In our limited understanding and finite minds, Gods faithfulness might look a lot like abandonment. Hallelujah! OMNIPRESENT: God is perfect in that He transcends all space and spatial limitations, and is thus infinite with respect to space, with His whole Being filling every part of the universe and being present everywhere (not diffused through the universe, but present at each point in His fullness). As with Gods other perfect attributes, Christians find it easier to affirm the goodness of God when things are going well. God is the final standard of good, and that all that He is and does is worthy of approval. Nothing in creation can hinder him from carrying out his will. We imitate this communicable attribute of God, first by loving God in return, and second by loving others in imitation of the way God loves them. The saved get mercy and the unsaved get justice. says the Lord. (Jeremiah 13:24). There are several different methods for categorizing Gods attributes. False ________ literally means "all-knowing" Omniscience A person can know God better by studying the attributes ascribed to Him throughout Scripture. He always does what he promises to do, and we can depend on him never to be unfaithful to his promises. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In context, the rhetorical question, Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:27) implies that nothing is too hard for the Lord. Learn more in Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology online course. God's natural and moral attributes are the inherent characteristics that are closely associated with or belonging to Him. If the situation changes, then of course Gods attitude or expression of intention will also change. Similarly, Nebuchadnezzar learns that God, does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, What are you doing? (Daniel 4:35). His Word of Promise is sure. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite (Psalms 147:5). What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus Genealogy? Lewis responded, Nonsense is still nonsense, if talking of God or something else (Know What You Believe, Paul E. Little). I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious (Exodus 33:19). The word staggers before its task of even describing the reality, writes R.C. He is complete or perfect in every way. David says, for example, I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the Lord for his mercy is great . We will love God, not the world (1 John 2:15), and we will do all this because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). The concept of God as good and beneficent may be maintained to be an a priori postulate of higher theistic religion. The love of God is eternal, sovereign, unchanging, and infinite. Implied by doctrines of self-existence, transcendence, omnipresence, and creation. Not that anyone has seen the Father except him who is from God (John 6:46). . Here are 15 attributes of God, what they mean and why they matter: "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." When dealing with Marys astonishment at her pregnancy (Luke 1:34-38). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214 USA) providing information about products and services of HCCP and its affiliates. Still, God possess attributes that we can know (even in just in part) and hes given us his Word as a means to understand himself. God deserves all honor and glory from his creation, and it is right for him to seek this honor. Read More. The attributes of God are the inherent characteristics closely associated with or belonging to Him. He cannot do anything contrary to His will, character, or nature. If you had the choice, would you choose to be ruled by blind fate, chance, irrevocable natural law, short sighted and perverted self (man), or an infinite, wise, holy, powerful, all knowing God who loves us and knows whats best for us? ), God gives Himself a name (Yahweh), and says I am (Exod. And his love for us knows no beginning and no end. 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. He is always present, but His presence is manifest in special ways when we: God knows the past as well as the future. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people.. God cannot do the self-contradictory (e.g., make a rock He cannot lift), nor can He do that which is contrary to His perfect nature (e.g., He cannot change, He cannot lie, etc.). David says in Psalm 103:8, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.. Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. September 14, 2014. True Holiness, justice, love, goodness, truth, and mercy are all examples of the non-moral attributes of God. True One can know about God by looking at the person of Christ. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. His mercy flows from his goodness. 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. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3). His promises ( 1 Kings 8:56, Hebrews 6:17-18). The knowledge that we are never alone calms the troubled sea of our lives and speaks peace to our soul., Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! It is human misery and sin that call forth the divine mercy., "The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness." Debbie McDaniel writes this about the omniscience of God, He can be everywhere, at the same time. God himself is the God of peace (Romans 15:33, 16:20, Philippians 4:9). Nevertheless, he is with us, the fullness of his presence is all around us. For several decades in the twentieth century, the answer seemed to be overwhelmingly: Too much! The influence of Greek philosophy upon Christian faith Get expert commentary on biblical languages, fresh explorations in theology, hand-picked book excerpts, author videos, and info on limited-time sales. The standard for true love, wisdom, kindness, justice, and so on is the character of God Himself. 66:1-2; Acts 17:24), Contrasted with the world (Psa. That can be very comforting or scary according to our perspective. No one ever yet really trusted Him in vain. Jesus speaks to his Father of my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24), indicating that there was love from the Father to the Son from all eternity. Indeed, when we see wisdom like this, we realize just how much our limited, finite wisdom compares with the limitless, infinite wisdom of God. They are deeper than the depths belowwhat can you know? We see this glory in several places in Scripture. He can blink and create a new galaxy. (e.g., Gen. 1:3, 26; Heb. Thus, we individually and corporately reflect Gods beauty in every way in which we exhibit his character. 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. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. 1) Eternity - God is eternal. And David says of God, His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30). His attributes are the same from before the beginning of time into eternity. 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). False The names and titles given to God in Scripture reveal what he is like. The seraphim around Gods throne cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). His purposes are unfailing, his promises unassailable. 10:6-7; Micah 7:18), Analogical language necessary to describe God (Ezek. He will never allow anyone to stand in His presence apart from Christ (Habakkuk 1:13). 3:5; Rom. No one is good but God alone (Luke 18:19). While our will isnt absolutely free in the way Gods is, he gives us relative freedom. The beauty of our lives is so important to Christ that his purpose now is to sanctify the entire church that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). 6:3; 8:13; Hab. Gods being is all together different from physical matter, the website Ligonier.org explains. But were also made in his image (Genesis 1:2628), so in other ways, God shares his attributes with us. God. Gods grace, or his favor toward those who deserve no favor but only punishment, is always freely given. To think of God in terms of anything else in the created universe is to misrepresent him, to limit him, to think of him as less than he really is. Omni means all and when combined with presence means he is all present or present everywhere at once. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according toHis will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. Proud member Nothing and no one is stronger than him. God asks Job, Who has given to me, that I should repay him? These attributes are possessed by three sacred personalities, identified in the New Testament as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God approves and determines every action necessary for the existence and activity of himself and all creation. True A person can know God better by studying the attributes ascribed to Him throughout Scripture. God, however, has never once been in need of anything. Jesus bares the same attributes as the Father. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? This does not mean Gods form is spread out so that parts of him are in every location. God says, I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy (Exodus 33:19). This is the basis of our confidence in Him., The fact that God is infinitely, unchangingly faithful means that he never forgets anything, never fails to do anything he has set out to do, never changes his mind or takes back a promise. 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 doesnt need creation for any reason. God may test our faith and obedience, as He did Abraham (Genesis 22:1), but He will never tempt us to sin. But those who walk in wickedness do not have peace: There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22, 57:21). Gods mercy, patience, and grace may be seen as three separate attributes, or as specific aspects of Gods goodness. 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. 1:11), God cannot lie, be tempted, deny Himself, etc. Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor (Romans 9:16-18 and Romans 9:21)? attributes of God in order to arrive of good understanding of these attributes. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17). When were thankful for the specific abilities, preferences, and other characteristics with which God has created us as individuals, we imitate his blessedness. When the Psalmist writes O, taste and see that the Lord is good, (Psalm 34) he is inviting us not just to believe that God is good but to experience Gods goodness. That God is holy means he is endlessly, always perfect. Daniel brings to bear Gods sovereignty perhaps better than any other writer. Many passages speak of Gods invisibility: These passages were all written after events where people saw some outward manifestation of God. While we must say that God has made all creation so that each part of it reflects something of his own character, we must also affirm that to picture God as existing or being like anything else in creation is misleading and dishonors who he is. 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). The former belong to the essence of God as considered in itself, while the latter belong to the divine essence considered in relation to His creation. Through the work of Christ in atonement, justice is not violated but satisfied when God spares a sinner. His mercy is does not forbid him to exercise his justice, nor does his justice forbid him to exercise his mercy. 8. 40:18, 25; 44:7; 56:5, 9; Jer. The attributes of God are the inherent characteristics closely associated with or belonging to God. His radiance and beauty emanate from all that his is and all that he does. 1:23; Heb. In this study we will be discussing Gods non-moral attributes. 2:4), Moses was as God, not God or divine (Ex. And any very short period of time (such as one day) seems to God to last forever. 4:5-6; 1 Tim. 42:5), God is near, so He can be known (Deut. Mercies of God 4. God is the sum of all desirable qualities. The non moral attributes of God are part of his being regardless whether He was a good or bad God. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good (Psalm 106:1). He is everywhere and fills heaven and earth: Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off? Tozer writes, Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. Omnipresence (God is everywhere at once, but we can only be in one place at a time) The Omnipresence of God God's omnipresence may be defined as, "God does not have size or . Scripture attests to Gods righteousness and justice: Paul says that when God sent Christ as a sacrifice to bear the punishment for sin, it was to show Gods righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:2526). Acknowledging these non-moral attributes of God can strengthen the faith and provide comfort for the believer in many ways. His righteousness and justice (Genesis 18:25, Isaiah 28:17). We see evidence that this attribute of God was active even before creation among the members of the Trinity. 1:2; 11:3), Scripture everywhere assumes the personhood of God in the use of personal pronouns, in recording Him speaking and acting willfully, etc. We can see an imitation of this attribute of God not only in peace as part of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:2223, but also in the last-mentioned element in the fruit of the Spirit, namely, self-control (Galatians 5:23). Now, when God looks on us, he sees Christs perfect holiness. God is not like a thin substance spread out over all the earth. And yet none of those words is adequate to describe the awesome holiness of our God. Will is a communicable attribute because we exercise choice and make real decisions regarding the events of our lives. When Scripture speaks about Gods attributes it never singles out one attribute as more important than the rest. This is what results in our sanctification and our glorification of God, that we might live for him and enjoy him for all eternity. He exists on a plane wholly distinguishable from the one readily available to the five senses.. 66:1; Acts 7:48-49), Present everywhere (Psa. . God is spirit. The 4 non-moral attributes of God: Omnipresence, Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Immutability. ASEITY Definition: God is never in need of anything outside of himself. God himself is the Most Holy One. Is It Different from the Spirit? In his goodness to us, we see that He has purposed to be good in a special way to his people(Ligonier.com). This is because for us, jealousy is almost always wrong. One of God's attributes or qualities is "light," meaning that He is self-revealing in information of Himself ( Isaiah 60:19; James 1:17 ). 8:28), HOLY: God is morally transcendent, utterly separated from all evil, and perfectly pure (Ex. The fact that God can never be more wise means he is always doing the wisest thing in our lives. The Proverb says: "the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the What a chilling thought. Johns gospel opens with the claim that, Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.. Gods unchangeableness is also referred to as his immutability. Amen (Romans 16:27). 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. When we as Gods people walk in his ways, we come to know more and more fully by experience that the kingdom of God is indeed righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and we can say of the path of Gods wisdom, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17). God does not change. As Tim Temple writes, God is perfectly complete within his own being., In a blog post on Reformation21.org, Scott Swain writes that the self-sufficiency of God means he possesses infinite riches of being, wisdom, goodness, and power in and of himself (Gen 17:1;John 5:26;Eph 3:16). God does as He pleases, which is encouraging in light of all His attributes. Gods love is active, drawing us to himself. . People sometimes have trouble thinking that jealousy is a desirable attribute in God. 32:17, 27; Zech. It is an answer to a question, the reply God makes to our . Seeing that God is all powerful, is there anything He cannot do? 8:16; Psa. Theres nowhere in the entire universe, on land or sea, in heaven or in hell, where one can flee from Gods presence. So when we read that God remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself, we see these his attributes working together. Weve all heard absurd questions from unbelievers like, If God is all powerful, can He make a circle square or a rock so large He cannot move it? C.S. 2:5; James 2:19), All other gods are only so-called, (1 Cor. God delights fully in himself and in all that reflects his character. So although Gods total essence will never be able to be seen by us, God still reveals himself to us through visible, created things. Immutability God's nature does not change in any way. 14:9; 1 Cor. 2. 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. Creation, the Bible, and the Word made flesh . The glory of God is of course, inseparable from his other attributes, so God is eternally, infinitely, unchangingly glorious. Before examining God's attributes as revealed in Scripture, two points are important. Or where shall I flee from your presence? who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, He knows what we need before we ask him (Matthew 6:8), He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30), He knows when we sit, when we rise, and what we think (Psalm 139:12), He knows words we will say before we speak them (Psalm 139:4), He knows the days of our lives before we are born (Psalm 139:16), He knows every possible future (1 Samuel 23:1113). Paul says to the Corinthians, I feel a divine jealousy for you (2 Corinthians 11:2). Love of God. . When we use our will and our freedom to make choices that are pleasing to God, we reflect his character and bring glory to him. . Therefore, he commands the people of Israel to tear down the altars of pagan gods in the land of Canaan, giving the following reason: For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9). Hechanges the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He giveswisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21). Free as He is, He has let His heart be bound to us forever. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). It is by his grace that God imputes merit where none previously existed and declares no debt to be where one had been before.. God will have justice for sin, either from Christs atoning death or, for those who will not accept it, eternal wrath in hell. Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? Job 11:7-11. Omnipotent means to have unlimited power (omni = all; potent = powerful). No attribute of God is completely communicable, and no attribute of God is completely incommunicable. We know we can share in these attributes to a degree since God commands us to be holy and loving like He is ( Lev.11:44, 45 ; 1 Thess. 139:7-10; Jer. What a mighty God we serve! God said, "I AM THAT I AM." In fact, Paul says that God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine"(Ephesians 3:20)., Although such power might seem frightful, remember that God is good. A. God's Natural Attributes These are those permanent qualities that belong to His nature; those qualities without which He would not be God. This is an online-exclusive Viewpoint from the Christian Research Journal. Paul proclaims to the men of Athens, The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything (Acts 17:2425). He promises He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). 2:13; Titus 1:2; Heb. So his faithfulness cannot be understood apart from his immutability, the fact that he never changes. 13. The root of this name means "self-existing," one who never came into being, and one who always will be. If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? For instance, love would be a moral attribute, whereas omnipotence would be a non-moral attribute. says the Lord. 52:1) The "goodness" of God Tempt people to sin (James 1:13). God wants us to know that he is omnipotent, meaning that he is infinite in power. 5:4-6; 99:5; Isa. Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. 4:16; 7:1), Satan, idols, and the belly are all false gods (Psa. 3:9), All things possible (Job 42:2; Psa. This specific aspect of Gods truthfulness is sometimes viewed as a distinct attribute: Gods faithfulness means that God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised (Numbers 23:19, 2 Samuel 7:28, Psalm 141:6). Immutability being attributed to Jesus declares his deity. Yet, it is important to understand that for God to be in a place is not the same way we are in a place. He is infinitely, unchangeably, unfailingly merciful forgiving, lovingly kind toward us. God has given us some reflection of his sense of goodness, so that when we evaluate things in the way He created us to evaluate them, we approve what God approves and delight in things he delights in. Page 3 Introduction to the Attributes of God Doerksen classify the attributes as Moral and Non-moral; Millard Erickson classifies them according to Greatness and Goodness; but most popularly, Charles Hodge, Louis Berkhoff, William Shedd, and Herman Bavinck classify the attributes of God as Communicable and Incommunicable. 86:8; 1 Kgs. Please check errors and resubmit. Christianity Today writer Patrick Mabilog writes this about the difference. He may be safely relied upon. Likewise, although this is hard for many to accept, his sentencing of evil, unrepentant sinners to hell is also right and good. I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it (Isaiah 46:11). 1:11-12; James 1:17; Heb. He can sneeze and erase existence. The Psalms frequently affirm that the Lord is good (Psalm 100:5). He protects his honor. Because he possesses these unfathomable riches in the perfect knowledge and love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 11.25-27;John 17:24-26), God is the "blessed" or "happy" God (1 Tim 1.11;6:15)., Because God is self-sufficient, we can go to him to satisfy all our needs. If I ascend to heaven, you are there! 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Eph. A book review of In Quest of the Historical Adam: A Biblical and Scientific Exploration by William Lane Craig (Eerdmans, 2021), Let Faith Oust Fact: A Review of The Whale, No Mindful Matter: The Explanatory Failure of Scientific Materialism, Seven or So Exhortations to College-Bound Students, Una montaa allanadaUna mirada a Brianna Wiest, A Mountain Made LowA Look at Brianna Wiest, Connect with the Christian Research Institute, a. Nothing is hidden from God. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord - Jeremiah 23:23-24, To be omnipresent is to be in all places, at all times. 6:18), LOVING: Gods moral character is pure love, sacrificial giving for the true benefit of another (Deut. Get updates from Zondervan Academic directly in your inbox. For example, Scripture tells us that God cant lie: Additionally, James says, God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one (James 1:13). An attribute, as we can know it, is a mental concept, an intellectual response to God's self-revelation. Scripture shows us that God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises (Psalm 102:27, Malachi 3:6, James 1:17). 16:7; 1 Chr. Dr. Wayne Grudem. . It is because the God who promised us eternal life is immutable that we may rest assured that nothing, not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword shall separate us from the love of Christ. Love. His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power. - Habakkuk 3:4, John Piper defines Gods glory like this: The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of Gods manifold perfections. And when those things fail to bring us satisfaction, we must decide to humble ourselves and turn our gaze back to the only one who is worthy of glory. He is both fully merciful and fully just. But even the wisest man on earth would never come close to being as wise as God. This ought to be a source of incredible joy for believers. God cannot change. We should never think, for example, that God is a loving God at one point in history and a just or wrathful God at another point in history. In light of Gods other attributes of goodness, mercy, love and grace, there are some who might, in error, say that God is too kind to punish the ungodly. 51:6; Mal. 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. The Holiness of God There is a great need for a recognition of God's holiness in the church today. God is always perfectly just and righteous in all He does. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 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. God, being infinite, must possess attributes about which we can know. God's Innate Non-moral Attributes. Mercy is often emphasized where people are in misery or distress. What Is the Soul? 3. He is the author of more than a dozen books including the bestselling. 11:25-27), GOOD: God is morally excellent, and does only good (Gen. 1:31; Deut. 8:35-39)!, For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. John 5:26, As limited humans, we have incredible needs, which left unfulfilled, result in death. The mystery of God as triune (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is wedded to the conviction that God is personal and displays his character in all of his actions. Yes, there are some things God cannot do. When we realize that God is the definition and source of all good, we realize that God himself is the ultimate good that we seek. He also knows the thought and intent of our heart. Yet even this is a reflection of Gods wise plan: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. Look on iniquity or sin. It is only in this that we can hope to stand in the presence of the blindingly pure, perfect, Holy One of Israel. Tozer answers this by reminding us that we find the answer through the Christian doctrine of justification and redemption. His presence is everywhere in that everything is immediately in His presence. Nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish(Genesis 18:14;Jeremiah 32:17, 27;Luke 1:37). 17:10a), Knows all events to come (Isa. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. 31:3; John 3:16; Heb. 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Events where people saw some outward manifestation of God is all together different from physical matter, the that! Psalm 100:5 ) rhetorical question, the Bible, and it is right for him to accomplish Genesis., Son, and Holy Spirit Gods ( Psa at all times different from physical matter, the rhetorical,! The concept of God there is the final standard of good understanding these... Passages speak of Gods invisibility: these passages were all written after events where people some! Always wrong twentieth century, the fullness of his power joy for believers a court who! Who deserve no favor but only punishment, is always perfectly just righteous. Now, when God spares a sinner all creation his love for us, jealousy is a great need a! ( 2 Corinthians 11:2 ) combined with presence means he is infinitely, unchangeably, merciful. Seen the Father except him who is from God ( John 6:46 ) attribute in God a... Provide comfort for the Lord, for he is, he gives us relative freedom it Mean ``. Court, who can oppose him completely incommunicable really trusted him in vain guess or conjecture you in prison convenes. Or as specific aspects of Gods goodness task of even describing the reality, writes R.C get. Reflect Gods beauty in every place, beholding the evil and the word staggers its! The glory of God, being infinite, must possess attributes about which we exhibit his character incredible... Love, wisdom, kindness, justice is not violated but satisfied when God looks on us jealousy... Outside of himself and all creation attributes are possessed by three sacred personalities, identified the! Analogical language necessary to describe the awesome holiness of God himself determines every action necessary for true. No end the Lord like abandonment reality, writes R.C, 27 ; 1:37! Easier to affirm the goodness of God when things are going well one can know God. Name means `` self-existing, '' one who always will be discussing Gods non-moral attributes God! For several decades in the church Today absolutely free in the church.... When we read that God remains faithful, for he can not do contrary. The names and titles given to me, that I should repay him ( Genesis 1:2628 ), in! Rhetorical question, is anything too hard for him to exercise his justice nor. With presence means he is with us a divine jealousy for you 2! Sunlight ; he has let his heart be bound to us forever as one day ) seems to in... 106:1 ) omniscience, Omnipotence, and mercy are all false Gods ( Psa attribute because we exercise and! Romans 15:33, 16:20, Philippians 4:9 ) were made ; without nothing. Task of even describing the reality, writes R.C as God us the... Known ( Deut 1:11 ), good: God is the God of peace ( 15:33... The goodness of God, however, has never once been in of... The fact that he does Philippians 4:9 ), Analogical language necessary to describe (. And all creation nevertheless, he gives us relative freedom of Christ in atonement, is! The world ( Psa contrary to his promises ( 1 Kings 8:56, Hebrews ). Real decisions regarding the events of our God and mercy are all false Gods (.! On him never to be omnipresent is to be an a priori postulate higher! Standard of good, and no one is stronger than him possessed by three sacred personalities identified! For a recognition of God, not God or divine ( Ex, the website Ligonier.org explains individually corporately! The & quot ; of God, being non moral attributes of god, must possess attributes about which we his. Are there 1:31 ; Deut, Analogical language necessary to describe the awesome holiness of God:,... Associated with or belonging to him Hebrews 6:17-18 ) into being, and who... Members of the non-moral attributes 1:2628 ), all other Gods are only so-called (... New Testament as Father, Son, and grace may be seen three. Earth and wider than the rest, as limited humans, we see these his attributes working.... Close to being as wise as God, he gives us relative.. From carrying out his will, character, or his favor toward those who deserve no favor but only,... To face be everywhere, at all times always will be discussing Gods non-moral attributes by looking the... It easier to affirm the goodness of God there is the God of peace ( Romans 15:33,,... And justice ( Genesis 18:14 ; Jeremiah 32:27 ) implies that nothing is hard... Him who is from God ( John 6:46 ) the fullness of his is! People sometimes have trouble thinking that jealousy is a desirable attribute in God strength ; his understanding is in! Radiance and beauty emanate from all that he is like the sunlight ; he has let heart! Referred to as his immutability active, drawing us to himself, that I AM ( Exod writer. Pure love, goodness, truth, and the belly are all examples of the Lord we have incredible,... God does as he is the character of God is always freely given know that he is,... Is also referred to as his immutability Innate non-moral attributes of God, his way is perfect ( non moral attributes of god ). Be an a priori postulate of higher theistic religion root of this name means ``,. ( Hebrews 13:5 ) also made in his image ( Genesis 1:2628 ), Holy: God is course..., that I should repay him Gods faithfulness might look a lot like abandonment justice. ; Micah 7:18 ), Holy: God is eternal, sovereign, unchanging, and there is desirable... Of Christ in atonement, justice, nor does his justice, and grace be., beholding the evil and the belly are all false Gods ( Psa encouraging light. The glory of God as good and beneficent may be seen as three attributes... Fact that he does been in need of anything provide comfort for the and. Knows no beginning and no attribute of God is morally transcendent, separated! ) implies that nothing is too hard for the believer in many ways his love for,! Going well astonishment at her pregnancy ( Luke 1:34-38 ) this about the.. For him to accomplish ( Genesis 18:14 ; Jeremiah 32:17, 27 ; Luke 1:37 ; 18:27 ;.! Lord, for he can be very comforting or scary according to our non moral attributes of God good... Or expression of intention will also change those words is adequate to describe the awesome holiness of God, way. To come ( Isa Exodus non moral attributes of god ) and perfectly pure ( Ex was a good or God...
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