Light of the Gospel Baptist Church
Preparing for Baptism
Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith and Ethics
Doctrine about God
Statement of Faith
God. We believe that there is only one living, true and eternal God (Isa. 45:22; Jer. 10:10; John 17:3) who created, in six literal days, the heavens and earth and all that fills them. (Gen. 1:1-2; Ex. 31:17; Ps.24:1; Isa. 45:12; Acts 17:24-29).
God is the Spirit, perfect in all His qualities (Matt. 5:48; John 4:24). He reveals himself as the infinite, incomprehensible, self-sufficient, and unchanging Lord (Ex. 3:14; Tit. 1:2). He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent (Gen. 17:1, 28:16; Ps. 22:3, 94:11; 1Pet. 1:16).
God is love. He is holy, righteous and just, and he desires salvation for all people (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 119:137; Isa. 6:3; 1Pet. 1:15-16; 2Pet. 3:9; 1John 4:16; 1Tim. 2:4).
The Triune God. We believe that God is one in His nature and yet exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Trinity possesses all divine attributes in equal measure (Isa. 48:16; Matt. 28:19; 2Cor. 13:13).
God the Father. We believe that God the Father is the Eternal God, the Creator and the Ruler over all that exists, including all humanity (Eph. 4:6).
God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to provide salvation for us (John 3:16). He is the caring and loving Father of all believers who are called to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 1:13, 4:23; 1Cor. 8:6).
How do we know about God?
Nature. When only looking at all the magnificent beauty of nature, created by God, we can already know what God is. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:20).
Bible. The Holy Scripture is the main and trustworthy source about God, His qualities, deeds and plans for humanity and the whole Universe. “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39).
Who is God?
The Bible says that “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). What is the spirit? Christ said so: “A spirit does not have flesh and bones” (Luke 24:39). Spirit is an invisible, immaterial person. God is not limited by time or location. He is the invisible Person present in all places at the same time, all- knowing and all-powerful. He is perfect in everything.
God’s Characteristics and Virtues
1. Our God is the Almighty Creator
God created the earth, the sky and the whole universe with His word. He also created the entire animal world, nature and man (Gen. 1-2).
2.God is Omnipresent, Immense and Infinite
Omnipresent means that God is present always and everywhere in all His fullness. God fills everything at the same time. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7-10).
3. Our God is Everlasting God
He has always existed and will continue to exist in the future. Eternity does not have time. God lives outside of time, and the Eternity of God means that everything is for him in the present tense.
4. Our God is omniscient (He knows everything)
God knows both the past, the present and the future as already happened. This is like we see several pictures showed together on a computer screen. God knows everything! People are open to Him, and He knows their intentions. “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:2).
Moral Attributes of God
1. God is holy
The holiness of God is absolute moral purity and infallibility. He is in no way tainted by sin or any uncleanness. “You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy” (Lev 20:26).
2. God is love
God’s love has been expressed in the Father’s feeling for His children, which encourages Him to care for them regardless of their merit. He loves the whole world and even sinners (John 3:16). The Calvary cross is the highest manifestation of God’s love for sinful people.
3. Righteousness and Justice of God
The righteousness of God is shown in the just punishment of sin. No sinner will be able say on the Day of Judgment that he is undeservedly punished. The righteous judgement of God means that He does not have partiality towards anyone.
Important to remember
Who is God? God is Spirit. He is an invisible Person present in all places at the same time, all- knowing and all-powerful. He is perfect in everything.
Natural Attributes of God
1. The Almighty Creator 2. Omnipresent
3. Eternal
4. Omniscient
Moral Attributes of God
1. God is holy
2. God is love
3. He is righteous and just
The Trinity of God
Christians do not confess pagan polytheism, but they believe in one triune God.
In the Bible there is no such word as “Trinity”. It simply establishes a fact of the trinity of the Godhead, and it provides facts about God manifesting himself in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Evidence
- The Holy Scriptures recognize each of these three Persons as God (1Pet. 1:2, Rom. 9:5, Acts 5:3-4).
- The Holy Scriptures make a clear and definite distinction between the three Persons.
• The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are described as individuals. “But the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).
- This trinity is not three Gods. The Trinity is one God.
- “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:11).
- “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and theHoly Spirit; and these three are one” (1Иоан. 5:7).
- All three Persons of the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – are equal.
• Conclusions based on the Holy Scripture references:
o “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).o “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2Cor. 13:14).
o “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1Иоан. 5:7).
- The Son is equal to the Father. “…Who, being in the form of God, did notconsider it robbery to be equal with God” (Phil. 2:6).
- The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have the same divine attributes: eternity, omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience.
What should be our relationship and attitude to God?
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good” (Deut. 10:12-13).
To Love God
God loves us, and He desires the same in return. He wants to have a personal and deep relationship with each of us. This includes our feelings, our will, and state of mind.
Jesus Christ said that the love of God is the first and greatest commandment for us: “Jesus saidto him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’” (Matt. 22:37).
Worship and Glorification
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).
Worship is a necessary part of a Christian’s life. It should not be specious, as a religious ritual. It should be genuine and with the proper attitude of the heart. Our worship should also be “in truth,” that is, conforming to Scripture and focus on the Word of God.
Service to God
“…Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving theLord” (Rom. 12:11). Christians should not be just nominal attendees of the church services. We must serve God out of love for Him and the Church, and because we are thankful for our salvation.
Holiness and fear of God
“But, after the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your actions” (1Pet. 1:15). Our life should reflect the holy character of the One Who saved us. God is holy in everything. To become like Him, we must be holy in everything what we do and say. The fear of God is a respect for the Lord and a fear of upsetting Him by our sin. “Let the fear of the Lord be upon you” (2Chron. 19:7).
Be Doers of His Word
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).
A true Christian is not one who has a Bible, but one who regularly reads and follows it. We must have a deep desire to hear God. His Word should be a part of our life.
Key Verse:
“And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy”(Lev. 20:26).
Key questions:
- What are the natural attributes of God?
- What are the moral attributes of God?
- Name the three Persons of the Trinity.
- Write one verse from the Bible about the holiness of God.
Important to remember
The Trinity of God
We believe in one triune God who reveals Himself in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All three Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – are equal.
What should be our relationship and attitude to God?
We are ought to:
1. Love Him
2. Serve Him
3. Worship Him
4. To have the holiness and fear of God
5. Be doers of His Word
Key Verse:
“And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy”
Lev. 20:26
