THE CHARACTER OF GOD:

THE CHARACTER OF GOD:
“COMMUNICABLE” ATTRIBUTES (PART 1)

How is God like us in his being and in mental and moral attributes?

EXPLANATION AND SCRIPTURAL BASIS


A. Attributes Describing God’s Being

1. Spirituality.

“God is spirit” (John 4:24)

We should not think of God as having size or dimensions. He also forbids
his people to think of his very being as similar to anything else in the
physical creation.

God’s spirituality means that God exists as a being that is not made of any
matter, has no parts or dimensions, is unable to be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence.

2. Invisibility.

“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and
glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17)

God’s invisibility means that God’s total essence, all of his spiritual
being, will never be able to be seen by us, yet God still shows himself
to us through visible, created things.


B. Mental Attributes

3. Knowledge (Omniscience)

“God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:20)

God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible (past, present,
and future) in one simple eternal act.

4. Wisdom

“the only wise God” Romans 16:27

God always knows and chooses the best goals and the best means to them.
Wisdom is a moral and intellectual quality.

5. Truthfulness (and Faithfulness)

“The LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King…The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish
From under the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:10-11)

God always represents things as they really are. All of God’s knowledge
and words are true and the final standard of truth.

God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised.

C. Moral Attributes

6. Goodness

“No one is good but God alone” (Luke 18:19)

All that God is and does is worthy of approval, and he is the final standard
of goodness.

7. Love

“God is Love” (1 John 4:8)

God is freely and eternally giving of himself for the good of others.

8. Mercy, Grace, Patience

“I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD for his mercy
is great…” (2 Samuel 24:14)

God’s kindness toward those in misery and distress.

“I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on
whom I will show mercy” (Romans 9:15)

God’s kindness toward those who deserve only punishment.

“slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6)
God’s kindness in withholding punishment of those who sin over a period
of time.

9. Holiness

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3)

God is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor.

10. Peace (or Order)

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (I Corinthians 14:33)

In God’s being and actions he is separate from all confusion and disorder,
yet he is continually active in innumerable well-ordered, fully controlled,
simultaneous actions.

11. Righteousness, Justice

“All his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and right is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

God always acts in accordance with what is right and is himself the
the final standard of what is right.

12. Jealousy

“For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it…My glory I will not give
to another” (Isaiah 48:11)

God continually seeks to protect his own honor.

13. Wrath

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
wickedness of men” (Romans 1:18)

God intensely hates all sin.