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"That may be true for you, but it is not going to be true for me.”

What you believe is true, really true, places requirements on how you live.

Truth-up-for-grabs is not a new phenomenon … Jer. 9:1-3,23

The most important pursuit of your life … Jer. 9:24 - Understand and know God!

Five Foundational Truths about God …

(taken from ‘Knowing God’, J.I. Packer)

1. God has spoken to man (2 Tim.3:16,17), and the Bible is His Word, given to us to make us wise unto salvation.

God is immutable (Mal. 3:6; Ps 33:11; 102:25-27; Jas 1:17)

God is truthful (Ps 119:160, Num 23:19; Jn 14:6)

God is Creator, making everything in the universe from nothing, being the source and purpose for all things and solely responsible for sustaining everything that he created, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Gen 1:1; Ex 20:11; Ps 104; Col 1:15-19; Heb 11:3)

He is self-existent, self-sufficient (Ex 3:13-14)

He created for his glory (Ps 19:1)

He is redeeming for the restoration of His glory

God is Triune; there are within the Godhead three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; in the work of salvation all three act together, the Father purposing redemption, the Son securing it, and the Spirit applying it. He is to be known, glorified and enjoyed.

“Three-oneness” - God is one Deut 4:35,39; Mk 12:29

His attributes are indivisible –

Equal, distinct, united

Eternal – Deut 33:27; 1 Tim 1:17

Omnipresent – Ps 139:7-10; 1 Kings 8:27

God is Spirit – in essence invisible Ex. 33:20; Jn 6:46; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:15-16

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied with him.” Piper

How to enjoy God …

God is Lord and King over His world. – He rules all things for his own glory, displaying His perfections in all that he does, in order that men and angels may worship and adore Him.

God is completely sovereign over all that happens both good and evil without causing evil – he uses evil to accomplish his good purposes. (Gen 50:20; Dan 4:35; Rom 8:28; Jas 1:13; Eph. 1:11)

He directs and permits and holds man and angels accountable for what he permits (Acts 2:23) God is first cause of all things and does not react to circumstances in order to organize his Purposes – results are completely determined and for his own good pleasure (Eph 1:11).

God is omnipotent (Mk 14:36)

God is omniscient (Ps 139:1-4; Is 40:28; I Jn. 3:20)

God is good (Ex 33:19; 34:6-7; Matt 19:17)

God is love (Jn 17:24; I Jn 4:8)

God is all wise (1 Tim 1:17; Jude 25; Eph 3:10)

God is Saviour, active in sovereign love through the Lord Jesus Christ to rescue believers from the guilt and power of sin, to adopt them as His Sons and to bless them accordingly.

“The wisdom of God devised a way for the love of God to deliver sinners from the wrath of God while not compromising the righteousness of God.” (Piper, “Desiring God”).

God is on mission to redeem the world (Jn 1:11-14)

God’s grand purposes include the redeeming of his fallen creation and the people he loves – he came all the way to earth to do it, to the praise of his glory (Eph 1:3-14; Jn 1:14)… … so that we may know him, hope in him, experience his power and be with him forever! (Eph. 1:15-19; 2 Cor. 5:5)