3159 21st Street N.
St. Petersburg, FL
33713
Elder Steve Shelton
(727) 822-1918

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. Tonight I want to bring a lesson on the subject of Bible Study.
   2. As one comes to the word of God to study, one must "begin with the premise that God is, that He can be known, and that He has something to say." ' (John MacArthur, Unleashing God's Word In our Life, Nelson Press, Page 1)
       
2. THE PREMISE – "God Is"
   1. Moses in the first verse of the Bible declares God's existence. "In the beginning"
      1. Moses does not try to explain the existence of God.
      2. Moses does not tell us of the beginning of God.
      3. Moses tells us of the beginning of God's creative work in bringing into existence the universe, the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the animals and man.
      4. Moses tells us "In the beginning God. . . . ", God was in the beginning.
   2. The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
      1. Creation tells of a Divine Creator and Designer of the Universe and the world in which we live.
      2. Creation declares the glory of God.
         1. Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
         2. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
   3. God has declared His existence down through the ages.
      1. Francis Schaeffer wrote: "He is there, and He is not silent."
      2. We sing the song "This Is My Father's World"
          
3. GOD CAN BE KNOWN
   1. The God of the Bible is not just a mere force or power.
   2. The Bible declares God to be personal.
      1. He calls Himself "I" , and address those whom He speaks to as "you".
         1. Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
      2. God is three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but one God.
         1. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
         2. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
            1. Note the "us"
      3. In creation all three members of the Godhead were involved.
         1. Psalms 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
         2. John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
         3. Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
      4. God spoke to Adam, Abraham, Moses, to all the prophets, and now through His Son.
         1. Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 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; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
   3. God's Attributes tell us about him.
      1. He is Holy, Just, Longsuffering, Loving, Forgiving, Powerful, Omniscient, only to name a few of His attributes.
          
4. GOD HAS GIVEN A MESSAGE TO US
   1. The message has come to us through His servants, the prophets, and through His Son.
      1. Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 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; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
   2. The book we call the Bible has the message in it.
   3. It is a message of hope, love, and of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus Christ.
       
5. CONCLUSION
   1. When we get a letter from a loved one whom we have not seen in a great while, we read it over and over.