THINGS MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US
We Believe In One Perfect God
Text: Luke 1:1 (Isa 44:8 / Isaiah 45:22)
INTRODUCTION
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand, - to set forth in order a declaration…
of those things which are most surely believed among us."
Here Luke says many people have shared the truth before us,
He says they have “set forth in order”...
That means they placed the Word of God within its proper context,
And made a declaration – he continues - “of those things most surely believed among us”
Guys this is that declaration of “those things most surely believed among us” = The Bible
This is what we are called to share...
This is what we reach out to others with – because this is what we believe.
Now there is a lot in the Bible... I mean God’s Word covers a lot of topics
And so this entire series of lessons is geared towards us becoming
Not just vaguely familiar – but actually confident of the many truths we find here.
You see, God wants us to be “sure” about what we believe,
And one of the first core truths we should all be absolutely sure about – is that God is real.
Remember we believe in God – And not just in a loose notion and some vague idea about God,
But we believe some very specific things about God – based on what the Scriptures teach.
For example, in our last lesson we looked at how the Lord is a Personal God
That is to say - God has, and openly displays to us the characteristics of a Person.
Now last week we looked at four Personal attributes God openly displays to us in the Scriptures.
Firstly, God is Living – this makes Him different from Idols and inanimate objects.
Secondly, God Is Thinking – He is a highly intelligent intellectual being.
Thirdly, God Is Acting – and not only is He actively involved in all of our lives...
But He is able to make personal decisions according to His own free will
And all of this then led us to our final point – which is the fact
That God is also Feeling – God feels everything that we feel.
Anger, grief, Joy, compassion, and love – God feels it all.
Now, knowing and understanding this, is just so fundamental to our faith
Because if we know and understand that we serve a Personal God...
Then we can have a Personal Relationship with Him.
And remember friends -this is the very essence to true Christianity,
It is all about having a personal relationship with God – first and foremost,
Because everything else is born out of that.
We Believe In One Perfect God!
Ok, so today our study in the Word continues...
And the truth is - we still have a great deal to learn about God.
There is still a whole lot more we believe concerning Him.
Now today we are going to touch another core truth which we believe, and that is this:
“We Believe In One - Perfect God”
Now there are effectively there are two core aspects to this belief.
1) There is only One true God ...and... 2) The One True God is Perfect.
So lets talk about this, and see first how - there is only One God.
Let’s all turn to Isaiah 45:5-6
Ok let’s start our reading together in verse 5:
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
This verse definitively tells us that there is only one true God.
Lets turn to Deuteronomy 5:6-9
6 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
I love the way that God just continues to declare to us – who He is
I am the Lord He declares – and now notice with me what He says next:
7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
That term before means: “to be in ones presence”, “in ones sight”, or in “front of ones face”
I don’t want you to flaunt the notion of other God’s before me God says. Verse 8:
8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:
9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,
In affect God says – you don’t do this!
You don’t serve, worship or glorify any other God’s – because I am the One true God!
Isaiah 42:8 says: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
I am not going to share the glory and praise rightfully due me to any other,
Because I am the one true God.
Turn with me to Deuteronomy 6:4 says:
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
So how many God’s are there?
Well lets see there is Allah...Krishna,... Rama... there is this God, and that God,
No No - there are not many many God’s – there is just one.
The LORD our God is one LORD! - The Scriptures declare.
Look with me at Deuteronomy 4:35
35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD He is God; there is none else beside Him.
Again there are not many God’s – but just one...And there is none else beside Him.
Psalms 86:10
For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
There is one God – and He is God alone.
And I find this next verse really interesting - James 2:19 listen to this:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Wow – there is one God... And do you know something...
Even Satan and his demons (that’s what the term devils refers to by the way)
Know and believe the same – and it’s a truth that gets them quaking in their boots.
Guys we believe in One True God!
God Is Perfect
Of course, what is more than that...
We believe that the One true God is Perfect.
Perfect in the sense of being flawless...
Without fault or error...
He is whole and Complete – lacking nothing.
Now I feel the need to really outline this today,
Because I think much of what we have come to call “perfect”
In our everyday lives – really isn’t.
For example, it’s not uncommon to say when something good happens : “thank you - that’s perfect”
Or when someone asks us how something tastes – we say: “Mmmm – yes it’s perfect”
Of course, this is not what we are talking about when it comes to a Perfect God.
I think sometimes we have this idea of what Perfection should be,
And yet we have come to just causally use the word in everyday life...
Because we know real perfection is something impossible to come by.
Guys God is perfect ...and... He is the only one that is perfect.
In my country, we sometimes refer to people as being “Perfectionists”
And what we mean to say is that they have really high standards.
They want things to be right and have everything work perfectly.
Now trying to get things perfect is all very well and good,
The only problem is - we live in an imperfect world and we ourselves are imperfect beings.
And do you know why – it’s because we are sinners
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23
God is not just perfect in who He is – He is perfect in everything He does!
2 Corinthians 5:21 talks about Jesus – “who knew no sin” –
And who willingly took his sin upon Himself
So that we might be made right before God.
Romans 5:8 says: But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus became the one and only perfect sacrifice for all of mankind.
This was God’s plan for man’s salvation – and this was the way it had to be.
Because we were imperfect we needed a Saviour...
And because God is perfect – He provided for us that saviour In Jesus Christ.
God doesn’t just try to get things perfect – He is perfect
He doesn’t just like the idea of perfection – He is perfection – in every respect.
So let’s see this shall we – The One True God...Being the Only one that Is truly Perfect.
Psalms 18:30 - As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.
Take careful note of this first sentence: As for God, His way is perfect…
God’s way is Perfect – and perfect in every way.
No One Understands God’s Perfection
This is something we sometimes struggle to understand. Turn with me to Job 11:7-9.
Here we find Zophar one of Job’s friends – trying to rationlise all has happened to Job.
Read with me verse 7: Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
“Do you think you can ever possibly know and fully understand God” – he asks?
“Do you presume to perfectly understand God - in all of His perfection?” Verse 8:
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
It’s difficult to come to terms with an Almighty God – in all of His Perfection.
However, with the brief time remaining today...
I want to show you three things about God that is perfect.
1) Perfect In Wisdom (Thinking)
Firstly, God is perfect in Wisdom.
Turn over with me now to Job 37:16.
Here Elihu – another one of Job’s friends is talking to Him in his time of grief
And now notice what He says here:
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him which is perfect in knowledge?
In other words – what is it that you really think that you know
Because only God is Perfect in Knowledge.
Knowledge is something you know and it leads to wisdom.
It’s an aspect of ones mind, intellect and thinking.
My wisdom is far from perfect – But God’s wisdom is perfect every time.
Psalms 147:5 says: His understanding is infinite.
While Isaiah 40:28 - ...There is no searching of His understanding.
There is simply no limits to God’s wisdom – because His wisdom is perfect. That’s the first thing.
2) Perfect in Work (Actions)
The second thing I want you to see – is that God is perfect in His work.
Turn to Deuteronomy 32:4 - He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
God’s Work is perfect – please get that.
He is sinless and without iniquity – and everything He does is perfect.
So this isn’t so much about God’s Wisdom, His knowledge and understanding...it’s about His Actions.
God always acts in the right way – because everything He does is Perfect.
God always makes the right decisions because He is Perfect in His Judgements.
Right judgements lead to the right actions – That’s why God’s work is perfect.
3) Perfect In Word (Sayings)
Finally, and just quickly, I want you to see that God’s Word’s are perfect.
Please turn with me to Psalms 19:7:
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Guys this is God’s Law – and it is perfect.
You know, the law and testimony of the Lord – is all recorded for us right here. [The Bible]
This is actually about what God “says” is right.
Because we believe in God - we believe in His Words.
Conclusion
We believe in One True God – and that He is God alone
And that there is no other God’s beside Him.
In addition to this we believe that God is perfect.
1) Perfect In Wisdom (Thinking)
2) Perfect in His Work (Actions)
3) Perfect In His Word (Sayings)
And thing is - when you have one perfect God – you really need no other God do you.
One true God is enough. Amen.
