Learning about God
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Key Verse: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Selected Scripture: |
THE TITLE OF OUR LESSON, “Learning about God,” may at first elicit a question as to how we are to learn about such a one whom we cannot see, for truly Apostle John said, “No man hath seen God at any time. (John 1:18) The Key Verse indicates that God has, throughout the ages, used various instruments to speak to his people and to deliver to them his instructions and commandments. Apostle Paul, speaking here, says that in times past—Old Testament times—God communicated to his people through the prophets, such as Moses, David, Elijah, and many others. It was through the words of these prophets, as they were inspired and guided by God’s Holy Spirit, that the people learned about their Creator, about his character, and about his plan—those limited portions which were due to be understood at that time. The Key Verse continues, however, by pointing out that now a change of dispensation had occurred, and that God now spoke to his people by his Son, Jesus. It was not that the prophets had been wrong in their message. Indeed, they had foretold that Israel’s long-promised Messiah would come in due time. (Dan. 9:24-27) At exactly the foretold time, Jesus came upon the scene and became the one to whom man could now come to and learn about God.
Although the prophets spoke about God, none knew about him on a personal basis; for they, too, had never seen God. Jesus, however, in his prehuman existence as the Logos had been alongside of God for countless millennia as his chief instrument of Creation, as well as his mouthpiece. Now, though, this faithful Son had come to earth as the man Jesus. No one could show man what God was like better than he. Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus showed what the Father was like through his own life. Truly they were alike; one in purpose, doctrine, character, aim, and goal. It was this ‘oneness’ Jesus spoke of when he said, “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30) Because he had come to earth and personally experienced the feeling of man’s infirmities, although perfect himself, Jesus even further added to his qualifications as the primary source of our knowledge about God. He became a “man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isa. 53:3) Jesus understood how God desired that man be recovered from his current condition of sin and death, and so he faithfully laid down his life as man’s Redeemer, thus fulfilling that all-important feature of his Father’s plan. Because of Jesus’ faithfulness, God highly exalted him, far above the angelic position he had prior to coming to earth. Speaking of the exalted Jesus, Paul says that he has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”—Heb. 1:3,4
Not only did Jesus receive a great personal reward for his faithfulness but, more importantly, God promised that eventually he would be given rulership over mankind, and in his coming kingdom provide all people with an opportunity to learn about God. “Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”—Heb. 1:8