Catechism – Week 2 – How do we know what God is like?

How do we know what God is like?

Psalm 97:6 – The heavens proclaim [God’s] righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. (ESV)

What does this verse tell us how we can know about God?
Nature can tell us about who God is. Nature shows us God’s glory.

Hebrews 1:1-3 – Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…[who] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…. (ESV)

Why can we know about God?
Because God has spoken to us. He has chosen to reveal himself to us, which means God wants people to know about him.

What two ways does this passage say God has revealed himself?
God reveals himself through prophets and his Son. When God spoke to the prophets, it was written down for us in the Bible.

How is Jesus (the Son) different from the prophets?
Jesus is the “exact imprint” of God. Jesus reveals God perfectly.
Illustration (optional) – Take some Silly Putty and a newspaper. Press the Silly Putty down on the newspaper and peel it up carefully to reveal how the imprint of the ink is copied exactly onto the putty. Jesus shows us God exactly, like the putty does the newspaper.

Bible Memory Verse:

John 14:8-9 (edited) – Philip said to [Jesus], ‘Lord, show us the Father…’ Jesus said to him, ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.’

How do we know what God is like?
We know what God is like through nature and through the Bible. Most of all we know God through Jesus, who reveals God perfectly.

Adults and older students are encouraged to receive a fuller explanation from Dr. Tim Tennent (President of Asbury Theological Seminary) by clicking this link.