God

The Bible is not a book that enters into a discussion about whether God exists or not, it presumes that he does. Whilst the physical nature of God remains a mystery, the scriptures reveal to us his nature, characteristics and purposes. The Bible tells us that God was responsible for the creation of the universe and all that is in it including the earth, it does so by story and not scientific text book.

He is shown as a powerful intelligent creative ultimate being responsible for all things. As humans we are the pinnacle of his creation and intended to enjoy all the good things that he has provided. We are to be the 'sheep of his pasture'. He has given us spiritual capacity, we are made sentient beings able to reason and feel emotion and are given free will to choose our path in life. God wants us to choose the path of love both of him and our fellow man but does not want it to be coercive or robotic. He makes us creative through our imagination that we might experience him directly and enjoy relationship with him and being gendered we too are able to create new physical life.

Through his chosen Jewish people he established in their minds the idea that he is the one true God at a time when cultures all around routinely worshiped multiple Gods and false idols. They give him the name Yahweh which means 'to be' or 'i am'. We are told that he is invisible to us, a spirit yet also we as humans are made in his own image though we do not see him as a grey bearded man sitting on a cloud sending down wrathful commands as he is often depicted. In this way he has this quality of mystery which requires that we seek him out in order to experience him. God is said to be eternal and present in all of time and space. In this way God can be personal to us, indwelling in our hearts and communicating through our prayer life.

We believe that God is all knowing and powerful within his own nature because God is love and he hates sin simply because it harms people and impedes the purpose of his creation. He knows and understands us and whilst he is able to punish in justice he is more likely to guide, being patient and slow to judge. He wants us to have faith and share a spiritual life with him, to heed his purpose and be humble and honest about ourselves despite our shortcomings so that he can pour out his grace. In this way his character is righteous and good because his grace is a gift.

Whilst God is the one and only true God he exists in three persons. The Father who is creator and directs the actions of the trinity. The Son Jesus, sent to earth to show the pathway to God in eternity. The Holy Spirit, carries out the will of the trinity and is constantly at work in people and the world. Throughout history God has worked through Patriarchs, Prophets, Judges, Kings and Priests to guide people in the ways of his kingdom, he gave us the law and inspired scripture in order to give us insight. He sent Jesus as a teacher and a ransom for human sin so that we may be liberated, then finally the Holy Spirit, available to all as a personal inspiration and source of power for the Church to further his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

It is a spiritual kingdom in which God wants us to share. The nature of God is like that of a father, Jesus used the term father 168 times, the Aramaic word Abba being the rather more intimate term akin to daddy. In some religious traditions God is distant and unapproachable and gives rewards and punishments sends down strict commands or condemns people to hell. The Christian understanding of God is different, Countless times in the Bible God wants to draw to himself all people and redeem us. Many of the most serious sinners such as Moses, Saul and David are transformed to good. He wants us to live by the Spirit rather than solely by the law. He is a forgiving father who values us all, as portrayed in the parable of the prodigal son.

In our prayer life we can confide our shortcomings and ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome them. He wants us to work with him in partnership to restore us and his creation. He is the God of love who in himself IS love, the distinct sacrificial agape love that Jesus spoke of, where we put the needs of others before ourselves. The God who so loved the world that he gave his only son to die on a cross that we might be liberated from sin and its harmful effects, partner in his purposes and enjoy everlasting spiritual life. It is these characteristics of God that we as Christians worship and look to in our daily lives as an inspiration to work for his kingdom.

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