Topical Encyclopedia
Nature and Attributes: God is the eternal, self-existent Creator of the universe, who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is holy, just, loving, and merciful. The Bible reveals God as a Trinity, consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In
Deuteronomy 6:4, the Shema declares, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One." This oneness is a complex unity, as seen in the plural form used in
Genesis 1:26, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness."
Revelation: God reveals Himself through creation, Scripture, and ultimately through Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:20 states, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." The Bible is the inspired Word of God, providing a comprehensive revelation of His character and will.
Covenant and Relationship: God establishes covenants with humanity, beginning with Adam and continuing through Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, culminating in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ. These covenants demonstrate God's desire for a relationship with His people. In
Jeremiah 31:33, God promises, "I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people."
Worship and Obedience: God commands worship and obedience from His creation. The first commandment in
Exodus 20:3 states, "You shall have no other gods before Me." Worship is both an act of reverence and a lifestyle of obedience, as seen in
Romans 12:1, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
Salvation and Judgment: God is both Savior and Judge. He offers salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as stated in
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." However, God is also just and will judge the world, as seen in
Revelation 20:12, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened."
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Jesus ChristIdentity and Divinity: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, fully God and fully man.
John 1:1-2 affirms His divinity, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." His incarnation is described in
John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."
Life and Ministry: Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and performed miracles, demonstrating His authority over nature, disease, and death. His teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), reveal the principles of God's kingdom. Jesus declared His mission in
Luke 19:10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
Death and Resurrection: Central to the Christian faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was crucified for the sins of humanity, fulfilling the prophecy of
Isaiah 53:5, "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." His resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian hope, as stated in
1 Corinthians 15:20, "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
Ascension and Intercession: After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for believers.
Hebrews 7:25 states, "Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them."
Return and Reign: Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead and to establish His eternal kingdom.
Revelation 19:11-16 describes His return as a conquering King. Believers anticipate His return with hope, as expressed in
Titus 2:13, "while we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."