nature of god

Question 1

god as controller of all things

Answer 1

• follows naturally from belief god is omnipotent creator
• if universe made by god then in some sense he must control all
• perhaps most important expression of this is ‘god sustains the universe’ - holds it in existence & preserves it from destruction
• since god is all powerful he must know absolutely all of past, present and future
  SCRIPTURE SUPPORT: as an omnipotent king, god has control over everything is total (romans 11:36)

Question 2

god as transcendent & unknowable

Answer 2

• above and beyond space-time
• doesn’t exist in anything
• god is eternal - no beginning nor end
  SCRIPTURE SUPPORT: “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”

Question 3

Christian monotheism

Answer 3

• only one God exists & is worthy of worship
• monotheism seems to have developed in the thinking of Israelite prophets
  SCRIPTURE SUPPORT: in OT good moral behaviour is heart of covenant between Israel & God - he ‘adopts’ Israel in special agreement & in return they promise moral/religious obediance

Question 4

god as omnipotent creater

Answer 4

• must be omnipotent
• since he is only God he can’t be challenged by other authority
• Christians disagree on what it means for God to be omnipotent - can he do anything or anything logically possible
  SCRIPTURE SUPPORT: matthew 10:26 “with god all things are possible”