THE GOD OF CHRISTIANITY

 

          Paul pictured the God of Christianity in these words saying, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3) Jesus taught that, "The Father has life in Himself..." (John 5:26) God is self-existent and He is not dependent on anyone else to sustain Him. In Acts 17:25 we read, "Neither is He worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." Paul preached, "For in Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28) The God of Christianity is the self-existent, eternal God of the universe. He had no beginning. (Isaiah 43:13) God is unchanging and He is perfectly holy. God is love. (1 John 4:8) He desires fellowship with us. He sent His Son to bear our sins on the cross. (Romans 5:8, John 3:16) In Second Corinthians chapter one Paul gave us three beautiful pictures of the God of Christianity.

 

          God is pictured as the Father of our Savior. Paul said, "Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3) Jesus Christ is the only hope of the world. He is our Savior and Redeemer. God said of Jesus, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matthew 17:5) The New Testament tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, is our Redeemer. Those that became Christians in the first century confessed, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37) Many times in the bible we hear Jesus called the Son of God. He is also called the "only begotten" Son of God. (John 1:18) God is the Father of our Redeemer.

 

          God is pictured as the source of mercies. Paul said, "Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3) God is merciful and compassionate to his people. Whether our need is for forgiveness, grace, mercy or strength God is there to meet that need daily. "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him." (Lamentations 3:22-25) When God is in control in our life all is not lost and all is not hopeless. He is the God of mercies. "I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." (Psalm 130:5)

 

          God is pictured as a comforter for His people. Paul said, "Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3) Paul wrote of God, "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:4-5) "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." (Isaiah 40:1) God’s people are subject to trials, temptations and tribulations all along the journey through this world of sin, suffering, and sorrow. God comforts His people in all their troubles. As children of God we have been comforted and we must reach out to others that have need of comfort. Whether in the form of discouragement, perplexity, fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, or resentment, a troubled heart is a constant difficulty and reality of life. Let us be thankful for a God that comforts His people.

 

     If you are not a Christian obey the gospel of Christ now. Hear God's message (Romans 10:17), believe in Christ (John 8:24), repent of sins (Luke 13:3), confess Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized for remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) When you follow these instructions the Lord will save you. As a saved person serve Christ with all of your being. In Christ life can be rich, full and meaningful.

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P. O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA