God is called the Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8), a Greek term (, The angel Gabriel says to Mary, With God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37), In Titus 1:2 he is called (literally) the unlying God or the God who never lies.. 103:8-9; Rom. Taking these two considerations together, we can say the following: in Gods perspective, any extremely long period of time is as if it just happened. He loves you and me. 3:20; Eph. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Do I not fill heaven and earth? The fact that he is unchanging means he can never not be faithful. But were also made in his image (Genesis 1:2628), so in other ways, God shares his attributes with us. God, however, has never once been in need of anything. When we meditate on this truth, especially in light of his other attributes of goodness and love, it makes it easier to trust him with all we have going on in our lives, from the very serious to the silly and mundane. Holiness, justice, love, goodness, truth, and mercy are all examples of the non-moral attributes of God. In one sense, Gods glory isnt an attribute, but the superlative honor that everything in the universe should give to God (Isaiah 43:7, Romans 3:23, John 17:5). Compiled & Edited by BST & Crosswalk Staff. David says in Psalm 103:8, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.. 14:9; 1 Cor. Goodness of God means In goodness of God he is absolutely perfect. True 66:1-2; Acts 17:24), Contrasted with the world (Psa. Whither shall I go from your Spirit?Or whither shall I flee from your presence?If I ascend to heaven, you are there!If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!If I take the wings of the morningand dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,even there your hand shall lead me,and your right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:710. He knows our way, and is with us always. The knowledge is comprehensive and it includes moral factor. Omnipresence (God is everywhere at once, but we can only be in one place at a time) Had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have justly merited the doom; and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself. 11:25-27), GOOD: God is morally excellent, and does only good (Gen. 1:31; Deut. For instance, love would be a moral attribute, whereas omnipotence would be a non-moral attribute. He is infinitely, unchangeably, unfailingly merciful forgiving, lovingly kind toward us. Thus, he is a God of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:4). Not only does it speak of God's strength, but also it speaks of the sovereignty of God and the goodness of God. . The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3). 100:3 [thus excluding the view of Mormonism that Jehovah and Elohim are distinct beings]), Implied by the doctrines of self-existence, transcendence, and omnipotence, Created all things (Gen. 1:1; Psa. Not that anyone has seen the Father except him who is from God (John 6:46). 3. 8:2-3), God can only be known as the Son reveals Him (John 1:18; Matt. Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17). We read in Psalm 90:4, For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. The phrase a thousand years is a figurative expression for as long a time as one might imagine. God is unlike anything or anyone we could ever know or imagine. If I ascend to heaven, you are there! Dr. Wayne Grudem. A wise person uses his heart, soul and mind together with skill and competence. 13:8), Gods relations with changing men spoken of as God changing (Ex. 90:4; 2 Pet. The non moral attributes of God are part of his being regardless whether He was a good or bad God. The names and titles given to God in Scripture reveal what he is like. 1. He may be safely relied upon. ONE: God is a perfectly unique and simple being, existing as one infinite Being called God. Acknowledging these non-moral attributes of God can strengthen the faith and provide comfort for the believer in many ways. Whether they loosely believe in a concept like the As Dr. Wayne Grudem explains it, systematic theology is any study that answers the question, What does the whole Bible teach us today? about any given topic.This highly organized, topica What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? He promises He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). False ________ literally means "all-knowing" Omniscience A person can know God better by studying the attributes ascribed to Him throughout Scripture. The most common way to classify Gods attributes divides them into incommunicable attributes (traits that God doesnt share or communicate to others) and communicable attributes (traits that God shares or communicates with us). God can be depended on to be consistent, d. We must separate ourselves from the practice of evil, e. We must not try to force God into something we can picture, f. We cannot do anything for Gods benefit, h. We can never accuse God of being unfair, i. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12, O, taste and see that the Lord is good Psalm 34:8, According to Tozer, the goodness of God disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. . His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. Duet 32:4. Between the things God says and does, what other people say about him, and the life of Jesus, the Bible gives us numerous descriptions of Gods character. For although we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind (Ephesians 2:3), we now trust in Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Now, when God looks on us, he sees Christs perfect holiness. Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? Job 11:7-11. What are Gods attributes? There's no place on this earth we can go that He doesn't see and know of., Tozer writes this about Gods omniscience: God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that He knows all that can be known. God always does what is right, and He is the final standard of what is right. 102:25-27; I John 2:15-17), Implied by doctrine of creation (Gen. 1:1; Isa. Jesus tells us, You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Each attribute is simply a way of describing one aspect of Gods total character or being. Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. Tozer says this about what Gods holiness demands: Since Gods first concern for His universe is its moral health, that is, its holiness, whatever is contrary to this is necessarily under His eternal displeasure. MORALLY PERFECT: The following are the moral attributes of God; they are listed here together because God's moral nature is perfectly unified, with no tension between His wrath and His love, for example. Tempt people to sin (James 1:13). 1:26-28; Rev. Amen (Romans 16:27). 107:8; 118:1; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:18; Rom. Gods mercy, patience, and grace may be seen as three separate attributes, or as specific aspects of Gods goodness. We never have to worry about drying up his never-ending well of goodness, peace, mercy and grace. As with Gods other perfect attributes, Christians find it easier to affirm the goodness of God when things are going well. 8:16; Psa. God is reliable and faithful in his words. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. For example: The omnisapience of God refers to Him being all wise. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things (Matthew 20:15)? What does it mean that God is just? If we love God, we will obey his commandments (1 John 5:3) and thus do what is pleasing to him. God is the sum of all desirable qualities. 1:14-19), RIGHTEOUS: God is perfectly moral in all that He does, doing everything right ( Isa. Nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish(Genesis 18:14;Jeremiah 32:17, 27;Luke 1:37). Immutability God's nature does not change in any way. So when we read that God remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself, we see these his attributes working together. Indeed, when we see wisdom like this, we realize just how much our limited, finite wisdom compares with the limitless, infinite wisdom of God. When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer questions like, Who is God, What is God like,and What kind of God is he? These attributes are possessed by three sacred personalities, identified in the New Testament as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is inexhaustibly, actively compassionate. 33:6; 102:25; John 1:3; Rom. He knows our thoughts and motives (Psalms 139:1-4). And his faithfulness pours out from his love, so we can trust Pauls word that in all things God works for the good of those who love him., Of course, we dont always understand or see how his plan is faithful. The most common way to classify God's attributes divides them into incommunicable attributes (traits that God doesn't share or "communicate" to others) and communicable attributes (traits that God shares or "communicates" with us). 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Eph. When possible, they use another name., I the Lord do not change. 1:11-12; James 1:17; Heb. Implied by doctrines of self-existence, transcendence, omnipresence, and creation. His love is personal. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good (Psalm 106:1). And yet, since we as human beings are made in the image of God, there are echoes of his attributes in our lives that we share with him. It means more than he is simply fair. God approves and determines every action necessary for the existence and activity of himself and all creation. In confronting Abraham concerning Sarahs laughter and unbelief (Genesis 18:14). Sam Storms writes this about the good news of Gods unchanging nature: What all this means, very simply, is that God is dependable! Nothing in creation can hinder him from carrying out his will. Its important to note the anything he wills part of that statement, because God cannot do anything that is contradictory or contrary to his nature. But Christians can take comfort in these moments by remembering these attributes of God, for when we go through hard times, we know that God is nevertheless unchangingly faithful, good, always with us and wise. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses (Daniel 5:20-21). As with all attributes, we can only begin to comprehend Gods love in light of his other attributes. On the right are listed various lessons which can be learned from those attributes. Omnipotence derives from two Latin words, omni, all, and potens, powerful, and means all-powerful. Numerous passages speak to Gods omnipotence: However, there are some things that God cannot do. Thats why we need Christ. Theology truly matters. A truly wise person is someone who understands all the facts and makes the best decisions. Some of Gods incommunicable attributes include his: Some of Gods communicable attributes include his: This breakdown seems pretty straightforward, but while it can be helpful, it isnt perfect. There is therefore only one God, who is called Yahweh in the Old Testament, and who reveals Himself in the persons of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the New Testament; thus excluding polytheism, tritheism (belief in three gods), and subordinationism (in which Christ is a lesser god subordinate to the Almighty God). IMMANENT: Though transcendent, God is present with and in the world; excluding deism (God is out there but not here). so that no human being might boast in the presence of God 1 Corinthians 1:21, 27, 29. CREATOR: God is the One through whom all things have come into existence; by His unbounded power and knowledge He created finite existence ex nihilo and formed the universe as it now is. 4:35, 39; Psa. His presence is always with us. . These passages are often sorted into attributes of God, a biblical framework we can use to talk about what God is like and how we know that. 6:3; 8:13; Hab. If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? Holiness is the attribute of God that binds all the others together.. 45:21; Zeph. This is an online-exclusive Viewpoint from the Christian Research Journal. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6. 3:6; Rom. I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it (Isaiah 46:11). Please check errors and resubmit. Tozer answers this by reminding us that we find the answer through the Christian doctrine of justification and redemption. Here are a few examples of Gods limitless knowledge as portrayed in Scripture: Wisdom goes beyond knowledge and specifies that God always chooses the best goals and the best means to achieve those goals. We can be wise, but we can never be as wise as God. Theres nowhere in the entire universe, on land or sea, in heaven or in hell, where one can flee from Gods presence. O Lord, how manifold are your works! All our obligations to God can be summarized in this: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. He protects his honor. . Matthew 5:45 tells us, For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.. 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