Lesson #4—The ‘I AM’ God

Shorter Catechism Q & A # 4

Q. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Memorize Q & A—Exposition

God, as Creator and Redeemer, has within himself all that is needed, not only to create all things out of nothing, but also to providentially care and maintain to his own glory and our good.

God is! There is no other Authority upon which truth can be known, about himself or his creation. Much more joy is felt as we look at a sunrise or the twinkling of the stars when we come to know the Artist. (His glorious Majesty: Ps. 104:1–5)

What does it mean?

1. What does ‘in his being’ mean? (Exodus 3:14).
2. Discuss the meanings of: God is a Spirit, God is Infinite, God is Eternal, and God is Unchangeable.
3. Discuss meanings of “wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, truth,” in light of above terms. Note verses, John 4:24; Job 11:7–9; Psalm 40:2; James 1:17; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 147:5; Rev.4:8; Rev.15:4; Exodus 34:6–7.

What is our practice?

1. How does the knowledge of God affect our daily walk of faith? Does it make any difference what we know about God to effectually worship him?
2. What does James 1:17 teach us about God?

Quotes for thought and discussion:

“Seeing there is a God, let us labour to get an interest in him. ‘This God is our God’ (Ps. 48:14). Since the fall we have lost likeness to God, and communion with God; let us labour to recover this lost interest, and pronounce this Shibboleth, ‘My God’ Ps. 43:5). It is little comfort to know there is a God, unless he be ours. God offers himself to be our God. ‘I will be their God’ (Jer.31:33). And faith catches hold of the offer, it appropriates God, and makes all that is in him over to us to be ours; his wisdom to be ours, to teach us; his holiness ours, to sanctify us; his Spirit ours, to comfort us; his mercy ours to save us. To be able to say, God is mine, is more than to have all mines of gold and silver.” (Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity)

“Hence, God most justly exclaims by the mouth of Isaiah, ‘Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he,’ (Isaiah 43:10) …let us now understand that the only true faith is that which the Spirit of God seals on our hearts. Nay, the modest and teachable reader will find a sufficient reason in the promise contained in Isaiah, that all the children of the renovated Church ‘shall be taught of the Lord,’ (Isaiah 54:13.) This singular privilege God bestows on his elect only, whom he separates from the rest of mankind. For what is the beginning of true doctrine but prompt alacrity to hear the Word of God?” (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion)

View table of contents