Knowing God: The Journey from Creator to Father
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound question of how we can truly know God. This inquiry is not just an academic exercise but a deeply personal journey that affects our understanding of life and our place in the universe. We began by considering the analogy of a hot dog griller, illustrating that just as a grilled hot dog requires a griller, the universe requires a Creator. This leads us to the concept of God as the ultimate cause, the first cause, or the unmoved mover, as discussed by philosophers throughout history.
We delved into the two types of revelation through which God makes Himself known: natural and special revelation. Natural revelation is evident in the world around us and within ourselves, as we are made in the image of God. Special revelation is found in the Bible, with Christ at its center, revealing the nature and character of God. Psalm 19 beautifully ties these two forms of revelation together, showing how the heavens declare God's glory and how His law revives the soul.
Understanding God as Creator also implies our accountability to Him. This knowledge is not just theoretical but has practical implications for how we live our lives. Outside of Christ, we know God as Judge, but in Christ, we know Him as Father. This relationship transforms our understanding and experience of God, moving us from enmity to intimacy.
The sermon concluded with a call to pursue the knowledge of God, not as we imagine Him to be, but as He truly is. This pursuit is the greatest endeavor we can undertake, both for ourselves and for those around us. By knowing God, we are equipped to share His love and truth with a world in desperate need.
Key Takeaways:
1. God as the Ultimate Cause: Just as a grilled hot dog requires a griller, the universe requires a Creator. This analogy helps us understand God as the ultimate cause, the first cause, or the unmoved mover, a concept explored by philosophers like Aristotle and Aquinas. This understanding is foundational to knowing God. [03:32]
2. Natural and Special Revelation: God reveals Himself through natural revelation in the world and within ourselves, as we are made in His image. Special revelation is found in the Bible, with Christ at its center. Psalm 19 beautifully illustrates how these two forms of revelation work together to declare God's glory and revive the soul. [08:28]
3. Accountability to God as Creator: Knowing God as Creator implies our accountability to Him. Outside of Christ, we know God as Judge, but in Christ, we know Him as Father. This transformation from enmity to intimacy is central to our relationship with God and affects how we live our lives. [15:01]
4. Pursuing the True Knowledge of God: The greatest endeavor we can undertake is to know God as He truly is, not as we imagine Him to be. This pursuit equips us to share His love and truth with others, helping them to know God as well. [20:17]
5. The Role of Scripture in Knowing God: Studying God's word reveals His attributes, such as His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence. Scripture guides us in living holy and righteous lives, and it is through this study that we come to know God more deeply. [17:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to the Question: How Can We Know God?
- [01:21] - The Hot Dog Griller Analogy
- [03:32] - God as the Ultimate Cause
- [04:17] - Witness of God in Acts 14
- [05:08] - Natural and Special Revelation
- [07:36] - Psalm 19: Nature and Scripture
- [10:11] - Cosmological Argument Explained
- [12:45] - The Witness of the World
- [13:22] - The Gift of God's Word
- [15:01] - Accountability to God as Creator
- [16:34] - Knowing God in Christ
- [17:38] - The Role of Scripture in Knowing God
- [18:28] - Attributes of God
- [20:17] - Pursuing the True Knowledge of God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 14:15-18
2. Psalm 19:1-14
3. Romans 1:18-32
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 14:17, Paul mentions that God has not left Himself without a witness. What examples of this witness are given in the sermon? [04:35]
2. Psalm 19 is divided into two parts. What are the two types of revelation described in this Psalm, and how do they declare God's glory? [08:09]
3. According to Romans 1, what is the consequence of ignoring the natural revelation of God? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on accountability to God as Creator? [15:01]
4. The sermon uses the analogy of a hot dog griller to explain a philosophical concept. What is this concept, and how does it relate to our understanding of God? [03:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the analogy of the hot dog griller help us understand the philosophical idea of God as the "first cause" or "unmoved mover"? Why is this understanding foundational to knowing God? [03:32]
2. Psalm 19 speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God. How does this natural revelation impact our understanding of God’s character and our relationship with Him? [08:28]
3. The sermon discusses knowing God as Judge outside of Christ and as Father in Christ. How does this transformation from enmity to intimacy affect a believer's life and relationship with God? [16:16]
4. Romans 1 describes the consequences of ignoring God's revelation. How does this passage challenge us to respond to God's revelation in both nature and Scripture? [07:36]
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Application Questions:
1. The sermon emphasizes the importance of pursuing the true knowledge of God. What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of God as He truly is, rather than as you imagine Him to be? [20:17]
2. Reflect on the concept of accountability to God as Creator. How does this accountability influence your daily decisions and actions? Can you identify an area in your life where you need to align more closely with this understanding? [15:01]
3. Psalm 19 highlights the role of Scripture in reviving the soul. How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine to experience this revival? [13:22]
4. The sermon discusses the transformation from knowing God as Judge to knowing Him as Father through Christ. How has this transformation impacted your personal relationship with God? Can you share a specific instance where this change was evident in your life? [16:34]
5. The analogy of the hot dog griller illustrates the necessity of a Creator. How can you use this analogy or another simple explanation to share your faith with someone who is curious about God? [03:32]
6. The sermon calls us to share God's love and truth with others. Identify one person in your life who is in need of this message. What practical steps can you take to reach out to them this week? [20:17]
7. Romans 1 warns against ignoring God's revelation. Is there an area in your life where you have been neglecting God's voice? What changes can you make to be more attentive to His revelation? [07:36]
Devotional
Day 1: God as the Ultimate Cause
Understanding God as the ultimate cause of the universe is foundational to our faith. Just as a grilled hot dog requires a griller, the universe requires a Creator. This analogy helps us grasp the concept of God as the first cause or the unmoved mover, a notion explored by philosophers like Aristotle and Aquinas. Recognizing God as the ultimate cause invites us to see the world and our lives as part of a divine plan, encouraging us to seek a deeper relationship with Him. [03:32]
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." (Colossians 1:16, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an aspect of creation that fills you with awe. How does this point you to the Creator, and how can you incorporate this awareness into your daily worship?
Day 2: Natural and Special Revelation
God reveals Himself to us through both natural and special revelation. Natural revelation is evident in the world around us and within ourselves, as we are made in His image. Special revelation is found in the Bible, with Christ at its center, revealing the nature and character of God. Psalm 19 beautifully illustrates how these two forms of revelation work together to declare God's glory and revive the soul. By engaging with both forms of revelation, we can deepen our understanding of God and His purposes for our lives. [08:28]
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." (Romans 1:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Spend time in nature today, observing the beauty and complexity around you. How does this experience enhance your understanding of God's character and His revelation through Scripture?
Day 3: Accountability to God as Creator
Knowing God as Creator implies our accountability to Him. Outside of Christ, we know God as Judge, but in Christ, we know Him as Father. This transformation from enmity to intimacy is central to our relationship with God and affects how we live our lives. Understanding our accountability to God encourages us to live in a way that honors Him, recognizing that our actions have eternal significance. [15:01]
"So then each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to live in alignment with God's will. What steps can you take today to bring this area under His lordship?
Day 4: Pursuing the True Knowledge of God
The greatest endeavor we can undertake is to know God as He truly is, not as we imagine Him to be. This pursuit equips us to share His love and truth with others, helping them to know God as well. By seeking a true understanding of God, we are better able to reflect His character in our interactions and relationships, becoming conduits of His grace and truth in a world in need. [20:17]
"Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:3, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a misconception you may have about God. How can you seek a more accurate understanding of His nature through prayer, study, or community?
Day 5: The Role of Scripture in Knowing God
Studying God's word reveals His attributes, such as His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence. Scripture guides us in living holy and righteous lives, and it is through this study that we come to know God more deeply. Engaging with Scripture allows us to align our lives with God's will, equipping us to live out our faith authentically and effectively. [17:38]
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: Choose a passage of Scripture to meditate on today. How does this passage reveal God's character, and how can it shape your actions and attitudes in the coming days?
Quotes
Grilled hot dogs need a hot dog griller because every thing is an effect. Grilled hot dogs are in effect, and every effect has a Cause. This is very important to this question of how can we know God because God is the ultimate hot dog griller; he is the ultimate cause. [00:03:06]
God is the first cause. God is the cause of all that there is, but how do we know this? There's a very key verse in Acts Chapter 14 verse 17. Paul is in Lystra, a city full of Roman pagans, and they've got their mythology. [00:04:00]
God has not left himself without a witness, and that witness is his revelation. That witness is the effects. Now let's go to the chalkboard. If God is known by revelation, we can break this down into two kinds of Revelation. [00:04:40]
Natural Revelation can be broken down into the world and the self. The self is part of the world, but we as human beings are a special creation. We are unlike everything else that is created. We are in the image of God. [00:05:39]
Psalm 19 beautifully ties these two forms of revelation together, showing how the heavens declare God's glory and how His law revives the soul. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. [00:08:28]
Before we ever pick up a Bible, before we ever hear a Biblical verse, we hear the testimony of God in his world. Philosophers will call this the cosmological argument. Now there's probably an expression you don't use with your friends every day. [00:10:00]
The knowledge of God as creator, outside of knowing God in Christ, is the knowledge of God as judge. Outside of Christ, our relationship to God is as enemy. We are his enemies outside of Christ. [00:15:58]
In Christ, we come to know God as father, and as we study scripture, just as we study the world and we see the world as revelatory of God. This was Jonathan Edwards who loved to go on horseback rides to see the beauty of God in nature. [00:16:34]
We study nature to see God in His Marvelous work. So how do we know God? By his revelation, by his Revelation in the word. So we roll up our sleeves and we study his word to know who God is. [00:17:38]
The greatest endeavor we can undertake is to know God as He truly is, not as we imagine Him to be. This pursuit equips us to share His love and truth with others, helping them to know God as well. [00:20:17]
May we devote Our Lives to knowing who you are and to proclaiming who you are to a world around us in such desperate need. We pray these things in Christ's name, amen. [00:21:02]
The Role of Scripture in Knowing God: Studying God's word reveals His attributes, such as His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence. Scripture guides us in living holy and righteous lives, and it is through this study that we come to know God more deeply. [00:17:38]
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