10 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT GOD

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT GOD.

Let's briefly look at 10 major attributes and qualities of God that His Word
teaches (realizing, of course, that there are many more

1. GOD IS OUR CREATOR.
God is supreme Creator of everything. Yet in last century and half the
theory of evolution has became a big barrier to belief in God as Creator.
This atheistic line of thought dominates the thinking of the world's
intelligentsia.
In fact, much of modern higher education is based on an irrational belief in
a series of lucky accidents- mindless evolution.
God the Father accomplished the creation by and through His son Jesus
Christ.Notice what the apostle Paul tells us: "God...created all things
through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9). He expanded this wondrous truth to
the church at Colossi: "For by Him (Jesus Christ) all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).
Christ is the creator! The book of Hebrews confirms this truth: "God...has
in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom He has appointed heir off
all things, through whom also He has made the worlds" ( Hebrews 1:1-2).
The awesome creation account in Genesis 1 is confirmed and complemented by
the opening verses of John's Gospel: "In the beginning was the word, and the
word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through Him,and without Him nothing was made that was
made" (John 1:1-3). verse 14 tells us that "the word" through whom God
created all things is Jesus Christ.

2.GOD IS SUPREME LAWGIVER.
The apostle James, the lord's brother, reminds us that "every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights
with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17) One of
the greatest gifts God has given mankind to it as "the perfect law of of
liberty" (verse 25). He also calls it "the royal law" ( James 2:8).
One noted British professor of law wrote: "Law is all-pervasive. It exists
in every cell of life. It affects everyone virtually all of the time. It
governs everything in life... It governs the air we breathe, the food and
drink that we consume, our travel, sexuality, family, relationships and our
property" (Gary Slapper, How the law works, 2007,p.1) Why, then, do so many
religions believe and that teach that God's law is a yoke of bondage? How
they have distorted God's word!
The entire universe operates under the laws of physics. we can absolutely
count on Halleys' comet appearing in the sky at a specific time. our
civilized world suffers enormous harm when the forces of anarchy gian the
upper hand. without law, human civilization could not long endure.
The prophet Isaiah tells us that "the LORD is our lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22).
James states that "there is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to
destroy" (James 4:12).
Jesus Christ summed up the Ten Commandments in two broad principles: love of
God, "the first and great commandment," and love of neighbor (Matthew
22:36-39). The Ten Commandments constitute a law of love.
"For this is love of God, that we keep His commandments are not burdensome"
(1 john 5:3).

3.GOD IS LOVE.
The word love is probably the most misused, misapplied term in the English
Language. Lustful desire to posses another person most certainly is not real
love. Love is so often confused with lust in TV and movie world. Many are
misled into sin by countless fantasy films promoting illicit eroticism.
(stories of how wholesome relationships develop into true romantic love are
rare in the entertainment media.)
The New Testament was originally written in Greek, which has the distinct
advantage of having different words different kinds of love.
Agape is the term that best describes God Himself. It generally expresses
altruistic, outgoing concerns for others.
The apostle John explains, "Dear friends, let us continue to love one
another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows
God. But anyone who does not love does not know God - for God is love"
(1john 4:7-8, New Living Translation). Our creator continually teaches human
beings to love both God and neighbor.
Love is the first and foremost expression of God that every christian should
seek.
The apostle Paul tell us how love should function in spiritually transformed
person:
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not
rejoice in iniquity (sin), but rejoices in the truth; bears all things,
believes all things. love never fails" ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
What is the ultimate, perfect expression of God the Father's love for human
beings trapped in their sins? The Bible gives us the answer:
"For God so loved the world that he gave His begotten son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

4.GOD IS FULL OF MERCY JUSTICE AND MERCY.
God's love embraces both justice and mercy. He is a God of justice as well
as abundant mercy. It is because of the divine attribute of justice that the
penalty for our sins-our transgressions of God's law (see 1 john 3:4)- had
to paid. But it is through divine mercy that Christ died for our sins. since
"the wages of sin is death" ( Romans 6:23), the sinless Christ suffered a
cruel death in our place so that the God of justice could also show us His
great mercy- thereby freely forgiving our sins so He could give us
everlasting life.
The Bible takes sin seriously! Sin constitutes rebellion against God, who
opposes all forms of evil. Cheap grace has never been part of the Father's
plan and is absolutely contrary to His divine character. We have all broken
His spiritual law, and true repentance is the first step on our way back to
Him.
Yet reconciliation to God the Father could only be made possible by the
steepest price imaginable-the shed blood of His Son father, but with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
When Jesus returns to reign on the earth, He will bring order to whole
world-"and establish it with judgment and justice" (Isaiah 9:7).Also notice
that "with righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for
the meek of the earth" (Isaiah 11:4).
We should never overlook God's justice and His judgment, which are
generously tempered by great mercy, James wrote that "mercy triumphs over
judgment" (James 2:13). Paul wrote, "Blessing be the God and Father of our
lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2
Corinthians 1:3).

5.GOD IS ETERNAL.
Jesus Christ prayed shortly before His agonizing suffering that would end in
His death, "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with yourself, with the
glory which i had with you before the world was" (John 17:5).
The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Titus about the "hope of eternal
life which God,who cannot lie, promised before time began" (Titus 1:2). God
existed before everything! Remember that "Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). The glorified Christ stated,
"I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the End,...who is an idiomatic
Greek expression denoting "the eternal creative existence of God" (The New
Bible Dictionary, 1974, p.26).
Hebrew7:3 speaks of One who has "neither beginning of days nor end of
life."This is the High Priest Melchizedek (verse 1), the One who later
became Jesus Christ. (For the biblical evidence, see our free booklet who is
God?) Indeed, Christ's existence is "from everlasting"
(Micah 5:2).
The prophet Isaiah recorded this awesome truth about God: "For thus says the
High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy...."(Isaiah
57:15). God the Father and Jesus Christ (the Word) have always existed. They
are divine spirit beings (john 4:24). No one created Them. They were present
before the beginning of the creation -before time began. They are eternal!

6.GOD IS A FAMILY.
The apostle Paul exclaimed, "I bow my Knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Ephesians
3:14-15).
God is not a closed Trinity doctrine, The oxford Companion to the Bible's
opening words under the article "Trinity" are enlightening:
"Because the Trinity is such an important part of later Christian doctrine,
it is striking that the term does not appear in the New Testament. Likewise,
the developed concept of three coequal partners in the Godhead found in
later creed formulations cannot be clearly detected within the confines of
the (New Testament) canon" (Bruce Metzger and Michael Coogan, editor,
1993,p.782, emphasis added).
The word later here is a vital key in understanding why general Christian
belief became burdened with the Trinity doctrine. It wasn't until long after
the Bible was written that theologians originally came up with the doctrine,
and others added to and elaborated on it down through the centuries.
Regrettably, the trinity doctrine has been a major barrier to clear
comprehension of the biblical truth that God is a divine family.
The God family is headed by the father and present consists of God the
Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. Their plan and desire is fully focused
on "bringing many sons [and daughters] to glory" ( Hebrews 2:10). This has
been planned from the beginning.
Jesus Christ is "the firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18)- "the
firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).
These passages mean that many more are going to join the family as divine
spirit beings like the Father and Christ at the first resurrection, when the
righteous are raised to everlasting life (see 1 Corinthians 15:49-54; 1 John
3:1-2; Revelation 20:6).
Those who are truly converted and have received God's Holy Spirit are
already reckoned to be a part of the family (again, see Ephesians 3:14-15).
They await the final step at the second coming.
At that time Jesus "will transform our lowly body that it my be conformed to
His glorious body" (Philippians 3:21). Then it can be said in its fullest
sense, "I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty" (2 Corinthians 6:18).
Even this supremely important step involves only the first fruits of God's
salvation, as He will eventually ad countless others His family. (For
further knowledge of our creator's awesome plan and purpose for humanity.

7.GOD IS THE GREAT HEALER.
In spite of all the wondrous achievement and advancements in medical
science, mankind is still plagued by diabetes, cancer,heart disease,AIDS, a
host of harmful addictions and unending chronic ailments. certain medicines
can aid the healing process,though sometimes with serious side effect.Human
beings still desperately need divine healing
Over time our Creator made it possible for doctors and researchers to gain
marvelous insights into how our bodies function.
Jesus Christ never spoke against the physicians of His day. On the contrary
He said on one occasion, "Those who are well have no need of a
physicians,but those who are sick" (Matthew 9:12). Luke, who traveled
extensively with the apostle Paul and wrote a large portion of New
Testament, was called "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14).
All that properly said, most Christians do not realize that the Bible
describes God as our healer. "I am the Lord who heals you," He says (Exodus
15:26). Yet His miracle working power does not always find much favor in our
largely secular society. Even in a local area of the Holy Land some 2,000
years ago, the Bible states that Jesus "could do no mighty work there,
except that He laid His hands on few sick people and healed them. And He
marveled because of their unbelief" (Mark 6:5-6)
Nonetheless, He healed many during His earthly ministry: "Then Jesus went
about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease
among the people" (Matthew 9:35). still, many today of miracles has passed
into history.
A noted British theologian rightly contradicted this common assessment: "To
deny even the possibility of miracles, whether from theological prejudice or
scientific secularism, borders on the absurd. Since we believe that God is
the sovereign Creator of Universe, he is certainly able to intrude into his
own world. We have no liberty either to lock him up into one of our neat
little boxes or to dictate to him what he is permitted to do" (John
Stott,Evangelical Truth, 2003,p.124).
Many Christians are not even aware of the Bible's instruction when they
become ill: Is anyone among you sick? Let call him for the elders of the
church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord" ( James 5:14) What is expected to happen? "And the prayer of faith
will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up" (verse 15). But we
should leave the way and the time to God's determination, as verse 16
indicates.
Jesus said, "According to your faith, let it be unto to you" (Matthew 9:29).
To understand how to increase your faith.

8.GOD IS ULTIMATE PLANNER.
All human beings are important in God's eyes. The first man and woman were
the crown of His physical creation.After all, He made them in His own image
(Genesis 1:26-27), and we are their offspring.
Jesus Christ said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth [referring to
His crucifixion that would soon take place], will draw all peoples to
Myself" (John 12:32). The first step in God's plan for humankind was the
sacrifice of His son so our sins could be forgiven. But His divine plan
doesn't stop there.
Notice what Paul told the Christian of Ephesus: "He made known to us his
secret purpose, in accordance with the plan which he determined beforehand
in Christ, to be put into effect when the time was ripe: namely that the
universe, everything in heaven and earth, might be brought into a unity with
Christ" (Ephesians 1:9-10, Revised English Bible).
In this present age, much remains in chaos and confusion. "For we know that
the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now"
(Romans 8:22). But it won't always be this way.Read the next verse: "Not
only that, but we also who have the first fruits of Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [or full
rights of sonship], the redemption of our body [at the time of the
resurrection]" ( verse 23).
A little earlier Paul had written that "the earnest expectation of the
creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God" (verse 19). God
is going to straighten everything out with the help of His resurrected
saints. That is why He is calling the first fruits of His family during this
age of man. Many more will be called to salvation in due time.
God will complete His great purpose in the step-by-step order revealed in
the Bible. Our Creator has revealed all seven steps of His majestic divine
plan through the observance of the annual biblical festivals.

9. GOD REVEALS THE FUTURE.
No human seer or prophet could have accurately predicted the remarkable rise
and fall of nation, leaders and people foretold in the Bible. God counsels
us all to "remember the former things of old [the things He has already
accomplished], for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is
none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times
things that are not yet done" (Isaiah 46:9-10).
Our creator "calls those things which do not [yet] exist as though they
[already] did" (Romans 4:17). He has the power, foresight and wisdom to
bring things to pass according to His great plan and purpose for mankind.
"Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposes it;
I will do it" (Isaiah 46:11).
God not only foretells a wondrous future world of prosperity,peace and
plenty, but also a time of horrifying catastrophes that man will first bring
on himself. Although our expanding modern technology, growing exponentially,
lavishes on us many labor-saving devices our forefather could dream of it
has also produced incalculable means of self-destruction threatening our
security.
Meanwhile crime and violence, sickness and disease, famine and starvation
poverty and unhappiness are accelerating just as God prophesied in His word
long ago. He is a living God of love and mercy , justice and compassion-and
He will intervene to save humanity from itself (Matthew 24:21-22).
If God did not exist, truly our fate would be tragically sealed and all
human life doomed. But He is quite aware of present world trends and is
deeply concerned about our own self-inflicted plight. Humanity is caught in
a destructive trap of rebellion against our Creator- and we are completely
helpless to deliver ourselves out of it.
That is why God the father will send His Son Jesus Christ back to earth to
save us from ourselves (Revelation 11:15). Christ, with His glorified
followers from this age, will personally and directly rule over humankind
for a 1,000-year period of incomprehensible well-being (Revelation 20:4-6).
During that millennial period many billions of people will be brought to
real repentance through the word of God going to all nations from Jerusalem.

10.GOD CARES FOR YOU.
Diana,Princess of Wales (1961-1997), brought caring and compassion into the
forefront of the public mind. Noted British historian and journalist Paul
Johnson wrote, "She had the most princely gift of making the most
insignificant person feel important to her, the recipient of her undivided
attention, no longer excluded and ignored but brought into the warm circle,
welcomed, cherished, made much of."
caring and compassion is one divine attribute that people sometimes overlook
in considering our Creator. But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion,
and gracious long suffering and abundant in mercy and truth...You,Lord,have
helped me and comforted me" (Psalm 86:15-17).
In the Gospels we read that "when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude;
and He was moved with compassion for them,and healed their sick" (Mattew
14:`14).The apostle James later wrote that "the lord is very compassionate
and merciful" (James 5:11).
This sinning world in which we live inevitably creates much anxious worry in
many people. But the apostle Peter tells us to exhibit true humility and
trust in God in "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1
Peter 5:6-7). God is the ultimate caregiver!
David beautifully expressed our Creator's care and concerns for you: "Bless
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your
iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from
destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies" (psalm
103:2-4)