God is Always with Us



Things That Unite – One God and FatherEph. 4:1-6INTRODUCTION We’ve been looking at this topic off & on for some time. We’ve looked at how we are united through: one Body, one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, and one Baptism. We’ve seen that unity is something we must endeavor to have. It should now be noted that this seventh “one” is the foundation of all the others. The unity of God transcends the pages of the Bible from the first page to the last. Even Jesus and the Holy Spirit recognize the primacy of God the Father - John 8:29 ISV Moreover, the one who sent me is with me. He has never left me alone because I always do what pleases him." And John 16:13 ISV Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own accord, but will speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come. One day all things will return to the Father under His direct authority - 1Cor 15:28 LITV But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who has subjected all things to Him, that God may be all things in all.The God of unity is: 1) a Particular God, 2) a Paternal God, and 3) a Present God. It is important for everyone to understand how having one God and Father who is ever-present compels unity in the body. We can achieve this unity because we have ONE GOD.I. A PARTICULAR God , “ONE GOD”. A. In contrast to the polytheism of ancient and modern pagan cultures, the Bible declares God to be ONE. 1. Isa 44:6 LITV So says Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: I am the First, and I am the Last; and there is no God except Me. 2. 1Cor 8:5-6 ESV For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. B. How could a religion have unity with multiple gods, each acting according to their own ways and manners? 1. Acts 17:16 LITV But awaiting them in Athens, Paul's spirit was pained within him, seeing the city full of images. Acts 17:22-23 LITV And standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said, Men, Athenians, I see in everything how god-fearing you are; for passing through and looking up at the objects of your worship, I also found an altar on which had been written, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing, then, whom you worship, I make Him known to you. C. Because God is the ONE God, He can expect to be worshipped and Him ALONE 1. Exod. 20:1-5, the declaration of the Ten Commandments, tells man that there is only ONE God, who is a PARTICULAR God with a personal character.II. A PATERNAL God, “One Father”. A. We see in the one Father a loving God. 1. Some may think that He simply wants to “drive” us into submission. 2. But we know from 1 John that God is LOVE - 1Jn 4:8 LITV The one who does not love has not known God, because God is love. 3. 1Jn 4:16 LITV And we have known and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and the one abiding in love abides in God, and God in him. B. We see in the one Father a personal God/Father. 1. One might think He is unapproachable, but He wants us to understand Him as a son understands his earthly father - Gal 4:6 LITV And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba! Father! C. We see in the one Father a loving Father who, at times, must discipline. 1. He may discipline through teaching and instruction or other means for our learning. 2. Regardless, He does it because He loves us.III. A PRESENT God, “Who is over all and through all and in all”. A. We see in the One God a God who is over and above all. 1. He inhabits eternity - Isa 57:15 LITV For so says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, and His name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, even with the contrite and humble of spirit; to make live the spirit of the humble and to make live the heart of the contrite ones. (bold emphasis added) 2. Psa 148:13 LITV Let them praise the name of Jehovah; for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heavens. B. We may think since He is above all, we would never see Him, but we see Him in everything - Psa 19:1 ESV The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 1. Rom 1:20 LITV For the unseen things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things made, both His eternal power and Godhead, for them to be without excuse. C. We see in the One God a God who is “in you all”. 1. We might think that He is never with us but we see in 2Cor 6:16 LITV And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God, even as God said, "I will" dwell in them and "walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 2. 1Jn 4:12-13 LITV No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love having been perfected is in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because of His Spirit He has given to us.CONCLUSION We have but ONE GOD and He is the God who is ever-present and with us always. Because God is ONE God, we have a single source of constant companionship. We can and should know that God is: a PARTICULAR God, a PATERNAL God, and a PRESENT God. ................
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