The Real God by Chip Ingram

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See God for Who He Is, Not What You Think He Ought To Be

Anyone who has tried to describe God to someone else, especially an unbeliever, knows that it is easy to find yourself at a loss for words. It seems that this part of our lives, which we claim is central, is often difficult to put into words. But if you know God, shouldn't you be able to describe him? What is he like? How can we put his eternal attributes into words?

Join Chip Ingram in this fascinating study of seven attributes of God: his goodness, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, justice, love, and faithfulness. Readers will see God in a whole new light and discover that our view of God impacts every decision in our lives. It will change the way we pray, the way we live, and the way we think about the world around us.

God longs for us to know him as he really is. Get ready to meet God again for the first time.

I haven't previously read any books by Chip Ingram before, but I decided to try out this book when it came up for review. I'm glad I did. Ingram writes in a clear, personal style which I think connects well with the reader. The beginning chapter starts out with a few of the misconceptions people hold about God. Research* shows that many (if not most) people view God as they view their parents or other authority figures, and when we base our thoughts about God in this way, we end up with a distorted picture of who God really is and what He has in store for our lives. 

I love how Ingram goes through seven attributes of God and tears down the lies we automatically believe based on our circumstances and situations. Ingram's definitions and thoughts are centered around much of A.W. Tozer's teachings as well, which provides depth and insight from a great author of the past. Ingram's chapters are divided into sub-sections and further sub-sections when necessary, and I appreciated the titles and outlines of his thought process. Each chapter ends with a study guide, furthering the reader's study with questions, definitions, and verses to meditate on with the use of the BIO acronym: 1) Come BEFORE God daily, 2) Do life IN COMMUNITY weekly, and 3) ON MISSION 24/7. Chip Ingram also recounts personal experiences with the attributes of God and willingly shares his victories and failures centered on his foundation in Christ. 

I had few (if any) issues with his theology, for which I was grateful. It's refreshing to read a sound interpretation of Scripture while yet being encouraged on in the faith. Pick up a copy and you'll find conviction and encouragement about who God is and how He longs for you to see Him.

Favorite Quotes 

The Goodness of God

[God's goodness] implies a sense of delight in the one giving and the gift given. God's goodness is pleasant, desirable, fair, and generous.

You are the object of his affection, and because of his unique and divine nature, all that he expresses comes in an expansive, overwhelming, God-sized generosity toward you.

God is divinely and positively disposed toward you. He takes holy pleasure in your happieness. He is not down on you because you live in a fallen world; he is for you in the midst of it.

The Sovereignty of God

[God] is not just another "ism" out there to be considered. He is infinite and eternal, over all and worthy above all. I worship him because he is sovereign.

He will bring history to a close. Instead of being the suffering servant who died in your place on the cross, he will then be the ruling warrior on a white horse, and he will bring about justice. He wants his people living in anticipation of the day of his return.

The Holiness of God

An upward, accurate view of God, high and holy, leads to an inward, accurate view of yourself as falled short and desperately needing God's forgiveness, which in turn leads to an outward view of your life being about God's agenda instead of yours, and your life being about the needs of other people instead of you and your little world.

We learned that the highway to holiness is never traveled alone. We need each other.

The Wisdom of God

It's easier for us to define God's wisdom than to willingly live under it.

Learning to take God at his word (James 1:5) and pray specifically for wisdom in each situation was a major turning point in my life. The hard part was being willing to do whatever he said, but as I learned to trust, I gradualyl saw God make his will clearer and easier to understand than I ever imagined. 

The Justice of God

Justice is not a standard God follows; he is the standard. He is not accountable to justice because justice flows from him. It's part of who he is.

What God's justice demanded, his love provided.

Seeing God as he longs for us to see him will always involve the cross. 

When someone asks, "What's going to happen when you die?" you can answer, "I'm going to start fully enjoying the eternal life I already have!"

Trusting a just God with [vengeance] is a powerful way to worship him in a fallen world.

The Love of God

We don't provoke, trick, convince, earn, or win God's loves. He doesn't love us because of who we are but because of who he is. His nature and character compel him to express unconditional affection toward us.

Even if you had never done anything since you were born, God would take pleasure in you simply because of who you are...That's how God feels about you. He feels that way when you're obedience, godly, disciplined, and righteous, and he feels that way about you when you're irritable, sarcastic, selfish, and evil.

It's time to stop coming up with ways to deserve his love and learn to respond to the love he has already clearly shown us.

The Faithfulness of God

His faithfulness is clearly seen in Israel, and it carries seamlessly over into the church.

When God's Word makes an impact on our lives, we become part of the demonstration of his faithfulness.

We don't need to forgive ourselves. We need to trust what has already happened. 

*God Attachment by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Joshua Straub



**I received this book free from the publishers. The opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.