Understanding God's Transcendence and Imminence

 

Summary

In today's exploration of Romans 11:33-36, we delved into the profound nature of God's transcendence and His incommunicable attributes. These are aspects of God that are unique to Him and cannot be shared or fully comprehended by us. We began by acknowledging the vastness of the universe, a trillion galaxies, each named and placed by God, illustrating His infinite power and wisdom. This transcendence means God exists above and independent from creation, surpassing all understanding and existing outside of time and space. He is present in His fullness everywhere, never spread too thin, which is a concept that stretches our minds and challenges our understanding.

We discussed two key aspects of God's transcendence: His uncreated nature and His sovereign rule over all creation. God is the source of all things, infinitely wealthy, not because He possesses material wealth, but because everything belongs to Him. He can create from nothing, a power beyond human comprehension. This wealth and power are not just about ownership but about His ability to sustain and govern the universe with perfect wisdom and knowledge.

God's wisdom and knowledge are beyond our grasp. He knows every detail of the universe, from the macro to the micro, and understands the ripple effects of every event throughout history. This knowledge is not just factual but relational, as He knows us intimately and is involved in our lives. Despite our limited understanding, we are called to trust in His wisdom, even when life is disorienting and painful.

The sermon also emphasized the importance of recognizing our limitations and the futility of trying to place God in our debt. Everything we have is already His, and our attempts to control or manipulate our lives only reveal our lack of trust in His sovereignty. Yet, the beauty of God's transcendence is that it is coupled with His imminence. He is not a distant deity but has chosen to dwell among us and within us through the Holy Spirit. This presence offers us rest, peace, and the assurance that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Transcendence: God's transcendence means He exists above and independent from creation, surpassing all understanding. He is present in His fullness everywhere, never spread too thin, which challenges our understanding and stretches our minds. This aspect of God reminds us of His infinite power and wisdom, which are beyond human comprehension. [08:00]

- Uncreated and Sovereign: God is uncreated and sovereign over all creation. Everything belongs to Him, and He can create from nothing, illustrating His infinite wealth and power. This understanding calls us to recognize our limitations and trust in His sovereign rule, even when life is disorienting and painful. [09:29]

- Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge: God's wisdom and knowledge are beyond our grasp. He knows every detail of the universe and understands the ripple effects of every event throughout history. This knowledge is not just factual but relational, as He knows us intimately and is involved in our lives. [14:19]

- Trust in God's Sovereignty: Despite our limited understanding, we are called to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty. Our attempts to control or manipulate our lives only reveal our lack of trust in His sovereignty. Recognizing our limitations and the futility of trying to place God in our debt is essential for spiritual growth. [25:39]

- Imminence and Presence: The beauty of God's transcendence is coupled with His imminence. He is not a distant deity but has chosen to dwell among us and within us through the Holy Spirit. This presence offers us rest, peace, and the assurance that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments. [33:15]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:28] - Scripture Reading: Romans 11:33-36
- [03:03] - Bible Translation Discussion
- [03:43] - God's Incommunicable Attributes
- [04:27] - Idolatry and God's Self-Revelation
- [05:04] - The Fear of the Lord
- [05:42] - Fascination with Space
- [06:19] - Hubble Telescope Discovery
- [07:06] - God's Transcendence Explained
- [08:00] - God's Infinite Presence
- [08:51] - God's Uncreated Nature
- [09:29] - God's Sovereign Rule
- [10:16] - God's Infinite Wealth
- [12:57] - Our Belonging to God
- [14:19] - God's Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge
- [18:57] - God's Unjudgeable Nature
- [25:39] - Trust in God's Sovereignty
- [33:15] - God's Imminence and Presence
- [39:21] - Invitation to Surrender
- [44:48] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 11:33-36

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Romans 11:33-36 reveal about the nature of God's wisdom and knowledge? How does this passage describe the depth of these attributes? [02:28]

2. According to the sermon, what are the two key aspects of God's transcendence that were highlighted? [08:51]

3. How does the sermon describe God's relationship with creation in terms of His ownership and sovereignty? [10:16]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of God's transcendence and His presence throughout the universe? [07:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding God's transcendence and His uncreated nature impact our view of His sovereignty over our lives? [09:29]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's wisdom and knowledge are relational, and how does this affect our personal relationship with Him? [14:19]

3. How does the sermon explain the futility of trying to place God in our debt, and what does this reveal about our understanding of His sovereignty? [29:40]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between God's transcendence and His imminence, and how does this duality provide comfort to believers? [33:15]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to trust in God's sovereignty. How can the understanding of His transcendence help you in similar situations in the future? [25:39]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing our limitations. What are some areas in your life where you need to acknowledge your limitations and rely more on God's wisdom? [18:17]

3. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's wisdom and knowledge, especially during disorienting or painful times? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of His presence? [18:57]

4. The sermon discusses the futility of trying to place God in our debt. Are there areas in your life where you might be trying to earn God's favor? How can you shift your perspective to one of gratitude and trust? [29:40]

5. How does the concept of God's imminence provide you with peace and assurance in your daily life? What practices can you incorporate to become more aware of His presence? [33:15]

6. Consider the ways you might be trying to control or manipulate aspects of your life. How can you surrender these areas to God and trust in His sovereign plan? [35:09]

7. Reflect on the idea that God is both transcendent and imminent. How can this understanding influence the way you approach prayer and your relationship with God? [38:36]

Devotional

Day 1: The Infinite Presence of God
God's transcendence is a profound concept that challenges our understanding. It means that God exists above and independent from creation, surpassing all human comprehension. He is present in His fullness everywhere, never spread too thin, which stretches our minds and reminds us of His infinite power and wisdom. This aspect of God is not just about His greatness but also about His intimate involvement in the universe. The vastness of the universe, with its trillion galaxies, each named and placed by God, illustrates His infinite power and wisdom. As we contemplate this, we are reminded of the awe-inspiring nature of God, who is beyond our understanding yet intimately involved in our lives. [08:00]

Isaiah 40:26 (ESV): "Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one is missing."

Reflection: How does recognizing God's infinite presence in the universe change the way you perceive your daily challenges and struggles?


Day 2: The Uncreated Sovereign
God is uncreated and sovereign over all creation. Everything belongs to Him, and He can create from nothing, illustrating His infinite wealth and power. This understanding calls us to recognize our limitations and trust in His sovereign rule, even when life is disorienting and painful. God's sovereignty is not just about His control over the universe but also about His intimate involvement in our lives. He is the source of all things, infinitely wealthy, not because He possesses material wealth, but because everything belongs to Him. This wealth and power are not just about ownership but about His ability to sustain and govern the universe with perfect wisdom and knowledge. [09:29]

Psalm 24:1-2 (ESV): "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God's sovereignty, and how can you begin to surrender those areas to Him today?


Day 3: The Depth of God's Wisdom
God's wisdom and knowledge are beyond our grasp. He knows every detail of the universe, from the macro to the micro, and understands the ripple effects of every event throughout history. This knowledge is not just factual but relational, as He knows us intimately and is involved in our lives. Despite our limited understanding, we are called to trust in His wisdom, even when life is disorienting and painful. God's wisdom is not just about knowing everything but about understanding the complexities of life and guiding us through them with perfect knowledge and love. [14:19]

Job 12:13 (ESV): "With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you need God's wisdom. How can you seek His guidance and trust in His understanding today?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
Despite our limited understanding, we are called to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty. Our attempts to control or manipulate our lives only reveal our lack of trust in His sovereignty. Recognizing our limitations and the futility of trying to place God in our debt is essential for spiritual growth. Trusting in God's sovereignty means acknowledging that He is in control, even when life is chaotic and uncertain. It means letting go of our need to control and allowing God to lead us with His perfect wisdom and love. [25:39]

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 5: The Imminence of God's Presence
The beauty of God's transcendence is coupled with His imminence. He is not a distant deity but has chosen to dwell among us and within us through the Holy Spirit. This presence offers us rest, peace, and the assurance that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments. God's imminence means that He is intimately involved in our lives, offering us His presence and guidance. It means that we can experience His love and peace in a tangible way, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. [33:15]

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Reflection: How can you cultivate an awareness of God's presence in your daily life, especially during times of stress or uncertainty?

Quotes

"God and God alone is self-defining uh what I mean by that and I'm trying to say this nicely it does not matter what you think about God god is uh right you our tendency uh and this is all last week's sermon but I'm not I don't have time to preach too but let me just briefly catch you up um our tendency I is to kind of create God in our own image he's just an idealized version of us um the problem is um God is uh and God has revealed himself to us he has not hidden himself." [00:03:53]

"When you see God rightly you see yourself rightly and we are far smaller than we think we are as long as God's a just an idealized version of ourselves we can have a little bit of swagger right we can read the text like God's all about us right but when you see God for who he is you get you get maybe a little bit of an understanding of what the fear of the Lord is which is good news because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom right." [00:04:52]

"Transcendence is the Bible letting us know that God has named every star and hung them in the sky transcendence is the prophet Isaiah saying that the universe sits in the palm of God's hand it is small he is big if I could just define it for you here's transcendence to exist above and independent from to rise above surpass succeed like you and I we will never exist above creation it's just never going to no matter what you attain whatever I attain we're not going to exist uh above and independent from creation." [00:07:28]

"God sits outside of time and space so that all of it is small and he's everywhere at once he's never thinned out by his presence which means in the furthest reaches of the universe God is there in his fullness and right here in the room he is here in his fullness he's never spread too thin this is transcendence and it makes the brain hurt a little bit and I just want to lean into that um two things I want you to take away from God's transcendence." [00:08:14]

"God and God alone is uncreated he has always been he He He is uncreated the second thing was that God in his uncreated nature rules and reigns over all of creation those are the two things god and God alone is uncreated god and God alone rules and reigns over all of creation that that's what I want to try to convince you of from the word of God so if you have your Bibles let's look at that first verse." [00:08:56]

"God is infinite in wealth why well because he's uncreated everything that exists he created and therefore belongs to him there is nothing that exists that is not rightly his there is nothing that is anywhere in the universe that he doesn't sit over rightly and declare mine this makes him infinitely wealthy the Bible talks about this adnauseium psalm 24:1 the earth and everything in it the world and its inhabitants belong to the Lord." [00:09:55]

"God does not need you to believe in him for you to belong to him your belonging to him is just not salvific you tracking with me so I've often times said it this way nobody no human being gets to choose whether or not their lives glorify God you will glorify God as a trophy of his grace or you will glorify God by being the recipient of his right just justice i I'm trying to make the appeal that you come over here." [00:12:50]

"God knows in a way that is above and detached from anything you and I can get our minds around he is beyond us in this way like he knows every fact of history he he knows nothing of conspiracy theories because there ain't no secrets from him that's right uh he knows every fact and here's where for me it's like looking into space it it starts making me nervous the more that I think about it not not only does he know everything at a macro level." [00:14:13]

"He knows how every event creates other events playing into other events playing into other events playing into other events throughout human history like I can't even read the sentence I wrote wi without feeling like I need caffeine or nicotine or something to help my brain function at a higher level so here here's what I wrote he knows how all events and actions relate to each other and affect each other when an event happens he sees not only that event but the eternal chain of effects that flow from it." [00:15:09]

"There have been seasons of my life both as a pastor and just as a Christian where God's moving in my life is not only discombobulating but disheartening and I wish I could explain to you all those really hard questions about why kids get sick and why accidents i mean I can I can put it under the umbrella of the universe is broken by sin but man there's mystery there you know why there's mystery there because I'm not transcendent and so there'll always be mystery." [00:16:17]

"God's transcendence says he sits outside seeing all knowing the ripple effects and he and he alone which means something could happen in my life that's so disruptive and disorienting to me that two generations later give me everything that's in my heart to want that does not make it less painful does not make it less disorienting it just lets me look upon the glory of the Lord with hope yes right like I'm not trying to lie to you i'm not trying to set you up like you want to never feel pain that's not going to happen." [00:17:58]

"Who are you to question God like what could you possibly know that you could put him in the dock like who's representing you you you're representing yourself like who what court have you taken him to who's who's the judge of the only one who is unccreated in the universe he has no judge you will not win that case in fact if you've got a background in church you know a little about the story of Job bible tells us God's on his throne satan walks in god asks him what he's been up to pay attention when God asks questions." [00:19:00]

"Job in a single day loses all his wealth loses all his children in a horrific accident the only thing left is his wife and she says 'Are you still holding on to your integrity curse God and die you fool.' So I've always joked that I'd probably try to bargain with the Lord to give me back one of those donkeys and take this woman um or we could just let them know we've got a great program here at TBC we're serious about marriages being reconciled in the Lord maybe they should sign up and join us on Wednesday night." [00:20:37]

"Here's Job surrounded by morons and throughout the book of Job here's what he wants he wants to plead his case before God he wants to plead with God why this is not just why this shouldn't have happened why like this is throughout every time one of Job's idiot friends throw terrible theology at him he listens and then he he just demands I I want to hear it before God Almighty this man's a fool that's not true i want to plead my case then God help our boy in verse 38 god shows up and gives him the opportunity." [00:21:37]

"God is infinite in wisdom and knowledge and us lacking it in a way that would make us good gods that would make us good gods i've oftenimes told you I don't believe anyone has been meaner to you than you have i don't think anybody's lied to you more frequently than you have lied to you i don't think anyone's betrayed you more than you have betrayed you i don't think anyone's dropped the ball in your life quite like you have dropped the ball in your life and yet our confidence in our own reign and rule is persistent." [00:25:17]

"God has chosen to reveal himself to us that's the whole point of this series that God is that God has communicated we're not groping in the dark trying to figure it out he has made himself known next week I'm going to be talking about his eternality you know how I know that because he's let me know a little bit of his mind the week after that his immutability he's unchanging how do I know that because he's let me know i said last week that he is holy but he is also love and his holiness informs his love." [00:26:35]

"God will be no one's Aaron boy come on there is no one in this room with enough wisdom and knowledge and insight to ever counsel him i'm not saying we don't bring our broken hearts before the Lord i'm not saying that i'm not saying in times of disorientation we don't plead for what we want and what we want to see twice Jesus asked different people 'What would you like me to do?' That's not what I'm talking about i'm talking about presuming upon the Lord like your way of the world going is better and smarter than his way of reigning and ruling." [00:28:06]

"The good news is that the opposite side of the coin of transcendence is imminent the God who is above us has decided to dwell among us and if you are a Christian has decided to dwell in us let let me show you this exodus 6:7 i will take you as my people i will be your God you will know that I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the forced labor of the Egyptians exodus 33:14 'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'" [00:32:48]

"This transcendent infinitely wealthy infinitely knowledgeable God full of wisdom and wealth has decided to not only make himself known but to draw near to us and pull us into all that wealth and power and knowledge and let us build our lives on it and let us put our trust in it this is the good news of his transcendence he has not stayed far and above he has come near to dwell in so about a month ago we were talking about full surrender in here it's it's almost a theme." [00:33:39]

"The more you see God as he is the more anxiety and fear is driven out of our lives and the more we see a God of our own imagination the more we know it's on us and we better grind the offer of the gospel is rest rest how that the one who is not broke loves you and is drawn near that the one who does know where you do not know can be trusted that that where we are powerless i don't know if you ever like like if you got kids you know and if you don't know yet you're going to know just how powerless you are in that space." [00:35:44]

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Transcript
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