In affirming that we believe in “God, the Father, Almighty” we establish Him as the author and definer of everything. To affirm this is to believe that truth is not subjective, but objective. Whatever God says is what is. We believe that God reveals His truth through two means: His Creation and His Word. Theologians refer to this as General (Creation) and Special (His Word) Revelation. If God is the creator, then we engage His revelation to know Him and His world according to His truth. This is the basis of what we understand to be reality.

Passages: Genesis 1, Romans 1:18-32 & 3:4

Resources:

Video 1: The Bible Project: God

Questions for Video 1:

1. How does God’s “transcendence” change the way we view reality?
2. How does the belief in God effect our personal perceptions of truth?
   • Objective vs. Subjective
   • Relational to God

Video 2: The Gospel Coalition: NCC Q1 (Tim Keller)

Questions for Video 2:

1. How does seeing our identity as not our own but belonging to God shape the way we pursue truth?
2. It can seem like this emphasis on surrendering our right to define right, wrong, meaning and value could lead to mindless or thoughtless Christianity. How should Christians think and study?

Video 3: The Gospel Coalition: NCC Q2 (D. A. Carson)

Questions for Video 3:

1. How does finding our value, meaning and ethics in who God is compare to how non-Christians determine value, meaning or ethics?

Final Discussion:

Look up the following passages where God describes Himself. What do these descriptions tell us about how we should think about reality and life?

Passages: Exodus 34:6-7, Isaiah 43:10-13, Job 40:1-8