God the Father, Mentor's Guide, MG06

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G O D T H E F A T H E R

5. What are the implications for understanding God as one who is transcendent above all things? How does this doctrine undergird all valid worship and service to God? 6. What is an attribute of God ? Why is it important to always remember the unity of God when studying his individual attributes? What are the errors we must avoid as we seek to understand God’s qualities one by one, separate from all the rest? 7. How do theologians classify the attributes of God? What qualities are associated with God’s greatness , and which are associated with his goodness ? This lesson focuses upon those critical, first truths that must be understood for a solid, biblical study of the doctrine of God. It is important to establish the “big picture” of one’s study before we dig into the weighty matters of God’s person and works. Knowing the assumptions behind our study, we will be guided into the truth of the doctrine of God. At every step we must guard against pride and arrogance, thinking that we can understand the person of God unaided by the Holy Spirit, apart from his illumination of the Scriptures. Below are some of the key ideas we covered in our study of lesson one. A prolegomena , a study of the “first things” of the doctrine of God, is critical for a valid, biblical study of the doctrine of God the Father, or theology proper . Because of the nature of God and our finite character, we must affirm that God must reveal himself to us before we can know him. Knowing that God is beyond our own reason and reflection, we must be humble and careful in all our reflections and assertions about God and his person. God must reveal himself to us if we are to know him personally. As Maker of all things, God has revealed himself to us in two special modes. In general revelation , God reveals himself to all people everywhere, and in special revelation , God reveals himself to particular human beings at particular times and places. The Nicene Creed provides a clear statement of the greatness of the one true God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Summary of Key Concepts

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