Arial
Active member
As finite humans, with a fallen nature on top of that, we tend to try and define God or explain Him, and even defend Him as though He needed anyone to do this. At the very start this is problematic, because though we have similarities with Him, we are also completely unlike Him. He is unique. The one and only one of a kind. He is "outside of time and space", which simply means that He is not limited by it, and we are. Even our language is maintained within our limits of time and space. In attempting to define God or explain Him, the tools we have in our tool box are all limited by time and space. We have our memory, our language, our finite learning, our finite minds, our finite experience. Whatever we have is within this finite boundary. So when attempting to explain or define something, including God, we do so by making comparisons to what we know in our time and space limited existence. Something that is unique, cannot be compared to anything, without the argument or comparison being limiting Him, and if pressed too far erroneous. That is how many false doctrines come to be, not the least of which is the doctrine of God.
Our language will also fail us because it also is limited by time. We speak of the past, the present and the future. Therefore defining or explaining Him with our language places misleading limitations on Him. Our language also carries with it words that have meanings attached to them that conjure up particular mental images, shadings of meanings, even dual meanings, as well as usages. We have trouble with the word eternity for instance because it is something we know only as a word with a definition and we tend consciously or unconsciously, to think of it as a long, long period of time. It has nothing to do with time, but is a way of existence that does not involve the progression of moments and events.
When we attempt to do what is undoable, fit God and His will and His attributes and His mode of being----who He is ---into human logic (also finite), rather than simply believing what God shows and tells us about Himself in the Bible, quite often much of this is removed. His sovereignty, (utter governance over His creation), His omniscience and omnipresence, His providence (the way in which He governs His creation), and even the Trinity.
God reveals to us all that we need to know. He tells us who He is. He tells us much of what He has done and some of what He will do. When He does not explain Himself in finite terms (He won't fit into finite terms) that satisfy our own reasoning and logic, rather than trying to change what He says to mean something else, or looking to philosophy or our own human reasoning, to find what our finite minds can accept, we are told, and by Him, to trust Him. Some things only faith can attain to and that is why without it we cannot please God.
He tells us in many places that He is Sovereign and that He does as He pleases. That He knows all things. That He ordains all things. There is no place where He is not. And all for His good purpose. He tells us He is holy, perfect, good, just. So He is, irregardless of how we may see His actions. But one place in scripture where He tells us all of things in one place is Job, chapters 38-41.
Our language will also fail us because it also is limited by time. We speak of the past, the present and the future. Therefore defining or explaining Him with our language places misleading limitations on Him. Our language also carries with it words that have meanings attached to them that conjure up particular mental images, shadings of meanings, even dual meanings, as well as usages. We have trouble with the word eternity for instance because it is something we know only as a word with a definition and we tend consciously or unconsciously, to think of it as a long, long period of time. It has nothing to do with time, but is a way of existence that does not involve the progression of moments and events.
When we attempt to do what is undoable, fit God and His will and His attributes and His mode of being----who He is ---into human logic (also finite), rather than simply believing what God shows and tells us about Himself in the Bible, quite often much of this is removed. His sovereignty, (utter governance over His creation), His omniscience and omnipresence, His providence (the way in which He governs His creation), and even the Trinity.
God reveals to us all that we need to know. He tells us who He is. He tells us much of what He has done and some of what He will do. When He does not explain Himself in finite terms (He won't fit into finite terms) that satisfy our own reasoning and logic, rather than trying to change what He says to mean something else, or looking to philosophy or our own human reasoning, to find what our finite minds can accept, we are told, and by Him, to trust Him. Some things only faith can attain to and that is why without it we cannot please God.
He tells us in many places that He is Sovereign and that He does as He pleases. That He knows all things. That He ordains all things. There is no place where He is not. And all for His good purpose. He tells us He is holy, perfect, good, just. So He is, irregardless of how we may see His actions. But one place in scripture where He tells us all of things in one place is Job, chapters 38-41.
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