He does not force anyone to re ceive what He can do for them. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons o f God, even to them that believe on His Name” (John 1 : 12 ) . “ I say emphatically that any one who listens to my message and believes in God who sent me has eternal life and will never be damned for his sins, but has al ready passed out o f death into life” (John 5 :24 The Paraphrased Gospels). Dr. C. Wright Norton has been pastor o f E s p e r a n c e Baptist Church o f Seattle, Wash., for 15 years. During that time the at tendance has grown from 19 to 700. A two-week D.V.B.S. pro gram each year reaches about 500 children. KNOW THAT GOD LOVES ME?” by D r. Vance Webster T h e m a j o r it y o f boys and girls believe and accept this truth, but to those who ques tion, we might answer in the words o f the familiar children’s hymn, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” In I John 4:7 we read: “ for God is love” and in verse 10, “God loved us and sent His Son.” “ In this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him” (I John 4 :9 ). If He loved us enough to send us His greatest gift, His Son, then we can be assured o f His care and love all along life’s way. Peter tells us in his epistle, (II Peter 3 :9), that God “ is not will ing that any should perish, but "HOW DO I
God. “ But no one knows what God looks like,” protested his mother. “ They will when I get finished with my picture,” replied the lad. In spite of the good intentions o f the youth, it is difficult for the human mind to comprehend the teachings o f the Bible concerning the Godhead. Yet the Scriptures clearly inform us o f the existence of the Trinity. THE NATURE OF THE TRINITY is found to in clude both the singularity of God and the plurality o f God. Deuter onomy 6:4 reminds us that, “ the Lord our God is one Lord.” Christ affirmed His adherence to the singularity of God when He quot ed these words in Mark 12:29-30. But both the Old and New Testa ments also speak of the plurality of God in such statements as: “ Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” (Gen. 1:26); and, “ Come near unto me, hear this: Lord God and his Spirit, hath sent me” (Isa. 48:16). Our KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRINITY can come only from the Scriptures. These speak to us of Three Persons who are co-equal and co-etemal. This is illustrated in the works ascribed to each Per son of the Trinity. Psalm 102:24- 25 attribute creation to the work o f God the Father; Colossians 1: 16 and John 1 :3 ascribe creation to the work o f God the Son, while Genesis 1:2 and Job 26:13 assert creation to be the work o f God the Holy Spirit. A further illustration o f our knowledge of the Trinity is found in the words ascribed to each Person o f the Trinity. Paul mentions, “ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion o f the Holy Spirit be with you all” (II Cor. 13:14). Compare also: Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19 and I Peter 1 :2. We must also be aware o f the NEED FOR THE TRINITY in the eternal plan of God. All Three Persons of the Godhead are in volved in our redemption. God the Father “ hath chosen us in him before the foundation o f the world” (Eph. 1:3-4); God the
that all should come to repent ance.” The Bible also tells us that “ Christ loved me and gave Him self for me” (Gal. 2:20). When Jesus declared that the Father sees even a sparrow when it falls to the ground, we learn that God’s eye is on us who are o f much more value than any bird. Many are the passages that tell us of Christ’s love and concern for children. Nature reveals God’s gracious provision for us as we look at the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers and seas we are reminded not only of His power but also of His tender care and wonderful love for us. Many boys and girls learn of God’s love and care through their earthly parents. “ Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him” (Psa. 103:13 ) ; “As one whom his moth er comforteth, so will I comfort you” (Isa. 66:13). Let us rest assured o f God’s love, “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 6:8). Rev. Vance H. Webster, D.D., LL.D. has been pastor of the First Baptist Church, Eugene, Oregon, since 19Ul. Always a great believ er in the Sunday school and VBS, Dr. Webster has led his church in the establishment o f eight chapels. His Sunday school averages over 1000 . “THE TRINITY-
HOW CAN GOD BE THREE AND YET ONLY ONE?”
by Rev Norman R . Linhart A l it t l e b o y was busily en gaged in drawing a picture He informed his mother that he was drawing a picture of
FEBRUARY, 1969
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