God and Man

1. Can God do anything, or is there something that is impossible for God to do? Answer first, and then check your answer by reading Hebrews 6:18.

2. Read Numbers 23:19. What is the context? Was Balaam was always an obedient prophet? Was what God spoke through him still true or not? See Numbers 23:26, 24:13.

3. Why do you think the "God is not a man" phrase is there? What is meant by "nor a son of man"?

5. Read 1 Samuel 15:29. What is the context of chapter 15?

6. Who is the glory of Israel? What does "for he is not a man" mean?

7. Read Hosea 11:9. What does this say about God being man in any way?

8. What do you think about the many verses (Acts 7:55, Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 1:3, etc.) that speak of God's right hand. Do you think God has a right hand?

9. Psalm 90:4 talks of God covering us with his "pinions". Pinions are the breast feathers of a hen. Hens pluck some of their own breast feathers to make a warmer nest for their chicks. Why does Psalm 90:4 mention God and pinions?

10. How can you tell what is meant to be taken an expression vs. what is a physical attribute?

11. Believers are called Sons of God in Galatians 3:26 and many other places. In the future, could there be any other true Gods or Creators? Read Isaiah 43:10.

12. Yet, the Bible clearly says believers are heirs in Galatians 4:7. What are we to be heirs of? Read Ephesians 2:6-7 and Revelation 3:21 and determine whether we sit on our own thrones, or if we sit with Christ on His throne.

The Supreme Being vs. Lesser Gods

1. Today we can order a "supreme pizza", or "chicken supreme" or another supreme sandwich. Supreme is a word which is greatly trivialized today. What does the word supreme actually mean?

2. When you look up at the stars at night, do you think God made all of them, or just a few of them and other beings made other stars? Think about it first, then read Ps 19:1, Ps 8:3, Isaiah 44:24, and Isaiah 45:12.

3. Could God originally had a God above Him? Think about it first, and then read Isaiah 44:6, 8; 45:5, 6, 14.

4. What do you think is meant by the common phrase "Most High" or "Most High God" in Numbers 24:16, Psalm 7:10, and many others passages?

5. If 1 Timothy 1:17 speaks of the Only God (NIV) or only wise God (KJV), or "God who alone is wise" (NKJV), what does that say about the wisdom in all the other gods? Is this the same message as Isaiah 41:22-24?

6. The times of the early church were times of struggle against Greco-Roman polytheism. One of Novatian's key points in his writing was that polytheists themselves often admit the god or goddess they are most devoted to is not the Most High God. Novatian emphasized that the difference between the true God and the Greco-Roman idols is that the true God is Supreme. Do you think this argument would useful in talking to idolaters in India or Africa today?

God - Singular or Plural

1. A large  number of verses say there is only One God. In addition to the verses looked at last time, other verses are: Deut 4:35-36; Deut 6:4; Mark 12:29-33; 2 Sam 7:22; James 2:19; Joel 2:27; Isaiah 46:9; John 5:6; 17:3; Ps 83:18; John 5:9, 1 Tim 1:17, 6:15-16. Do you see any ambiguity here?

2. Nevertheless, Paul speaks of a second god in 2 Cor 4:3-4. Who is this "god of this age"?

3. Do you think it is the same as the "Prince of this world" in John 12:31 and 14:30?

4. Is it the same one who is  in control of this world in 1 John 5:19?

5. In 1 Corinthians 8:4-8 Paul speaks of many gods and lords that he knows of. Some could read this and say the Bible contradicts itself, because in other places it says there is only One God. Yet Paul says there is only One God in 1 Cor 8:4. So, not only does the bible contradict itself, Paul deliberately "contradicts" himself in the same sentence. Who are the many gods and lords in heaven and earth in 1 Corinthians 8:4-8?

6. For reference, other verses that speak of these same gods are Psalms 86:8, 96:4-5, and 97:7.

7. So the Bible uses the word "God/god" in at least three different ways. These ways are:

A. Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 40-44, Psalm 91:1, etc.

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B. 2 Cornthians 4:3-4, John 12:31; 14:30, etc.

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C. John 10:34-35, Psalm 82:6-7

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8. We cannot just worship any self-proclaimed god. Which of the three kinds are we to worship?

9. The word "God" is singular (see Genesis 1:29, "I", etc.); nevertheless, in Genesis 1:26 God says, "Let Us make man in our image."  Likewise, Isaiah 6:8 has both "I" and "us" in the same verse. Since the "Us" does not refer to all the idols, and only One God made the heavens, earth, man, and everything in them by Isaiah 44:24, 45:12,14, how do explain this apparent problem?

10. What kind of image is meant in Genesis 1:29? Does the Holy Spirit have a physical body? Did Jesus Christ have a physical body at that time? What could be meant by image?

by Steven M. Morrison, PhD.