to Abraham through the Jewish origins of their faith.
c) The three major monotheistic religions of the world, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all worship the same God who revealed Himself to Abraham. God is known by many different names around the world. He is Dios in Spanish, Dieu in French, Gott in German, YHWH in Hebrew and Allah in Arabic.
2. God Is Loving, Compassionate, Merciful, Patient and Forgiving
a) God loves all people of the world and desires that they live in harmony with Him and with each other (Psalms 42:8, 103:13, Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 15:3-7, John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-6, Galatians 3:28-29, 1 John 4:8-10).
i) 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)
ii) God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (1 John 4:16)
iii) Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
b) Because God loves us, He is patient with us and treats us with compassion and mercy (Exodus 34:6, Luke 13:6-9, Romans 15:5-6, 2 Peter 3:9)
i) But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalms 86:5)
ii) Because the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:31)
c) God is always willing to forgive our sins and give us another chance if we sincerely repent and forgive other people (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:12-14, Luke 5:31-32, 13:3-5, Acts 3:19, 13:38, Hebrews 10:17).
iii) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)
d) Related Bible references: Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Kings 13:23, Psalms 86:5, Matthew 4:17, 18:11-14, 26:28, Luke 10:25-37, 15:4-7, 6:36, Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30, Hebrews 10:17, 1 Peter 1:3-5.
The End ...
1. What Does the Bible Say About God?a) Background
a) In ancient times, most people were pagans who worshiped multiple gods and goddesses. But around 1800 B.C., God revealed Himself to a man named Abram, who was later known as Abraham. God promised Abraham that He would make two great nations of his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3, 17:20-22, 22:15-18). Those two great nations are the Jews (also known as Hebrews or Israelites) and the Arabs. The Muslim Arabs trace their lineage to Abraham through his son Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-18). The Jews trace their lineage to Abraham through his son Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob, also known as Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel descended from Jacob's twelve sons (Genesis 35:22-26).
b) Jesus and His disciples were all Jews, and Christianity began as a small sect of Jesus' followers within Judaism. So Christians trace their spiritual heritage to Abraham through the Jewish origins of their faith.
c) The three major monotheistic religions of the world, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, all worship the same God who revealed Himself to Abraham. God is known by many different names around the world. He is Dios in Spanish, Dieu in French, Gott in German, YHWH in Hebrew and Allah in Arabic.
2. God Is Loving, Compassionate, Merciful, Patient and Forgiving
a) God loves all people of the world and desires that they live in harmony with Him and with each other (Psalms 42:8, 103:13, Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 15:3-7, John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-6, Galatians 3:28-29, 1 John 4:8-10).
i) 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)
ii) God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (1 John 4:16)
iii) Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
b) Because God loves us, He is patient with us and treats us with compassion and mercy (Exodus 34:6, Luke 13:6-9, Romans 15:5-6, 2 Peter 3:9)
i) But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalms 86:5)
ii) Because the Lord your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:31)
c) God is always willing to forgive our sins and give us another chance if we sincerely repent and forgive other people (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:12-14, Luke 5:31-32, 13:3-5, Acts 3:19, 13:38, Hebrews 10:17).
iii) Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)
d) Related Bible references: Exodus 34:6-7, 2 Kings 13:23, Psalms 86:5, Matthew 4:17, 18:11-14, 26:28, Luke 10:25-37, 15:4-7, 6:36, Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30, Hebrews 10:17, 1 Peter 1:3-5.
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