The challenge of thinking about God is found in the fact we likely determine God’s nature before we consult God’s revelation of Himself in scripture. A typical result is that we decide how God would act and what God would or would not do before we even consult God’s revelation of Himself.
Consider a specific example. If you are a conservative Christian in the American culture, if you are asked, “Is there anything God cannot do?” you have been taught and conditioned to say, “No!”
Yet, the writers of the New Testament state there are things God cannot do. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 6:18). That is the basis on which people are called upon to trust God’s promises when trust calls for confidence in the face of the unusual. God cannot be tempted, and He does not tempt humans (James 1:13). Therefore, when humans are confronted with the enticement to commit sin or rebel against God, the efforts to justify one’s behavior by blaming God for his (or her) choices is false.
God cannot lie. God is above sin. He cannot deny His character. He cannot violate His nature. Sin and rebellion against what is right is a human problem, not a divine problem. The issue does not center in power considerations (too often for humans, power, by definition, involves “the right” to do whatever the human wishes to do—a failure to act is commonly a limitation of power). Nor do the majority of humans realize there is a sphere of being that is beyond sin and rebellion. Humans are so conditioned by living in a sphere of sin and rebellion that that they cannot imagine an existence where there is no sin or rebellion.
A common result of defining God by human realities is “check-list” religion. First, a person forms a list of things he (or she) must do. Second, the person checks off the “correct things” (according to the list) that the person has done. Third, by doing the “correct things” on the list, the person obligates God. (The “obligation” often has little or nothing to do with the person’s faith in God, but the person’s performance—thus salvation is not God centered, but becomes human act centered). Fourth, the person is saved because the person has done the right things, not because one places faith in God at the core of the person’s being.
Does this declare that there are no righteous responsibilities a godly person assumes? No! It declares that human acts are insufficient! Salvation involves a combination of both faith in God and an acceptance of godly responsibilities. The godly responsibilities are assumed because the person is expressing/demonstrating faith in God. Human acts do not obligate God, yet the person acts because he has confidence in God Who keeps His promises because God does what He says He will do.
Faith in God’s trustworthiness lies at the core of human obedience. Obedience is never a human effort to obligate or manipulate God. God is beyond obligation or manipulation. Obedience is always a human effort to express or demonstrate confidence in God and His revelation of Himself.
God never “owes us” no matter what we do. Would you please again read Luke 17:5-10 again? If an apostle did only what he was supposed to do when obeying, how should you look upon your acts of obedience?
No human by any act can place God in debt to him. God has regard for us for two reasons: (a) He made us in His own image. (b) He is filled with grace.
God did something with us He did with any other form of life when He made us in His image. Even though we sin (even as Christians), we still receive and live in God’s goodness. Even when we are deceived by evil, God interacts with us on the basis of His goodness.
God does not owe us because of anything we do. We owe God for what He did and does for us in Jesus Christ. Our debt is so enormous that all we can do is to learn to express obedient appreciation.
We always will be in debt to God (a) for what He did for us in Jesus’ death and (b) for what continues to do for us in our salvation when we place obedient faith in Jesus.
This quarter will attempt to challenge you to accept two facts. (a) Understand God is not predictable. (b) Understand the objective of acceptable obedience is never a human attempt to obligate or manipulate God.
When we regard God as predictable, we often consider God as being human/physical. Remember Isaiah 55:8, 9. God is not a super human. Do not limit God to human understandability.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Explain the common challenge a person confronts when he (or she) thinks about God.
2. In the American society, what is the proper answer to, “Is there anything God cannot do?”
3. State three things the New Testament says God cannot do.
(a)
(b)
(c)
4. What is an important part of the human concept of power?
5. Humans are so conditioned by living in a sphere of sin and rebellion that (most of them) cannot do what?
6. State four parts of the common concept of “check-list religion.”
7. Discuss the fact that there are righteous responsibilities.
8. What lies at the core of human obedience?
9. Why does God never owe us? Include Luke 17:5-10 in your answer.
10. Why will we always owe God?
11. What two things will this quarter challenge you to consider?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 1