God not only is holy, loving, the creator, and eternal, but God is all knowing. Our scripture notes that God knows everything. Even the hairs of our head are numbered by the Most High (Matthew 10:30).

God not only knows what is right now, but God also knows the future. Interestingly enough, this foreknowledge did not stop God from creating humanity, but caused God to make a way in the midst of humanity's sin (1 Peter 1:19, 20).

This foreknowledge ensures God's objectivity when dealing with humanity. The slaves sang, "You better mine, you better mine, you gonna give an account in the judgment, you better mine." They were simply saying that God's judgment is objective and right due to God's foreknowledge.

Isaiah 40:25 and Isaiah 57:15 both speak of God as a high, lofty, and Holy one. God is unique in holiness for there is no other like God. God is incomparable, majestic. God alone is worthy of worship. (Isaiah 46:5, 9).

God's Fellowship with Sinners

Not only is God separate from us, but God is one who seeks fellowship with us. God seeks to reach down to humanity. While God does not tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13, Romans 1:18), God does whatever God can do to repair this breach that humanity's sin has created.

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As we continue to discuss God's attributes as a pre-requisite to talk about atonement, we must note the creative power of God. Scripture is unambiguous, God is creator.

The Divine Other

God as creator means that God is other-than the created order. God is not manufactured by the creation neither is God a concept that aggregates human action in some way. God is an active participant in relationship with that which is created.

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1 John 4:8 makes a startling claim, God is love. Today we may hear it so often that it loses its power, but to say God is love makes some fundamental claims about God and God's intention.

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God is eternal. God has always been and always will be. Psalm 90:2 and Genesis 21:33 both speak to this fact. God has existed before the world, and God will exist after the world ends.

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Now we begin the study of the atonement and the Cross of Jesus Christ. Our scripture explicitly points to God's Sovereignty. The text centers this weeks lesson and also captures the important point that the atonement of Christ comes about due to God's wishes. It is God's decision and not ours that has made the way for our salvation. In addition, it is God's nature that opens the way for so great a salvation.

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Which Bible to Choose for study? In this short audio Pastor Cox provides the fundamentals of Bible translation in such a way that can help readers understand which Bible to use.

Download the audio at this link.

When I am studying the Bible to give Bible Studies or Sermons, I make use of many Bible versions. The most common ones are the NIV, NRSV, and the KJV. In addition to the version, I also have various study Bibles that help to open up the Bible. The first is a Thompson Chain Reference Bible that has seen many days and the cover is falling off. This is a very good and important work that provides a wealth of resources at your fingertips. Mine is in the King James Version. I would encourage you to purchase one if you do not have one, in that it is very helpful in looking through the Biblical materials. The next bible I use is the NRSV Study Bible. This is a "critical" edition in that it takes the Historical Critical approach to a text. You might say it is the liberal approach to a text. The notes are often helpful rather you hold to that approach to the Bible or not. Another helpful Bible is the NIV Study Bible. This is a evangelical study Bible that takes a different approach to interpreting the Bible then The NRSV study bible. This one helps to see what evangelicals are saying about a particular text. It would be pricey to get all three, but you might be able to find them on sale. At any rate, you will gain a greater knowledge of the Bible if you study and read these important resources.

Download the file at this link.