As stated in my previous post, God is incomprehensible. However, he has given us His word so that we may know him as much as we possibly can. Therefore, God is knowable. Limiting God to a number of attributes can be dangerous. It can cause people to only see God in light of the characteristics that describe him. We still need to remember, God is INCOMPREHENSIBLE. These attributes, which are found in God's Word, give us a glimpse of what God is like. They allow us to understand him and they help us build a correct mindset and worldview based on who he is. I will not list all the attributes of God, because that would take a long time. However, I will list a few that will help guide our studies and give us a solid foundation of who God is as we study his word. So, here we go:
1. God is Sovereign: God is in control and nothing surprises Him! He knows all things and declares and/or wills all things. Nothing can take God off guard. Not even our decisions as humans who have wills and desires. God is in charge of EVERYTHING! Think about that for a moment...If God isn't in charge of everything and there is something that can take God by surprise, then how can he be God? We believe as the bible states, God is sovereign. -Isaiah 46:10 [10] declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (ESV) 2. God is righteous and just: God is right. God doesn't just do right things. OF course thats true. But God is righteous, so from His very nature He is right and all he commands, does, and doesn't do is right. Because he is righteous, he must also be just. Just means that God gives people exactly what they deserve. He doesn't turn his eye towards ANY sin. Because He is just and always demands justice for any wrong (because He is ALWAYS right!), he rightly punishes sin. If God ignored ANY wrong, he wouldn't be just. He would be wrong. He is not wrong, nor unjust! God is always right and always just. Here are a few passages that tell us about God's righteousness and justice. -Psalm 145:17 [17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. (ESV) -Psalm 89:14 [14] Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. (ESV) 3. God is Holy: When the bible mentions holiness, it means to be set apart. God is not like humans. God is spirit and his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are more higher than our thoughts. We are made in His image, but we are not like God. That was a lie that was told to Eve in Genesis 3. God is far different than us. His character is perfect, His ways are perfect, His thoughts are perfect, And because He is perfect, we should realize how imperfect we are when we think about His holiness. -1 Peter 1:16 [16] since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (ESV) -Revelation 4:8 [8] And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (ESV) -God is Love: Love is an action word of deep affection. God is Love as the bible clearly teaches. God didn't become love, because God doesn't change. God has always been love. Even before he created you and me, he has always been love. So, if God has always been love then who was he loving before you and me? Well, this helps clarify the trinity. From eternity past God has always been love. The three members of the Godhead (otherwise known as the Trinity) have always been in relationship with one another. This relationship has been out of perfect submission and love. The Father has always loved the Son. The Son has always loved the Father. The Father has always loved the Spirit and the Spirit has always loved the Father. The Son has always loved the Spirit and the Spirit has always loved the Son. We see this loved expressed in creation and in the salvation of sinners. God is three and God is love! -1 John 4:8-10 [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (ESV) Thanks for reading! Next week (hopefully!!!), we will look at who we are in comparison to God.
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AuthorJoe Burrows Archives
May 2017
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