Discipleship Evangelism - Level 1 - Lesson 5 - The Nature of God

Summary

In this lesson, the speaker explores the true nature of God, addressing misconceptions about His character. The script highlights how people often perceive God as angry and harsh due to incidents in the Old Testament, like the killing of the firstborn in Egypt or the death of those who broke the Sabbath. The speaker clarifies that these actions were not reflective of God's true nature but were meant to restrain sin and protect humanity. Emphasizing God's mercy and the revelation of His nature through Jesus, the message encourages a deeper understanding of God's love and grace, apart from the law.

Takeaways

• 😀 God's true nature is often misunderstood due to misinterpretations of His actions in the Old Testament.
• 😀 Old Testament events, such as God punishing people, do not reflect His anger, but rather His mercy and a plan for redemption.
• 😀 The law was given to restrain sin and show humanity how far they were from God, not to establish a way for salvation.
• 😀 God's decision to expel Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden was an act of mercy, protecting them from living forever in a fallen state.
• 😀 Before the law, God dealt with people through mercy, even though they sinned, demonstrating His patience and love.
• 😀 The law highlighted the standard for sin but also showed that humans needed God’s mercy to be reconciled.
• 😀 Fear of punishment was used to restrain sin, similar to how a child is disciplined to prevent harmful behavior.
• 😀 God’s true nature is revealed through Jesus Christ, who brought grace and mercy, showing that righteousness comes from faith, not law-keeping.
• 😀 The righteousness that God offers is a gift, not earned by obeying the law, but received through faith in Jesus Christ.
• 😀 Despite past actions that may have seemed harsh, God's ultimate plan was always to redeem humanity through Jesus Christ.

Q & A

What is the central theme of today's lesson in the transcript?

The central theme is discussing the true nature of God, particularly in response to misconceptions about God's character, especially regarding instances in the Old Testament.

How does the speaker challenge the common perception of God as an angry and harsh figure?

The speaker argues that some of the harsh actions attributed to God, like punishing people in the Old Testament, were misrepresented and misunderstood. They emphasize that these actions were based on God's mercy and protection rather than anger.

What does the speaker mention about sin before the law was given?

Before the law was given, sin was still in the world, but it was not imputed to people. This means that sin wasn't held against them because there was no law to judge them by.

How does the speaker interpret God's actions towards Adam and Eve after their sin in the Garden of Eden?

The speaker suggests that God's action of driving Adam and Eve out of the Garden was not an act of anger but rather an act of love. It was to prevent them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever in a fallen state.

What does the speaker suggest about God's plan for redemption before the fall of man?

The speaker highlights that God already had a plan for redemption through Jesus Christ before the fall of man, which included the eventual resurrection and glorification of human bodies.

Why does the speaker argue that God's actions in the Old Testament are often misunderstood?

The speaker believes God's actions are misunderstood because people fail to see the context of mercy and restraint in these actions. For instance, while God did punish sin, He also showed mercy to individuals like Abraham and Jacob, even when they violated laws that came later.

What was the role of the law according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, the law served two main purposes: it restrained sin through the fear of punishment and showed people the true standard of righteousness by highlighting their distance from God.

How does the speaker distinguish between righteousness through the law and righteousness through faith?

The speaker explains that righteousness through the law is about obeying commandments and can only bring right relationships with people or avoid punishment. However, righteousness through faith, which comes from God, is what establishes a true relationship with Him.

What is the significance of Jesus coming according to the speaker?

Jesus' coming marks the end of the law's role in establishing righteousness. Through Jesus, the righteousness of God is revealed apart from the law, and people can now receive righteousness as a gift through faith.

How does the speaker use the examples of Abraham and Jacob to illustrate God's mercy before the law?

The speaker uses Abraham and Jacob's actions, which would later be deemed sinful under the law, to show that God showed mercy and blessed them. Abraham was not punished for marrying his half-sister, and Jacob was not punished for marrying two sisters, demonstrating God's merciful dealings before the law was given.