Module 1:2 – From Knowing God to Walking with God
Watch the full episode at:
https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansOfBiblicalTruth
Hey friend…
Have you ever wondered who God really is according to the Bible?
Maybe you’ve heard different opinions…
different traditions…
or different teachers…
and wondered which picture of God is actually true.
If that’s why you clicked this video…
you’re in the right place.
Because today we’re going to open God’s Word and let Him introduce Himself.
And by the end of our time together, you’ll have a clearer, biblical understanding of who God is—and why knowing Him changes everything about your relationship with Him.
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Who Is God According to the Bible? | Doctrine of God
Let’s open our Bibles together.
Today we’re going to answer one important question by walking through five simple steps.
STEP 1 – Who Does God Say He Is?
STEP 2 – Why Does Knowing God’s Character Change Everything?
STEP 3 – What Do God’s Names Reveal About Him?
STEP 4 – How Do God’s Holiness and Love Work Together?
STEP 5 – How Does Knowing God Change My Relationship With Him?
First, we’re going to begin where every relationship should begin…
by letting God introduce Himself.
Then we’ll discover why knowing God’s character…
isn’t just theology…
it’s the foundation of trust,
peace,
and every healthy relationship with Him.
Next…
we’ll explore one of the most beautiful gifts in all of Scripture…
the names God gives Himself…
and what each one reveals
about His heart.
Then we’ll answer a question that confuses many believers…
How can God be perfectly holy…
and perfectly loving…
at the very same time?
We’ll discover that these aren’t competing attributes…
they’re perfectly united in His character.
Finally…
we’ll bring everything together…
and discover why this isn’t simply about learning facts about God…
it’s about actually knowing Him…
walking with Him…
and growing closer to Him every single day.
By the end of today’s journey…
you won’t simply know more about God…
you’ll understand Him more clearly…
trust Him more deeply…
and begin seeing His character…
throughout His Word…
one passage…
one discovery…
and one faithful step at a time.
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Stay with me until the end because today’s Coffee With God Moment isn’t another lesson…
it’s a quiet invitation…
to meet the God we’ve been learning about…
through His Word…
and begin knowing Him personally.
TODAY’S COFFEE WITH GOD MOMENT / Meeting God in His Word
And if YOU’VE never trusted Jesus –
or you’re ready to come home to Him – we’ll pray together before YOU go.
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This is Guardians of Biblical Truth – your pathway to readiness for the return of Christ.
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Can I share something personal?
As I kept studying God’s Word…
the Lord began changing the way I thought about teaching.
I realized that if He entrusted me with something that helped people know Him…
it was never really mine to keep.
So I made a decision.
Whenever God allows me to create something that points people back to His Word…
I’ll give it away freely…
and trust Him with the outcome.
Because I’ve learned this:
my calling isn’t to build a platform.
It’s to remove barriers…
so more people can open their Bibles…
meet God for themselves…
and fall in love with the Author.
I’m Lori Ann Moeszinger, and this is Guardians of Biblical Truth, where we put Scripture first—no fear, no hype—and practical next steps you can live today.
So if you want to know what the Bible really says…
keep watching.
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Real quick…
before we dive into today’s lesson…
let me show you where we are.
This is Module 1 of our RELATIONSHIP journey…
where we’re discovering…
who God is…
according to His own Word.
First…
we asked one important question:
Can you learn theology without seminary?
And we discovered…
that God’s Word…
was never written…
only for scholars…
or professors…
but for every believer…
who wants to know Him.
Today…
we’re asking another foundational question:
Who is God according to the Bible?
Because every healthy relationship with God…
begins…
by knowing…
who He truly is.
Today we’ll discover…
why His character…
changes everything.
Next month…
we’ll ask another life-changing question:
Who is Jesus—really?
Not the Jesus…
culture creates…
or religion imagines…
but the Jesus…
revealed in Scripture.
The One…
fully God…
fully Man…
our Savior…
and our King.
Then we’ll discover…
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Not confusion…
not emotion…
not hype…
but God’s personal presence…
guiding…
transforming…
and empowering His people.
Every episode…
builds on the one before it.
One relationship.
One Bible.
One faithful God.
One step closer…
to knowing Him…
the way He reveals Himself.
Now…
let’s open our Bibles together.
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STEP 1 – Who Does God Say He Is?
Can I ask you something?
When you picture God…
what comes to your mind first?
Maybe it’s something you learned growing up.
Maybe it’s something someone taught you.
Maybe it’s something you experienced…
during one of the hardest seasons of your life.
And honestly…
most of us don’t realize we’re carrying around a picture of God…
that we never stopped to compare with Scripture.
We listen to culture.
We listen to teachers.
We listen to podcasts.
We even listen to our own emotions.
But how often do we simply stop…
open our Bibles…
and let God introduce Himself?
Because that’s where relationship begins.
Not with our opinions.
Not with someone else’s experiences.
But by listening to the One we’re trying to know.
I love that about Scripture.
God doesn’t leave us guessing about who He is.
He tells us.
One of my favorite moments is when Moses asks to know God more deeply.
And God responds…
not by giving Moses a theology textbook…
but by revealing His own heart.
Exodus 34:5–7 – “And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…”
Did you notice what God said first?
He didn’t begin with His power.
He didn’t begin with His authority.
He began with His character.
Merciful.
Gracious.
Patient.
Faithful.
True.
I think that’s beautiful.
Because before God tells us what He can do…
He tells us who He is.
And honestly…
that’s how every healthy relationship begins.
You don’t build trust by memorizing facts about someone.
You build trust…
by getting to know their heart.
Jesus said the very same thing.
John 17:3 – “And this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you had sent.”
I don’t know about you…
but that verse has always slowed me down.
Jesus didn’t define eternal life as simply knowing more information.
He said eternal life is knowing God.
Not just knowing about Him.
Knowing Him.
There’s a difference.
Paul prayed the same way.
Ephesians 1:17–18 – “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened…”
I love Paul’s prayer.
He isn’t asking God to make believers impressive.
He’s asking God to help them know Him.
Friend…
that’s my prayer for us too.
Not that we become people who can win Bible trivia.
But that we become people who recognize the voice of our Father.
Can I encourage you with something practical?
Tomorrow morning…
when you pour your coffee…
and open your Bible…
before you ask,
“What should I do today?”
try asking a different question.
“Father…
what are You showing me about Yourself today?”
Then read slowly.
Look for His character.
His patience.
His holiness.
His mercy.
His faithfulness.
His love.
Don’t rush past Him…
looking for a checklist.
Sit with Him.
Listen to Him.
Because every page of Scripture…
is another opportunity…
to know the Author a little better.
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Can I tell you something I’ve noticed?
Most people don’t struggle because God has hidden Himself.
They struggle because they’ve heard so many different voices…
they’re no longer sure which one sounds like Him.
Maybe that’s you.
If you’re THE QUESTIONER…
I want you to know…
your questions don’t scare God.
In fact, many of the greatest men and women in Scripture asked honest questions.
The goal isn’t to stop asking.
It’s to let Scripture become the place where your questions find their answers.
Not opinion.
Not personality.
His Word.
THE EXHAUSTED BELIEVER
Maybe you’ve followed Jesus for years…
but somewhere along the way…
your relationship became another responsibility.
Another checklist.
Another thing to finish before work.
Friend…
God isn’t inviting you into another assignment.
He’s inviting you back into His presence.
Before He asks anything from you…
He wants you to know who He is.
Merciful.
Gracious.
Patient.
Faithful.
Sometimes the greatest spiritual rest comes from remembering…
who God has always been.
THE SILENT WATCHER
And maybe you’re the Silent Watcher.
You’ve been here for a while.
You listen.
You learn.
But you’ve never commented.
Never introduced yourself.
Maybe you’re still deciding whether you can trust this journey.
That’s okay.
Take your time.
Open your Bible beside mine.
Don’t believe something because I said it.
Believe it because you see it in God’s Word for yourself.
That’s exactly why this RELATIONSHIP lane exists.
Do you see what all three of those people have in common?
One has questions.
One is tired.
One is quietly watching.
Different stories…
same invitation.
Let God introduce Himself.
Because when God becomes the loudest voice in your life…
everything else begins to find its proper place.
And honestly…
that’s where every healthy relationship with Him begins.
Imagine meeting someone for the very first time.
Before anyone else tells you what they’re like…
you sit down with them over a cup of coffee.
You listen.
You ask questions.
You let them speak for themselves.
That’s how trust grows.
Yet many Christians unintentionally do the opposite with God.
They spend years hearing what everyone else says about Him…
without regularly opening His Word to hear His own voice.
That’s why this first step matters so much.
Every time you open Scripture, you’re not simply gathering information.
You’re sitting with the Author.
One conversation at a time.
One chapter at a time.
One glimpse of His character at a time.
Over weeks…
then months…
then years…
those glimpses become confidence.
Not confidence in yourself.
Confidence in the God who has faithfully revealed Himself all along.
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Now that we’ve begun letting God describe Himself…
another question naturally follows.
Why does this matter?
Does knowing God’s character really change everyday life…
or is theology simply information?
Let’s discover why what you believe about God changes everything about your relationship with Him.
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STEP 2 – Why Does Knowing God’s Character Change Everything?
Can I ask you something?
Have you ever noticed…
that two people can read the very same Bible…
and walk away with two completely different pictures of God?
One person sees a God who is harsh.
Another sees a God who is loving.
One believes God is distant.
Another believes He’s near.
One lives in fear.
Another walks in peace.
And honestly…
that tells me something important.
The greatest difference isn’t always what we’re reading.
Sometimes it’s the picture of God we’re bringing with us when we open the Bible.
That’s why God’s character changes everything.
Because what you believe about God…
will shape how you relate to Him.
If I believe God is impatient…
I’ll hide when I fail.
If I believe He’s unreliable…
I’ll struggle to trust His promises.
If I believe He’s indifferent…
I’ll stop bringing Him my prayers.
But if I know Him the way He reveals Himself…
everything begins to change.
Listen to what David says.
Psalm 103:8–13 – “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities His children, so the Lord pities them that fear Him.”
I love that passage.
David doesn’t begin by describing what God does.
He begins by describing who God is.
Merciful.
Gracious.
Patient.
Compassionate.
Those aren’t just beautiful words.
They’re an invitation to trust Him.
Then listen to the writer of Hebrews.
Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
Can we just sit with that for a moment?
Our world changes constantly.
People change.
Circumstances change.
Feelings change.
But God’s character never does.
And honestly…
I think that’s one of the most comforting truths in all of Scripture.
You never have to wonder who God will be tomorrow.
The God who was faithful yesterday…
will be faithful today.
And He’ll be faithful tomorrow.
James reminds us of the same truth.
James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
There it is again.
No variableness.
No shadow of turning.
God isn’t unpredictable.
He doesn’t wake up in a different mood.
His character is perfectly consistent.
Friend…
that’s why doctrine matters.
Because doctrine protects us from creating a god in our own image.
Instead…
it teaches us to worship the God who has revealed Himself in His Word.
Can I encourage you with something practical?
The next time you read your Bible…
keep a journal nearby.
Not to write down everything you learn.
Just one thing.
Write one sentence that begins with these words:
“Today I learned that God is…”
Maybe…
“God is patient.”
“God is faithful.”
“God is holy.”
“God is compassionate.”
Over time…
those simple sentences become something beautiful.
They become a growing testimony…
of the God you’re getting to know.
And honestly…
I think that’s one of the sweetest parts of walking with Him.
Little by little…
chapter by chapter…
He replaces our assumptions…
with His truth.
Our fear…
with His faithfulness.
Our uncertainty…
with confidence.
Because the better we know God’s character…
the more naturally we’ll trust His heart.
And that’s when theology stops feeling like information…
and starts becoming the foundation…
for a lifelong relationship with the God who never changes.
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Can I share something I’ve noticed?
Most of us don’t wake up in the morning thinking,
“I wonder what my theology is today?”
But we live it every single day.
The way we respond to fear…
to disappointment…
to unanswered prayers…
to uncertainty…
all reveals what we believe about God’s character.
And honestly…
that’s why this matters so much.
Because our picture of God quietly shapes every part of our relationship with Him.
Maybe you’re THE ANXIOUS WATCHER.
Every headline feels heavier than the last.
Sometimes you wonder…
“Is God still in control?”
Friend…
that isn’t just a question about the news.
It’s a question about God’s character.
If He is faithful…
if He is sovereign…
if He never changes…
then today’s uncertainty has not changed who sits on the throne.
When you know God’s character…
peace begins replacing panic.
Not because life becomes easier…
but because your confidence is resting in Someone who never changes.
Or maybe you’re THE RETURNING BELIEVER.
You’ve wondered whether God is disappointed in you.
Whether you’ve wandered too far.
Whether He’s still willing to receive you.
Can I gently remind you what we just read?
The Lord is merciful.
Gracious.
Slow to anger.
Plenteous in mercy.
When you begin believing what God says about His own heart…
coming home doesn’t feel impossible anymore.
It feels like coming back to your Father.
Or maybe you’re THE ENCOURAGER.
People often come to you when life falls apart.
You want to give them hope.
And honestly…
the greatest encouragement you can offer isn’t simply positive words.
It’s helping people see God’s character.
Because when someone discovers that God is faithful…
merciful…
and trustworthy…
hope begins growing again.
Not because circumstances have changed…
but because their view of God has.
Do you see what connects all three of these people?
One needed peace.
One needed mercy.
One wanted to give hope.
And every answer began in the very same place.
Not with better circumstances.
Not with stronger emotions.
But with a clearer understanding of who God really is.
Because God’s character doesn’t simply answer theological questions.
It steadies anxious hearts.
Welcomes weary believers home.
And gives hope to people who desperately need it.
And honestly…
that’s why knowing God changes everything.
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Now that we’ve discovered why God’s character changes everything…
let’s look even deeper.
Throughout Scripture…
God reveals Himself by many different names.
And each one opens another window…
into the heart of the God who wants to be known.
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STEP 3 – What Do God’s Names Reveal About Him?
Can I ask you something?
Have you ever noticed…
that the people who know you best…
don’t just know your name?
They know your heart.
They know what makes you smile.
They know what you’ve been faithful through.
They know your character.
And honestly…
I think that’s one of the reasons I love studying the names of God.
They’re not simply titles.
They’re invitations.
Every name tells us something about the God who is introducing Himself to us.
Not because He has to…
but because He wants to be known.
One of my favorite moments happens when God speaks to Moses from the burning bush.
Moses asks a simple question.
“Who shall I say sent me?”
Listen to God’s answer.
Exodus 3:13–14 – “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers has sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you.”
I love that.
“I AM.”
Not…
“I was.”
Not…
“I hope to be.”
Simply…
“I AM.”
The God who has always been.
The God who always will be.
The God who is completely sufficient in Himself.
And honestly…
that’s a wonderful place to begin.
Then, as you keep reading through Scripture, you discover that God reveals more of His heart through other names.
When Abraham needed a provider…
God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh—”The Lord will provide.”
When Gideon longed for peace in a fearful world…
God revealed Himself as Jehovah-shalom—”The Lord is peace.”
David, who spent years tending sheep, discovered something deeply personal.
Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”
I think that’s beautiful.
David could have described God as King.
Judge.
Creator.
And all of those would have been true.
But instead…
he said,
“The Lord is my Shepherd.”
That’s relationship.
A shepherd knows his sheep.
He leads them.
Protects them.
Feeds them.
Searches for them when they wander.
Suddenly…
God isn’t distant anymore.
He’s personal.
Jesus carried that same picture into the New Testament.
John 10:11 – “I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
Did you notice what Jesus was doing?
He wasn’t introducing a different God.
He was revealing the very same God…
now standing before His people.
The Shepherd…
had come.
Friend…
I think that’s one of the greatest joys of reading the whole Bible.
The names of God aren’t random.
They’re revealed at exactly the moment His people need them.
Provider…
when they’re afraid of tomorrow.
Peace…
when they’re surrounded by fear.
Shepherd…
when they need guidance.
Father…
when they need to know they belong.
Can I encourage you with something practical?
The next time you read your Bible…
pay attention to the way God reveals Himself.
Ask questions like…
“What does this name tell me about His heart?”
“What need was God meeting here?”
“What does this teach me about His character?”
Because every name…
is another invitation…
to know Him more deeply.
And honestly…
after a while…
you stop collecting names.
You start recognizing the Person behind them.
That’s when Bible reading becomes wonderfully personal.
Not because you’ve memorized another list…
but because you’re beginning to recognize…
the faithful voice…
of the God…
who has been revealing Himself…
from Genesis…
all the way to Revelation.
And friend…
I think that’s one of the sweetest journeys…
a believer can ever take.
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Can I share something that changed the way I read my Bible?
For years…
I thought God’s names were simply things to memorize.
Interesting.
Important.
But honestly…
a little intimidating.
Then one day I realized something.
God didn’t reveal His names to impress His people.
He revealed them to comfort them.
Every name appeared in the middle of a real story.
A real need.
A real struggle.
A real relationship.
And suddenly…
those names became wonderfully personal.
Maybe you’re THE SEEKER.
You’re still discovering who God is.
Sometimes it feels like everyone else already knows Him…
while you’re just beginning.
Can I encourage you?
God has never expected you to know everything on day one.
He introduces Himself…
one step…
one page…
one encounter at a time.
Just keep walking toward Him.
He delights in being found by those who sincerely seek Him.
Maybe you’re THE ISOLATED REMNANT BELIEVER.
Sometimes your walk with God feels lonely.
Few people around you seem hungry for Scripture.
But every morning…
when you open your Bible…
you’re not alone.
You’re meeting the same faithful God…
who walked with Abraham…
Moses…
David…
and the early Church.
His names remind you…
that the God who was faithful to them…
is still faithful today.
Or maybe you’re THE PROPHECY BURNOUT VIEWER.
You’ve spent years studying events…
timelines…
and signs.
Those things matter.
But perhaps today…
God is gently inviting you…
to spend as much time learning who He is…
as you spend learning what He will do.
Because prophecy points us toward the King…
but His names help us know His heart.
Do you see what connects these three stories?
One person is searching.
One feels alone.
One is looking toward the future.
And every one of them is being invited…
to know the same faithful God.
Not simply by learning another name…
but by meeting the Person behind the name.
And honestly…
that’s when Bible reading becomes something much deeper than information.
It becomes relationship.
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We’ve discovered that God’s names reveal His heart.
But one important question still remains.
How can God be perfectly holy… and perfectly loving… at the same time?
Let’s discover why those two truths aren’t in conflict—they’re beautifully united in the character of God.
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STORY OF AWAKENING
Can I tell YOU about someone?
Embarking on a journey through the vibrant tapestry of Scripture, we must become students of context and cultivators of understanding. It’s like stepping into a grand library filled with ancient manuscripts, each one rich with history and alive with meaning. Here we meet Carson, a modern-day disciple with a passion for unlocking the treasures within the Bible’s pages.
Carson approaches Scripture with reverence and an inquisitive heart, knowing that to digest the Word fully, one must first understand its ingredients—the culture, the language, the people, and the spirit of the times. He delves into hermeneutics, the art of interpreting biblical texts, with the eagerness of a scholar and the humility of a seeker. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
He begins by examining the historical context, placing himself in the dusty sandals of those who walked the earth during biblical times. Carson understands that the events, customs, and social dynamics of the ancient world shed light on the depth of Scripture’s meaning. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
Guided by hermeneutical principles, Carson discerns literal meanings from metaphors and parables, and he weighs the different genres of Scripture—from poetry to prophecy, from narrative to law. Each genre requires a unique approach, much like the varied cooking methods needed to bring out the distinct flavors in a gourmet meal. “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies” (Psalm 119:98).
Understanding is not just for the mind; it’s for life application. Carson seeks to translate the ancient wisdom into contemporary living, finding ways to apply the eternal truths to his daily walk. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
The Bible becomes for Carson a living conversation across millennia, a dialogue that informs his values, decisions, and perspectives. Through careful interpretation, he uncovers principles that transcend time, cultures that reveal humanity’s collective story, and divine wisdom that guides his path.
Now, consider yourself invited to this feast of understanding. May you, like Carson, be equipped with the tools of hermeneutics to unearth the rich layers of biblical text. May historical context illuminate your reading, and may the principles of interpretation be the compass by which you navigate the living Word. For in the thoughtful digestion of Scripture lies the nourishment of the soul, the transformation of the mind, and the shaping of a life that reflects the wisdom of the ages.
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Maybe today’s Story of Awakening…
wasn’t only for you.
Maybe…
God quietly brought someone to your mind.
The friend…
who sincerely loves Jesus…
but secretly pictures God…
as disappointed…
distant…
or impossible to please.
Or maybe…
it’s the believer…
who’s trying harder every day…
because they believe…
God’s love has to be earned…
instead of received.
Or maybe…
it’s someone…
who wants a relationship with God…
but has never discovered…
that knowing His true character…
changes everything.
Can I tell you something?
Sometimes…
God awakens a heart…
not by giving us…
more information…
but by replacing…
one false picture…
with the beautiful truth…
of who He really is.
And that’s what today’s journey has been about.
Not simply learning…
more facts about God…
but meeting…
the Father…
who has been revealing Himself…
through His Word…
all along.
Did someone come to mind?
If they did…
would you consider sharing today’s video with them?
Because you never know…
how God might use…
one conversation…
one invitation…
or one shared video…
to replace fear…
with trust…
confusion…
with confidence…
and distance…
with relationship.
And perhaps…
your decision to share today…
becomes part of someone else’s…
Story of Awakening.
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STEP 4 – How Do God’s Holiness and Love Work Together?
Can I ask you something?
Have you ever heard someone say…
“The God of the Old Testament seems angry…
but the God of the New Testament is loving.”
And honestly…
I’ve heard that more times than I can count.
Maybe you’ve wondered the same thing.
How can God be perfectly holy…
and perfectly loving…
at the very same time?
The beautiful answer is…
He doesn’t become one or the other depending on the moment.
He has always been both.
Perfectly.
Completely.
Without contradiction.
Sometimes we think of holiness and love as opposites.
Almost like God has to choose between justice…
or mercy.
Truth…
or grace.
But Scripture paints a much more beautiful picture.
God’s holiness is what makes His love so pure.
And God’s love is what moved Him to make a way for sinners to come into His holy presence.
Listen to what Isaiah saw.
Isaiah 6:1–3 – “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims… and one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
I love that scene.
The angels aren’t singing…
“Powerful, powerful, powerful.”
Or…
“Wise, wise, wise.”
They proclaim…
“Holy, holy, holy.”
God is completely set apart.
Perfectly pure.
Completely without sin.
And honestly…
that’s good news.
Because if God weren’t perfectly holy…
how could we trust Him completely?
Then John reminds us of another beautiful truth.
1 John 4:8–10 – “He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Did you notice?
John doesn’t simply say God has love.
He says,
“God is love.”
Love isn’t merely something God does.
It’s part of His very nature.
So now we have two wonderful truths.
God is holy.
God is love.
The question becomes…
How do those truths meet?
The answer is…
the cross.
Listen to Paul.
Romans 5:8…
Romans 5:8 – “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
I think the cross is where we see God’s character most clearly.
His holiness did not ignore sin.
His justice was not compromised.
Sin had to be judged.
But His love refused to leave us without hope.
So God Himself provided the sacrifice we could never provide.
At the cross…
holiness and love didn’t compete.
They met perfectly.
Justice was satisfied.
Mercy was extended.
Love triumphed…
without holiness being diminished.
Friend…
I think that’s one of the most beautiful truths in all of Scripture.
The God who is too holy to ignore sin…
is also the God who loves you enough…
to provide a Savior.
Can I encourage you with something practical?
The next time you see the cross…
whether it’s around someone’s neck…
hanging in a church…
or pictured in your Bible…
don’t see it as only the place where Jesus died.
See it as the place where God’s character was fully revealed.
His holiness.
His justice.
His mercy.
His grace.
His love.
All perfectly united.
And honestly…
when you begin seeing God that way…
you stop wondering which side of God you’ll meet.
You begin trusting the God who has always been perfectly holy…
perfectly loving…
and perfectly faithful.
Because that’s who He has always been.
And that’s who He will always be.
____________
Can I share something I’ve noticed?
Most people don’t reject God…
they reject a picture of God that was never completely biblical.
Some have only been shown His holiness.
Others have only been shown His love.
And honestly…
both pictures are incomplete.
Because the God of Scripture is perfectly holy…
and perfectly loving…
at the very same time.
Maybe you’re THE SKEPTICAL OBSERVER.
You’ve heard people say,
“If God is loving, why does He judge?”
Or…
“If God is holy, how could He ever love someone like me?”
Those are honest questions.
But the cross answers both.
God didn’t ignore sin because He is holy.
And He didn’t abandon sinners because He is love.
Instead…
He came Himself.
When you begin looking at God through the cross…
the pieces begin fitting together.
Or maybe you’re THE LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN WAKING UP.
Somewhere along the way…
God became familiar.
Almost ordinary.
And honestly…
that happens to all of us sometimes.
But then you read passages like Isaiah 6…
or stand quietly at the foot of the cross…
and suddenly you’re reminded.
This is the holy God…
who still calls you His child.
Reverence returns.
Gratitude returns.
Love grows deeper.
Or maybe you’re THE ENCOURAGER.
You want to help people who are hurting.
The greatest gift you can offer…
isn’t choosing between truth and compassion.
It’s showing both.
Because that’s exactly what God has done for us.
He never sacrificed truth…
to demonstrate love.
And He never withheld love…
while upholding truth.
When people see both together…
they begin seeing God more clearly.
Do you notice what connects all three of these stories?
Each person needed a clearer picture of God’s heart.
Not a softer God.
Not a harsher God.
The true God.
The One revealed in Scripture.
Perfectly holy.
Perfectly loving.
Perfectly trustworthy.
And honestly…
when we stop forcing God into categories He never gave Himself…
our relationship with Him becomes steadier.
We no longer fear that He’s changing from one day to the next.
We begin resting in the confidence…
that the God who loved us enough to send His Son…
is the very same holy God…
who is worthy of our worship…
our obedience…
and our complete trust.
____________
We’ve seen that God’s holiness and His love are perfectly united.
Now let’s make this personal.
How does knowing the true character of God transform the way we pray, worship, trust, and walk with Him every single day?
Let’s bring everything together in our final step.
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STEP 5 – How Does Knowing God Change My Relationship With Him?
Can I ask you one final question?
What if the greatest goal of theology…
was never simply knowing more?
What if it has always been…
knowing God?
And honestly…
I think that’s where so many of us get stuck.
We spend years trying to learn more about Him…
without realizing…
He’s inviting us into something much deeper.
Relationship.
Think about your closest friendships.
You didn’t build them in one conversation.
You learned to trust each other over time.
One conversation.
One shared experience.
One faithful day after another.
I think that’s exactly how our relationship with God grows.
The more we discover who He is…
the more naturally we begin to trust Him.
Listen to what Jeremiah wrote.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 – “Thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”
I love those verses.
God doesn’t say…
“Boast about how much you know.”
He says…
If you’re going to glory in anything…
glory in this:
That you know Me.
That’s beautiful.
Knowing God has always been His desire.
Then listen to Jesus.
John 15:4–5 – “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the Vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.”
Did you notice the word Jesus repeats?
Abide.
Not perform.
Not impress.
Not strive.
Abide.
Stay close.
Remain.
Live in relationship with Me.
And honestly…
I think we make the Christian life much harder than Jesus ever intended.
We think spiritual growth begins by trying harder.
Jesus says it begins…
by staying closer.
The closer we walk with Him…
the more His character shapes ours.
Paul describes that transformation so beautifully.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Don’t miss that.
We’re changed…
by beholding Him.
The more clearly we see Him…
the more we become like Him.
That’s why knowing God changes everything.
It changes the way we pray.
Because we’re talking with our Father.
It changes the way we worship.
Because we’re responding to His worth.
It changes the way we trust.
Because we’ve seen His faithfulness.
It changes the way we obey.
Because love always desires to please the One who is loved.
Can I encourage you with one simple practice?
Tomorrow morning…
before you ask God for anything…
spend a few moments simply thanking Him for who He is.
Not first for what He’s done.
But for who He is.
“Father…
thank You that You are faithful.
Thank You that You are holy.
Thank You that You are patient.
Thank You that You are loving.
Thank You that You never change.”
You’ll discover something wonderful.
The more your prayers begin with God’s character…
the more your heart begins resting in His presence.
Friend…
that’s what this entire episode has been pointing toward.
Not simply answering the question…
“Who is God according to the Bible?”
But helping you discover…
that the God revealed in Scripture…
is inviting you…
to know Him personally.
One chapter.
One prayer.
One morning.
One faithful conversation…
at a time.
And honestly…
I can’t think of a better journey…
than spending the rest of our lives…
getting to know the God…
who has loved us from the very beginning.
____________
Can I leave you with one final observation?
I’ve noticed that the believers who seem to walk most closely with God…
aren’t necessarily the people who know the most Bible facts.
They’re the people who keep coming back to Him.
Morning after morning.
Chapter after chapter.
Prayer after prayer.
And honestly…
that’s encouraging.
Because it means a growing relationship with God isn’t reserved for experts.
It’s available to anyone willing to spend time with Him.
Maybe you’re THE HUNGRY DISCIPLE.
You love God’s Word.
Every answer leads to another question.
Every discovery makes you want to keep learning.
Can I encourage you with something?
Never let your desire to know more about God replace your desire to know God Himself.
The greatest theologians have always been worshipers first.
Keep your heart as hungry as your mind.
Or maybe you’re THE DEBATE WATCHER.
You’ve watched countless discussions.
You’ve heard every argument.
You’ve seen Christians disagree over almost everything.
And honestly…
those conversations have their place.
But sooner or later…
every believer has to close the laptop…
open the Bible…
and spend time with God personally.
Relationship grows in His presence…
not merely in winning arguments.
And maybe you’re THE SEEKER.
You’re still discovering who Jesus is.
You’re still asking questions.
You’re still deciding what you believe.
I want you to know something.
God isn’t asking you to understand everything today.
He’s inviting you to take one faithful step.
Open His Word.
Read.
Listen.
Ask honest questions.
He has never been afraid of sincere seekers.
Do you notice what connects these three people?
One wants to grow.
One wants clarity.
One wants truth.
And every one of them finds the same invitation.
Come closer.
Because the goal has never been simply learning more information.
The goal has always been knowing the God who first made Himself known.
And honestly…
that’s the invitation waiting for every one of us.
Not once.
But every single day.
____________
Before we go…
I’d love to leave you with something even more important than another lesson.
Let’s spend a few quiet moments together in Today’s Coffee With God Moment—taking everything we’ve learned today and simply meeting the God who has been introducing Himself to us through His Word.
____________
TODAY’S COFFEE WITH GOD MOMENT – Meeting God in His Word
Before we finish today…
let’s slow down together.
No more teaching.
No more notes.
Just you…
your Bible…
and the God who has been introducing Himself to us throughout today’s journey.
If your Bible is nearby…
would you open it with me?
Now, before you begin reading…
simply pause.
Take a slow breath…
and remember whose presence you’re entering.
You’re not opening a textbook.
You’re opening God’s Word.
You’re not preparing for an exam.
You’re preparing to meet your heavenly Father.
Now pray something simple.
“Father…
Thank You for showing me who You are.
Thank You that You are holy…
and loving…
faithful…
and true.
Help me stop building my picture of You from my fears…
my experiences…
or other people’s opinions.
Teach me to know You the way You reveal Yourself in Your Word.
Open my eyes…
soften my heart…
and help me recognize Your voice as I read today.
In Jesus’ name… Amen.”
Now…
read slowly.
As you read…
don’t begin by asking,
“What should I do?”
Instead ask,
“Father… what are You showing me about Yourself?”
Write down one thing you discover about God’s character.
Just one.
Carry that truth with you throughout the day.
Return to it during your prayers.
Thank Him for it again tonight.
Friend…
this is how relationship grows.
Not by rushing through Scripture…
but by meeting the God who lovingly reveals Himself…
one page…
one conversation…
and one faithful morning…
at a time.
Before we move on…
I’d like to leave you with one thought.
Remember this…
The more clearly you see God as He reveals Himself in Scripture, the more deeply you’ll trust Him, worship Him, and walk with Him.
____________
Before we wrap…
If today’s message strengthened YOUR confidence in Christ…
comment “READY.”
I read those comments every week,
and I love seeing believers encourage one another.
And before YOU leave…
tell me one step YOU’RE going to take this week.
Maybe it’s opening your Bible tomorrow morning.
Maybe it’s talking with Jesus for the first time in a long time.
Maybe it’s sharing the Gospel with someone.
Or maybe it’s simply choosing obedience in one area of YOUR life.
Because here at Guardians of Biblical Truth…
we believe Scripture becomes transformation one step at a time.
____________
WRAP UP – From Knowing God to Walking with God
Friend…
if you remember only one thing from today’s journey…
I hope it’s this:
God has never hidden Himself from those who sincerely want to know Him.
From Genesis to Revelation…
He’s been introducing Himself.
Page after page…
story after story…
promise after promise…
He’s revealing His heart.
And honestly…
I think that’s what makes the Bible so beautiful.
It’s more than a collection of teachings.
It’s God’s invitation into relationship.
The more clearly you see who He says He is…
the more naturally you’ll trust Him.
The more you trust Him…
the more confidently you’ll follow Him.
And the more you walk with Him…
the more you’ll discover that He’s exactly who He’s always said He is.
Faithful.
Holy.
Merciful.
Gracious.
Loving.
Unchanging.
Can I encourage you with one simple thought before we move on?
Don’t rush through your Bible looking for information.
Slow down…
and look for the Author.
Because every chapter…
every conversation…
and every promise…
is another opportunity to know Him a little better.
And friend…
I truly believe…
that getting to know God…
is the greatest journey any of us will ever take.
____________
WHERE WE GO NEXT
Now let me show you where we’re headed next.
This wheel is our journey…
through Depth & Doctrine + Coffee With God…
one question at a time…
one discovery at a time…
one deeper relationship with God at a time.
Today…
we completed our second spoke:
Doctrine of Father God.
Together…
we discovered…
that the most important question isn’t…
“Who do people say God is?”
It’s…
“Who does God say He is?”
And honestly…
that changes everything.
Because when we begin…
with God’s own revelation…
instead of human opinion…
our faith finally has…
a solid foundation.
We met…
the God who is…
holy…
faithful…
unchanging…
merciful…
and near.
The God…
who wants to be known.
Not simply studied…
but loved.
Not simply understood…
but trusted.
And friend…
that’s what real doctrine does.
It doesn’t make God feel farther away…
it brings us closer to Him.
Next time…
we take another step together.
We’ll answer another question…
that has shaped Christianity for two thousand years:
“Who Is Jesus According to the Bible?”
Not the Jesus…
culture creates…
or religion imagines…
but the Jesus…
revealed by Scripture.
We’ll discover…
why He is fully God…
fully Man…
our promised Messiah…
our perfect Savior…
and our coming King.
Little by little…
this wheel is helping us build…
a biblical foundation.
One question.
One episode.
One month.
One faithful step at a time.
Because this journey…
has never simply been about learning doctrine.
It’s about knowing Christ more deeply…
walking with Him more confidently…
and growing in relationship…
with the Father…
through the Son…
by the Holy Spirit.
One chapter…
one conversation…
one Coffee With God moment…
at a time.
And friend…
we’re just getting started.
____________
FREE WELCOME GUIDE + KINGDOM CHECKLIST
Before YOU go…
If you’ve ever wondered…
“Where do I even start?”
That’s exactly why I created the Welcome Guide + Kingdom Checklist.
It walks YOU through the next steps—one at a time—
using our SCRIPTURE • STORY • STEP method,
so YOU don’t have to figure it out alone.
You’ll find it free in the description and pinned comment.
And every Saturday morning, I’ll send a short email with encouragement and the next step in the journey.
I’d love to walk this road with YOU.
One Scripture.
One Story.
One Step.
At a time.
____________
GUARDIANS OF BIBLICAL TRUTH FORUM
This was a lot to take in…
And honestly…
it’s only the beginning.
Around here, we believe in Hope with Handles—
hope YOU can actually hold onto,
one faithful step at a time.
Because faith isn’t just something we believe…
it’s something we live.
____________
SCRIPTURE · STORY · STEP
That’s why we follow one simple rhythm:
SCRIPTURE • STORY • STEP.
Scripture tells us what God says.
Story helps God’s truth become personal.
Step is where faith becomes the way YOU actually live.
Because every checkpoint moves YOU from awareness to obedience, from belief to readiness, from saying “Amen” to living “Here I am, Lord.”
And that’s the journey we’re taking together.
One Scripture.
One Story.
One Step.
At a time.
____________
THE EIGHT LANES OF BIBLICAL TRUTH
If you’re new here, start with the Eight Pilot Videos playlist on the homepage.
It will walk you through the foundations of everything we study together – one step at a time.
These aren’t random playlists.
They’re part of a larger journey here at
Guardians of Biblical Truth.
Because different seasons of life
create different spiritual questions.
And most believers quietly carry those questions
for years.
This journey is designed to help YOU discern,
heal,
prepare,
and walk faithfully with God –
one step at a time.
____________
READ · PRAY · GATHER · SHARE · MULTIPLY
Thank you for spending this time with me.
I pray this brought you peace, clarity, and a steadier path forward.
READ – YouTube teaching library + Lane content
PRAY – Coffee with God moments
GATHER – Facebook group community, Hope with Handles
SHARE – Viewers sharing videos, posts, and testimonies.
MULTIPLY – Disciples discipling others through teachings, books, resources, and more.
____________
PRAYER OF FAITH
Before we go… if you don’t know Jesus,
or if you’ve drifted far from Him
and you want to come home…
pray this with me.
Put your hands together and repeat after me:
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
If you believe that, He is in your heart right now, and you shall be saved.
And if you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, pray this prayer…
Father, in Jesus’ name,
Thank You for Your Word. Help us not just hear it – but obey it. Forgive us. Cleanse us. We repent, and we turn from sin back to You. Draw us close. Teach us to abide in You, to love You deeply, and to walk with You daily – not just know about You. Heal what’s broken, strengthen what’s weak, and restore our first love. Renew our minds, fill us with Your Spirit, and make us steady – without fear and without compromise. We give You our yes.
Amen.
____________
If YOU just prayed with me…
don’t walk this road alone.
Join the Guardians of Biblical Truth Forum.
It’s a place to gather,
pray,
grow,
and encourage one another.
We’d love to welcome YOU.
____________
THANK YOU
I’m glad YOU’RE here.
This is home.
This is where everything begins.
Let’s reform how we read…
so we can reform how we live.
Because Scripture was never meant to stay on the page.
And I’ll see YOU in the next video.
All glory to God.
God bless.
And remember:
YOU do not have to walk this road alone anymore.
Share for souls.
Because sometimes
one shared message,
one quiet moment of truth,
or one faithful step toward Jesus…
can change the direction of a life forever.
READ · PRAY · GATHER · SHARE · MULTIPLY
See YOU in the next one.
Bye