The God Who Is There

1. The Self-Existent Creator Demands Allegiance

The Bible begins simply but dramatically: “In the beginning God.”

God's absolute existence. The Bible does not argue for God's existence; it declares it. God simply is, the self-existent Creator of everything that is not God. This establishes an irreducible distinction between the Creator and all creatures, meaning everything in the universe is utterly dependent on Him.

Exclusive sovereignty. There is only one God, and He is a talking God who discloses Himself in words human beings can understand. He made everything "very good," and His creation proclaims His greatness and glory. This foundational truth means God is not an object for human evaluation, but the ultimate authority to whom all owe allegiance.

Humanity's unique role. Humans are made in God's image, reflecting His creativity, capacity for work, and role as stewards over creation. This divine image gives life meaning and purpose, grounding human accountability and responsibility. To deny this is to fight against our very design.

2. Humanity's Rebellion and Its Deep Consequences

What is so wretchedly tragic is God’s image-bearer standing over against God.

The first rebellion. Genesis 3 depicts humanity's first sin as a deliberate act of idolatry, a desire to usurp God's prerogative to define good and evil. The serpent's temptation was not merely to break a rule, but to become "like God" by defying Him, leading to a cosmic revolution where humanity de-gods God.

Immediate and lasting effects. This rebellion shattered humanity's innocence, leading to shame, guilt, and broken fellowship with God. It also corrupted human relationships, as seen in Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent. The consequence was death—spiritual, physical, and ultimately eternal—as humanity detached itself from the source of life.

Universal guilt. The Bible consistently asserts that all humanity, both Jews and Gentiles, are "under the power of sin" and "fall short of the glory of God." This deep moral and spiritual corruption blinds us to God's truth and leads to self-justification, making us "worthless" in our defiance against our Maker.

3. God's Sovereign Grace Initiates Reconciliation

No, there is only one way you are going to have a relationship with this kind of God, and that is if he displays sovereign grace to you.

God's self-sufficiency. Unlike pagan deities, the God of the Bible has no needs; He is not served by human hands as if He needed anything. He was perfectly joyful and content in eternity past, loving the Son. Therefore, human attempts to barter with God through good deeds or religious rituals are futile.

Unilateral covenants. Our relationship with God can only be established through His sovereign grace. This is demonstrated through His covenants, like the one with Abraham, where God unilaterally promised blessings and took full responsibility for its fulfillment, even symbolically walking the "bloody alleyway" alone.

Provision of sacrifice. God's grace is further seen in His provision of sacrifice. From the animal skins covering Adam and Eve to the ram provided for Abraham instead of Isaac, God consistently shows that He provides the means for covering sin. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice He would provide for humanity's redemption.

4. The God-Man, Jesus, Reveals God and Offers New Life

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

The Word made flesh. Old Testament prophecies hinted at a coming Davidic king who would also be "Mighty God" and a suffering servant. These converge in Jesus, the eternal Word of God, who was "with God and was God" and "became flesh." This incarnation means God Himself became a human being.

Jesus as God's revelation. Jesus is the ultimate "tabernacle" or "temple," the meeting place between God and humanity. He is "full of grace and truth," embodying God's goodness and glory. To see Jesus is to see the Father; He authoritatively reveals God's character and will.

The necessity of new birth. Jesus declared that no one can "see" or "enter" the kingdom of God without being "born again" of water and the Spirit. This is not a natural or human-initiated change, but a powerful, transforming act of God that cleanses and empowers, leading to a new spiritual life. This new birth is enabled by Jesus's crucifixion, just as looking at the bronze snake in the wilderness brought life.

5. God's Astonishing Love Measured by Christ's Sacrifice

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Love for the unlovable. The Bible marvels at God's love, not because humanity is inherently lovable, but because God is inherently loving. He loves a "world" that is fallen, rebellious, and hateful, choosing to love us despite our unworthiness. This love is astonishing and surprising.

The ultimate measure. The depth of God's love is measured by the giving of His "one and only Son." This Son, Jesus, existed in a perfect circle of love with the Father in eternity past. The Father's willingness to give Him, and Jesus's willingness to die, demonstrates a love that surpasses human comprehension.

Purposeful sacrifice. Jesus's death was not a random act or a mere example, but a purposeful sacrifice to save humanity from condemnation. He willingly laid down His life as a ransom, bearing our sins and dying our death so that we might have eternal life. This substitutionary death is the core of the gospel.

6. The Guilty Are Declared Just Through Faith

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

The dilemma of justice. Humanity is universally guilty before a holy God, and self-justification through good deeds is futile. God's righteousness demands that sin be punished. Yet, in His love, God desires to reconcile rebels to Himself.

Christ's propitiatory sacrifice. God resolved this dilemma by presenting Christ as a "propitiation" (or "sacrifice of atonement"). On the cross, Jesus bore the full weight of God's righteous wrath against sin, simultaneously cancelling sin (expiation) and making God favorable to us. This act demonstrated God's justice, allowing Him to be both just and the one who justifies.

Justification by faith. Through Christ's sacrifice, God declares guilty people "just" in His sight, not based on their merit, but on Christ's righteousness imputed to them. This "justification" is received "freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus," and the sole means of receiving it is by faith. This excludes boasting, preserves grace, and unites all believers, Jew and Gentile alike.

7. God Gathers and Transforms a New People

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

New creation. Salvation is not merely legal acquittal; it is a profound transformation. Believers, once "dead in transgressions and sins," are "made alive with Christ" and become "God's handiwork," a new creation empowered to do good works. This transformation is the inevitable outcome of God's grace.

The church as God's dwelling. Through Christ's cross, the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles is destroyed, creating "one new humanity." This new community, the church, becomes God's "household" and "holy temple," where God dwells by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the "down payment" of our future inheritance, empowering believers to live transformed lives.

Crucified to self. Christian life involves "putting off your old self" and "putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." This means a death to self-interest, a "taking up of one's cross," and a willingness to suffer for Christ. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—replaces the acts of the sinful nature, driven by gratitude for God's forgiveness.

8. God's Righteous Anger and Final Judgment

They, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.

The reality of wrath. The Bible consistently portrays God as righteous and holy, and therefore "very angry" at sin and rebellion. This wrath is not capricious but a just response to humanity's persistent idolatry and defiance. Jesus Himself spoke more about hell than any other figure in the Bible, warning of its terrifying reality.

Full-strength judgment. Revelation 14 vividly depicts God's final judgment as a "winepress of God's wrath," poured out "full strength." This imagery signifies a thorough and violent judgment, far exceeding any temporal punishments seen before. It is a terrifying prospect for those who reject the "eternal gospel."

Eternal consequences. The torment of the unrepentant is described as eternal, with "smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever" and "no rest day or night." Hell is not a place of annihilation or eventual repentance, but a consummation of evil where those who "do wrong continue to do wrong," eternally hating God and despising the cross. This stark reality underscores the immense cost of Christ's sacrifice.

9. God's Ultimate Triumph and New Creation

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.

A new heaven and earth. The Bible's storyline culminates in God's ultimate triumph, a "new heaven and a new earth" where the old order, tainted by sin and chaos, has passed away. This is a complete transformation of existence, fulfilling God's original creative intent.

God's intimate presence. In this new creation, God's dwelling place is "among the people," and He will dwell with them in perfect intimacy. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain, for "the old order of things has passed away." The new Jerusalem, adorned as a bride, symbolizes this perfect union between God and His redeemed people.

Eternal glory and life. The new creation will be filled with the "glory of God," needing no sun or moon, for "the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." A "river of the water of life" and the "tree of life" signify unending sustenance and healing. God's servants will "see his face" and "reign for ever and ever," experiencing perfect righteousness and joy in His presence. This is the ultimate treasure for which believers are called to yearn.