The Narrow Path Ministries

What (if any thing) are people required to understand about God?

Good question! (women, also)

Sorry, women too! - (Initial post edited to add gender-inclusivity )

The author of Hebrews apparently believed that there were some requirements for the person coming to God:

...It is necessary for the one coming to God to believe that He exists and that He becomes a rewarder of the seekers of Him. Heb 11:6

To elaborate somewhat on what Paidion said, I think that our understanding of God needs primarly to be an understanding of His love for us. I don't think it's all that important to understand His three-in-one-ness and one-in-threeness (if, in fact, such a concept is true), or His sovereignness, or His omniscience or omnipresence, or, as some would suggest, His omnitemporalness. These things, while important perhaps, are not, I think, critical.

What's critical, IMO, is to develop a relationship with Him. I think that, for those of us who have been blessed with good earthly parents, they provide a good example of what's important.

When I was a child, (and even now), what was important for my dad to know about him was that he loved me, that he cared for me, and that he would do all in his power to look out for me. It doesn't mater to dad that I have a perfect understanding of how his thyroid works, or how his circulatory system operates. It's nice if I know those things, and he certainly doesn't mind, but what's important dad is that I know him as my dad.

I think this analogy is biblical.

The Gospel of Matthew wrote:Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Just my quick 2 pennies.

Perry

Ely wrote:What (if any thing) are people required to understand about God?

Ely,

When you say, "required" what do you mean? Do you mean required for salvation?

Todd

Todd, you could say that I guess.

What I mean this: In all the interaction between God and humans that we find in the scriptures, what things does God indicate that he intends/expects people to understand about Him?

Ely wrote:Todd, you could say that I guess.

What I mean this: In all the interaction between God and humans that we find in the scriptures, what things does God indicate that he intends/expects people to understand about Him?

Well, in that case, I think that Paidion's post pretty well sums it up; that we need to believe that God exists and that He rewards those that diligently seek him. But then, the question becomes, what does it mean to "diligently seek God?"

As far as believing in the existence of God, I believe that the knowledge of God has been placed in the heart of every man, woman, and child.

Jer 31:33-34
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

But this innate knowledge of God does not mean that everyone seeks after Him,..... at least, not during their lifetime.

Todd

With regard to God existing. What are people expected to understand by "God"? For example, many people say that "God" exists - but only as a concept (or concepts) or idea (ideas) in the minds of men.

Is this understanding acceptable - according to scripture?

I would think a person would have to believe in God as He is revealed in scripture. Not any old god will do.

TK