God The Father

Introduction

Apart from God taking the initiative to reveal Himself to man, we would never have known the truth about Him. Mankind does not simply stumble upon the truth of who God is.

Is. 55:8-9 – For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Problems with this truth arise, because, unregenerate man believes that his ways are just fine and that his understanding of who God is, is adequate.

Ezek. 18:29 – But the house of Israel says, The way of the Lord is not right. Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

Prov. 14:12 – There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

The importance of knowing God can clearly be seen in a statement that Jesus made when He was praying to God the Father in John 17.

John 17:3 – This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus the Messiah whom You have sent.

1. False Theories and Systems About God

It should not surprise us when we discover that there is so much false teaching about God. God’s arch enemy, the Devil tries to confuse people on this important issue.

A. Deism

This view represents the universe as a self-sustained mechanism from which God withdraws as soon as He created it, leaving it to a process of self development. They deny that God has any personal involvement with the present world. According to a deist, after God created the universe, He allows it to run on its own by natural laws without His personal involvement. A deist would not see the need for prayer or seek intimate fellowship with God.

B. Atheism

This view totally denies God’s existence. Only the foolish and wicked person can come to a place where they deny the existence of God.

Ps. 14:1 – The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.

Ps. 53:1 – The fool has said in his heart, There is no God, They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good.

Ps. 10:3-4 – For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord. The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, There is no God.

C. Agnosticism

This view holds that there is no sufficient ground for either a positive or a negative answer to the question: Does God exist?

Rom. 1:18-19, 21 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

D. Pantheism

This view holds the belief that God is everything and that everything is God. This belief confuses God with nature and with matter. It confuses the Creator with the things He has created. In some instances the excessive concern for the environment that is prevalent in our day is a result of pantheistic beliefs.