As we continue in our series on the Names and Character of God, our goal is not just to know about the Names of God… but the goal is to KNOW GOD. Why study the Names of God?
- We are commanded to not take God’s name in vain… so we may want to know His Name (Exodus 20:7)
- The Character and greatness of God is wrapped up in His Name (Deut. 32:3)
- In knowing how God has revealed Himself, we find ourselves looking into the very face of Jesus Christ (John 14:9-10, 20)
Note: Audio is off for the first couple of minutes, but comes back in pretty quickly…
ELOHIM: Plural noun, God
1. SUPREME GOD: Creator, King, God of gods
2. COVENANT GOD: 3-in-One, Godhead This covenant keeping starts in the very being of God… in love. Augustine said, “For if God is love, then there must be a LOVER, a BELOVED, and the SPIRIT OF LOVE”… and if God is eternal… then there must be an ETERNAL LOVER, an ETERNAL BELOVED, and an ETERNAL SPIRIT OF LOVE… this love is unbreakable… from the beginning ELOHIM has been a perfect union of love. This covenant keeping extends to creation… and even more specifically to His people… He loves His creation… and covenants to care for them… Colossians 1:16-17… all things hold together in Christ… so as the FATHER loves the Son… so He loves and covenants with that which is in CHRIST… and for those of us who find our life, our purpose… IN CHRIST… that love is a redeeming, all-sufficient, life-giving love… because HE LOVES US IN CHRIST.
At the beginning of the service, we continued our emphasis on being One with Them… those persecuted for their faith in Christ. Our focus in January has been North Korea, #1 on the World Watch List. By request… the video that we showed is below… Continue to pray.