An attribute is something that belongs to a person or thing, without which the person or thing cannot be. For example: Man. If you take away his attributes, he ceases to be man. God’s attributes are inalienably his, now & forever. They are His and only His. They are his perfections. They are his nature. They constitute his character.
Theologians have tried to classify God’s attributes into groups we can comprehend. These are ‘communicable and incommunicable’, ‘positive and negative’, ‘absolute and relative’, and ‘natural and moral’. There’s no doubt arguments can be made for or against any of these categories, but for the purpose of this chapter, we’ll use ‘NATURAL and MORAL’. The natural are all those which pertain to his existence as an infinite, rational spirit, and the moral are those additional attributes which belong to him as an infinite, righteous spirit.”
THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
1. Self-existence
All the causes of God’s existence are in himself.
John 5:26
Unlike creatures, he has no external source of origin. If there were no creation of the earth & universe, This would not affect existence of god. He had life in himself before the creation. All possibilities of life were in himself. Creatures depend on him for life, motion and existence. His self-existence makes him absolutely independent. The existence of all creatures is traceable to his will. The reasons of God’s existence is in himself alone. Self-existence is an inalienable attribute of his nature. He uses the statement “As I live” to confirm his word in oaths. His promises rest on His self-existence.
Psalm 145:3
In angelic and human thought, there is no greater mystery than self-existence. It defies finite comprehension. God alone knows how he exists, why he exists, why he has always existed, and why he will exist forever.
2. Eternity
God’s self-existence infers an eternal existence. This rules, vis-à-vis, that only an eternal existence could infer a self-existence. If God is self-existent, then God must have been in operation from eternity. If God is an eternal being, then God must be self-existent.
Genesis 21:33
Deuteronomy 33:27
Psalm 90:2
1 Timothy 1:17
Revelation 4:8
The scriptures are clear in the eternity of God. He was, is, and is to come. Professor A.C. Kendrick is quoted in saying “His existence in space is an infinite here; his existence in duration is an infinite now. The waves of two eternities break upon his throne, and it rests unmoved upon the flood.”
2 Peter 3:8
A finite mind is impressed with the difference between a day & week. From God’s infinite mind, There’s no distinction between a day & one thousand years. For God, creation and the last judgment are surveyed with the same glance. This is one of the infinite attributes of God. We need to use an analogy that can be grasped by a finite mind in order to understand how this is possible. Imagine, if you will, a very long river which meanders right and left, zig zagging around cliff sides, foliage, etc. Imagine there is a group of white water rafters entering one end of the river every 5 minutes or so. Because of the meanders and the cliff sides and all, all of the people traveling down the river cannot see the person in front, and cannot see the person behind. This river represents time, and the rafters represent people at different points in history. We can’t see ahead in time, and we can’t see back in time. We can imagine the future and remember or record the past, but that’s not the same as seeing. Now imagine there’s a helicopter hovering above so it can see the entire length of the river. This helicopter can radio down to each of the people boats, and likewise each of the people can look up and clearly see the helicopter. This helicopter represents God. The helicopter can look down and see people as they’re entering the river, he can see people as they’re traveling down the river, and he can see people as they exit the river, all with the same glance. God is the only being who is absolutely eternal. His existence has no beginning or end. Eternity is only his. There is no being like Jehovah.
3. Unity
There is one and only one God.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Psalm 86:10
Isaiah 44:8, 45:22
Mark 12:29
John 17:3
1 Timothy 2:5
James 2:19
God’s unity is involved in his self-existence and the eternity of his being. There is necessity for only one self-existent being in universe. Self-sufficiency is linked to self-existence. He is able to do what is needed and what he chooses. One self-existent being rules out the existence of another, in fact it makes it impossible. There cannot be two self-existent beings. Self-existence implies the possession of all perfections. If there could be two such beings, each would possess all perfections. They would be essentially one and the same. They would fill one & the same infinite sphere. Self-existence claims this position, and eternity strengthens this position. If one God has existed from eternity, there is no place for another. The eternity of God is conclusive proof of his unity. The scriptures are plainly clear that there is ONE God. God claims for himself exclusive worship and service.
4. Immutability
God never has, never does, and never will change.
Psalms 102:27
Malachi 3:6
James 1:17
Creatures change, everything earthly changes. God does not. God is eternally the same. He is infinitely perfect, and that precludes change. If he changed just once, it would imply imperfection. If he changed for the better, it would imply that he was not perfect before. If he changed for the worse, it would imply that he was not perfect before, and less perfect after. God does not change. There cannot be addition to his natural attributes or their capacity & power. It is impossible to be MORE self-existent, to be MORE eternal, or to be MORE omnipotent than he already is. He does not change. God’s moral attributes (more on moral attributes in a little bit) cannot change either, as these, being his inalienable attributes, also bear the stamp of perfection. If God could change in his moral attributes, this would also imply imperfection. If he became better, it would mean he isn’t perfectly good as he is. If he became more just, it would mean that justice has not reached its greatest height in him. If God became more faithful to his word, his veracity would not be perfect as it is. If God became more holy, it would mean he is not infinitely holy now. God, in His natural and moral attributes, is immutable. God’s immutability brings joy to his people. We see change all around us in the world, but God is never changing in purposes of love.
Isaiah 54:10
5. Omnipresence
God is everywhere
Psalm 139:7-12
There is a distinction between omnipresence and immensity. God’s Immensity means He has no limits or boundaries. God’s omnipresence means he is wherever there are creatures. Imagine barren places with no animals or people or plant life. God is there, that is the doctrine of God’s immensity. We are more interested in his omnipresence. He is emphatically present wherever his creatures are. On land, sea, islands, on high & low positions, whether we are rich or poor, wise or ignorant, righteous or wicked, the presence of God is with all. If some astronomers theories are true, that space is infinite, with therefore and infinite number of worlds, then there is an infinite chance of others planets populating people. The Bible doesn’t teach an infinite space (and nothing the Bible says about any science is wrong but that’s another lesson!), but IF this were true, then God would be with them too. This joyful attribute of God should deeply impress us. It should help us restrain from sin, as God is everywhere. God knows every act performed. God knows every word spoken. God knows every thought entertained. God knows every feeling indulged.
6. Omnipotence
God has unlimited power
Genesis 27:1
God can do whatever he chooses to do. Our finite minds get a feeble concept of this power. Our power is within a certain sphere of influence. It is a secondary power derived from God, the supreme source of power. His omnipotence should be accepted by his believers until it becomes a moot point. It is important to keep in mind that God’s omnipotence works along with his perfect judgment & goodness. This means as he has ALL power to do everything he wants, we shouldn’t think would be inclined to misuse his power.
Genesis 1:1
Nehemiah 9:6
Jeremiah 32:17
The most striking proof of God’s omnipotence is the creation. He made something out of nothing! When we create things, it’s only by rearranging pre-existent materials. We make a cup of coffee by rearranging coffee beans with water. God wills things to exist. Genesis 1:3, let there be light and there was light. He didn’t even need a light switch! God’s omnipotence alone was adequate for the creation. Omnipotence belongs inalienably to God.
Psalm 33:9
The almighty power of God is seen in creation, and in the preservation of the creation.
Hebrews 1:3
Colossians 1:17
There is a constant exertion of his power through creations visible and invisible. The invisible thing are far more numerous. There is gravity – a constant power. Magnets have a force which is all part of the creation. There is created a system through human reproduction of humans being given souls. There is a constant exertion of infinite power, which we should witness every day with reverential awe.
Matthew 19:26
Revelation 19:6
If you love God, you rejoice that the power is his! He sits on his throne, controls all things, and exercises his power in behalf of those who trust in him.
7. Omniscience
God knows everything.
1 Chronicles 28:9
Psalm 147:5
Romans 11:33
Hebrews 4:13
1 John 3:20
Revelation 2:23
This, as many things about God, defies our comprehension. One thing my dad told me when I was very young, has stuck with me. My father is a very, VERY smart man. Very intelligent. I probably asked him “Daddy, do you know EVERYTHING?” Because growing up, no matter what my question was, he would always know the answer! He told me “Everything that I do know would fill an entire book. But everything I don’t know would fill a couple libraries.” We gain knowledge by hard, hard, HARD work. We learn one thing, infer other things, draw conclusions and premise on future conclusions. God’s infinite mind knows all things by intuition. Our knowledge is of past, present & future. God’s knowledge does not distinguish past & future from present. As we learned by imagining a helicopter hovering over a river, God’s knowledge is not successive but simultaneous.
Psalm 139:6
The omniscience of God is in harmony with his omnipresence and omnipotence. Being everywhere, God knows what needs to be done. Being omnipotent, he is able to do anything necessary. Thank God! There is one absurd theory brought forth by philosophers: As God’s omnipotence is his ability to do all things but chooses not to do all things (dancing mountains, floating water, etc…), God’s omniscience is his ability to know all things but he chooses not to know all things. This helps the philosopher to limit God’s sphere of influence. We must only point out one thing to reveal the absurdity in this theory: God must first know all things before he could decide which to know or not know.
THE MORAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
1. Goodness
There is a disposition in God to impart happiness to his creation.
Psalms 145:9
Does this include even the irrational creatures, animals? Yes. There is an observable enjoyment in animals. We can watch dogs playing, running around like fools, and know they’re having fun. Even tree frogs enjoy company. Their lifespan (in captivity) is increased considerably when two or more are housed together. This, even as happiness in his creation is apparent, is the lower grade of God’s goodness. The higher manifestations of God’s Goodness is given to rational and accountable beings. This is angels and humans. There is goodness to angels, as goodness expressed in their preservation. Their existence is a perpetual joy. Goodness to Man is differently manifested. It is more complex because man, unlike angels, has a body and soul
Goodness is apparent in man’s Body – senses are inlets of great pleasure and enjoyment
Ecclesiastes 11:7
We can enjoy the creation. We can enjoy the fragrance of flowers, we can enjoy the beauty of nature, we can enjoy the taste of food. God could have made everything painful and disgusting. God could have made everything we see appear repulsive. Everything we taste could have been made to taste bitter. Everything could smell putrefying. Even through the sense of touch we have enjoyment. Our skin’s nerves give us three levels of touch: tickle, pressure and pain, and the pain sense was put there so we know our body is being damaged. But just from the enjoyment side of things, isn’t it a blessing that we don’t feel just pain? God could have created all the sounds of nature to sound sorrowful & depressing. God’s goodness is apparent all over the place. Our bodies were made with a view to physical enjoyment. Goodness is apparent in the created constitution of man’s mind: gaining knowledge is enjoyable. We naturally feel an urge to learn more, which brings us enjoyment. Goodness is apparent in man’s moral organization, as morality enables the appreciation of God, and holds fellowship with God. Man was made to glorify God, to enjoy God forever. The adaptation of man’s morality to these ends shows the goodness of God. In fellowship with God, there is providential care. Where is God’s goodness to man most apparent? Salvation.
Romans 5:8
1 John 4:10
To a certain point, love & goodness of God is same to angels & man. But at the point of salvation, men diverge into GRACE and MERCY. There is no need for grace & mercy toward angels. Grace implies unworthiness in the recipient. We are unworthy because we are sinners. Sinfulness creates unworthiness. If saved, we must be saved as unworthy, because therefore we are saved by God’s grace. There can be no salvation to anyone unworthy except be it by grace. Mercy contemplates the recipient as miserable and wretched. There is pity and compassion and God sympathizes with sinners in their ruin and wretchedness.
2. Justice
God has always, does always, will always, do right. He can make no compromise with wrong. He cannot indulge in evil in any of its forms.
Psalms 145:17
3. Veracity
God speaks the truth
John 17:17
God renders all his judgments according to truth. As this prompts him to say only what is true, it makes it impossible for him to lie. This impossibility is not a natural attribute but a moral one. He does indeed have the ability to lie, but in the infinite excellence of his morals, including his veracity, it is impossible that he would lie. The Bible is true because of his veracity. The veracity of God comprehends his faithfulness. God’s faithfulness includes fulfillment of his promises, and the execution of his threatenings. Promises from God can be trusted because of his veracity and omniscience. Man makes a promise not knowing future. Something as simple as “I’ll see you tomorrow” might not be fulfilled if we die in our sleep. God makes a promise knowing all future. If he sees that the promise would not be possible, he would not make the promise. God’s veracity makes executions of threats as certain as his promises. His incorrigible enemies cannot escape his wrath.
Job 34:22
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
God’s fidelity to his word, be it a promise or a threat, is his veracity.
4. Wisdom
God makes good use of his knowledge. There is a difference between omniscience and wisdom. Knowing everything there is to know is omniscience. Using this knowledge for an infinitely perfect good is wisdom. Wisdom always implies knowledge. Knowledge does not necessarily imply wisdom, as knowledge could be not applied for any good use, or even could be used for evil. There is an obvious display of wisdom in the creation. Everything works, harmoniously, and on the first try too! There is observable wisdom in God’s providential care. God’s omniscience gives Him knowledge that there is a need. God’s wisdom gives Him the understanding of what to do to supply that need. God wisely preserves and governs his creation. Wisdom consists of good ends, and good means to accomplish them. Good outcomes that come from good means (the steps along the way) to accomplish the outcome. If there are bad ends, then the means to affect them exhibit no wisdom. If there are good results, but with bad means, then this also exhibits no wisdom. God works in worthy ends with worthy means.
Psalms 104:24
God’s infinite wisdom is clearly displayed in the saving of lost souls. Making the glory of God and the salvation of man compatible, harmonizing law and justice with mercy and grace, manifesting divine love to sinners and hatred of their sins, how the conscience is made peaceful in both humbling and elevating the saved, in making the savior’s death, instigated by Satan, the means of overturning Satan’s empire!
Romans 11:33
5. Holiness
This is not necessarily a single moral attribute, but the combination of all the moral attributes of God. Consider these verses to gain insight on the beauty of God’s holiness
Exodus 15:11
Isaiah 6:3
Revelation 15:4
In these passages goodness, justice, veracity, and wisdom are not mentioned, but they are all applied in the moral excellence. Andrew Fuller is quoted saying: “There are certain perfections which all who acknowledge a God agree in attributing to him; such are those of wisdom, power, immutability, etc. These, by Christian divines, are usually termed his natural perfections. There are others which no less evidently belong to deity, such as goodness, justice, veracity, etc., all which may be expressed in one word—holiness; and these are usually termed his moral perfections.”
meet the family
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