God Loves Me Part XIII

The next two passages of Scripture show that Jesus reveals God. Remember, the Bible is the record of God’s plan and His working for and through man to complete His plan. The Bible is the progressive story of God and man through history. The Old Testament is not incorrect. It is incomplete. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ provides completeness.

Phillip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Phillip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father”?” “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who is in Me does the works.” John 14:8-10

In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5

God Loves Me Part XII

These names tell us about God. Elohim, who is love and one in covenant relationship, always wants and gives the best to His creation. Jehovah, who is truth, righteousness, and justice and must act consistently with what He says about Himself. He hates evil and must judge it no matter what the cost. He is always drawing the person back to Himself. El Shaddai, who is the breasted one, is willing to give all of Himself for His creation. Finally, El Elyon or Most High God is the only true God.

With these names the questions that arise in a person’s mind can began to be answered. Elohim says that God is a God of Love. Jehovah says that God is truth and must judge anything except truth. After the Fall of Adam and Eve sin became so rampant in the world that God had to judge sin in people or lose the world. God chose Noah to continue man on the earth. God next brought in the Law to keep sin at bay until He could bring Jesus into the world to save it. (In the Old Testament there was no way to fully deal with sin such as a person becoming a new creation.)

When Jesus came into to the world, to save the world, He defeated everything that had to that point defeated man. Today we two choices: 1) To obey God and His Word by accepting Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior and follow Him and walk in the blessings of God or 2) Choose the world's way and remain under the curse. It is a simple way of dealing with life.

God loves every person. God wants every person to walk in His blessings. It is each person's choice. What will you choose?

God Loves Me Part XI

4. The Most High God = El Elyon – Genesis 14:18 or 15:7
1. Above all Gods
2. Only True God

The fourth name of God is El Elyon, the Most High God, which says that He is the highest of a series or order or like natures. There are others below Him with like natures and therefore related to Him. Since He is the Highest, He has power to rule and to turn them as He will, should they be disobedient. God had sons and man was one. Man as a son of God must be a priest because God is love, can not but sacrifice, so man, the son of God, and inheriting His nature, must also sacrifice. El Elyon reveals that Gentiles, like Canaan, through doomed to judgment here, have, in their relation to the “Most High” the pledge of sure and high blessing, even to be priests in virtue of their son ship. Possessor of heaven and earth tells that God is God over all the earth. He is able to carry out His purpose through Jews and Gentiles. The elect will be blessed and the heathen will reap judgment. All that call on Him will receive great blessings. No matter what our situation, there is hope in Him from whom we came. Through self-exaltation we lose our understanding. Through God’s rule we gain understanding. The secret of the Most High is that the Gentiles shall own His power, and the saints here in relation to the world, call the saints of the Most High shall have judgment given to them, and shall “possess the kingdom.”

El Elyon, the Most High God, is the one and only true God. There is no other God! For any man to worship anything or anyone other than the one true God is idolatry.

God Loves Me Part X

3. God Almighty = El Shaddai – Genesis 17:1
1. The Bountiful One
2. Sharer of His Life

In Genesis 15 God reveals for the first time His name “Almighty”. Almighty does not mean One who has the power to do anything and everything. Holy Scripture says that God is truth (Is 65:16) and love (I John 4:8). As the true and righteous God, the very truth, He can’t lie. (Titus 1:2) God is Love. His will is to bless all. Would it be any proof of His Almightiness, if, instead of being able to save and bless His creatures, He could only punish and destroy them? To be “Almighty”, He must be able to carry out His own will and purpose to the uttermost. (Note: God does this through His Word.) And this will is to save His creatures, and to restore and reform His image in them. If He cannot do this, and “turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, He is not able to fulfill the desire of His nature, and so would not be Almighty. And because He is love, to “subdue all things to Himself” is to subdue all things to Love. God’s revelation to Abrah, Man of Faith, opens the secret how He does this. El or God is power or might. When the word is applied to the One true God, as it continually is, it always assumes His power. “Shaddai” describes power, but it is the power, not of violence, but of bountifulness or “breasted”. “Shad” is the Hebrew word for breast or woman’s breast. “Shaddai” means the Pourer or Shedder forth, if received properly. If received properly, means to sweep away or make desolate. Blessings and gifts misused become curses. “Sheddim” is the objects of idolatrous worship in other parts of Scripture. “The many breasted idols.” El Shaddai is the true giver of His own life, of whom these heathens “Sheddim” were the idolatrous perversion. In El Shaddai the men of faith have ever trusted, of His fullness to receive grace for grace. God, as El Shaddai, the Almighty, is the breasted one who provides all for His creatures. The Almighty which will make His creatures like Him is not of the sword or of mere force. “Jehovah” bears a sword. El Shaddai, the Almighty, here reveals to Abram, is not the “sworded” God. His Almightiness is of breast that is of bountiful, self-sacrificing, love, giving, and pouring itself out for others. “El Shaddai”, the “Pourer-forth” who pours Himself out for His creatures; who gives them His life blood. Who sheds forth His Spirit “come unto me and drink; open thy mouth wide and I will fill it. And who this, by the sacrifice of Himself, gives Himself and His very nature to those who will receive Him, that thus His perfect will may be accomplished in them. Christ work on the Cross is the greatest example. We may, and we must, “Eat His flesh and drink His blood” if He is to live and work His works in us. Only so, “if we eat His flesh and drink His blood, “ can we abide in Him and He in us.” And yet this giving of Himself involves judgment; self-judgment, if we are obedient; if disobedient, the judgment of the Lord. The lesson we must learn, if we too are to know God as Almighty, able to fulfill His purpose in us, and from fruitless Abrah to make us Abrahams, that is the “father of a multitude.” From the “Pourer out” of His own Spirit, we must receive that Spirit, which will make us give up ourselves in all things, and that Spirit, though freely given, we only receive in the measure that we are emptied of all self will and self confidence. Thus are the elect made fruitful. Thus God gives Himself to us, just in measure as we give ourselves to Him. Thus His Almightiness comes to us in what appears to be our helplessness. The less of self, the more of God. And the one only thing needed on man’s part, to receive all this Almightiness is the faith to yield oneself to God, and to let Him do what He will to us. Can we so believe as to let God do what He pleases with us? Then as “all things are possible with God (Mk 10:27) so “all things are possible to him that believes. (Mk 9:21) Nations and kings shall come out of him who is “as good as dead.” (Gen 17:6 and Heb 11:12) Not only is Abram blessed but those after through the promise. “Circumcision” is the self-judgment of the elect, and with the higher fruitfulness which at once results from it. Also, God by giving Himself and His life to us can make us like Himself, givers of ourselves and our lives, first to Him, and then by Him to others. Almighty is found 48 times in Scripture- 31 in Job and 8 in Revelation. To Abrah, “El Shaddai” speaks and says, “This is my covenant which ye shall keep. Ye shall circumcise your flesh, and I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and nations and kings shall come out of thee. (Gen 17:6) As with Abrah, so with the elect, an acceptance of the judgment of our flesh is the one way to receive and then to minister, the special blessing which “God Almighty” has prepared for us. In Job the aim is to show the sacrificial use of God’s elect and how a “perfect and upright” man, not yet dead to self, by suffering in the flesh is purged from self, and thus made an instrument, first silence the devil, and then, as a priest appointed by God, to pray and intercede for those who have condemned him. Job’s pains have wrought is cure. He needed to be emptied to be better filled; and “God Almighty” having emptied, fills His servant in due time with double blessings. Of this religious self he has to be stripped. He is stripped by “El Shaddai”. The judgment of the flesh, which is “the circumcision made without hands” in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh” by that death to self, which is indeed the circumcision of Christ bring him to the self-emptying and self-despair, where the Lord as the “Pourer-forth,” can fill him of Divine fullness. Job at one is freed, and reach a blessing. The use of Almighty in “Revelation” is using El Shaddai as the “pourer-forth” of judgments is most prominent. Revelation shows the coming in of God’s life, not so much with elect but rather with the world, which will not willing receive it, or which, if in some sense it is accepted, only perverts it. And the result is, that as the pouring forth of the breast, not properly received, may choke the baby so the pouring out of the Divine life and Spirit into the world may, and indeed must, bring judgment, that so through judgment, if in no other way, the true Kingdom may be brought in. The elect who willingly receive the Word and out breath of “El Shaddai show that even as obedient reception involves the judgment of the flesh. How much sorer must this judgment be to the world which will not receive God? If the Word or Spirit comes such, it must be in double judgment.

Summary
El Shaddai is the true giver of all He has, even His own life. He is the breasted one, the giver that meets all our needs.

God Loves Me Part IX

Before I continue to the next name for God, I want to make some comments concerning the first two name of God. Next is a summary and then the comments.

(Thank you to Andrew Jukes, Types in Genesis, for insight into the names of God.)

1. God = Elohim – Genesis 1:1
a. One is in covenant-relationship
b. Love
c. Creator
d. Planner

The whole first chapter of Genesis shows us One, who because He is “Elohim”, in virtue of His own nature and covenant-relationship to His creation, can never leave it, fallen as it is, till all again is very good. God sees a dark world and through His Word restores it. God cannot rest until His creature is restored and recreated. The fact that God is “Elohim”, that is the One who keeps covenant, (I Kings 8:23), is the foundation of His creature’s hope in every extremity. He is my God and refuge and strength. (Ps 46:1) He will never leave us or forsake us. (Gen 28:13 & 15) (Heb 13:5) Our hope in God is and shall be God forever. (Rev 21: 3 & 4)

2. Lord = Jehovah – Genesis 2:5
a. One who is who He is
b. Truth
c. Justice
d. Righteous

In summary, the Lord, that is Jehovah, is our righteousness. (Jer 23:6 and James 5:11) Every act and work is of Jehovah Elohim; to show that, though He is all that Jehovah express, One who is righteous and must judge sin, He never ceases to be “Elohim” also, who loves unforsakingly, because He loves in virtue of relationship; that therefore to the very end, even if man falls, there is hope for him in God. (Ps 3:2, 40:11, 89:15 & 16, Is 45:21 & 25, Ex 33:18, 34:6 & 7)
As Elohim, God is love and wants the best for His creation. As Jehovah, God must be God and act according to His word or His is not God. His word says that God can not lie. (Titus 1:2) God must always be true to Himself and to His creatures. God must deal with sin (deviation from the norm which is what God says about Himself). Even though He must deal with sin in His creatures, God is always moving toward reconciliation and recreating them into His image. God is love! God is mercy! Even when we hear about God's wrath, we know that man's decision has brought it into the world. God has given man all he needs -His Word)to live. Man's choices usher in consequences. God's choice is to love and provide for man. God wants to be God and man to be His people. God's choice is abundant life in Jesus Christ.

God Loves Me Part VIII

(Thank you to Andrew Jukes, Types in Genesis, for insight into the names of God.)

2. Lord = Jehovah – Genesis 2:5
a. One who is who He is
b. Truth
c. Justice
d. Righteous

Beginning in Genesis 2:5 we find the second name of God, Jehovah or LORD. Jehovah or LORD is the Expression of His Being. Jehovah is One, who, being Love, is righteous (right standing with and within Himself) also, and must therefore judge evil, wherever it exists, and at whatever cost, whether to the creature or to the Creator. Love (Being) must show itself in truth and righteousness (Expression of Being). What would God who is Love be if He is not truth and righteousness? In this Expression of Being we see how variously it acts, and changes, or seems to change, in virtue of certain qualities or conduct in the loved one. Expression of Being shows that parents must deal at times with evil in a child or it says I condone evil. It is very painful for the parent. Jehovah, the Expression of Being (Love), shows that God, who is perfect love, is and must be a “God of Truth” (Is 65:16) and that in all truest love there must be righteousness. Jehovah is the Hebrew word “Hovah” which means “to be” or One who is what He is. “I AM THAT I AM” is God’s expression of what God is or Expression of His Being. Because He is true being, though He is love, He must be just and holy also, for evil is not true being, but the negation or deviation of it. Jehovah is One who, being what He is, loves righteousness and hates iniquity (Ps 45:7) and finds in all evil, if it exists, something antagonistic to His nature, which, because it is not true, must be opposed and judged. In the Garden God warns that disobedience must surely bring judgment. Man disobeys and God judges by sending him out of Eden, yet not without hope. (Gen 3:15) Not only is He the God who requires righteousness; not only is He Himself affected by the destructions which sin has brought upon His creature; but still more, blessed be His name, His righteousness is not fully declared until He makes His creatures righteous with His own righteousness. What we first see in Him is law, and that, because He is righteous, He must condemn evil. But we should greatly err if we therefore conclude that this could be the end, for the new covenant of grace is His also. It is Jehovah who says… (Jer 31:31-34) Righteousness is not complete, if it only judges and condemns; for the devil also can condemn. The highest righteousness, while it judges sin, can never rest until it also makes the sinner righteous. (Ps 119:75, 143: 11, 89:15-16) (Rom 3:24-25, Rom 5:21, Lk 18:1) In a word, “He is just, and (therefore) the justifer.” (Rom 3:20)

In summary, the Lord, that is Jehovah, is our truth, righteousness and justice. (Jer 23:6 and James 5:11) Revelations about God are progressive. In Gen 2&3 when Jehovah is first revealed, Elohim is added except for Eve & the serpent conversation. Every act and work is of Jehovah Elohim; to show that, though He is all that Jehovah express, One who is righteous and must judge sin, He never ceases to be “Elohim” also, who loves unforsakingly, because He loves in virtue of relationship; that therefore to the very end, even if man falls, there is hope for him in God. (Ps 3:2, 40:11, 89:15 & 16, Is 45:21 & 25, Ex 33:18, 34:6 & 7)

God Loves Me Part VII

(Thank you to Andrew Jukes, Types in Genesis, for insight into the names of God.)

1. God = Elohim – Genesis 1:1
a. One is in covenant-relationship
b. Love
c. Creator
d. Planner

In Genesis 1: 1-2:4 God reveals for us His first name, Elohim, one who is in covenant-relationship. (Note: Covenant is an agreement between two parties. In the Bible there is the Old Covenant, based on law, and New Covenant, based on grace. God made many covenants with different men/people in the Bible. The following tells about the New Covenant (our covenant): Jeremiah 31:31-34;Heb 8:8-13; Heb 10:12-25) Elohim tells that God is love. God’s very Being is love. As one can see, Elohim is the only name used for God in Genesis 1; therefore, it must be very important. As you read through the Bible, God is often developing a covenant with a person or groups of people i.e. Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Israel, Jesus, and Gentiles. Elohim is a plural noun used for the only true God. This plural noun always has with it singular verbs and adjectives to describe the One true God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This name contains the mystery of the Trinity. Elohim is formed from the Hebrew word, “Alah” “to swear” and describes One who stands in a covenant-relationship, which is ratified by an oath. (Heb 6:13-20) God does not lie. (Num 23:19) This covenant-relationship, which the name “Elohim” expresses, is first a relationship within God. He is one, but in Him also, as His name declares, there is plurality; and in this plurality He has certain relationships, both in and with Himself, which because He is God, can never be dissolved or broken. From the beginning God is “Elohim”, in covenant-union with Himself forever more. The covenant-relationship starts within God. The covenant-relationship flows from within God to His creation. Because He is Elohim, though His creatures fail Him and fall, He will “never leave us, nor forsake us.” The whole first chapter of Genesis shows us One, who because He is “Elohim”, in virtue of His own nature and covenant-relationship to His creation, can never leave it, fallen as it is, till all again is very good. God sees a dark world and through His Word restores it. God cannot rest until His creature is restored and recreated. The fact that God is “Elohim”, that is the One who keeps covenant, (I Kings 8:23), is the foundation of His creature’s hope in every extremity. He is my God and refuge and strength. (Ps 46:1) He will never leave us or forsake us. (Gen 28:13 & 15) (Heb 13:5) Our hope in God is and shall be God forever. (Rev 21: 3 & 4)

God Loves Me Part VI

The fourth thing that will help us know more about God comes from His names, especially in Genesis. In the Bible a name said a great deal about a person or thing; in other words, a name denoted the character or nature of the person or thing. In Genesis there are four major names that let us know a great deal about the person and character of God. These names tell us exactly what God wants us to know about Himself. In Psalms 91:1-2 we find these four names are used.

Ps 91:1-2
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High (El Elyon) shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (El Shaddai). I will say of the LORD (Jehovah), He is my refuge and my fortress; my God (Elohim, in Him I will trust.
(Thank you to Andrew Jukes, Types in Genesis, for insight into the names of God.)

God loves me Part V

The third things that will help us know more about God is that God can not lie. God is truth and can tell nothing but the truth. Because God can not tell a lie, we can absolutely depend of what He says as truth. (Numbers 23:19 and Titus 1:2) God will not be God if we can not trust Him and depend on His Word.

We will begin in the next posting to discuss the names of God which tell us about God's person. When we understand His names, we will better understand God.