Lord's Day 2

Devotion

Answer #3 of the Shorter Catechism teaches us that the Scriptures principally teach what we are to believe concerning God, and what God requires of us. Answers 4, 5, and 6, summarize what the Scriptures reveal about God and what we are to believe.

As we try to come to a better understanding of the nature and character of God, we are always confronted by the complexity and unsearchable nature of God. Someone once said that describing God is like trying to paint a bird in flight; you may have captured that moment, but the bird has moved on. With God, there is always more than what we can know, God is always bigger than our definition.

One of the hardest things to understand about God is His revelation as the Triune God. The word Trinity, while not appearing in the Bible, does not refer to a relationship of three gods, but rather it describes the relationship of one God who is three persons. On the one hand the Bible strongly affirms the unity of God (Deut 6:4). On the other hand the bible clearly affirms the full deity of the three persons of the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons are one in essence. At the same time, there is also a distinction in the work of each person of the Trinity. For example, the work of salvation is in one sense common to all three persons, yet in the manner of activity, there are differing operations assumed by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity does not fully explain the character of God, rather, it sets the boundaries outside of which we must not step.

All that we need to know about God for our salvation has been revealed to us in Scripture, and we must be faithful to that revelation. We do not create our knowledge of God; we believe what God has revealed.

Prayer

Almighty God, thank you for showing yourself to us. Teach us to know you, and to know you as you have made yourself known. Break down all the idols and false gods that we have created, and enable us to worship you alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Question 4

Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Scripture Proofs

John 4:24;

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Job 11:7-9;

"Can you find out the deep things of God?

Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?

It is higher than heaven—what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.

Ps. 90:2;

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

James 1:17;

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Exod. 3:14;

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’

Ps. 147:5.

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Rev. 4:8;

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

Rev. 15:4;

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Exod. 34:6-7.

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Question 5

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and true God.

Scripture Proofs

Deut. 6:4;

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

Jer. 10:10.

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.

At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Question 6

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Scripture Proofs

1 John 5:7;

For there are three that testify:

Matt. 28:19.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

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