God is Spirit
Immaterial, invisible, living. We worship in spirit and truth because He is not a statue and not a mood.
Lesson 4 · Course 52
Nature of God
God’s nature and attributes — and the wrong views that quietly wreck a Christian life.
At a glance
Summary
God’s nature and attributes — and the wrong views that quietly wreck a Christian life. A wrong view of God always multiplies problems in daily Christian living (Tozer). What you believe about God will leak into prayer, marriage, money, and preaching.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- A wrong view of God always multiplies problems in daily Christian living (Tozer). What you believe about God will leak into prayer, marriage, money, and preaching.
- Nature is who God is; attributes are the rays of that sun. Do not preach attributes as spare parts you can rearrange.
- Seven terms for His nature: Spirit, Person, Life, self-existent, immutable, unlimited by time and space, and unity — one God. The Trinity is not three gods.
- Holiness, love, and goodness are absolute attributes (God alone in that fullness). Omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence are comparative — we have a drop; He has the sea.
- God has never learned. He is present everywhere at all times. Omnipotence still has limits of character: He cannot lie, sin, or stop being who He is.
- Most religions paint God as an impersonal force. The gospel gives us a living Lord with intellect, emotion, and will.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Eleven erroneous views of God
Atheism, agnosticism, materialism, animism, polytheism, henotheism, tritheism, dualism, pantheism, idealism, deism — a pastoral checklist for the ideas already…
Six principal attributes
Absolute: holiness, love, goodness. Comparative: omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence. Keep the pairs straight when you teach.
Nature
Nature is who God is; attributes are the rays of that sun
The Trinity
The Trinity is not three gods
Trinity
The Trinity is not three gods.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- God is Spirit
- Eleven erroneous views of God
- Six principal attributes
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz score | 100% (1 attempt) |
|---|---|
| Preach | A wrong view of God always multiplies problems in daily Christian living (Tozer). What you believe about God will leak into prayer… |
| Preach | Nature is who God is; attributes are the rays of that sun. Do not preach attributes as spare parts you can rearrange. |
| Key claim | Seven terms for His nature: Spirit, Person, Life, self-existent, immutable, unlimited by time and space, and unity — one God. The Trinity… |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Seven terms for His nature
- Spirit
- Person
- Life
- self-existent
- immutable
- unlimited by time
- space
- and unity — one God
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- What you believe about God will leak into prayer, marriage, money, and preaching.
- Do not preach attributes as spare parts you can rearrange.
- Atheism, agnosticism, materialism, animism, polytheism, henotheism, tritheism, dualism, pantheism, idealism, deism — a pastoral checklist for the ideas already…
- Keep the pairs straight when you teach.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. The wrong view of God will always cause a multitude of problems in the daily life of a Christian.
TrueTheology leaks. Bad doctrine makes anxious disciples.
2. While the nature of God defines His existence, the attributes of God reflect His nature.
TrueThe sun and its light — do not confuse them, and do not divide them.
3. The term “personal” when used to define God means that He is immaterial, incorporeal, and invisible.
FalseThat describes God as Spirit. Personal means intellect, emotion, and will.
4. Most religions of the world portray God as an impersonal being or force.
TrueThe gospel is startling: God speaks, loves, and comes near.
5. God is the source of all life.
TrueWe do not lend Him breath; He lends us ours.
6. God is limited in space and time.
FalseHe is not a larger creature. He fills heaven and earth.
7. Holiness, love, and goodness are comparative attributes of God.
FalseThey are absolute. Comparative attributes are omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence.
8. Love is the opposite of selfishness.
TruePreach love as holy self-giving, not as sentiment.
9. God has never learned.
TrueOmniscience is not a good student; it is a perfect mind.
10. God is present everywhere at all times.
TrueOmnipresence is comfort for the hospital room and warning for the secret sin.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
God is Spirit
Immaterial, invisible, living. We worship in spirit and truth because He is not a statue and not a mood.
Eleven erroneous views of God
Atheism, agnosticism, materialism, animism, polytheism, henotheism, tritheism, dualism, pantheism, idealism, deism — a pastoral checklist for the ideas already sitting in the pews.
Six principal attributes
Absolute: holiness, love, goodness. Comparative: omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence. Keep the pairs straight when you teach.