Encountering God's Holiness and Compassion in Faith

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, it is crucial to remember that everything begins with God. Often, we are tempted to focus on our needs, desires, and experiences, but the Bible consistently reminds us that the starting point is always God Himself. This foundational truth is what God revealed to Moses, emphasizing His eternal nature and holiness. The essence of Christianity is to bring us face to face with God, and any gospel that fails to do so is not the true gospel. Our relationship with God is the ultimate measure of our faith, and it is through understanding His holiness and majesty that we can truly comprehend the necessity of the atonement and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

God's revelation to Moses was profound, as He declared, "I am that I am," highlighting His eternal, self-existent, and unchanging nature. This revelation is a reminder of God's majesty and the awe-inspiring nature of His being. The holiness of God is such that no sin can stand in His presence, and this is why the doctrine of the atonement is essential. It is only through the sacrifice of Jesus that we can be reconciled to this holy God and dwell in His presence.

Furthermore, God's compassion and purpose are evident in His words to Moses. He sees the affliction of His people, hears their cries, and knows their sorrows. This tender aspect of God's character is a source of comfort and hope, as it assures us that He is not distant or indifferent to our struggles. God's plan for deliverance is certain, and His power is unmatched. Just as He delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He delivers us from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, our faith must be rooted in the knowledge of God, His holiness, and His redemptive plan. It is through this understanding that we can experience true freedom and the glorious liberty of being children of God.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Primacy of God in Our Faith: Our spiritual journey must begin with God, not our desires or experiences. The Bible consistently points us to God as the starting point, reminding us that our relationship with Him is the foundation of our faith. Without this focus, our understanding of Christianity becomes skewed. [21:40]

2. The Holiness of God: God's holiness is absolute, and no sin can exist in His presence. This understanding is crucial for grasping the necessity of the atonement and the sacrifice of Jesus. Without recognizing God's holiness, we cannot fully appreciate the significance of the cross. [34:31]

3. God's Eternal Nature: God's declaration to Moses, "I am that I am," reveals His eternal, self-existent, and unchanging nature. This profound truth calls us to stand in awe of His majesty and to recognize the depth of His being. [30:33]

4. God's Compassion and Purpose: God is not indifferent to our struggles. He sees our afflictions, hears our cries, and knows our sorrows. His compassionate nature assures us of His presence and His plan for our deliverance through Jesus Christ. [37:31]

5. The Certainty of God's Deliverance: Just as God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He delivers us from the bondage of sin. His power is unmatched, and His plan for our salvation is certain. In Christ, we find true freedom and the assurance of eternal life. [40:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [21:40] - The Primacy of God
- [22:22] - The Danger of Forgetting God
- [23:42] - Relationship with God
- [24:23] - The Importance of Doctrine
- [25:49] - The Forgotten God
- [26:53] - Loss of Interest in Doctrine
- [27:27] - Moses' Encounter with God
- [28:21] - Face to Face with God
- [29:20] - God's Revelation to Moses
- [30:33] - The Eternal Nature of God
- [31:48] - The Majesty of God
- [33:04] - The Holiness of God
- [36:58] - God's Compassion and Purpose
- [40:14] - The Certainty of Deliverance

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 3:14 - "God said to Moses, 'I am who I am.' And he said, 'Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.'"
2. 1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
3. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Observation Questions:
1. What does God's declaration "I am who I am" reveal about His nature and character? [30:33]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between God's holiness and the necessity of the atonement? [34:31]
3. In what ways does the sermon illustrate God's compassion and awareness of human suffering? [37:31]
4. How does the sermon explain the certainty of God's deliverance, as demonstrated in the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt? [40:14]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding God's eternal and unchanging nature impact a believer's faith and trust in Him? [31:00]
2. Why is it essential for Christians to grasp the holiness of God to fully appreciate the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross? [34:31]
3. In what ways does God's compassion and purpose provide comfort and hope to believers facing struggles and afflictions? [37:31]
4. How does the sermon suggest that the knowledge of God's deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ can transform a believer's life? [40:14]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. How can you ensure that your faith begins with a focus on God rather than your desires or experiences? [21:40]
2. Consider a time when you struggled to understand the necessity of the atonement. How did a deeper understanding of God's holiness change your perspective? [34:31]
3. Identify a specific area of your life where you need to experience God's deliverance. How can you actively seek His power and plan for freedom in that area? [40:14]
4. Think about a recent challenge or sorrow you faced. How did you experience God's compassion and presence during that time? [37:31]
5. How can you cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for God's eternal nature in your daily life? What practices might help you focus on His majesty and holiness? [30:33]
6. In what ways can you share the message of God's deliverance and the hope found in Jesus Christ with someone in your life who is struggling with sin or despair? [41:14]
7. Reflect on your understanding of being a child of God. How does this identity influence your actions and decisions in your everyday life? [42:19]

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of Our Faith is God Himself
In our spiritual journey, it is essential to recognize that everything begins with God. Often, we are tempted to focus on our personal needs and desires, but the Bible consistently points us to God as the starting point. Our relationship with Him is the foundation of our faith, and without this focus, our understanding of Christianity becomes skewed. The essence of Christianity is to bring us face to face with God, and any gospel that fails to do so is not the true gospel. By centering our faith on God, we align ourselves with His eternal nature and holiness, which He revealed to Moses. This foundational truth is crucial for a genuine and transformative faith experience. [21:40]

Isaiah 40:28-29 (ESV): "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength."

Reflection: In what ways have you been focusing more on your own desires rather than on God? How can you reorient your daily life to begin with God as the foundation?


Day 2: The Absolute Holiness of God
God's holiness is absolute, and no sin can exist in His presence. This understanding is crucial for grasping the necessity of the atonement and the sacrifice of Jesus. Without recognizing God's holiness, we cannot fully appreciate the significance of the cross. The holiness of God is such that it demands a response from us, a recognition of our own sinfulness, and a need for reconciliation through Jesus Christ. By understanding His holiness, we are drawn into a deeper appreciation of the sacrifice made on our behalf and the grace extended to us. [34:31]

Habakkuk 1:13 (ESV): "You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?"

Reflection: How does acknowledging God's holiness change your perspective on sin in your life? What steps can you take today to live in a way that honors His holiness?


Day 3: The Eternal and Unchanging Nature of God
God's declaration to Moses, "I am that I am," reveals His eternal, self-existent, and unchanging nature. This profound truth calls us to stand in awe of His majesty and to recognize the depth of His being. Understanding God's eternal nature helps us to trust in His promises and His plan for our lives, knowing that He is constant and unchanging. This assurance provides a firm foundation for our faith, as we can rely on His steadfastness in a world that is ever-changing. [30:33]

Psalm 90:2 (ESV): "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's unchanging nature? How can you remind yourself of His eternal promises today?


Day 4: God's Compassionate Nature and Purpose
God is not indifferent to our struggles. He sees our afflictions, hears our cries, and knows our sorrows. His compassionate nature assures us of His presence and His plan for our deliverance through Jesus Christ. This tender aspect of God's character is a source of comfort and hope, as it assures us that He is not distant or indifferent to our struggles. Just as He delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He delivers us from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ. [37:31]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: How have you experienced God's compassion in your life? Who in your life needs to experience God's compassion through you today?


Day 5: The Certainty of God's Deliverance
Just as God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, He delivers us from the bondage of sin. His power is unmatched, and His plan for our salvation is certain. In Christ, we find true freedom and the assurance of eternal life. This certainty of deliverance is a cornerstone of our faith, providing us with hope and confidence in God's ability to save and transform us. By trusting in His deliverance, we can live in the glorious liberty of being children of God, free from the chains of sin and death. [40:14]

2 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV): "He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again."

Reflection: What areas of your life do you need to trust God for deliverance? How can you actively place your hope in His power to save and transform you today?

Quotes


what God did to Moses was to speak about himself now that comes first and it must always come first now here again is the point at which we all tend to go wrong isn't it we suffer ourselves to our needs and what we want and what we desire and what we'd like to have that isn't the first message the first message is about God [00:21:23]

the Bible is very careful to warn us against it because this is a first and its greatest message at the very beginning the person to remind us without end that are forever with men is due to is hungry I think it's a God it's or abuse and justice the thing we forget above everything else that is the essential message of the Bible [00:23:07]

the ultimate test of immense profession of Christianity is what he tells me about God now I am going to tell you why I am emphasizing this it is because we forget God the incredible though it may sound that our methods go so wrong and so frequently our missions the church's message is because God is forgotten [00:25:32]

Moses Moses draw not nigh as I put off thy shoes from of thy feet for the place where understandest is only ground and then I am the God of thy father and so on may I say to gain the teks at the risk of being misunderstood the whole business of Christianity its first business its fundamental business here its final business is the bring us face to face with God [00:27:27]

have you met God though you know God have you come face-to-face with God that's the biggest question we'll ever face and I press it upon you because the day is coming when you'll have to face him if this book is true every one of us will come face to face with God [00:28:34]

God said tell them Moses I am that I am you know my friends I'm almost afraid to say these things for I'm standing on holy ground and you are and I'm talking like this is the pygmy that I am in this pulpit about this great and eternal being I am that's all I am nobody else can say that [00:30:15]

the eternal and everlasting God the self-existent God the changeless God the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Jacob the God that was the God that will be God how often have we stopped to think of that now lawfully we paused to contemplate the being the character the niche the attributes of God [00:31:13]

God is light and in him is no darkness at all no you and I can't conceive of it we don't know any light that has no darkness in it our brightest lights of darkness in them because you can always have a more powerful one the fact of the explosion of the atom is nothing when you put it by the side of this God is light [00:33:30]

God is of such a pure countenance that he cannot look upon sin our God is a consuming fire now people are troubled they tell me by this whole concept of law and they can't see why the four men can be saved and reconciled to God you need to have this doctrine of the atonement and the death of the Son of God upon the cross [00:34:11]

I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and unheard their fry by a reason of their taskmasters and then one of the most tender moving things I think in the whole Bible for I know their sons we talked about paradox that's paradox there's almighty everlasting only turn of God sees you and me [00:37:31]

he goes on to outline and reveal his great and gracious purpose listen to it you don't find the gospel in the Old Testament listen to this and I am come to deliver them especially not coming down he's announced it here and he came down many times before bestland in motor code the theophanies in these appearances of the angel of the Covenant [00:38:39]

he gave Moses the mend it and he told him what he was supposed to do but then he went on to say this he said and I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go no not dying and and I imagine those are single very well you're raising my hook so now you're deafening them again [00:39:41]

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Transcript
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