GOD’S ACTIONS PROCEED FROM HIS CHARACTER
In the Topics so far, we’ve seen God only from the standpoint of how he functions (his trinity). This is as limiting as trying to understand a person solely by observing what he does without regard to why he does it.
The Bible says God is a divine PERSON. Therefore, convictions, feelings and motivations lie behind his actions. To really understand God, we need to inquire about his personal character.
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ‘DOING’ AND ‘BEING’
The Bible reveals two dimensions to God: One dimension is what he does, the other is who he is. One dimension is FUNCTION, the other is CHARACTER.
It’s the distinction between doing and being. Since we’re made in the image of God, we understand this concept because the same distinction can be made of us. A person’s visible doing always proceeds from that person’s invisible being.
For an accurate concept of God, we need to understand both his FUNCTION and his CHARACTER. Topics 40-45 tell us about his function (how he works as a trinity) and Topics 46-50 tell us about his character (why he does certain things). The better we understand God, the easier it is for us to place our faith in him.
GOD’S CHARACTER: HOLY, JUST AND LOVE
From study of the Bible, we discover that God has three dominant and inter-locking attributes: He’s HOLY... he’s JUST... he’s LOVE. All three parts of his trinity have these attributes.
When we comprehend the attributes, we know not only what God DOES but also who God IS. Then we can better understand the purpose behind his actions.
WE MOVE NOW FROM TECHNICAL TO PRACTICAL
We can learn something about a man by observing the house he built. We can learn considerably more by reading his correspondence. But we learn most by meeting him personally and living with him.
It’s the same with God. Observing his universe gives us some information... reading the Bible gives us more... but knowing him personally gives the greatest understanding.
All of the Topics so far in this resource have been somewhat technical – about God’s existence... spiritual design... people’s beliefs... Bible evidence... Bible summary... and trinity function.
All of this is interesting and important, but now we come to the heart of Christianity: God’s CHARACTER – the essence of who he is, the explanation for what he does, and the kind of help he offers.
GOD IS THE SOLUTION TO PERSONAL PROBLEMS
Throughout history people have been saying that God, somehow, is the solution to our problems. That kind of thinking seems to be built right into us.
Yet for all the religious activity in the world, simple observation shows that very few people find much solution in God. That must be either because God is remote, indifferent and/or weak or because most people don’t really know him.
The inquiry in the remainder of this site is to discover whether or not God can, and will, help a person in practical ways. It’s one thing to believe in God – to know that he exists somewhere in outer space – and something quite different to have a relationship with him that has personal daily benefit.
