My Doctrinal Statement on God’s Nature and Works

A Doctrinal Statement on God’s Nature and Works

I.                   I believe God is relational - eternally giving of Himself (love) which can be seen within the Trinity. It is this love that allows us to be in relationship with him (1 John4:7-11,16,19).

II.                I believe God is completely transcendent meaning that God is above all creation and reality and knowledge (Ps. 113:5-6; Isa.55:8-9; John 8:23). Simultaneously, I believe that God is completely immanent meaning that God is present and interacts, intervenes and builds relationships within His creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 27:3; Ps.104: 28-30; Isa. 63:11; Jer. 23:24).

III.             Incommunicable Attributes: I believe God is self existent; He is and was and will always be (Exod.3:14; John 10:17-18; Hebrews 13:8; Rev. 1:8). I believe God’s immensity means that He is not bound by space, time, any philosophical system or reality as we perceive it (Exod. 13:21-22; Ps 139:7-10; Is 66:1).  I believe God is an eternal present -choosing to interact and even dwell within time as shown by the incarnation (Exod. 3:14; Ps. 90:2; Isa. 57:15; John 8:58; 2 Tim. 1:19). I believe God’s immutability means that God does not change in His perfect character, nor could He for then He would cease to be God (Num. 23:19; 1Sam. 15:29; Ps.102:26-27; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 6:18, 13:8; Titus 1:2). I believe God is a spirit. He is invisible and not bound in or by creation.  God is not contained in a physical body, and when the Bible discusses God having physical features like hands or a face, it is using anthromophic language. (Exod. 19:4; Num.11:23; 2 Chr.16:9; Heb.4:13).

IV.               Communicable Attributes: I believe God’s love and pleasure is expressed within the Trinity (1 John 4:7-11,16,19; 2 Cor. 13:11).God’s love is perfect and is patient and He is slow to anger (Ps. 86:15). God’s love is kind (Ps. 145:9, 15-16; Acts 14:17) and merciful (Ex. 3:7; Matt. 14:14, 9:36-38).   I believe God’s love is expressed by God toward all of creation and realized by those who accept Him as savior (1 Cor. 2:14-16). I believe God is wise and omniscient as He has exhaustive foreknowledge of past, present and future (Job 37:16, 39:1-3; Ps.139:2-4, 17-18, 147:4-5; Heb.4:13). God’s wisdom allows Christians to have complete trust in Him and in His plans and divine providence (Ps.104:24). I believe God is completely trustworthy which is based in God’s love, wisdom and omniscience (Deut. 7:6-9; Ps.25:10,136:1-26; Hos. 11:8-9). I believe God is holy (set apart), transcendent and unique from all of creation and is the ultimate moral standard (Exod.15:11; Lev.11:44, 45; Ps. 99:5; Mark 1:24). I believe God is absolutely righteous, which is predicated on His holiness, and God is completely just - rewarding some while judging others (Isa.5:16; Ps.19:9, 89:14; Heb.1:8). I believe God is completely sovereign, which allows God to be in complete control at all times (Jer.32:27). This allows God to intervene in the affairs of men.

V.                 I believe the Trinity is God in three persons (Father, Son, Spirit).

a.         I believe all three (Father, Son, Spirit) are of the same essence and all equal in essence and attributes (Isa.43:10-11; 2 Cor. 13:14; Eph.4:4-6).

b.         I believe the three distinct persons is a community of one, made up of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Gen.1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Isa. 6:8; Matt.3:16-17; 1 Cor. 12:3-6; 2 Cor. 13:14). There is no difference in being (John 1:1-2,). They differ only in activities.

c.         I believe the three persons make up one being who are completely God and equally the same essence, but are different in the way they relate to creation through activities. For example, the Father ordered creation, the Son (eternal word of God) carried this order (John 1:3; Col. 1:16; 1Cor. 8:6), while the Holy Spirit interacted by hovering over the waters (Gen. 1:2).

VI.              I believe that God the Father is the first member of the Godhead, and has intellect (Matt. 6:32), emotions and feelings (Gen 6:6; Matt. 6:9-10), and He can communicate with his creation       (Matt. 11:25; John 7:16-17)

VII.           I believe that God is completely Divine (Deut. 4:35; Isa. 44:6,45:18; Eph. 4:6; 1Tim. 2:5)

VIII.        God’s Works: I believe God has a sovereign plan that is eternal and based on His omniscience and wisdom and He will bring all His purposes to pass for His Glory (Ps 33:11; Isa. 46:10-11; Eph. 3:11). God is not reactionary.

a.         I believe that God’s sovereign plan includes all human acts of free will, which include both good and evil (Gen. 50:20; Prov. 16:4; Is. 44:28; Acts 2:23; Eph. 2:10). God knows the end and the process to that end (Ps. 119:89-91; 2 Thess. 2:13).

b.         I believe God’s sovereignty does not negate human responsibility and we are responsible for our actions and sins.(Gen. 45:8; 50:20; Acts 2:23, 36)

IX.              God’s Works: I believe evil is not caused by God, rather He has the right to allow, prevent or limit evil (Gen. 20:6; Rom. 1:24; 2 Thess. 2:7)

X.              God’s Works: I believe that God created all creation and reality. Thus, all exist because of God (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6, 9; Heb. 1:10; 11:3)and God is set apart from creation(Job 35:6-8; Ps.2:2-4).