THE 7 Great Questions

INTRO: These questions of Life are the GREAT ones of all time and the Answers are the reasons for our very lives.

Right now, mankind thinks their experience and family life and talents and education and combined systems of civilization will get them through. WE do that at times without even knowing it. We are learning HOW to keep GOD and His Plan above even our very life. Humanity is not.

Benefit STATEMENT: You need to know and KNOW you know. You need to know the answer and be able to respond to these.

SPS: Today we see the most important information a human can see, understand and respond to. It is a matter of life and death that we grasp The Seven Great Questions

BODY: In the beginning …Let US Make …in OUR Image …It was GOOD ...But …Yet The Plan…

THE Seven Great Questions:

• Who is God? God is our Creator and our Father. God is our loving Father and Creator.

The Creator tells us in His Word, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand’ ” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

He tells us that He alone not only foretells the future but can bring it to pass. What a powerful testimony to the mighty God of the Bible!

Inspired by God working through His Holy Spirit, the Bible itself gives us the master key to knowing Him: “Scripture speaks of ‘things beyond our seeing, things beyond our hearing, things beyond our imagining, all prepared by God for those who love him’; and these are what God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit explores everything, even the depths of God’s own nature” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, Revised English Bible, emphasis added throughout).

Throughout Scripture we come back to the reality that God has chosen to express His personal nature in terms of a family relationship. Elohim is the Hebrew word for God in every passage of Genesis 1 as well as in more than 2,000 places throughout the Old Testament.

Elohim is a noun that is plural in form but normally singular in usage—that is, paired with singular verbs—when designating the true God. For a comparable modern expression, consider the term United States. This proper noun is plural in form but singular in usage. It is used with singular verbs. For example, Americans say, “The United States is going to take action,” not “The United States are going to take action.” The plural form does signify multiple states—but, taken collectively, they are viewed as one nation.

It is the same with Elohim. The word Eloah, meaning “Mighty One,” is the singular form. Elohim, meaning “Mighty Ones,” is plural. And, indeed, there are two Mighty Ones, the Most High and the Word. But, collectively, as Elohim, the two are seen as one God. Elohim said, “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

We should note that since Elohim is the name of the God family, each family member can be called by this name. (Some Bible writers also use the word elohim as a plural noun with plural usage to describe false gods. So one crucial factor in comprehending the meaning of this Hebrew word is determining what is intended by the context.)

• What is God? God is spirit. John:4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. – those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24 “ God is Spirit ”

I John 4:8 “ God is Love”

Psalms 136:1 / Mt. 19:17 “ God is Good ”

Finally, God is our Father : Mt. 7:8 – 11; Mt. 6:9 “Hallowed is thy Name”

So we see then when describing the What is God from the New Testament that God is Spirit, God is Love, God is Good, and God is our Father.

• What is His purpose? One of the greatest purposes of God is to bring sons and daughters to glory in His kingdom. And the reciprocal of that is,

USA Today published the results of a poll listing significant questions most on people's minds. At the top of the list was "What is the purpose of life?"

That question has intrigued philosophers and theologians for generations. While the answers proposed are as varied as the world’s entire ideological landscape, none is convincing. No one, it seems, has found the answer to life’s biggest question.

Yet the answer has been available for centuries. God’s Word plainly tells us that man’s destiny is to become the children of God, divine members of His immortal spirit family. This truth goes to the very heart of the true gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Notice what God intends to do: “In bringing many sons to glory [‘glory’ means divine radiance, power and perfection as members of God’s family], it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation [Jesus Christ] perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy [Christ] and those who are made holy [human beings in whom God is working] are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:10-11, New International Version).

The unimaginably good news is that every human being will have the opportunity to enter the family of God, receive divine glory and live forever as the same kind of beings the Father and Christ now are. This, too, is part of the staggering reality of Christ’s gospel.

God’s plan includes all who have ever lived

But how will all of humanity—every man, woman, boy and girl who has ever lived—have this incredible and amazing opportunity?

The Scriptures clearly reveal that God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and He has a master plan to give everyone this opportunity. Yet a great many believe that unless one confesses faith in Jesus as personal Savior in this present lifetime he or she will have no further opportunity for salvation.

Truly “God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34, NIV). He has made provision for all people ultimately to have an opportunity to enter a relationship with Him that can lead to glorified, eternal life. This is why Jesus said: “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29, New American Standard Bible).

• Who is man? Man is made in the image of God.

Elohim said, “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).

When Adam and Eve made the momentous decision to disobey their Creator by eating of the fruit God had forbidden them to eat, the divine reaction was, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil” (Genesis 3:22). And God cut them off from the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24).

The Hebrew word here translated “know” often means to learn or become aware of something through one’s personal experience. For Adam and Eve it was not enough to simply accept God’s command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They instead chose to step into God’s place and determine for themselves what was good and what was evil. The psalmist notes that the ungodly question God’s knowledge: “And they say, ‘How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?’” (Psalms 73:11).

(((The phrase “one of Us,” we should note, provides clear evidence that more than one constituted the “Us.” Moreover, to “become like one of Us” was actually our Creator’s original intention for all humanity, but it must be done God’s way and in His own time frame. That way is to submit ourselves to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

Only our Creator has the right and wisdom to determine what is good and evil for us. He knows what’s best for us and never wanted us to learn what is evil through experimentation. He tells us, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalms 19:7-8). He wants us to trust Him and His judgment.

• What is man? Man is made from the dust of the ground, with certain faculties that came from God but not of the same essence.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being [soul, KJV]” (Genesis 2:7).

“Behold all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4; compare Ezekiel 18:20).

“But there is a spirit in man , and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding” (Job 32:8).

Apparently this “spirit in man” adds that essential nonphysical ingredient that gives humans their innate capacity to learn and understand on a level vastly superior to animals. Paul indicates it imparts the ability to know “the things of a man” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

((((I(Is this spirit in man conscious apart from the man’s brain and body?

((((((“For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).

(((“For in death there is no remembrance of You [God]” (Psalms 6:5).

((((((Many verses in the Bible show us that the state of death is compared to human sleep (Daniel 12:2, Luke (((8:52; John 11:11-13; 1 Corinthians 15:19-20).

(((((((The dead, however, will be awakened to consciousness by Jesus Christ at the time of the resurrection (John ((((5:28-29; John 6:39).

• What is man's greatest purpose? The human family was meant as a lesser model or type of this greater spiritual reality, that God is a family.   Scripture makes clear that God actually begets us spiritually in His own image, with the intention that we ultimately become the same kind of beings He and Jesus Christ now are.

Never underestimate the value of your life. You were born to become one of God's divine children. You were born to receive His very nature and character and, eventually, eternal life on His level of existence.

Genesis 1:26 describes man as created in the image of God. This helps us understand what Paul meant when he spoke of us as God’s children. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17, King James Version).

This passage succinctly summarizes the purpose of human life—the ultimate reason for our existence. God is creating a family—His family, in His image and bearing His name, to eventually appear in His glory (see also 1 John 3:2). Every human being will have the opportunity to become a member of that divine, eternal family!

((((Notice what God intends to do: “In bringing many sons to glory [‘glory’ means divine radiance, power and perfection as members of God’s family], it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation [Jesus Christ] perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy [Christ] and those who are made holy [human beings in whom God is working] are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers” (Hebrews 2:10-11, New International Version).)

• How May You Realize Your Destiny?

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

We are traveling a narrow road (Matthew 7:14, NIV). A clear sense of purpose and direction can help us stay the course.

As we respond to God’s calling through repentance and baptism, many blessings and opportunities await us. Our minds will change.

We will grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:1-11). We will learn to think and act as God thinks and acts.

Trials will come and sacrifices will be required (Matthew 10:35-39).

These tests help us build godly character. James, half brother of Jesus Christ, wrote: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4, NIV).

Our job is to keep striving with God’s help and to become mature Christians. Hebrews 5:13-14 tells us: “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (NIV).

Living God’s way must always remain our priority. We must continually “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Keys that can help us remain oriented to God’s way of life include regular prayer and the study of God’s Word. Furthermore, fellowshipping with other believers can be a tremendous encouragement in living our new lives dedicated to God.

In Matthew 7:21 Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” We are given a choice as to what we will do, but Jesus clearly expects that we do our part in remaining faithful to Him. As explained earlier, we must produce fruit in our lives that is pleasing to God.

Today, if we remain faithful to God throughout our lifetime, we will share with Christ the role of kings and priests in His coming Kingdom (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6).

We can look forward to becoming spirit and living forever (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:42-55).

As His resurrected children, we will inherit from God all things—not just the earth but the entire universe and spirit realm (Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:1-7; Hebrews 2:6-8).

God speaks of our salvation as sure—as indeed it is …as long as we don’t come to a point of rejecting Him and His way, whether through persistent neglect or bitterness.

For those willing to commit their lives to Him, God offers this wonderful perspective in Ephesians 1.13-14

Ephesians 1:13-14: “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,…the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

And Philippians 1:6 encourages us with these words: “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

As long as we actively seek God’s will and allow His Holy Spirit to work in our lives, our eventual salvation is guaranteed. Yes, God promises to help us every step of the way, through every turn in the road, if we will repent, have faith in Him for the forgiveness of our sins, be baptized and look to Him and His coming Kingdom.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Paul writes, “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (NIV).

The apostle Peter exhorts all of us: “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11, NIV).

Laid before you, then, is the road to eternal life—the only road. May you follow it, without veering, to the awesome destiny God has planned for you!

Trials in our lives are required for God’s Plan which will include MORE than just us.

We are training to become Spiritually mature for a future reason …as did Christ (Learned obedience by trials).

Our Calling is to work around the destruction sin causes to God’s Creation …just as HE does …right NOW.

Trials are required to give opportunity and training for future temporal, carnal humanity to be converted through us!

The task to learn to work with this world of sinning humanity and not quit or be pulled into it.

• To learn to work with a disordered Universe in the future.
• We will inherit all things and therefore become like Him. He creates and gives life. We will too. What will we DO with that Creation?

Conclusion: To understand and RESPOND to the answers of the Seven Great Questions of Life is THE priority given to humanity in this age and in the eternity to come in God’s Kingdom.

CLOSE: As YOU have been given the answers, it is YOUR responsibility to participate in this MOST significant and overarching set of facts given to YOU as a Gift from our Great Father God for Whom the whole Family in Heaven and earth is named …

Ephesians 3:14-21 (NKJV) 14  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.