WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.759 To infinity and beyond. To infinity and beyond. Buzz Lightyear. Of course it's ridiculous, isn't it? If you go to infinity, you can't go beyond infinity. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:25.480 And we are looking this morning at the words, God is infinite. Three words. How do you explain those three words? God is infinite. 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:38.619 On Sunday mornings, we're really doing a series looking at God on God. The Bible that you've got on your laps is a revelation. It reveals to you who God is. 00:00:38.619 --> 00:00:47.920 And as Christians, we want to know who our God is. And in the 17th century, a catechism, the Westminster Shorter Catechism said, what is God? 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:53.939 God is infinite. He's eternal. He's unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. 00:00:54.059 --> 00:00:59.539 And this term, we're taking one of those phrases and looking at what the Bible teaches about God. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:05.099 God is infinite. We struggle with language, don't we, on this? 00:01:05.099 --> 00:01:09.259 How am I going to find the words to describe the infinity of God? 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:15.239 The very nature of infinity is that it's boundless. God is limitless. 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:23.359 There are no boundaries with God. No limits to God's person. No limits to God's character. No limits to God's presence. 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:25.500 How do you describe that? 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:34.040 How are you going to find the words that will adequately say what needs to be said of who God is? 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:41.799 And when we speak of the infinity of God, where I'm thinking particularly in terms of time and space, 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.060 he is infinite in regards to time. 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:49.900 That's what we're going to look at next week with speaking of his eternal nature, 00:01:50.019 --> 00:01:52.560 that God is from beginning to ending. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:53.540 He is eternal. 00:01:54.820 --> 00:01:57.960 But today I want us to look at the infinity of God, 00:01:58.100 --> 00:02:00.799 that God is infinite as it refers to space. 00:02:05.299 --> 00:02:09.719 One word that the Bible uses, that theologians use, is omnipresent. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.920 That means he is always present. 00:02:12.780 --> 00:02:14.340 That God is present everywhere. 00:02:15.460 --> 00:02:16.960 So he's present with us this morning. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:20.300 That God is immense. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:24.180 He's everywhere present in all of his immensity. 00:02:25.300 --> 00:02:27.080 And that is something, as you begin to think about it this morning, 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:28.580 that staggers our mind. 00:02:29.260 --> 00:02:30.580 It's difficult for us to grasp. 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:34.960 And we are thinking this morning of the greatness of God's presence. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:37.780 Of a God without limits. 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:41.240 And there is no limit to God when it comes to time. 00:02:41.600 --> 00:02:43.140 There are no time constraints upon him. 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:46.639 And there are no limits upon God in terms of space. 00:02:48.359 --> 00:02:50.399 When we say, well, where is he? 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:51.219 Do you remember what we learned? 00:02:51.259 --> 00:02:52.359 We learned that God is spirit. 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:53.500 He's not like us. 00:02:54.559 --> 00:02:56.039 And so we don't see him. 00:02:56.939 --> 00:02:58.959 But that does not mean that he's not present. 00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:04.019 Think about where is God not? 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:05.699 Where is he not? 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:10.939 And as we think about that, well, he is present everywhere. 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:12.759 There is nowhere where he is not present. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:17.280 We begin to understand something of the affinity of God. 00:03:17.339 --> 00:03:18.419 Because God is everywhere. 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:20.079 There is nowhere that God is not. 00:03:20.179 --> 00:03:21.919 There is no time when God is not. 00:03:22.259 --> 00:03:24.039 There is no place where God is not. 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:28.979 It's not just that God is everywhere. 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:34.039 But he is everywhere in the immense nature of his being. 00:03:35.239 --> 00:03:40.139 And I think as we think about this this morning, one of the things that's going to happen to us is we realize just how very small we are. 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:43.579 How small our mind is. 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:46.879 But hopefully more than that, we come to realize how great God is. 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:50.859 It's one of the reasons we began our service with our call to worship. 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:54.600 I will extol you, O God, my King, and bless your name forever and ever. 00:03:54.760 --> 00:03:58.140 Every day, I will bless you and praise you forever and ever. 00:03:58.260 --> 00:03:58.560 Why? 00:03:58.800 --> 00:03:59.960 Well, because great is the Lord. 00:04:00.980 --> 00:04:01.980 And greatly do you praise. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:03.740 And God's greatness is unsearchable. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:07.220 And that is the nature of the infinity of God. 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:07.900 He's great. 00:04:08.020 --> 00:04:08.720 He's immense. 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:11.140 There's no measuring. 00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:14.340 There's no searching out the greatness of God. 00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:18.139 So we're going to go a little bit kind of old school this morning. 00:04:18.259 --> 00:04:19.460 I'm going to give you the scriptures. 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:21.759 I'm going to give you the word of God that teaches this. 00:04:22.539 --> 00:04:23.719 The kind of proofs. 00:04:24.159 --> 00:04:25.699 And then I'm going to talk about what it means. 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:27.439 And then I'm going to talk about what it means for us. 00:04:28.599 --> 00:04:31.339 And so let's listen to the word of God. 00:04:31.419 --> 00:04:34.099 You should have been given a little sheet with a number of texts on it. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:35.079 If you haven't, don't worry about it. 00:04:35.099 --> 00:04:35.699 You can just listen. 00:04:36.479 --> 00:04:42.699 But there are several passages in the Bible that reveal to us the character of the being and the nature of God. 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:47.199 And so first of all, 1 Kings chapter 8 verse 27. 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:47.959 It's on your sheet. 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:51.240 It's when Solomon has built a great temple in Jerusalem. 00:04:52.019 --> 00:04:54.319 And he's dedicating the temple and he's praying to God. 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:55.159 Listen to his prayer. 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:56.199 Then he says, 00:04:56.199 --> 00:05:14.680 So here is Solomon in awe of God because he's realizing that God cannot be contained. 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:19.920 And when it speaks of the infinity of God, it means that our God cannot be contained. 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:20.840 You can't shut him up. 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:22.019 He cannot be limited. 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:23.500 He cannot be restrained. 00:05:23.819 --> 00:05:25.699 God cannot be held back in any way. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:32.000 And it's a marvel because Solomon is standing there in awe at the kindness of God. 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:33.480 He says, 00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:36.980 I've built this temple, this great temple to worship you. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:40.680 But I know that highest heavens can't contain you. 00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:47.340 And yet he also knows that God will make his presence known and felt in that temple. 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:50.220 And so while God is everywhere, 00:05:51.460 --> 00:05:57.319 he chooses in his kindness and in his grace to make his presence especially felt. 00:05:58.200 --> 00:05:59.960 At times and to certain people. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:04.259 Another text of Job 11, verse 7 to 9. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:06.700 Can you find out the deep things of God, can you? 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:10.100 Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:11.379 Ask yourself that question. 00:06:12.980 --> 00:06:13.720 It's higher than heaven. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:14.520 What can you do? 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:15.800 Deeper than shale. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:16.560 What can you know? 00:06:17.900 --> 00:06:22.140 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:24.600 So here's a guy. 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:26.180 He's suffered terribly. 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:28.439 He's lost many of his families. 00:06:29.340 --> 00:06:31.680 He's listening to people who are giving him terrible advice. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:35.080 And he reflects upon the nature and the character of God. 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:37.859 And he says you cannot measure God. 00:06:38.979 --> 00:06:41.779 You can't put him into a test tube, into a little experiment. 00:06:42.099 --> 00:06:48.279 And you can't get your tape measure and see the length and the breadth and the height and the depth of the being of the nature of God. 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:49.120 He's immeasurable. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:07:01.240 And yet here's the remarkable thing that the Bible teaches us that God has shown us and revealed to us the length and the breadth and the height and the depth of his love for us in Jesus Christ. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:05.620 And so we as God's people should be in awe of that. 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:10.960 Psalm 139, Reuben read it to us. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:12.079 We love this psalm, don't we? 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.319 Where shall I flee from your spirit? 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.680 Where shall I flee from your presence? 00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:20.379 If I ascend into the heavens, well, you're there. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:23.079 If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:28.959 If I get on a jumbo jet and I go to the ends of the earth and I dwell at the uttermost parts of the sea. 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:31.180 If I get on a submarine and I go way underground. 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:35.539 If I put the covers over my head in bed, you're there. 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:39.920 And your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall uphold me. 00:07:41.620 --> 00:07:43.100 Proverbs 15, verse 3. 00:07:43.200 --> 00:07:46.760 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:51.260 There's no limit to what God sees and what God knows. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:53.280 He's limitless. 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:58.920 And so the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, where God speaks and he says, 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:00.160 Am I a God at hand? 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:02.500 Declares the Lord. 00:08:02.820 --> 00:08:05.100 And not a God far off. 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:06.760 Can a man hide himself in secret? 00:08:08.740 --> 00:08:10.820 So that I cannot see him, declares the Lord. 00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:16.379 If I go into in private browsing or incognito, will God not know? 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:19.920 Do I not fill the heavens and the earth, declares the Lord? 00:08:21.640 --> 00:08:24.040 God is saying, I'm close, I'm not far away. 00:08:25.640 --> 00:08:28.240 Do you think this morning, realistically, that you can hide from him? 00:08:30.140 --> 00:08:31.600 Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:34.279 they say this, they say, 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:38.720 I heard you, God, walking in the garden. 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.759 I heard your voice, and so I hid. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.159 So stupid. 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:48.800 Thinking that they could hide from God. 00:08:50.680 --> 00:08:54.100 Am I a God at hand and not a God far off? 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:58.779 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.540 In Ezekiel, the prophet says, 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:06.180 Then he said to me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark? 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.899 Each in his own room of pictures, for they say the Lord doesn't see us. 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:13.100 The Lord is forsaken the land. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:21.860 Maybe a great surprise for you this morning that the Bible teaches that there is a God in heaven who knows you and sees you and you cannot escape from. 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:24.459 Look at Ezekiel 9. 00:09:25.459 --> 00:09:25.620 It says, 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:54.860 It's God simply saying, not simply I can see everything, but it does matter. 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:56.259 Where you are. 00:09:57.419 --> 00:09:59.940 He's saying in those verses, my hand can reach you. 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:02.480 My hand can pull you down from the place where you are. 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:07.639 When Paul is preaching in Athens, it's a city lots like London. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:10.899 And he says, I see actually that you're really superstitious. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:14.539 You've got altars and you've got idols all over the place. 00:10:14.840 --> 00:10:17.360 And he discovers one idol that's to an unknown God. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:22.980 The Athenians were making sure that they had every kind of God they could think of. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:24.879 And he speaks to them. 00:10:24.980 --> 00:10:28.180 And he says, I see you've got an idol for the unknown God. 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:33.539 And he talks about them seeking God in the hope that they might feel their way towards him and find him. 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:34.399 And then here's the point. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:36.779 He's not far from each one of us. 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:39.279 He's not far from you this morning. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:43.519 For in him we live and move and have our very being. 00:10:44.039 --> 00:10:44.939 We live in him. 00:10:46.139 --> 00:10:47.159 We move in him. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.360 We breathe. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:57.279 Every breath that you breathe is breathed in the presence of God. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:00.919 He's not far from you this morning. 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:12.360 Ephesians 1.24 says, God has put all things under his feet and given Jesus as head over all things to the church and for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 00:11:13.699 --> 00:11:16.500 The fullness of the glory of God who fills all in all. 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:17.839 The fullness of the glory of God. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:23.259 It shines particularly in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of deity dwells bodily. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:26.600 They're amazing passages. 00:11:26.780 --> 00:11:28.000 We could spend all day on them. 00:11:29.280 --> 00:11:31.600 And they are an example of God's work in creation. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:36.800 And they're an example that God is present in all places everywhere. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:43.839 But there is a special concentration of his presence in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:45.719 He is God in flesh. 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:54.039 And this truth has a great impact on us in the work of redemption and the work of the Lord Jesus upon the cross. 00:11:54.419 --> 00:12:00.459 There are loads of passages we could go to that demonstrate this truth that God is infinite. 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:13.160 There's an infinity to God in terms of his presence, in terms of his power, in terms of his being, in terms of his sight, in terms of his knowledge, in terms of his actions, and through the Lord Jesus. 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:16.519 That's what the word of God reveals to us. 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:18.440 God is infinite. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.100 So what does that mean? 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:25.060 What does it mean when it speaks of God as infinite? 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:27.480 I think it means three things. 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.259 The first thing is this. 00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:30.340 It means that God is immense. 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.620 I like the word immense. 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:40.419 To speak of the immensity of God is to speak of the greatness of the being of God. 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:43.240 The greatness of the existence of God. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:47.779 In one sense, I think it highlights one of the struggles that we have. 00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:52.080 That we struggle with a vision of God that's too small. 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:55.580 Or a view of God that's too small. 00:12:55.580 --> 00:13:00.180 And it's important for you and I to see something of this. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:04.440 Immensity points us to the greatness of God. 00:13:06.400 --> 00:13:11.139 And when we speak of God being infinite, we are saying that he is immense. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:15.319 It means that he's not being measured. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.559 But it means more than that. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.899 It means that he cannot be measured. 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:26.659 It's not that someday someone is going to discover a method for measuring God. 00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:28.980 That AI will figure him out. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.159 He is immeasurable. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:34.939 That there's just no way for you and I to get our heads around this morning. 00:13:36.199 --> 00:13:39.819 Around the length and the breadth and the height and the depth of the love of God. 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:42.679 But that's only one aspect of his character. 00:13:43.079 --> 00:13:46.819 There's no way for us to be able to measure the size of his being. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.419 The size of his existence. 00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:51.240 He is not measurable. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.299 No one can do it. 00:13:53.599 --> 00:13:56.179 And we ought to not even in our folly try it. 00:13:57.979 --> 00:14:01.839 I think often we think of God just a bit like us. 00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:07.620 God says to his people at one point, he says, you thought that I was comparable to you. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:08.699 You thought that I was like you. 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:13.920 But he often stops in the prophet of Isaiah and he says, well to whom will you compare me? 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:21.879 As though to say, remember this, in the immensity of my being, I am incomparable. 00:14:23.160 --> 00:14:26.320 You cannot compare God to anything because God is immeasurable. 00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:30.820 There is no being who is comparable to the being of God. 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.040 There's no character comparable to the character of God. 00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:41.159 And whenever we try to compare him or just think of him in a particular way in relation to something else, 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.099 we're using our own yardstick. 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:46.519 And your yardstick is too small. 00:14:47.599 --> 00:14:50.819 Your measuring tape for God is too small. 00:14:53.219 --> 00:14:55.819 To say that God is infinite is to say that he is immense. 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:59.219 It is to be in awe of the greatness of his being. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:08.840 When our children, they study science and they begin to be dazzled by the size of the universe. 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:15.200 And when our kids begin to study the size of the universe, they're dazzled, aren't they, by the speed of light? 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:19.040 They're able to tell you at what speed light travels. 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:23.720 They're dazzled by the distance of the earth from the sun. 00:15:24.680 --> 00:15:28.279 They'll tell you how long it takes to get from the sun to the earth. 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:32.139 They're dazzled by the furthest star. 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:36.699 They'll be able to tell you how long it takes you to get to that star. 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.779 The size of the galaxy. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.539 They'll tell you about solar flares and the energy that's released. 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:49.299 What that means for the existence of the sun and the planets and the existence of the earth. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:51.279 All kinds of scientific things. 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:56.539 I'm in awe of scientific people who are able to work out those sorts of things. 00:15:57.699 --> 00:16:00.699 Who do the maths and can calculate those distances. 00:16:02.079 --> 00:16:06.139 They can calculate the measurable quantities of the universe in which we live. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:09.579 And it is infinitely dazzling, isn't it, this universe? 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:13.900 But surely the God who made the universe. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:17.400 The God who measured that out. 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:22.840 Who measured the distance that the earth would be from the sun with his measuring tape. 00:16:23.920 --> 00:16:26.920 Who set the speed of light that it would be that speed. 00:16:27.800 --> 00:16:29.580 And that it's that precise speed. 00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:32.720 All of that is as nothing to him. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:35.700 It's like a drop in the bucket. 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.940 How infinite is our God? 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:45.180 And so children and young people, I hope you are dazzled by the immensity of the universe. 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.740 In which you live. 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:52.259 But God is infinitely more dazzling. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.000 Some of you love to travel. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.200 You go to the most amazing places of the earth. 00:16:57.259 --> 00:17:00.600 You go to the Grand Canyon and your breath is taken away by it. 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.480 Well what about the God who made the Grand Canyon? 00:17:03.660 --> 00:17:05.380 How infinite is our God? 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:10.640 The second thing I think it means is that he is perfect. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.180 Kind of develops this word of immensity. 00:17:16.140 --> 00:17:21.720 If you look at the word immensity, it means to be marked by greatness. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.960 There is no measuring the limits of God. 00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.860 No limits. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:31.579 But when you think of someone, you say, isn't it, if I said, what's Angus Curdahan like as a rugby player? 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.359 I would say, oh, he's immense. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.279 It's probably his own description of himself. 00:17:36.439 --> 00:17:37.199 He's immense. 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:38.279 What do I mean by that? 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:41.179 He's an immense character. 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:45.039 It means that something is good or excellent, doesn't it? 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:47.700 Great, yes. 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.819 Vast, but good. 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:49.859 Perfect. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:55.440 It is to say that something is extremely or incomparably good. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:01.840 And when we think of God as infinite, he is vast, yes. 00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:05.960 He is immense in his greatness, but he's immense in his perfection. 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:11.299 God can never be improved. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.019 God can never improve. 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:17.200 He has no needs. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.740 And so in terms of the infinity of God, there are no limits to his being. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:27.900 And so as our catechism is going to teach us, he is without limits in his wisdom. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.900 He cannot get wiser than he is. 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:32.740 God is without limit in his power. 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:35.620 He's without limit in his holiness. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.120 He's without limit in his justice. 00:18:37.300 --> 00:18:38.360 He's without limit in his goodness. 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.660 And he's without limit in his truth. 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:46.200 And if we're going to say that there is no limit to God's wisdom, his wisdom is obviously perfect. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.180 It's immense. 00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:51.780 And so God's knowledge is perfect according to the Bible. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:56.160 And that's what those texts were saying, weren't they, when I read them earlier. 00:18:56.819 --> 00:19:00.279 They are saying that he knows all things, that there's nothing that's hidden from him. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:07.099 And so to speak of the infinity of God, that God is infinite, is also to say that God is perfect. 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:10.660 He has perfect knowledge of everything instantly and always. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.319 And the wisdom of God is without limit. 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:13.799 And the power of God is without limit. 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.500 There's nothing more that can be added to it. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:21.059 Perfect holiness, perfect in his justice, perfect in his goodness, perfect in his truth. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:27.519 Have you ever come across anything that was perfect? 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.099 Is your husband perfect? 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.599 Is he? 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.220 What about your wife? 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.799 Is your wife perfect? 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:46.660 Newborns, parents with, holding their newborn baby, what do they say? 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:50.279 They say, ah, he's perfect. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.779 No, he's not. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:55.240 Don't say that to them then, but they're not, they. 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.799 Little Elijah, he's great. 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:00.000 He's a lovely little lad. 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:01.940 He's not perfect. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.859 Your children, are they perfect? 00:20:08.139 --> 00:20:09.279 Parents, are they? 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:13.399 Your house, is it perfect? 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.480 Your job, is it perfect? 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:16.440 Your church, is it perfect? 00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.220 Of course not. 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:19.120 But God is, God is perfect. 00:20:21.340 --> 00:20:22.779 Here's what infinity means. 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:23.799 It means God is perfect. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:27.160 And that flows from our understanding of the immensity of God. 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.400 It means God is immense. 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.080 It means God is perfect. 00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:32.240 It means that God is present everywhere. 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.740 There's not a place where God is not. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:44.079 Mysteriously, there's not a part of God in one place and another part in another place. 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:47.880 He's everywhere present in all of his presence. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.759 And that just blows our mind, doesn't it? 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:52.039 It's absolutely baffling. 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:59.559 One of the reasons I think that we find it so baffling is I think we come at it from the wrong way round. 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:02.480 It would be better for you and I to come with a different perspective. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:08.059 And instead of trying to say, well, that God is everywhere present in all of his presence, 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:13.299 it would be better for us to say that all things are in his presence. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.799 I think that's a better way of looking at it. 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.859 All things are in his presence. 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:21.439 Because I think that takes away some of the mind-blowing dimensions. 00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:25.519 God is above all things. 00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.799 And all things are immediately before him. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:30.619 And present him. 00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:33.259 And that's true with regards to time. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:35.399 That is baffling, isn't it? 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.679 But it's true in regards to space. 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:41.439 And so there's nowhere where you can go where God is not. 00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:43.719 He's the creator of the world. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.899 He's the possessor of the world. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.119 He's the preserver of the world. 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:48.259 And he is above all and he fills all. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.959 And you can't hide from him. 00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:53.579 And we live and we move and we have our very being in him. 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:56.799 We are present to God and before God. 00:21:56.919 --> 00:22:01.659 Now, that doesn't mean that there aren't times when God draws near. 00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:05.619 Where God makes his presence especially felt. 00:22:05.719 --> 00:22:07.379 That's why we gather to worship on Sundays. 00:22:08.459 --> 00:22:09.959 But he is everywhere present. 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:13.380 He is immense. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:13.960 He is perfect. 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.460 He is ever out. 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.559 Now, what does it mean for you and I? 00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.059 What does it mean for us? 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.900 Probably means billions of things, doesn't it? 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:22.840 Three things. 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:27.380 First of all, it's a strong warning. 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:33.980 It's a strong warning to sinners like me and you. 00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:38.140 Because you live in his presence. 00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:44.760 You commit no sin, no rebellion in secret. 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:49.759 And therefore, I need to realize and you need to realize how foolish we are. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:54.759 That when we sin, when we rebel against God, when we live without even thought of him. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.879 We are like the little children. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.480 You know what we do with little children? 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:00.000 We play hide and seek, don't we, with them? 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:08.799 And we put our hands over our face and it's as if we pretend they can't see us. 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:11.619 And the child does that, isn't it? 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.500 And sometimes they look through their fingers at you. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.759 Where's Paul gone? 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.079 Where's daddy? 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:22.160 As if we think they've disappeared. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.940 And you play along, don't you? 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.799 You play along with it. 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.980 And you play Beepo. 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.859 Because they're children. 00:23:28.859 --> 00:23:31.019 But you don't live life like that. 00:23:33.439 --> 00:23:35.339 It's even more ridiculous to do that with sin. 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:38.119 God doesn't see me. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.199 He's not there. 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.639 He sees you. 00:23:42.439 --> 00:23:43.500 He sees every single sin. 00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:48.159 Stephen Chaldeck has got this great line. 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:51.099 He said, it's commonly forgotten or not believed that God is present everywhere. 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:54.199 Many live as if he were present nowhere. 00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:57.939 Think about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. 00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:02.939 I heard your voice in the garden and I hid. 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:05.740 So crazy. 00:24:05.979 --> 00:24:06.779 They understood. 00:24:06.939 --> 00:24:08.039 The ear understood. 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:11.879 They understood that God was there. 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:17.780 But they thought that trees could shelter them from God. 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:22.740 They thought that they would somehow be able to deceive him. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:25.160 They'd hide behind the bushes and God wouldn't realize. 00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.340 He forgets. 00:24:25.340 --> 00:24:33.380 But more likely he denies. 00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:38.860 I wonder whether you realize that you're playing today 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:42.040 you're playing that game of beeper with God 00:24:42.040 --> 00:24:43.260 he's really there 00:24:43.260 --> 00:24:45.860 you're like Adam and Eve hiding in the bushes 00:24:45.860 --> 00:24:47.520 thinking you'll never find me here 00:24:47.520 --> 00:24:51.200 and so it is a really solemn thing isn't it 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.700 it's a really serious thing 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.880 I don't know what's going on in your life 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.840 I don't know who you're texting 00:24:55.840 --> 00:24:59.520 I don't know what you're looking at on the internet 00:24:59.520 --> 00:25:02.400 I don't know who you're seeing 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:06.120 but God knows that doesn't he 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:10.200 and do not think for a minute that God doesn't see it 00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:13.360 secondly 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:16.480 it's a really comforting thing 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:19.019 firstly it's disturbing 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:20.660 but secondly it's really comforting 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:25.180 God is present everywhere 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:30.160 and so if you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.560 if you know God as your father 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:34.059 if you are indwelt by his Holy Spirit 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:36.240 he is everywhere for his people 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.220 he is for you 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:38.779 and he is with you 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:45.319 and this doctrine should be a great comfort to you this morning 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:47.000 that God is present everywhere 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:49.679 in the immensity of his presence 00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:51.240 to comfort you and to encourage you 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:53.339 he fills heaven with his glory 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:56.460 he fills people with his people with his grace 00:25:56.460 --> 00:26:03.279 he is with you to comfort us 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:06.620 he is with you in times of temptation 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:11.700 he is with you in times of real darkness 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:16.900 he is with you in times of real desperate anxiety 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:19.759 he is with you in times of grief 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:23.140 he is with you in your suffering 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.480 he is with you in your sorrow 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:27.820 he is with us now in our worship 00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:31.520 and so it is an immense 00:26:31.520 --> 00:26:32.340 use that word again 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:33.800 it is an immense comfort 00:26:33.800 --> 00:26:34.480 this doctrine 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:36.180 that God is infinite 00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.540 he has no limits 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:42.220 his love has no limits 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.359 his grace has no measure 00:26:43.359 --> 00:26:44.059 his power 00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:46.019 has no boundary known unto man 00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:49.099 and so he is with you to comfort you 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:51.180 it is an immense comfort 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:53.859 and then thirdly and finally 00:26:53.859 --> 00:26:55.139 this doctrine of 00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:57.740 the infinity of God 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.839 that God is infinite 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:01.659 it exalts and it glorifies Jesus Christ 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:03.920 because what happened 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:06.800 when the second person of Trinity 00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:09.820 when the God man became man 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:11.380 when God became man 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:14.820 it is a reminder that 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:18.200 Jesus took flesh upon himself 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:21.420 he entered into this world 00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:24.080 but when he entered into this world 00:27:24.080 --> 00:27:25.800 and he became a tiny little baby 00:27:25.800 --> 00:27:29.360 the Lord Jesus did not give up his immensity 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:34.579 while the Lord Jesus took on flesh 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.479 he became a little baby 00:27:35.479 --> 00:27:37.359 and was numbered with the transgressors 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.419 with sinners like you and I 00:27:38.419 --> 00:27:41.639 he was still everywhere present 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.899 and perfect 00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:44.199 and immense 00:27:44.199 --> 00:27:47.379 when Jesus speaks of this 00:27:47.379 --> 00:27:49.059 in John 3 verse 13 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.459 he says 00:27:49.459 --> 00:27:51.399 no one has ascended into heaven 00:27:51.399 --> 00:27:54.099 except he who descended from heaven 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.919 the son of man 00:27:54.919 --> 00:27:57.240 and then there is a little footnote 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:58.679 the ESV is taking it out 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:00.759 but they say 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.700 who is in heaven 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:06.019 the Lord Jesus Christ 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:08.880 when he is physically on earth 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.519 is saying I'm also in heaven 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:11.840 John Calvin 00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:12.880 when he writes on this 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:14.180 the great commentator 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.560 he says 00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:15.480 here's something marvelous 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.400 the son of God 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.240 descended from heaven 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:18.740 in such a way 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:20.400 that without leaving heaven 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:23.120 it's mind boggling 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:25.840 he willed to be born 00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:27.019 in the virgin's womb 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.420 to go about the earth 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.539 to hang on the cross 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:31.579 yet he continually filled the earth 00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:33.559 even as he had done 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.160 from the beginning 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:37.879 and this brings us again 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:38.279 to the point 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.039 is that my mind 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.920 cannot understand this 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:41.359 I certainly can't express it 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.500 I cannot explain it 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.099 and yet 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.799 I worship this God 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.720 so must you 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:49.299 to marvel at the very kindness 00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:49.980 of God 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.920 in Jesus Christ 00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:53.460 and what we receive in him 00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:55.299 the God 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.299 whom heavens 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.460 cannot contain 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.860 dwells in us 00:28:58.860 --> 00:29:00.940 by the grace of God 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.700 in Jesus Christ 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:04.059 I hope 00:29:04.059 --> 00:29:04.860 if you've come as a visitor 00:29:04.860 --> 00:29:05.240 this morning 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.140 we absolutely love 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:07.259 having you come again 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:09.000 but I hope you realize 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.940 that what we're talking about 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.100 is something supernatural 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:13.939 we're talking about a God 00:29:13.939 --> 00:29:15.219 who has intervened 00:29:15.219 --> 00:29:17.299 we're talking about a God 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.939 who is all powerful 00:29:18.939 --> 00:29:19.359 yes 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:20.399 but he is gracious 00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.439 and he is kind 00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:24.959 and I think that God 00:29:24.959 --> 00:29:25.980 is an infinite God 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:27.959 should lead us 00:29:27.959 --> 00:29:29.319 to be in awe 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.259 at who he is 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.319 and how small we are 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:33.000 and how thankful 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:33.500 we should be 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.159 that he's given us 00:29:34.159 --> 00:29:35.379 such a wonderful saviour 00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:35.959 in the Lord Jesus 00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:38.259 let's pray 00:29:38.259 --> 00:30:08.240 thank you