What Does the Word Say?

Professor Schaefer talks about the excitement of scientific discovery, the objectivity of science, the misconceptions young people have about Christianity, Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Design, free speech on college campuses, buckyballs and other topics. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/70-prof-henry-sc…nterview-part-ii/

Professor Schaefer speaks about his time growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan; about coming to faith in Jesus Christ when he was a professor at the University of California at Berkeley; about losing a child to SIDS; about quantum Chemistry, and how being a Christian affects his work as a Physical Chemist. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/69-prof-henry-sc…interview-part-i/

It is irrational to believe that absolute truth does not exist. There are many theories of truth, which are mostly combinations or variations of the pragmatic, correspondence and coherence theories. But, in most practical situations, we all know what truth is; it is that which corresponds to reality. Since God is the all-powerful Creator and Governor of this universe, whatever he thinks is true, is true. God is truth. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/68-god-is-truth/

God’s wisdom is displayed in all of creation, but most especially in his redeeming a people to be his holy people and his treasured possession. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/67-gods-wisdom-joy/

God’s omniscience should be frightening to an unbeliever, but should be a comfort to a true Christian. His wisdom guarantees that the purpose he has for creation, which is the manifestation of his own glory, is the best possible purpose. It also guarantees that he uses the best possible means to accomplish that purpose. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/66-god-knows-all…-infinitely-wise/

God’s sovereign control over everything that happens is not incompatible with human free will properly understood. God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. Open theism is unbiblical and illogical. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/podcast/65-gods-sovereig…-human-free-will/

God’s spirit is qualitatively different than ours; his is eternal, omnipresent and so on. Nevertheless, we are made for fellowship with him. Although God has revealed himself to us in many ways, most notably in Jesus Christ, no one has ever seen God. And yet, we are promised a much greater understanding of him in heaven. God is also omniscient, meaning that he knows all things perfectly. He is infinite, which is a very difficult concept because an actual infinity is impossible in this material universe. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/64-we-can-have-f…the-infinite-god/

The spiritual realm is necessary and real. Only spiritual beings are moral. People can be influenced by the Holy Spirit and by demons; we must test the spirits and oppose evil. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/podcast/63-spirits-are-real/

Greek literature prior to the time of the New Testament used the Greek word for spirit for the essence of life and for the invisible life-giving force that has no beginning. So, when Jesus told us that “God is spirit”, the term was understandable to the people. But the New Testament use of the word is still unique. Our spirit is the seat of our personality and decision making and makes us a moral creature. Our spirit can be influenced by other spirits for good or ill and can exist independent of our bodies. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/podcast/62-god-is-spirit…-body-and-spirit/

God’s omnipresence includes his presence to sustain his creation. The closest the Bible ever comes to giving us a definition of God is Jesus’ statement that “God is spirit”, which is speaking about God’s essence. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/61-god-is-spirit…ins-his-creation/

God is a spirit and is present everywhere in the totality of his being. We often have to describe God’s incommunicable attributes negatively because he is unique in his essence. God is present everywhere, but not always to bless. He is present in hell to pour out his wrath on unrepentant sinners. Everyone knows that God exists, but most people suppress that truth. There is no autonomy, we are either obedient to God, or we are obedient to Satan. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/podcast/60-gods-omnipres…o-bless-or-judge/

God’s experience of time is qualitatively different than ours. He knows the future perfectly as well as all possible events. God is present everywhere in his totality, which is called his omnipresence. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/59-gods-eternity-and-omnipresence/ ‎

There is only one way of salvation and it is the same now as it has always been; we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. God does not change. His standard is perfection and his law shows us that we can’t meet that standard, so we should cry out “What must I do to be saved?” The law also restrains evil and shows God’s children how to live lives that please him. God’s eternity is related to his immutability and tells us that God does not experience time as a succession of moments like we do. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/podcast/58-gods-immutabi…and-his-eternity/ ‎

When we say that God is unchangeable, or immutable, we do not mean that he doesn’t change his behavior toward people in response to their actions. Process theology is unbiblical because it is founded on indefensible and unbiblical assumptions. The Old Testament is still relevant to believers today. The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are the same. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/57-god-is-unchangeable/

There is only one God who exists eternally in three persons. This God is unchangeable, which is called his immutability. God’s immutability is a result of his perfection. http://www.whatdoesthewordsay.org/uncategorized/56-there-is-only…-is-unchangeable/ ‎