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What the Bible Says About God
Has anyone ever been assigned a broader topic than this one? I doubt it.
Nevertheless, we shall attempt to address the subject in a useful way. Although
the Bible does not contain a formal definition of "God," (as it also does not
seek to prove His existence formally), yet His Being, attributes and
characteristics are seen on every page. As far as formal definitions go, the
Westminster Catechism says: "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and
unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and
truth."
While this is a good start, we need to make sure we measure our concepts against
the Bible, and not create a God "according to our own image."
How God Is Known
One inescapable fact the Bible presents is that, in contrast to pagan deities,
God desires that man know Him. He walked with man in the Garden in the cool of
the day (Gen. 3:8). He wants intimacy with man. Galatians 2:16 indicates that
God so desired fellowship with man that He "helped" man rather than angels when
they sinned. Consider Jeremiah 31:34: "And they shall teach no more every man
his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall
all know me." Hosea 4:6 pinpointed the problem that Judah was having: "My people
are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." Knowledge here is not intellectual
knowledge, but the knowledge of intimacy.
Since God wants us to know Him, is it reasonable to conclude that He has
revealed Himself to man? God is known in three ways: by His acts, by His written
revelation, and in fellowship. Romans 1:18-20 indicates that man can know
something about God by looking at one of His acts of creation: "For the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse." While knowing that God is divine (supernatural),
and that He is powerful are essential, this knowledge is only a fraction of what
God desires that we know about Him.
The Bible is a compendium of the actions of God in the past in dealing with man;
in fact it is the only reliable source of knowledge about what God has done for
and with man. Most importantly, within the written word is the record of Jesus
Christ. He is the supreme revelation of the nature and character of God. Jesus
represents the revelation of God by God's action. Consider these Scriptures:
Heb. 1:1-3: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power."
John 12:44 "Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me,
but on him that sent me.
John 14:7, 9, 23: "7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also:
and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." Jesus saith unto him, Have
I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that
hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the
Father?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "If a man love me, he will keep
my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him."
2 Peter 1:3-4: "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called
us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
God can be known by His actions, and also by express
statements in the Bible about His character. Another way
that God can be known is by, or in fellowship. Fellowship
with Him is both the result and the purpose of the other
forms of revelation from God. God as acted, sent His Son,
and told us about it in the Bible so that we can know Him
more intimately in fellowship, both in this age and the
age to come (Isaiah 55:3, 6-13; Psalm 27). This fellowship
is expressed, enhanced and maintained through obedience
and worship.
The Attributes and Characteristics of God
The attributes of God are those distinguishing characteristics of the divine
nature which are 1) inseparable from the idea of God, and 2) constitute the
basis and ground for His various manifestations to His creatures.
The Absolute Characteristics of God
Absolute characteristics are those which are always present to us in the same
degree. Relative characteristics can be expressed in degrees. God is always
spiritual, for example, but not always merciful, though He possesses perfect
mercy. God has at least these three absolute characteristics.
Spirituality: John 4:24; Rom. 1:20; 1 Tim. 1:17; Col. 1:15
God is not matter, He has no flesh and bones or material substance of any kind (Lk.
24:39). He is not dependent
upon any other source for His spirituality or existence,
as are we. We derive our spirituality from our Father
(Acts 17:24-25). An essential characteristic of
spirituality is life (Jer. 10:10; 1 Thes. 1:9; John
5:26; 14:6; Heb. 7:16). Personality also inheres in
spirituality. God is self-conscious, He has the attribute
of self-determination and purpose (Ex. 3:14; 1 Cor. 2:11;
Eph. 1:9-11), and He is never capricious, aimless or
whimsical, as are the heathen gods.
Infinity: Psa. 145:3; Job 11:7-9; Isa. 66:1; 1 Kings
8:27; Rom. 11:33
God is not "everything" as the Eastern religions maintain. His creation is
external to Himself. (This is a crucial distinction.) God's infinity involves
His self-existence .
He defined Himself to Moses and Israel by saying "I AM THAT I AM." His infinity
makes Him immutable . He possesses as apart of His nature a dynamic
unchangeableness of character, motive, and being (Ps. 102:27; Mal. 3:6; Jas.
1:17). God is also a Being of unity . He is one in nature and substance; In God
there is
perfect unity (Dt. 6:4; Isa. 44:6; John 3:4; 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:4; 1 Tim. 1:17; 2:5;
6:15; Eph. 4:4-6; Mk. 12:29).
Perfection: Matthew 5:48; Romans 12:22
God is perfect in truth (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20; John 14:6). All truth has its
foundation in the divine nature and the resulting creation. Mathematical, moral,
logical,
and religious truth do not exist apart from God. He is not subject to them in
the same way we are; He is their source. They are attributes of His own
character (2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2). There is no contradiction in this
with the omnipotence of God. How much power would it take to make 2+2=5? Truth
is not an object of power, but a result of reality, which is founded in nature,
essence and character (personality).
God is perfect in veracity and faithfulness (John 3:33; Romans 3:4; 1 Cor. 1:19;
1 Thess. 5:24). Man's vacillation does not negate God's truthfulness or
faithfulness. It is impossible for God to lie. He exhibits lovingkindness to
those he has covenanted with.
The Bible also says that God is perfect in love. (2 John 4:8; 3:36; John 17:24;
Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 5:5-10; 15:30). God's love is always complete, full,
unchangeable and self-existent. Man's love is partial and self-serving.Holiness
is also part of God's perfection (Ex. 15:11; 19:10-16; Isa. 6:3; Lev. 11:44; 1
Pet. 1:15-16). When the Bible says that God is holy (or love), it means that His
character is the very definition of holiness. We can have holiness, but we are
not holy in the same way God is holy. Our holiness is based on our imitation of
His character.Out of God's truth, holiness, and love spring God's desire to give
us laws and demand our obedience (2 Pet. 1:1-4).
The Relative Characteristics of God
As stated above, these characteristics are those which may be shown to us in
differing degrees according to God's purpose and wisdom.
With Respect to Time and Space
Eternity is part of God's character (Dt. 32:40; Ps. 90:2; 102:23-27; Isa. 41:4;
Eph. 1:4; 1 Tim. 1:17). Eternity is relative to us because in order for us to
define this concept we must relate it to time and space. God existed before time
and space, they are His creations (Gen. 1:1, 8, 14), and He will exist
independently of them
after they are destroyed (Heb. 1:10-13).
Immensity is related to but not the same as omnipresence. How big is God? He is
not physically or measurably big; that's why He could not be contained in a
physical Temple ("But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and
heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have
builded?" -1 Kings 8:27).
With Respect to Creation
Omnipresence is the concept that God is everywhere at once, whether this power
is actual or potential. "Everything everywhere is immediately in His presence."
Can God choose not to be somewhere? Will He be in hell, for example? Finite
creatures like man can act instantaneously in a limited area. Everything within
our sight or reach is immediately in our presence, in the sense that distance is
no problem. Time is not a problem for God; He acts across time, both in
providence and in prophecy. In an absolutely perfect sense, then,
everything in or out of the universe is immediately in the presence of God (Ps.
139:7; Acts 17:27; Jer. 23:23-24- God is both infinite and personal).
Omnipresence has special meaning as it relates to God's work in His creation.
Omniscience means that God has knowledge of all things, whether actual or
potential. (The question arises, 'Can God choose not to know something? -Jer.
19:5.) God's knowledge includes the past, present and future, all in relation to
time and space (Ps. 147:4; Mt. 10:29; Ps. 33:13-15; Acts 15:9; Matt. 6:8; Mal.
3:16).
Omnipotence describes God's power. He has all power by His nature (Gen. 17:1;
Heb. 1:3; Eph. 1:19; Matt. 3:9). If He doesn't, then whatever does is God. If
power is shared, then more than one God exists. (Shared power is not the same as
delegated authority (Matt. 18:19-20). God is able to carry out His will, predict
the future and determine the outcome of history (Eph. 1:9-12; Isa. 40:9-31; 41;
Rom. 4:17).
As noted above, God is external to His creation (Heb. 11:3). The universe is not
a part of God, but was made from nothing by Him, outside of and apart from
Himself. It is inanimate and impersonal, and He has absolute power over it.
The Relative Characteristics of God Toward Moral
Beings
Mercy, Grace, and Goodness are shown by God in relation to our faith and
obedience. God always loves man (John 3:16; Rom. 5:5-10), but His mercy extends
finally to those who obey (Rom. 2:4; 8:32; Ex. 33:9; 34:6; Ps. 28:6). The
disobedient will receive wrath and vengeance (Rom. 3:5;12:19; 2 Thes 1:8; Heb
10:30). This mercy and grace is shown supremely in the sacrifice of His Son,
Jesus Christ. Yet, Jesus is also the instrument of God's wrath and judgment.
Justice and Jealousy are characteristics that are shown to man circumstantially.
By this I do not mean that God is sometimes unjust, but that He does not always
give man what He deserves. His grace may intervene as He remembers our nature
(Ps. 103). Look up Gen. 18:25; Dt 32:4; Psalm 7:9-12; Rom. 2:6; Zeph. 3:5; Rev.
15:3; John 17:25. These attributes are often shown in varying degrees and
manners, and for different purposes (Rom. 11:22).
Transcendence vs. immanence (Jer. 23:23-24)
Because of our human limitation, two qualities of God as revealed in the Bible
conflict in the human mind; transcendence and Immanence. Notice the apparent
paradox in Isaiah 55:6-9: "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon
him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his
thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and
to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your
thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts." Transcendence is the distance and "otherness" of God; immanence is
God's closeness and similarity to God. When one of these attributes predominates
in our thinking, then we suffer a great loss; a loss of the true knowledge of
God. It has been rightly said that no man can rise above his concept of God. As
people, we tend to move toward our concept of God. What comes into your mind
when you think of God will tell your spiritual future. Ignoring either side of
the paradox will lead to the same place; God will be dishonored or ignored. If
we think He is too far away to care we will ignore Him. If we think He is just
like us we will dishonor Him. God is vastly different than man, but not wholly
so. A low concept of God produces a man with no religious awe, vain worship from
self-confident worshippers, and religion that emphasizes the external over
the internal.
Conclusion
The greatest and gravest question before us is always God Himself. By nature,
man tends toward nothingness. Since we came out of nothing in one sense, nothing
sustains us from annihilation but the will and power of God. We cannot sustain
ourselves a single moment. So, let us drink deep of the Scriptures, and
especially look at the portrait of God seen in Jesus. We must know God
intimately. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
By Mike Schmidt
From Expository Files 2.1; January, 1995
