Galatians 6:7-8
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting," Galatians 6:7-8. We will take some time to look at some of the personal perfections of God. I do want to clarify that there are no personal imperfections of God. You and I as Christians are to go on to know our God. "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God," Colossians 1:10. Our love for God increases as we go on to know Him. Our knowledge of God increases, our love for Him increases, and our living to please Him increases. We become more aware of sin in our lives. We also become more kingdom minded. We should be increasing in the knowledge of God our whole life. A flourishing marriage is one where the husband and wife are continually learning each other. The couple learns each other, they strive to meet each others needs, their love for each other abounds, and others will see the fruits of this relationship.
Though you and I are always learning each other, our God never learns anything. He is all-knowing. Lord willing, we will look at this perfection of God in a later sermon. A good question to ask here is, how can the finite know the infinite? Let us look how the Westminster Shorter Catechism answers this question through an exposition of the assembly's shorter catechism by John Flavel. Infinite signifies that which hath no bounds or limits, within which it is contained, as all created things are. In how many respects is God infinite? God is infinite or bondless in three respects. First, in respect of the perfections of His Nature; His Wisdom, Power, and Holiness, exceed all measures and limits; "There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God," I Samuel 2:2.
Secondly, in respect of time and place; no time can measure Him, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones," Isaiah 57:15. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" I Kings 8:27. The heaven of heavens contains all created beings; but not the Creator. Thirdly, in respect of His incomprehensibleness, by the understanding of all creatures. "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Job 11:7.
If God be thus infinite, and no understanding can comprehend him, how then is it said in I John 3:2, " We shall see Him as He is?" The meaning is not, that glorified saints shall comprehend God in the understandings; but that they shall have a true apprehensive knowledge of God: and that we shall see Him immediately, and not as we do now through a glass darkly. What is the first lesson to be learned from God's infinity? That therefore men should tremble to sin even in secret. "If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me," Psalm 139:11. What is the second instruction from hence? The second instruction is, that there is an infinite evil in sin, objectively considered, as it is committed against an Infinite God; and therefore it deserves eternal punishment; and no satisfaction can possibly be made for it, but by the blood of Christ. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb slain without blemish and without spot," I Peter 1:18-19.
What is the third instruction from God's infinity? The third instruction is, that those who are reconciled to God in Christ need not fear His ability to perform any mercy for them; for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," Ephesians 3:20. And those that are not reconciled, are in a very miserable condition, having infinite power set on work to punish them. "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power," II Thessalonians 1:9.
What is the fourth instruction from God's infinity? That no place can bar the access of gracious souls to God. They are as near him in a dungeon, as when at liberty; and that He knows their thoughts, when their tongues cannot utter them.
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 8:35-39. What can the finite do to the Infinite? All whom the Lord saves are eternally secure.
There is nothing and no one that compares to the God of the bible. "Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders," Exodus 15:11. Have we ever meditated on the first four words of the bible? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning God." He who is infinite has never needed anything or anyone to make Him any more glorious. Nothing and no one adds to or takes away from who God is. "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God," Psalm 90:2.
The overwhelming desire of the Christian should be to know God as much as possible while on this earth. Someone who does not desire to know God will not be living a life of sanctification. They will be sowing to the flesh, and reaping thereof (Galatians 6:7-8). "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." II Peter 3:18. It is paramount that the Christian continually grows in the Lord. "Something more than a theoretical knowledge of God is needed by us. God is only truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to Him, submit to His authority, and regulate all the details of our lives by His holy precepts and commandments." A.W. Pink.
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God," Colossians 1:10. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
