B.R.I.D.E. Bible Study: Discovering God the Eternal Father

Welcome to our B.R.I.D.E. Bible study! It is a joy to explore the wonders of our Heavenly Father together.

The most amazing fact about God the Father is that He is not a distant, all-pervading essence or an abstract force, but a personal Being with a heart of infinite love. To save us, He did not merely send a messenger; He gave Himself in His Son, bridging the gulf between heaven and earth so that we might become partakers of His own divine nature 2 Peter 1:4.

Here is your fill-in-the-blank Bible study regarding the character and personality of our Heavenly Father:

1. Who is the most complete revelation of the Father’s character?

Jesus said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" John 14:9. Christ came as the "express image of his person" to sweep away the darkness and reveal God’s true nature Hebrews 1:3.

2. What is the fundamental essence of God’s nature?

The Bible gives us the ultimate definition: "God is love" 1 John 4:8. This love is seen in His creative works, the sunshine, the rain, and most clearly in the gift of His Son John 3:16.

3. Does God the Father have a distinct personality?

Yes. God is a personal being, for man was "formed in the likeness of God" Genesis 1:26-27. He is not an essence that pervades nature, but a Father who has a voice and a person John 5:37.

4. How did the Father feel about the sacrifice of His Son?

The Father and the Son were one in purpose and nature John 10:30. The sacrifice was a manifestation of the Father’s own love; "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" 2 Corinthians 5:19.

5. How can we discern the Father’s character outside of the Bible?

We can discern His goodness in His created works. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" Psalm 19:1. Every opening flower and caroling bird speaks of His benevolence.

6. What is the Father’s law a transcript of?

The law of God is a "transcript of the divine character" Psalm 19:7. It is immutable and eternal because it represents the very foundation of His government and His love Matthew 5:17-18.

7. What happens to our minds when we study the Father’s Word?

The mind will enlarge and strengthen as it contemplates the stupendous truths of God Psalm 119:130. By beholding His glory, we are "changed into the same image from glory to glory" 2 Corinthians 3:18.

8. How does the Father view those in lowly or poor circumstances?

The Father is "long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" Exodus 34:6. He has a special care for the "poor of this world rich in faith," and he considers what we do for them as being done for Him James 2:5+1.

9. What was the Father’s relationship with Christ before the world began?

Christ, the Word, was "with God" from all eternity John 1:1-2. They united in the work of creation and in the counsel of peace for the redemption of man Proverbs 8:22-30.

10. What is the ultimate goal the Father has for His children?

His desire is for us to be "partakers of the divine nature" 2 Peter 1:4. He has provided every means through the Holy Spirit to restore His moral image in our souls, that we may be "perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" Matthew 5:48.

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B.R.I.D.E. Bible Study Worksheet (Fill-in-the-Blank)

1. Jesus told Philip, "He that hath seen me hath seen the __________." John 14:9

2. The apostle John defines the Father by stating, "God is __________." 1 John 4:8

3. God is not a mere force; He is a personal __________ in whose image man was made. Genesis 1:27

4. The Word of God teaches us that God was in __________ reconciling the world unto Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19

5. We can see the Father’s love in nature, for the heavens declare the __________ of God. Psalm 19:1

6. The law of the Lord is perfect and is a transcript of His __________. Psalm 19:7

7. By beholding the Father’s glory in His Word, we are changed into the same __________. 2 Corinthians 3:18

8. God is merciful and gracious, choosing the __________ of this world to be rich in faith. James 2:5

9. In the beginning, the Word was __________ God, sharing in all His counsels. John 1:1-2

10. Through the promises of God, we are invited to be partakers of the __________ nature. 2 Peter 1:4

May your study be richly blessed as you behold the matchless charms of our Heavenly Father! 😊

It is a wonderful blessing to support the B.R.I.D.E. study group as you explore the third Fundamental Belief of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: God the Eternal Father! 📖

The most amazing fact about God the Father is that although He is the "Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation," He desires a personal relationship with you as an individual. He is not a vague essence or a distant monarch; He is a personal Being with a heart that yearns for His children so much that He was "in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" 2 Corinthians 5:19.

Here are 10 questions and fill-in-the-blank answers based on the Bible and the character of God the Father:

Common Questions & Fill-in-the-Blanks

1. Is God a personal Being or just a mystical force in nature? God is a personal Being, and He created man in His own image and likeness Genesis 1:26-27.

2. How can we know what the Father is really like? We know the Father’s character by looking at Jesus, because he who has seen the Son has seen the Father John 14:9.

3. What is the primary attribute that defines the Father’s heart? The most essential definition of His nature is that God is love 1 John 4:8.

4. What was the Father's role in the beginning of our world? The Father is the Creator and the source of all things, working through His Son to bring the world into existence John 1:1-2.

5. Was the Father angry and needing to be appeased by the Son? No, the Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to save us John 3:16.

6. Does the Father have a physical form or "shape"? While the Father is a person, no man has seen His shape or heard His voice directly, as His glory is revealed through Christ John 5:37.

7. How does the Father’s law reflect who He is? The law of the Lord is perfect, serving as a transcript of His holy and righteous character Psalms 19:7.

8. Is the Father's mercy only for the wealthy or powerful? The Father is no respecter of persons; He has chosen the poor of this world who are rich in faith to be heirs of His kingdom James 2:5.

9. How close was the relationship between the Father and the Son before creation? The Father and the Son were one in purpose and nature from the beginning of His way Proverbs 8:22-30.

10. What is the Father’s ultimate desire for His earthly children? The Father’s goal is for us to be partakers of the divine nature, escaping the corruption of this world 2 Peter 1:4.

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B.R.I.D.E. Bible Study Worksheet

1. Scripture proves that God is a personal Being because He created man in His own __________. Genesis 1:27
2. If we want to know the Father's character, we must look at __________, who is the express image of His person. Hebrews 1:3
3. The most famous verse in the Bible tells us that the __________ so loved the world that He gave His Son. John 3:16
4. In the work of redemption, God the Father was in __________ reconciling the world to Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19
5. The Father's character is not hidden; the __________ declare the glory of God and His handiwork. Psalms 19:1
6. The Father’s law is a transcript of His character, and it is __________ in converting the soul. Psalms 19:7
7. When the Father passed before Moses, He proclaimed Himself to be __________ and gracious. Exodus 34:6
8. The Father considers any act of kindness done to the "least of these" as being done to __________. Matthew 25:40
9. Before the world was made, the Son was with the Father as one brought up with Him, and was His daily __________. Proverbs 8:30
10. The Father calls us to a high standard, saying, "Be you therefore __________, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48

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Answer Key:

1. Image
2. Jesus (or Christ)
3. Father
4. Christ
5. Heavens
6. Perfect
7. Merciful
8. Him (or Me)
9. Delight
10. Perfect

I hope this study helps your group behold the matchless charms of our Heavenly Father! 😊

It is a joy to help the B.R.I.D.E. Bible study group as you dig into the beautiful truth of God the Eternal Father! 📖 This fundamental belief focuses on the benevolent character and personal nature of the First Person of the Godhead.

The most amazing fact about God the Father is that He is not an abstract force or a mystical essence that fills the universe, but a personal Being with a heart of infinite love 1 John 4:8. Although He is the "Source, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all creation," He chose to reveal His personal personality through His Son, proving that He is a Father who yearns for a relationship with His children Genesis 1:26-27+1.

Here is your combined "Common Questions & Fill-in-the-Blank" study for your group:

God the Father: Fundamental Belief Study

1. Is the Father a real person, and in whose _________ was man originally created? The Bible confirms that God is a personal Being, for He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" Genesis 1:26-27.

2. Since no man has seen the Father's shape, who is the most complete revelation of His _________? Jesus Christ came to this world so that by seeing Him, we have "seen the Father" and His true character John 14:9+1.

3. If we define the Father's very essence, what one word does the Bible use to say "God is _________"? The apostle John provides the ultimate definition of the Father’s nature by stating this simple yet profound truth 1 John 4:8.

4. Was the Father indifferent to our suffering, or was He in _________ reconciling the world to Himself? The Father was not a distant spectator at the cross; He was intimately united with His Son in the work of redemption 2 Corinthians 5:19.

5. How does the Father speak to us through nature, and do the _________ declare the glory of God? The Father’s love and power are written upon every leaf and shown in the vastness of the starry heavens Psalm 19:1.

6. Is the Father's law just a set of rules, or is it a transcript of His _________? Because the law of the Lord is perfect, it represents the very foundation of His government and His holy nature Psalm 19:7+1.

7. In the beginning, was the Word simply a thought, or was the Word _________ God as a distinct person? The Father and the Son have existed together in a perfect union of love from all eternity John 1:1-2.

8. Does the Father value worldly status, or has He chosen the _________ of this world to be rich in faith? Our Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons and has a special, tender care for those who are humble and lowly James 2:5.

9. As we study the Father’s Word, are we transformed into the same _________ from glory to glory? By beholding the character of God as revealed in the Scriptures, our minds are enlarged and our spirits are refined 2 Corinthians 3:18+1.

10. What is the Father's ultimate goal for us, that we might be partakers of the _________ nature? The Father has given us exceeding great and precious promises so that we might escape corruption and reflect His likeness 2 Peter 1:4+1.

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Answer Key for the Leader:

1. Image (or Likeness)
2. Character (or Person)
3. Love
4. Christ
5. Heavens
6. Character (or Nature)
7. With
8. Poor
9. Image
10. Divine

May your B.R.I.D.E. study group be deeply moved as you behold the matchless charms of our Father's love! 😊 If you have more questions about the Adventist pioneers or other theological topics, feel free to ask. You can ask things like, "Where is the EGW quote that says God is love" or "Explain the 2300-day prophecy."

It is a wonderful privilege to study the character of our Heavenly Father, for as we behold His infinite love and distinct personality, our own characters are transformed into His divine likeness7BC 921.9+2. Here are the supporting testimonies regarding the personality and character of God the Father:

The Lord has given clear evidence that He is a personal God, and we are warned against spiritualistic theories that would turn Him into a mere essence pervading natureCCh 75.7+2. Christ came as the express image of His Father’s person to show us that God possesses a definite personality and a heart full of compassion7BC 921.9+2. The holy law is not just a set of rules, but a transcript of His character, expressing the principles of goodness, mercy, and love that define His very being9MR 377.3+2. By beholding Jesus, who is the perfect representation of the Father, we are changed into the same image and prepared to see Him as He isGP 14.1+2.

...4; Acts 1:11, 17:28+2. The Personality of God—He [Christ] represented God not as an essence that pervaded nature, but as a God who has a personality. Christ was the express image of His Father's person; and ...— 7BC 921.9 (1957)

The principles of the character of God were the foundation of the education constantly kept before the heavenly angels. These principles were goodness, mercy, and love.—Manuscript 57, 1896, p. 3. (“The Great Controversy”, December 30, 1896— 9MR 377.3 (1990)

The law of God is the expression of his character. God possesses absolute, invariable, and immutable independence, and his law is without variableness, unalterable, eternal, because it is the transcript of his character. No event can take place that will in any sense make it necessary to declare a law of a contrary na...— ST March 12, 1896, par. 1 (1874)

...He could say, ” ‘I and My Father are one’ ” John 10:30 and ” ‘He who has seen Me has seen the Father’ ” (14:9). Ellen White wrote, “God saw that a clearer revelation than nature was ...— GP 14.1 (2008)

... Let our papers be kept free from everything of the kind. Publish the truth; do not publish error. Do not try to explain in regard to the personality of God. You cannot give any further explanation than the Bible has given. Human theories regarding Him are good for nothing. Do not soil your minds by studying the misleadi...— CW 93.4 (1946)

... His disciples when He was on the earth? But never in the teaching of Christ is God thus spoken of. Christ and the apostles taught clearly the truth of the existence of a personal God— CCh 75.7 (1991)

It is a joy to help you finalize this Bible study for the B.R.I.D.E. group! 📖 Exploring the character of God the Father is the foundation of our faith.

The most amazing fact about God the Father is that He is a personal Being who loves you with an infinite, unchanging love 1 John 4:8. He is not a mystical force found in nature, but a Father who has a distinct personality and who was "in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself" 2 Corinthians 5:197BC 921.9.

Here is your combined Bible study with short supporting quotes from the writings of Ellen White:

God the Father: Fundamental Belief Study

1. Is the Father a real person, and in whose _________ was man originally created? The Bible confirms that God is a personal Being, for He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" Genesis 1:26-27.

• Supporting Quote: "Christ and the apostles taught clearly the truth of the existence of a personal GodCCh 75.7."

2. Since no man has seen the Father's shape, who is the most complete revelation of His _________? Jesus Christ came to this world so that by seeing Him, we have "seen the Father" and His true character John 14:9+1.

• Supporting Quote: "Christ came to our world to represent in His life and teachings the character of God18LtMs, Ms 83, 1903, par. 6."

3. If we define the Father's very essence, what one word does the Bible use to say "God is _________"? The apostle John provides the ultimate definition of the Father’s nature by stating this simple yet profound truth 1 John 4:8.

• Supporting Quote: "The principles of the character of God were... goodness, mercy, and love9MR 377.3."

4. Was the Father indifferent to our suffering, or was He in _________ reconciling the world to Himself? The Father was not a distant spectator at the cross; He was intimately united with His Son in the work of redemption 2 Corinthians 5:19.

• Supporting Quote: "Jesus came into the world to reveal the Father’s character, His attributes, and, most importantly, the plan of salvationGP 14.1."

5. How does the Father speak to us through nature, and do the _________ declare the glory of God? The Father’s love and power are written upon every leaf and shown in the vastness of the starry heavens Psalms 19:1.

• Supporting Quote: "God saw that a clearer revelation than nature was needed to portray both His personality and His characterGP 14.1."

6. Is the Father's law just a set of rules, or is it a transcript of His _________? Because the law of the Lord is perfect, it represents the very foundation of His government and His holy nature Psalms 19:7+1.

• Supporting Quote: "The law of God is the expression of his characterST March 12, 1896, par. 1."

7. In the beginning, was the Word simply a thought, or was the Word _________ God as a distinct person? The Father and the Son have existed together in a perfect union of love from all eternity John 1:1-2.

• Supporting Quote: "I and My Father are one John 10:30GP 14.1."

8. Does the Father value worldly status, or has He chosen the _________ of this world to be rich in faith? Our Heavenly Father is no respecter of persons and has a special, tender care for those who are humble and lowly James 2:5.

• Supporting Quote: "In his own character Jesus manifested to the world the character of God; he pleased not himself, but went about doing goodRH August 22, 1907, par. 1."

9. As we study the Father’s Word, are we transformed into the same _________ from glory to glory? By beholding the character of God as revealed in the Scriptures, our minds are enlarged and our spirits are refined 2 Corinthians 3:18+1.

• Supporting Quote: "He is the One whose example we are to follow in our character-buildingPH151 46.3."

10. What is the Father's ultimate goal for us, that we might be partakers of the _________ nature? The Father has given us exceeding great and precious promises so that we might reflect His likeness 2 Peter 1:4+1.

• Supporting Quote: "Placing themselves under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they are to form characters that are a reflection of the divine characterPH151 46.3."

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Answer Key for the Leader:

1. Image
2. Character (or Person)
3. Love
4. Christ
5. Heavens
6. Character (or Nature)
7. With
8. Poor
9. Image
10. Divine

May your B.R.I.D.E. study group be richly blessed as you behold the matchless charms of our Heavenly Father! 😊