INTRO

1. In order to glorify God it is important to know more about Him.

Coming to know God after salvation takes time. And it can get a little confusing.

He is One, but He is three.

Where is God? He is everywhere, but He is in Heaven.

TO KNOW GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

2. One of the best ways to know God is to study the names of God. Names were used in the

Old Testament to reflect one’s personality.

3. The word "God" used in Scripture is often descriptive of a part of His personality in the

Hebrew or Greek.

4. Illustrations:

#1. John 17

Read 17:3...................... "they might know thee"

Read 17:6...................... "I have manifested thy name"

Read 17:26.................... "I have declared unto them thy name"

#2. Exodus 3:13,14

Notice that Moses asked God at the burning bush what His name was. He knew that if

the children of Israel were going to listen to him and follow him, he better know the

name of the One who sent him.

#3.The Lord’s Prayer

"hallowed be thy name"

#4. Psalm 66:1,2

"sing forth the honor of His name"

5. Turn to Genesis 1

a) Every time the word "God" is used in Genesis chapter 1 it means "ELOHIM."

b) The principle of first is important here, because it lays a foundation of our understanding.

c) Read verses 1-5.

6. Here is the outline we will follow:

III. THAT ELOHIM MEANS "THE ONE WHO KEEPETH COVENANT"

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I. THE PLURALITY OF THE NAME

A. ELOHIM Is In The Plural (a noun)

1. This means that there is more than one part to God.

2. However, when used of the one true God, ELOHIM is always accompanied by verbs

and adjectives in the singular.

3. Illustration:

a) Genesis 1:1........ "created" is singular

4. This tells us that God is more than one.....TRINITY.

5. Read Genesis 1:26........ "let us"

6. Read Genesis 3:22........ "the man is become as one of us"

7. Read Genesis 11:7........ "go to, let us go down"

8. Read Isaiah 45:5, 22...... Notice:

and there is none else.

PRINCIPLE:

GOD IS SAYING THAT HE IS ONE, BUT THAT HE IS MORE.

9. In the New Testament it is easier for us to understand the plurality of God, because

Jesus repeatedly called God His Father. But in the Old Testament it was harder

for those people to understand the plurality of God.

10. Read Isaiah 6:3........here the seraphims cry "Holy, holy, holy"......

to the trinity.

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II. "ELOHIM" MEANS MIGHTY, OR THE "STRONG ONE"

A. Note:

1. And isn’t God the strong One in Genesis 1?

2. "EL" means mighty or strong.

3. See Deut. 10:17. "ELOHIM" is the word used each time here.

4. All God had to do was SPEAK, and the world came into existence.

a) God is not short on POWER.

b) Read Colossians 1:16,17.

1) Here it says Jesus created all things.

2) Jesus is ELOHIM.......Jesus said if you have seen Him you have seen the

Father.

c) Genesis 1:2 says,

ARE INVOLVED IN THE CREATION.

B. WHY Is It Important For Man To See God As The Strong One?

#1. So that man will be humbled by His power.

a) Man gets proud so quickly.....and then a spaceshuttle blows up. How sad, but

how humbled NASA was.

b) Sometimes God does let things like that happen to keep man in his place.

all our needs.

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III. "ELOHIM" MEANS THE "ONE WHO KEEPETH COVENANT"

A. Note:

1. Some say the origin of ELOHIM is not the word EL, but the word "Alah."

2. "Alah" literally means to declare or to swear. It literally means one who keeps his

contracts or covenants.

3. Read:

*God will do what He says.

4. Examples of Covenants:

a) A Covenant Made With NOAH................ Genesis 6:18.

b) A Covenant Made With ABRAHAM..........Genesis 15:18.

c) A Covenant Made With ISRAEL.............. Exodus 2:24,25.

Points:

1ST: Keeping His covenant is IMPORTANT to God.

2ND: Man is so undeserving, but look at what the Mighty One is doing

here in reaching out to sinful man.

5. My relationship with God is NOT based upon me. My relationship with God is based

upon His covenant (promises) to me. God is powerful enough to keep His

Word about saving me, keeping me, and bringing me into His presence one day.

a) Our fellowship goes up and down.

b) But God’s Word is established and immutable.

c) We are not always so faithful.

d) God is always faithful.

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CONCLUSION:

1. What is God faithful in?

SALVATION

PRAYER

FORGIVENESS

HIS CONSTANT CARE

2. ELOHIM means:

a) the Strong One