David Scharf
Imagine you are stepping out onto the streets, and you ask this question to a cross-section of people: “How would you describe God and who he is to you?” What are five things people might say?
I am guessing many of the things listed cannot be describing the same God because some of the items are contradictory.
Who we are before God
You see it time and time again in the Bible. When sinful people come face-to-face with a holy God, there is fear. It is intimidating to be in the presence of greatness.
Here is a crude example.
I like to play golf. When I play golf with my brothers, I feel like a great golfer compared to them. But put me in a foursome with Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, and Matt Kuchar, and suddenly, I realize just how bad at golf I am!
In the same way, when I am around sinful human beings, I can feel like I am a pretty good person. Then put me in front of a holy God, and I realize just how sinful I am!
St. Augustine said, “He who understands the holiness of God despairs in trying to appease him.” Yet many feel they are good enough to “get into heaven.”
Read Exodus 33:20 and Romans 3:23; 6:23.
What misunderstandings do people have who believe that God will accept them because they are good people?
Jesus is the only way
Read Leviticus 16:2.
No one could come into the Most Holy Place—except for the high priest on the Day of Atonement—or he would die. Grab a piece of paper and draw the Holy Place, Most Holy Place, the ark of the covenant, and as many other elements of those spaces that you can. Feel free to search the internet or a study Bible for reference!
Read Hebrews 7:26; 10:11-14; and 1 Peter 3:18.
When Jesus died, “at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51). Explain the significance of what happened on Good Friday based on these readings.
Read Acts 4:12 and John 14:6.
Based on those passages and the rest of this study, respond to those who say the following:
“Christianity is too exclusive. No one can claim to have the truth exclusively.”
“There are many paths into God’s presence.”
Author: David Scharf
Volume 107, Number 02
Issue: February 2020
- Psalm 103: When you count your blessings
- Psalm 91: When God lifts you up on his lap
- Psalm 4: When you draw nearer to the end
- Psalm 42: When you ask, “Where is God when I’m hurting?”
- Psalm 32: When you need forgiveness
- Psalm 130: When rocks fall
- Bible study: Freedom in service
- What does this mean for me? Article 6
- Bible study: Spiritual gifts
- What does this mean for me? Article 5
- What does this mean for me? Article 4
- Bible study: Rejoice in your status!
- Bible study: Baptismal blessings
- What does this mean for me? Article 3
- What does this mean for me? Article 2
- Bible study: Gifts of tongues and miraculous healing
- What does this mean for me? Article 1
- Bible study: Jesus is everyone’s Savior
- Bible study: Love one another
- Bible study: Above all things!
- Bible study: The comfort of God’s providence
- The book of James: Waiting for Christ’s return
- Bible study: Precious grace
- The book of James: Active in using prayer
- Bible study: Rewards of grace
- The book of James: Active in showing love
- The book of James: Correctly evaluating riches
- Bible study: What’s going to happen on the Last Day?
- The book of James: Avoiding loveless judging
- Bible study: Interpretation practice
- The book of James: Taming the tongue
- Bible study: The Bible’s attributes
- Bible study: The importance of the family altar
- Bible study: God’s attitude is grace
- Bible study: The Bible’s account of Easter morning
- Bible study: Different types of sin
- Bible study: God’s inspiration
- Bible study: Giving God glory
- Bible study: Judge for yourself
- The book of James: Using the Word of Truth
- Bible study: The need for the Bible and worship
- Bible study: Citizens of two kingdoms
- The book of James: Active in good works
- The book of James: When battling temptation
- Bible study: God cares
- Bible study: God made the world
- The book of James: When facing trials
- Bible study: A loving God saved people from hell
- The book of James: A blueprint for living out our life of faith
- A Bible story just for me: Guilt
- Bible study: God provides victory over death!
- A Bible story just for me: Anxiety
- Bible study: God forgives and refuses to remember our sins
- A Bible story just for me: Grief
- Bible study: God helps those who cannot help themselves
- A Bible story just for me: Depression
- Bible study: God has not grown soft on sin
- Bible study: Only one path leads to God’s presence
- A Bible story just for me: Trauma
- A Bible story just for me
- Bible study: God wants me in heaven
- Bible study: The incarnation of our Lord