Chapter I

AMERICA IN TODAY'S CHANGING WORLD

I. Introduction

All men of the earth must come to a proper and mature understanding of God and of the times in which we are living. History was pre-written by Him and revealed to us in His Word to man -- the Holy Bible. If we are to hope to understand the times preceding the end of the age, we must understand God.



II. God's Attributes

A. Introduction

ATTRIBUTES DEFINED

"The divine attributes are what we know to be true of God. He does not POSSESS them as qualities; they are how God is..."1 They ARE God's nature, and God can act only in conformity with His nature.

GOD'S SPECIFIC ATTRIBUTES

1. The Infinity and Eternity of God (Isaiah 46:10)

Infinity is THE foundational attribute of God. It literally means limitlessness, and it ensures that EACH of God's attributes are equally infinite and eternal.

2. Omniscience of God (Isaiah 40:13-14; or 1 Corinthians 1:24-25.)

Definition: "To say that God is omniscient is to say that He possess perfect knowledge."

3. God's Attributes--LOVE (1 John 4:8b) "God is love."

God's Goodness is absolutely perfect.

Love gives all freely to the object of its affection.

God's loves individual people.

* God's Love is further manifested in Mercy. He has always dealt in mercy with mankind, and WILL ALWAYS DEAL IN JUSTICE (ONLY) WHEN HIS MERCY IS DESPISED."2

* Satan's Counterfeit Truth About God's Love is that God is too loving to send anyone to an eternal punishment in Hell. This view ignores all of God's other attributes.

4. God's Immutability (Unchanging nature) (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6.)

In God, no change is possible.

God's Immutability will figure most prominently in our later discussion, so keep it firmly in your mind.

5. God Is Omnipotent and Sovereign--(Genesis 18:14; Matthew 19:26; Job 42:2; Isaiah 46:10).

Definition: Having all power. God is the source of all power in His universe.

6. The Justice of God--(Amos 5:21-24; Isaiah 5:16).

7. The Holiness of God--(Leviticus 19:2).

God has made holiness the moral condition necessary to the health of His universe. Whatever is holy is healthy. Evil is a moral sickness which must end ultimately in death.