God: A Short Autobiography - Part B

God makes a promise done some great people rely on God to keep his promises. Different is this God we serve.

See the Muslim God.

The whole idea of abrogation for God to say something one minute and then in another era completely negates what he said and change his mind and call what he called good last year, our God never changes illusion without remorse or one of the most pressing challenges of our times. The task of speaking rightly about God today on connect with skip-Skip examine several important attributes to help you take your understanding of God to a new level. At the end of the program Skip and his wife Linda share about the attribute of God that enhanced his wife with the Lord God only list it's what I would call God's most unpopular at the in Isaiah chapter 6 and Revelation chapter 4.

But you know to me how God can mix his perfection with our imperfection. He is so utterly holy and we are for sinful and we need him. Thank you. Skip a line you.

Be sure to stay with us after today's message to the full discussion right now we want to tell you about a special resource that explores God's character and nature and shows you what it truly means to be his friend.

Someone once said that if you want to know about Michelangelo need to study what he said what he did and what he created. The same is true if you want to know God, you must devote yourself to his words and actions and what he created.

That is one of the reasons I wrote the book the biography of God. It's available now and I hope you'll join me on this noble demanding and even rewarding journey. There's how to get your copy of my newest book, the biography of God skips the book is our thanks when you give $35 or more today to help keep this ministry on the air, call 800-922-1888, or give online securely and connectwithskip.com/offer Psalm chapter 139. As we get into the message with skip-I still love getting neat stuff is a little Go shopping with them against of the fact my wife had these little fundies called I love Nathan dates and adjustment.

He got to choose what store to go to and what activity did use all his choice that there was a time when he and his cousin got into a fight and disobeyed her and she did something very unusual to get in the car, got in the car took him to the store and bought them a gift and Nina Nathan's looking like what wetlands the other shoe to drop. Hear me this isn't right. This is what you take away from you now and spank me here in the store and she just says I want you to learn a lesson that the way God treats us is often this way. Not only am I not going to give you what you deserve. Even though my heart is broken by what you did. I'm to give you a gift to show you how good God is. He said mama never forget that. Then the third long suffering, God is along suffering, you may have a translation that says he's slow to anger, what is that mean well you know what that means he doesn't fly off the handle you. Aren't you glad God doesn't need anger management classes. God is slow to get angry all no mistake about it, God will execute his wrath in judgment upon this world, but it sure takes him along time to get there is long-suffering and here's what the Hebrew word literally means you ready means to have along those some of you with long noses like me are very grateful for this translation. It's a good thing long nose because when a person gets angry. They show it in their notes gets read their nostrils flare out and the idea of a long noses that it takes a long time for it to affect the whole nose I know it's a strange background that's the root of this word. God doesn't have a bad temper. In fact, in second Peter God is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

There's been so many times I've wondered like you have got one to do something about that and I know what the answer is God is saying to his word. I will do something about not yet.

Not now is very patient takes a long time before he will definitely judge so those are some of God's attributes. Those are his beneficial attribute. Let's go on and there's two more that I call his default attributes because notice the next word sounding abounding in goodness and abounding in truth.

Now the word abounding you know what that means. It means a lot means to be great or to be sales or even to be overflowing with. That means to you and me is there's enough of this for you is abounding in goodness we love to say it. God is good all the time all the time said God is good, good thing to be reminded not only is he good Scott a lot of goodness he's abounding in goodness Hebrew word is sometimes not translated goodness sometimes is translated loving kindness or love. It's the word has said has said in Hebrew. In in human terms. Sometimes it is applied to human beings. It simply means something is loyal to another person, a loyal friend but when it whenever it's ever applied to God. The fuller idea is that speaking of God is utterly constant and on changing in his love. God's love for you. Never changes is not like I said you know I used to love you a lot more years ago but now I've learned a few things about you and I watched you I love you as much his love for you will never change, and that's the word has said that's a loyal, steadfast, constant on changing love some 136 verse one reminds us, give thanks to the Lord for he is good his faithful love. That's the word has said endures forever is abounding in goodness. Look what's next. He's abounding in truth rescue Jean Peterson's fund and excellent translation. The message puts it, he is so deeply true or we would say reliable, trustworthy, I have a friend Lisa nickname in pencil we call in pencil because whatever he would make an appointment in his appointment book he'd always put in pencil and never write it down a pen because he would change it so often, so though he would say he'd be there at a certain place at a certain time.

He might be there at a certain place at a certain time God makes a promise it's done. It's engraved. It's in pen not in pencil you can rely on God to keep his promises. How different is this God that we serve, then say the Muslim God. The whole idea of abrogation, the God can say something one minute and then in another era, completely negate what he said and change his mind and call what he called good last year. Evil this year, our God never changes. He is up, abounding in that kind of truth. So these are great qualities right so far. Great qualities.

Did you know that there was a prophet in the Bible who was mad at God for these very qualities that God describes over that you know is named Dr. Jonah. Jonah quotes will we just read in part, but not like I love these attributes. I hate these attributes only to see it if you brought your Bible turn to Jonah chapter 1 you have to go almost to the end of your Old Testament.

It's tucked in the minor prophets.

If you don't want to turn narrowed as read Jonah chapter 1 says now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of anti-saying, arise, and go to Nineveh, that great city and cry out against it, that he should love that because he hated the Ninevites for their wickedness is come up before me. So again, Jonah's insight.

Excellent accolades for this day. I can't wait to breathe condemnation down on these Ninevites God destroy them quickly. Does but Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord went down to Joppa. You know the rest of the story is really down in the mouth he comes to his senses and after he is whale vomit. He decides I'll go and he goes, he preaches the message of judgment you're doomed 40 days as whole cities can be toast. God doesn't. God doesn't destroy them. He didn't destroy them because the whole city in an unparalleled fashion never does this happen before. Even any Graham Crusade, the whole city repents you think any man of God would be so excited.

Not Jonah chapter 3 verse 10 then God's other works that they turn from Their Evil Way, God relented from the disaster that it said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it. I watch this, but it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he became angry and so he prayed to the Lord and he said now allow me to put a little emotion and what I think he prayed like how it sounded. Lord was this not what I said when I was still in my country. Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish, for I know that your gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness.

One who relents from doing harm. He's quoting what we just read in his own memory therefore now the Lord, Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. The Lord said is it right for you to be angry. This is to me. Amazing. It's a paradox you got a God who is slow to anger, and a prophet of God who is quick to anger very opposite of God angry. He got angry and says ago. Here you got a God who is merciful and you got Jonah, who is Mafia you want them all destroy what what a paradox this is you got God you got a prophet misrepresenting God and this leads me to the question based on the attributes that we have read and how Jonah treats this, ask yourself this question do people see in you a reflection of the character and nature of God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, pungent, and kindness pundit and truth is important question to ask. It's simply important because we are Christians we are followers of Christ we are believers in God and what Paul say to us, he said, be imitators of God, as dear children have dads like that and like father like son like father like daughter, be imitators of God.

Jonah was the exact opposite of God, and he was a representative know I discovered that the healthiest place on earth to live is the S. Pole Healthiest Pl. to live. There's no germs.

They can't survive and winds begin at the South Pole and move all of the contaminants northward. That's where the wind starts and the blow all of the germs.

All of the contaminant out all the dust out so it's regarded as the healthiest place to live. Yet nobody really wants to live there.

Nobody signing up to go on a dictation to Antarctica because it's 100 below zero. Most the time God's truth is here burning in all of its glory. And yet sometimes God's people are so cold about his truth.

Yes there there there to defend the gospel and to stand up against error germs can be around them. There there there quick to lash out at at who's wrong and what's wrong. And while that is important, difficult to live around like Jonah, she so coldhearted to the very God that he says he represents.

Let's go back to our text and will finish it up as a couple to finish up with and that is what I call his balanced attributes notice verse seven that there are two phrases given and the two other phrases that balance it out beautifully, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin but now flip the coin by no means clearing the guilty, and visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third the fourth generation process.

Keeping mercy to thousands and here's what's amazing about this.

The word has said that I just mentioned covenant love loyal love constant love word Hassett is used again in this verse there is keeping mercy has said notice for thousands. So why does God say it once and then say again simply because he sang Moses it's not just for you and it's not just for your people. It's for thousands and the ideas it goes on and on. It's for everyone.

It's for everyone. God's love is not limited to one period of time. One nationality, one people group here in this phrase he opens the door of his love to all peoples, all peoples would Jesus say for God so loved the world what are the angel say in announcing the birth of Jesus Christ, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people, all people God's love is for the African the South American the European the Australian the Albuquerque and everyone is mercy is love is a door wide open to the entire world says, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. God loves to forgive people I love seeing altar calls. I love doing them. I love see book see people coming forward and I know that at that moment is there praying, I know the got is so jazzed to be able to forgive the sin of those who are coming forward. How do I know that is when one sinner comes in repentance all the angels in heaven are rejoicing must mean the God is also rejoicing were the first words that Jesus prayed on the cross member what they were father forgive them first thing out of his mouth and why that was man's greatest need to be forgiven. So, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and I won't bother to tell you the difference between those three at this time, the word, forgive here means to lift up and carry away. That's what God does with your sin. He lifts it up and carries it away so he's knocking to bring up against you know them a couple years ago when you and it's over it's done and I love a Corrie 10 boom is to say, he throws your sense of the deepest sea and any post a sign that reads no fishing allowed MoveOn get over it. Psalm 32, oh what joy for those who whose disobedience is forgive and whose sin is put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt. That's forgiveness. Boil it all down. God has a big eraser for anyone who will admit their sin and turn from it. God will forgive it all but flip that coin and it's done right here by no means notice by no means clearing the guilty about the balance of God's nature.

The coin of God's eternal love is now slipped in this verse. This is the other side of his bountiful love and of his beneficial love. It's it's to balance out the truth, he just gave it was so important any he headlined it with those attributes is simply saying here is a God is still just got a still holy and God can't repudiate his justice and just let sin go unchecked. He must judge it, you must deal with it by no means clearing the guilty, and this is how works. Either you will let Jesus Christ be punished for your sin or you will be punished for your sin as of the only two options you either let Jesus become the sin bearer for you and it's over or you bear it yourself and it is never over is willing to forgive is willing to take iniquity and sin and get rid of it. But by no means clearing the guilty is provided a way for sin to be forgiven if you refuse his solution. There is no other solution. There is none. Finally, we close, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation. What is that mean that means that it's God's nature to forgive but not to remove consequences of sin. That's what it means. Some misunderstand this verse to mean that God is gonna punish children for their parents stupidity or sin. That's good to be if he did that I would be unjust. Ezekiel 18 says God does not do that and he says it over and over again, read the same verse you in the new living translation which I think is helpful at this point God says I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.

I forgive iniquity and rebellion and sin, but I do not excuse the guilty and I laid the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren. The entire family is affected even children in the third and fourth generations is not saying on the punisher kids, but I'll allow the consequences that you enacted and it will affect all of their lives.

Many children have suffered the consequences of their parents in an abusive parent. Children suffer alcoholic parents. Children suffer for the choices of their parents. That's what it means he won't remove the natural consequences of this takes us all the way to Jesus Christ and you know why does because here's God giving his name and name is more than just a tag it's a designation it's a description of his character and so this is not only I am that I am at this.

What I am to you.

I am merciful I am gracious. I am long-suffering I am abundant in mercy. I am abundant in truth except a Texas all the way to Jesus Christ because in the name of Jesus we have. I would collect God's best name the fullest name. The name Jesus in Hebrew Yeshua means Yahweh saves. God saves in Philippians 2 God is given him the name which is above every name, that the name of Jesus every knee should bow those in heaven and those on earth and those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Yahweh saves Yeshua, Jesus in the name of Jesus, you have the great I am with all of these attributes, reaching down to us at our level.

Helping people in the does that first by saving people, you shall call his name Jesus.

The angel said to Joseph, for he will live save his people from their sins.

That's primarily why this great Savior came to the earth. So rather than listening to that ad says stop worrying about it and enjoy your life.

I'm saying come to Christ where you don't have to worry about eternal life because it is yours is yours to have received all that God is God will be to you whatever you need.

And tonight, some of you in here if you're hurting and you're here tonight here this everything that you need that are listed in these attributes God is willing to give. Like any gift of personal and it comes first of all, are receiving, and you can say what I want the gifts. But I don't want to give and work their way to receive Jesus.

That's the key that Skip Heitzig.

The conclusion of a message from the series the biography of God to Skip than my share of the attribute of God that enhanced his walk with the Lord today.

We talked about that great merciful grace is abounding in truth and just got this one of the most surprising for you to learn and how is it trance walk with the Lord well and I'm in a dialogue with them or throw them back at you in a minute. I think in this text, the one the work talk about in Exodus. It's God's long-suffering God takes a long time to get angry, this it's so different from human emotion when he gave the Amorites a total of 800 years before he kicked them out of the land that that they were living. I think in general it's God's holiness. It's it's what I would call God's most unpopular attribute in Isaiah chapter 6 and Revelation chapter 4.

But you know to me how God can mix his perfection with our imperfection in he is so utterly holy and we are more sinful and and we need him so God how God mixes like justice and mercy and in perfection in our sin. It it it amazes me how to get my my head around. I think that thing that most was hard for me to grapple with this, says God's gracious or his grace because I tend to be a people pleaser and I want to do something that's going to get there favor or make them happier reciprocate and to learn that there's nothing I can DO nothing that I can add that his grace is sufficient has been an ongoing conundrum for me because I want to be an over achiever and there's nothing really that I can do or achieve. That is going to make him more gracious toward me that time.

His grace is Thanksgiving. I enjoy getting to nest up and running into this conversation. Now we invite you to help keep his teachings coming your way you connect more listeners like you a password is a connector skip.com/connect.com/down combat tomorrow Skip Heitzig to talks about the nature of God and to continue growing understanding. One of his Skip Heitzig visitation of connection communications changing to