Dr. Elmer Towns

Because of the very nature of God, we could never exhaust all there is to learn about Him. In a sense, our understanding of who God is will always be limited.

But because God has chosen to reveal Himself to us, there are things we can know about God. As we come to understand these things, our view of God will impact the way we live.

God is the object of our faith as Christians. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews noted “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).

Here is a summary of six ways to know God.

WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT…

1. THE NATURE OF GOD. While we may not know everything about the nature of God, there are some things we can know about who God is. Throughout Scripture, God is defined as Spirit, a person, life, self-existent, unchanging, unlimited by time and space, and a unity. To understand God better, it is important to understand these seven aspects of His nature.
2. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. The Bible describes various attributes of God to help us understand Him better. An attribute of God may be described as the virtues or qualities which manifest His nature. While there are many positive characteristics of God, six are especially significant. These attributes may be divided into two groups, the absolute attributes and comparative attributes of God. The absolute attributes of God are so named because they are found exclusively in God. These attributes include omniscience (Psalm 139:1-6), omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-11), and omnipotence (Psalm 139:12-16). The comparative attributes of God describe things which are also true to a much lesser extent in people. These attributes include holiness, love, and goodness.
3. THE LAW OF GOD. God expresses Himself in various ways. The expression of His will is called the law of God. It is the extension of His nature and attributes. Some people describe the law of God as the Ten Commandments or the 632 rules and regulations Moses gave the Jews, but God’s law is much broader than that limited description. There are many areas in which God expresses His will throughout The Bible.
4. THE WORK OF GOD. In our worship of God, we praise Him for both who He is and His mighty acts. God consistently works out His eternal plan by guiding and overseeing all things by His wise and holy purpose. Bible teachers refer to these acts as the work of God rather than the works of God because they fit into a single eternal and unchangeable plan, that all people could come to salvation through faith in God.
5. THE TRINITY. Perhaps the most difficult-to-understand aspect of Christianity is the doctrine of the Trinity. Yet the Trinity is at the very heart of Christian doctrine. When Christians describe God as a Trinity, they mean that He exists in unity in three eternal persons. Each member of the Trinity is equal in nature, yet distinct in person and submissive in duties. While each person of the Trinity is equally God, each has voluntarily adopted subservient roles. God the Son is eternally begotten by God the Father (Psalm 2:7). God the Holy Spirit is described as proceeding from God the Father and God the Son (John 15:26). To better understand The Trinity, read this related Article
6. THE NAMES OF GOD. God teaches us who He is by revealing His nature in His names. In many cultures, a name is given to a person to describe their character or the aspirations of parents to see certain character developed in the life of their children. Throughout the Scriptures, God is described by various names and titles which emphasize specific things which are true about God. There are many names of God in Scripture. This is because there is much we can know about God. For more on the names of God, read this related article God Wants You to Know Him on a First-Name Basis

When a missionary was asked, “How can I have greater faith?” the response was, “You don’t need a greater faith. You need a greater God.”

As we grow in our understanding of our great God, our faith in God will also grow.

Dr. Elmer Towns is Vice President of Liberty University, which he co-founded in 1971 with Dr. Jerry Falwell. Dr. Towns has been a popular Sunday school teacher and college and seminary professor for decades.

This article is excerpted and condensed from Dr. Towns’ 60-page eBook Foundational Doctrines of the Faith. Read it NOW, eBook instant PDF Download, $11 value only $4.99, More…

Here is a summary article of the 8 Foundational Doctrines of the Christian Faith

RELATED ARTICLES: WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT…

1. THE BIBLE
2. GOD
3. CHRIST
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT
5. THE TRINITY
6. PEOPLE
7. SALVATION
8. THE CHURCH
9. ESCHATOLOGY (END TIMES)

Want to Follow Jesus?

To grow as a Christian, you need to…

• Pray, worship God and read The Bible each day,
• Join a small group with other Christians to encourage each other’s Christian growth,
• Each week, join in worship at a good Church that preaches The Bible as God’s Word,
• And minister to others in the name of God.

Discover more about how God has given to you spiritual Gifts for your own personal ministry and for ministry with others using the links and resources shown below.

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