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To: Alamo-Girl; betty boop; YHAOS
The Jewish mystics use the name Ayn Sof to describe God the Creator. Literally it means "no thing" but the point is what you have beautifully explained in your essay. Namely, that any word a mortal could use to describe God limits Who He IS to the meaning of the word in the mind of the one who used it.

We shouldn't forget that Almighty God DID use many words to describe Himself in Holy Scripture - though it would be foolish to imagine it was exhaustive. We wouldn't know anything at all about Him had He not. Jesus also gave us insight into the nature of the Father and the eternal Godhead as well as His plans for His creation. So, whatever words we use to describe God can be those words He used and the thoughts those words and names provide us helps enormously to give us a firm enough understanding of Him so that we desire to follow and obey Him once He has opened our eyes and hearts to His reality.

32 posted on 07/06/2013 7:54:33 PM PDT by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums; betty boop; YHAOS
Thank you so much for sharing your insights, dear sister in Christ!

So, whatever words we use to describe God can be those words He used and the thoughts those words and names provide us helps enormously to give us a firm enough understanding of Him so that we desire to follow and obey Him once He has opened our eyes and hearts to His reality.

Indeed. Among my favorites:

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. – Exodus 3:14

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. - John 8:58

As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground. – John 18:6

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:8

I believe God the Father has revealed Himself in four ways: 1) through the Person of His only begotten Son, Jesus, 2) through the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, 3) through Scriptures and 4) through His creation both physical and spiritual.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard. - Psalms 19:1-3

And again:

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: - Romans 1:20

To God be the glory, not man, never man.

38 posted on 07/06/2013 9:11:47 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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