The Great Doctrines of the Bible Part 2

True religion may be defined as the communion between two persons: G.o.d and man. religion is a personal relations.h.i.+p between G.o.d in heaven, and man on the earth. If G.o.d were not a person there could be no communion; if both G.o.d and man were one there could be no communion, and, consequently, no religion. An independent personal relations.h.i.+p on both sides is absolutely necessary to communion.

Man can have no communion with an influence, a force, an impersonal something; nor can an influence have any moving or affection towards man. It is absolutely necessary to the true definition of religion that both G.o.d and man be persons. G.o.d is person, not force or influence.

a) Definition of Personality.

Personality exists where there is intelligence, mind, will, reason, individuality, self-consciousness, and self-determination.

There must be not mere consciousness--for the beast has that--but _self_-consciousness. Nor is personality determination--for the beast has this, too, even though this determination be the result of influences from without--but _self_-determination, the power by which man from an act of his own free will determines his acts from within.

Neither corporeity nor substance, as we understand these words, are necessarily, if at all, involved in personality. There may be true personality without either or both of these.

b) Scripture Teaching on the Personality of G.o.d.

(In this connection it will Be well to refer to the Ontological Argument for the Existence of G.o.d, for which see p. 17.)

(1) Exod 3:14;--"I AM THAT I AM."

This name is wonderfully significant. Its central idea is that of existence and personality. The words signify "I AM, I WAS, I SHALL BE," so suggestively corresponding with the New Testament statement concerning G.o.d: "Who wast, and art, and art to come."

All the names given to G.o.d in the Scripture denote personality.

Here are some of them:

Jehovah--Jireh: The Lord will provide (Gen. 22:13, 14).

Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord that healeth (Exod. 15:26).

Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner (Exod. 17:8-15).

Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24).

Jehovah-Ra-ah: The Lord my Shepherd (Psa. 23:1).

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6).

Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is present (Ezek. 48:35).

Moreover, the personal p.r.o.nouns ascribed to G.o.d prove personality: John 17:3, et al. "To know thee"--we cannot know an influence in the sense in which the word know is here used. _Statement:_ All through the Scriptures names and personal p.r.o.nouns are ascribed to G.o.d which undeniably prove that G.o.d is a Person.

(2) A sharp distinction is drawn in the Scriptures between the G.o.ds of heathen and the Lord G.o.d of Israel (See Jer. 10:10-16).

Note the context: vv. 3-9: Idols are things, not persons; they cannot walk, speak, do good or evil. G.o.d is wiser than the men who made these idols; if the idol-makers are persons, much more is G.o.d.

See the sharp contrast drawn between dead idols and the living, personal, true and only G.o.d: Acts 14:15; 1 Thess. 1:9; Psa. 94:9, 10.

_Statement:_ G.o.d is to be clearly distinguished from things which have no life; he is a living Person.

(3) Attributes of personality are ascribed to G.o.d in the Scriptures.

G.o.d repents (Gen. 6:6}; grieves {Gen 6:6}; is angry {1 Kings 11:9); is jealous (Deut. 6:15); loves (Rev. 3:19); hates (Prov. 6:16).

_Statement_: G.o.d possesses the attributes of personality, and therefore is a Person.

(4) The relation which G.o.d bears to the Universe and to Men, as set forth in the Scriptures, can be explained only on the basis that G.o.d is a Person.

Deism maintains that G.o.d, while the Creator of the world, yet sustains no further relations to it. He made it just as the clock-maker makes a self-winding clock: makes it and then leaves it to run itself without any interference on His part. Such teaching as this finds no sanction in the Bible. What are G.o.d's relations to the universe and to men?

_aa) He is the Creator of the Universe and Man._

Gen. 1:1, 26; John. 1:1-3. These verses contain vital truths. The universe did not exist from eternity, nor was it made from existing matter. It did not proceed as an emanation from the infinite, but was summoned into being by the decree of G.o.d. Science, by disclosing to us the marvellous power and accuracy of natural law, compels us to believe in a superintending intelligence who is infinite.

Tyndall said: "I have noticed that it is not during the hours of my clearness and vigor that the doctrine of material atheism commends itself to my mind."

(In this connection the Arguments from Cause and Design, pp. 16 and 17, may be properly considered.)

_Statement_: The Creation of the Universe and Man proves the Personality of the Creator--G.o.d.

_bb) G.o.d sustains certain relations to the Universe and Man which He has made._

Heb 1:3--"Uphold all things." Col. 1:15-17--"By him all things hold together." Psa. 104:27-30--All creatures wait upon Him for "their meat in due season." Psa. 75:6, 7--"Promotion" among men, the putting down of one man and the setting up of another, is from the hand of G.o.d.

What do we learn from these scriptures regarding the relation of G.o.d to this universe, to man, and to all G.o.d's creatures?

_First_. That all things are held together by Him; if not, this old world would go to pieces quickly. The uniformity and accuracy of natural law compels us to believe in a personal G.o.d who intelligently guides and governs the universe. Disbelief in this fact would mean utter confusion. Not blind chance, but a personal G.o.d is at the helm.

_Second._ That the physical supplies for all G.o.d's creatures are in His hand: He feeds them all. What G.o.d gives we gather. If He withholds provision we die.

_Third._ That G.o.d has His hand in history, guiding and shaping the affairs of nations. Victor Hugo said: "Waterloo was G.o.d."

_Fourth._ Consider with what detail G.o.d's care is described: The sparrows, the lilies, the hairs of the head, the tears of His children, etc. See how these facts are clearly portrayed in the following scriptures: Matt. 6:28-30; 10:29, 30; Gen. 39:21, with 50:20; Dan. 1:9; Job 1:12.

_Statement:_ The personality of G.o.d is shown by His active, interest and partic.i.p.ation all things, even the smallest things, in the universe, the experience of man, and in the life of all His creatures.

THE UNITY OF G.o.d: (Vs. Polytheism).

There are three monotheistic religions in the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Mahommedanism. The second is a development of the first; the third is an outgrowth of both.

The doctrine of the Unity of G.o.d is held in contradistinction to _Polytheism_, which is belief in a multiplicity of G.o.ds; _Tri-theism_, which teaches that there are three G.o.ds--that is, that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are, specifically, three distinct G.o.ds; and to _Dualism_, which teaches that there are two independent divine beings or eternal principles, the one good, and the other evil, as set forth especially in Gnostic systems, such as Pa.r.s.eeism.

a) The Scriptures a.s.sert the Unity of G.o.d.

Deut. 6:4--"Hear, O Israel; the Lord our G.o.d is one Lord"; or, "The Lord our G.o.d, the Lord is one." Isa. 44:6-8--"First.... last....

beside me there is no G.o.d." Isa. 45:5--"There is none else, there is no G.o.d beside me." 1 Tim. 2:5 "There is one G.o.d." 1 Cor.

8:4--"There is none other G.o.d but one."

That G.o.d is one, that there is no other, that He has no equal is the forceful testimony of above fifty pa.s.sages in the Scriptures.

The fundamental duty of life, namely, the devotion of the entire being to the Lord, is based upon the Unity of G.o.d: "The Lord....is one .... therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with _all_ thy heart," etc.

No other truth of the Scripture, particularly of the Old Testament, receives more prominence than that of the Unity of G.o.d. This truth is clearly p.r.o.nounced also in the material universe; it is the introduction and conclusion of all scientific researches. Any other representation contradicts both creation and revelation. Its denial is a proper object for the ridicule of every thinking man, and of the disbelief of every orthodox Christian. Let this, then, be our first and necessary conclusion--that Deity, whether creating, inspiring, or otherwise manifesting itself, is one G.o.d; one, and no more.--_Cerdo._

A multiplication of G.o.ds is a contradiction; there can be but one G.o.d. There can be but one absolutely perfect, supreme, and almighty Being. Such a Being cannot be multiplied, nor pluralized. There can be but one ultimate, but one all-inclusive, but one G.o.d.