God as Personal, Father & Love

• Anthropomorphism- The practice of attributing human characteristics to non-human entities. With regards to God, it is anthropoid to describe God in human terms
• Bible often describes God in human terms

  • Genesis 2:2 - He rested
  • Genesis 3:8-9 - He walked in the garden
  • Genesis 6:6 - He felt sorry & grieved
• God ultimately assumes human form in Jesus
• God having anthropic qualities allows christians to have a relationship with him
• It is hard to apply human language that has been developed to reflect human concern, thoughts & values to God
• God as personal should not be confused as God being a person
• Most Christians believe moral standards are objective & given by a personal God
• ”Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you” - 1 Corinthians 6:19
• At the time the Bible was written, men held political, economic, domestic & moral power
• “‘Abba Father’ he said ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” - Mark 14:36
• "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only son, Our Lord" - Apostle's Creed
• "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son" - John 3:16
• God's love is the basis of the covenant between God and Israel
• Stead fast love= hessed
• "The faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments" - Deutronomy 7:9
• Agape denotes God's selfless, self-giving, generous, and unconditional love for humanity
• Agape is the nature of the trinity
• Humans made in God's image have agape in their hearts
• "God is love" 1 John 4:8
• Evil does not diminish omnibenevolence as God may be saving us from greater evils
• Evil does not take away from omnibenevolence, but God's forgiveness is loving
• God forces us to confront ourselves in the face of evil
• A christian may justify loving God due to faith or religious experiences
• Isaiah had a vision where he saw God on a throne which shows God's power over everything, including life and death
• Jesus was associated with inauguration of the kingdom of God