23 Aug It is What It Is (Discovering the true character of God…because He is not a car-wrecking, cancer causing Creator, but a loving, life giving Lord!) part 4

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Our new series this month is not derived from the popular cultural statement, but rather from Hebrews 11:6 which says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

There are three very important takeaways to review from this powerful verse:

  1. Notice the word “cometh”.  The Greek tense for the word “cometh” is in the continual tense, meaning it is discussing those who continually come to God.  It could read “those that cometh and cometh and cometh to God”.  It describes a continual, communicative relationship.
  2. When we continually come to God, we must believe that “He IS”…not He was or He will be.  That describes a vast majority of the Body of Christ.  “God did a miracle in Biblical days” or “One day when we all get to Heaven, He will heal then.”  God is not the Great I was or the Great I will be…He IS the Great I AM!
  3. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Now we’ve left behind three quarters of the Body of Christ.  Most don’t believe He is a rewarder…most believe He is a taker!

Understanding God’s true nature and character is absolutely vital if we are to continually “cometh” to Him!  Remember this:  You always return to a place of pleasure.  How you view God  is vital.  

We then began covering  “4 Vital View Verifications”:

  1. How you view Him will determine how much you come to Him.
  2. How you view Him is how you will treat others.  In other words, if you think He’s mad at you, it will be very difficult for you to treat others kindly.
  3. How you view Him will determine your outlook on life.
  4. How you view Him will determine your destiny.

Last week we started diving into “11 Characteristics concerning the Character of God”:

  1. You can’t create God in your own image (Rom. 1:25).  

Here the Bible tells us, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator…”.  In other words, as we jump into this powerful subject matter, it is vital we don’t recreate God in our image as He clearly made us in His (Gen. 1:20).  We can’t let American culture or even television preachers determine His image for us.

We must take an honest look at Scripture and let God define His character for us through the pages of His Word!  

Last time we learned that God is both grace and truth, both love and holy, both lion and Lamb…same God, two Biblically balanced sides of the same coin!  

Let us continue to look at the beautiful balance struck so vividly with Jesus’ encounter with the woman taken in the act of adultery from John 8:1-11:

“Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.  And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not, So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord.  And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more.”

Jesus says, “Woman, where are your accusers?  Neither do I condemn thee.”  Here you see His grace.  He then finishes His exchange with her with the powerful words, “Go and sin no more.”  Here you see His truth.  If you put too much emphasis on just His grace, you will travel down the slippery slope of “license” (see Jude v.4, Titus 2:11-13).  If you emphasize just His “truth”, you will travel down the rocky road of “legalism” (see Matthew 23:23-24).

Remember this:  Grace is not the power of God to overlook sin.  Grace is the power of God overcome sin!

Next week we will continue this powerful series!