B. Classification of Attributes
Most systems of classifying the attributes are based on the fact that some attributes belong to God alone, (e.g. infinity) and some are found in a limited and relative sense in man (e.g. love); thus, incommunicable and communicable; absolute and relative; immanent and transitive; constitutional and those pertaining to personality.
C. A Description of Divine Attributes.
( Absolute, incommunicable and constitutional attributes No. 1-9)
1. Simplicity. a. meaning God is uncompounded, not complex, indivisible
“The simplicity of God means that the being of God is "simple" and beyond composition. God is not complex in the sense that he is made up of distinct properties or constituents, nor can it be said that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comprise three parts of God. Also called divine simplicity, it forms a significant corollary of both the unity and trinity of God.
b. Scripture John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.God is a Spirit (pneuma ho theos). More precisely, “God is Spirit” as “God is Light” (1Jo_1:5), “God is Love” (1Jo_4:8). In neither case can we read Spirit is God, Light is God, Love is God. The non-corporeality of God is clearly stated and the personality of God also. All this is put in three words for the first time. RWP
c. Problem: Does simplicity invalidate the Doctrine of the Trinity? No, because Simplicity has to do with God’s essence, and Trinity with his subsistence.
2. Unity a.meaning: God is one. b. Scripture Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. There are two things contained in it: (1) that Jehovah is the one absolute God; (2) that He requires love with all the heart, all the soul, and all the strength. “Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” K&D
3. Infinity a. meaning : Without termination or finitude.The next attribute of God to be considered is, his "Infinity"; when we say that God is "infinite", the meaning is, that he is unbounded and unlimited, unmeasurable or immense, unsearchable and not to be comprehended. This attribute chiefly respects and includes the "omnipresence" and "eternity" of God; these are the two branches of it; he is not bounded by space, and therefore is everywhere; and he is not bounded by time, so he is eternal[1]: and that he is in this sense infinite appears from his spirituality and simplicity, before established; he is not a body, consisting of parts...http://pbministries.org/books/gill/Doctrinal_Divinity
b. Scripture. 1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heavens and the heaven of h
eavens cannot contain You. How much less this house which I have built?
Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being,
| Symbol |
4. Eternity a. meaning: free from succession of time.
b. Scripture: Genesis 21 :33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
c. Problem: Is time unreal to God? No, He recognises successive events, but all past, present and future events are equally vivid to Him.
5. Immutability. a. Meaning. God is unchanging and unchangeable. b. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Mal 3:6 Descendants of Jacob, I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I never change. That's why you haven't been wiped out, CEV
c. Problem: Does God change His mind or repent. Gen. 6:6, as seems apparent from our viewpoint; or is this an expression of God’s Permissive Decree?
JFB Commentary says, “God saw it ... repented ... grieved — God cannot change (Mal_3:6; Jam_1:17); but, by language suited to our nature and experience, He is described as about to alter His visible procedure towards mankind - from being merciful and long-suffering, He was about to show Himself a God of judgment; and, as that impious race had filled up the measure of their iniquities, He was about to introduce a terrible display of His justice (Ecc_8:11).”
(Remember the Unchangeableness of God’s decree that He would punish the wicked on the earth. The soul that sins will surely die).
The Immutability of God gives us comfort and security in who we are and who God is. Knowing God does not change provides us with a spiritual and moral anchor in a rapidly changing culture. When we are pulled in many directions and are searching for answers, we can know that God is constant, dependable, and faithful to help us when we ask.
One insurance company in the United States of America uses an image of the Rock of Gibraltar to illustrate the solidity and stable condition of their firm. This Rock is a huge, imposing boulder jutting out of the ocean at Spain’s southern tip. Come what may, it does not change. After centuries of hot summers, freezing winters, and severe storms, the Rock of Gibraltar still stands. God is our Rock. His character, His love for us and His faithfulness to us will never change.
<allabout God.com>
God is our Rock of Gibraltar
6. Omnipresence
a. Meaning. God is everywhere (not in everything; that would be pantheism).
b. Scripture : Psa 139:7 Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your face?
Psa 139:8 If I go up to Heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there!
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, dwelling in the uttermost part of the sea,
Psa 139:10 even there Your hand shall lead me; and Your right hand shall seize me.
Psa 139:11 If I say: Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light around me.
Psa 139:12 Even the darkness will not be dark from You, but the night shines as the day; as is the darkness, so is the light.
Psa 139:13 For You have possessed my inward parts; You wove me in the womb of my mother.
7. Sovereignty
a. meaning :
The Sovereignty of God is the biblical teaching that all things are under God's rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of His own will (see Eph. 1:11). His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted (see Isa. 46:11); nothing takes Him by surprise. The sovereignty of God is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things, but that He does so, always and without exception. In other words, God is not merely sovereign de jure (in principle), but sovereign de facto (in practice).
Quotes
"What do we mean by [the sovereignty of God]? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible."A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, chapter 1.
8.Omniscience
a. meaning: God is all-knowing 1.: having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight.2. : possessed of universal or complete knowledge. merriam-webster dictionary
b. Scripture: Psa 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power, His understanding is infinite.” Isaiah 40:13-14.
Hebrews 4:13 “ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
He sees all things Psa 15:3;He know all things Psa 147:4; Matt:29-30
He knows mankind a. our thoughts Psa 139:2b;Psa 44:21; b. our words; Psa 139:4;c.our deeds; d. our sorrows Exodus 3:7; e. Our needs Matthew 6:32; f. Our devotion; Gen. 18:17-19 Gen 22:11-12; 2 Chron 16:9; g. Our Frailties Psa 103 :14; h. Our foolishness; Ps 69:5;
i. He knows His own; John 10:14; 2 Tim 2;19
He knows the past, present and the future. Acts 15:18
He knows what might and could have been; Matt 11:23
A.W. Tozer says, “ God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that he knows all that can be known. And this he knows instantly, and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or the ages yet unborn.
9. Omnipotence
a. meaning all power; having unlimited power
Niagara Falls
b. Scripture: Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying, "Praise the Lord! Our Lord God All-Powerful now rules as king.CEV
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth - Yahweh - God Almighty - the true God. The meaning is, that as the last enemy of the church is destroyed, he now truly reigns. This is the result of his power, and therefore it is proper that he should be praised as the “omnipotent” or “Almighty God” - for he has shown that he can overcome all his enemies, and bring the world to his feet.
Relative, Communicable or personality attributes Nos. 10-14
10. Justice
a. Meaning : “Moral equity”, “No respect of persons.”
Question: "What does it mean that God is a God of justice?"
Answer: Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes and flows out of His holiness. Justice and righteousness are often used synonymously in the Bible. Since righteousness is the quality or character of being right or just, it is another attribute of God and incorporates both His justice and holiness.
b. Scripture : Act 17:31 He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.CEV becauseG1360 he setG2476 a dayG2250 inG1722 whichG3739 he is aboutG3195 to judgeG2919 theG3588 worldG3611 inG1722 righteousness,G1343 byG1722 a manG435 in whomG3739 he confirmed,G3724 [2beliefG4102 1having furnished]G3930 to all,G3956 having raisedG450 himG1473 fromG1537 the dead.G3498
In the which he will judge the world in righteousness; the whole world will be judged, and every individual in it, good and bad, righteous and wicked; and this judgment will be a righteous one; it will proceed according to the strict rules of justice and equity, and upon the foot of the righteousness of Christ, as that has been received or rejected by men, or as men are clothed with, or are without that righteousness: J. Gill
11. Love
a. meaning: God seeking the highest good of Displaying His own Will.
b. Scripture: Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,
Eph 2:5 caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved-
The Hymn: The Love of God
Words: Frederick M. Lehman; he wrote this song in 1917 in Pasadena, California, and it was published in Songs That Are Different, Volume 2, 1919. The lyrics are based on the Jewish poem Haddamut, written in Aramaic in 1050 by Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai, a cantor in Worms, Germany; they have been translated into at least 18 languages.
One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song…Since the lines (3rd stanza from the Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity.
Frederick M. Lehman, “History of the Song, The Love of God,” 1948
http://cyberhymnal.org/img/l/e/lehman_fm.jpg
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Refrain
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Refrain
12. Truth
a. Meaning: Agreement to and consistent will all that is represented by God HimselfWhat follows is Cadet Ruth Hickman’s paper entitled: Attributes of God: Truth.J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig write that “God’s self-revelation in Scripture is obviously paramount in understanding what God is like.”[2] In English translations of the Bible the word “truth” is used to describe God frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. In the original texts, however, “truth” is translated from a few different words. The Hebrew of the Old Testament uses the word ‘emeth and the Greek of the New Testament (primarily) uses the word alēthĕia. These terms, though both translated as truthin English, have slightly different meanings but complement each other, bringing the truth of God into better understanding.The Hebrew word ‘emeth defines truth as the fulfillment of God’s promise.[3] Exodus 34:6 tells the reader that God is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and ['emeth].” (KJV)[4] In the King James Version ‘emeth is translated as “truth,” but the New International Version seems to better capture the essence of the word, translating it as “faithfulness”. According to J. Carl Laney, this passage indicates that “[God] is forever reliable, [His] word can be trusted, [His] promises will always be fulfilled”.[5] Again Psalm 57:3 refers to the truth of God, this time linking it with His mercy: “God shall send forth his mercy and his ['emeth].” (KJV) English synonyms for ‘emeth are sureness, reliability, and stability.[6] Not only does this verse emphasize God’s truth as faithfulness, but it also demonstrates agreement within God’s nature in that the verse suggests that His mercy is also sure, reliable, and stable.The Greek New Testament sheds further light on the reader’s understanding of the truth of God. John 1:17 reads, “grace and [alēthĕia] came through Jesus Christ.” (NIV) The wordalēthĕia is defined as “what is true in any matter under consideration.”[7] That is, the truth of God present in Jesus Christ is not only faithful to a standard, but is itself the standard. John 3:21 reads, “But whoever lives by [alēthĕia] comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (NIV) According to this verse, the truth of God is not confined to Himself; rather, He works truth – that which is always considered true – through His people. Donald G. Bloesch cautions, however, that, “The Christian is always in the position of ‘having and not having’ the truth, since reason cannot penetrate the paradox of God becoming human in Jesus Christ.”[8] Humanity is, therefore, solely dependent on God’s revelation of Himself for understanding of truth.Particularly in the New Testament, God’s attribute of truth is assigned freely to God in the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In fact, truth is revealed as God reveals Himself in each of these persons. In John 17:3 it is seen that eternal life is found in the true God who is revealed in Jesus Christ. In this passage, the word “true” is translated from the Greek word alēthinos which shares its root word (alēthēs) with alēthĕia and means “that which has… the real nature.”[9] Similarly, <www.cfot.ca>
13.Freedom.
a.Meaning: Independence from all His creatures.
b. Scripture. Isa 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD or instructed him as his adviser?
Isa 40:14 Whom did he consult? Who gave him understanding? Who taught him the right way? Who taught him knowledge? Who informed him about the way to understanding? GW.
14. Holiness
a. Meaning:several dimensions of the definition of holiness.
(1) To be holy is to be distinct, separate, in a class by oneself. As Sproul puts it:
The primary meaning of holy is ‘separate.’ It comes from an ancient word that meant, ‘to cut,’ or ‘to separate.’ Perhaps even more accurate would be the phrase ‘a cut above something.’ When we find a garment or another piece of merchandise that is outstanding, that has a superior excellence, we use the expression that it is ‘a cut above the rest.’22
This means that the one who is holy is uniquely holy, with no rivals or competition.
“When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way. The same basic meaning is used when the word holy is applied to earthly things.”23
The Scriptures put it this way:
11 “Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11). 2 “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides Thee, Nor is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2).
8 There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine. 9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name. 10 For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds; Thou alone art God (Psalms 86:8-10; see also Psalm 99:1-3; Isaiah 40:25; 57:15).
(2) To be holy is to be morally pure.
When things are made holy, when they are consecrated, they are set apart unto purity. They are to be used in a pure way. They are to reflect purity as well as simple apartness. Purity is not excluded from the idea of the holy; it is contained within it. But the point we must remember is that the idea of the holy is never exhausted by the idea of purity. It includes purity but is much more than that. It is purity and transcendence. It is a transcendent purity.24
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? and who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalms 24:3-5).
(3) For God to be holy is for Him to be holy in relation to every aspect of His nature and character.
When we use the word holy to describe God, we face another problem. We often describe God by compiling a list of qualities or characteristics that we call attributes. We say that God is a spirit, that He knows everything, that He is loving, just, merciful, gracious, and so on. The tendency is to add the idea of the holy to this long list of attributes as one attribute among many. But when the word holy is applied to God, it does not signify one single attribute. On the contrary, God is called holy in a general sense. The word is used as a synonym for his deity. That is, the word holy calls attention to all that God is. It reminds us that His love is holy love, his justice is holy justice, his mercy is holy mercy, his knowledge is holy knowledge, his spirit is holy spirit.25
Willmington’s Guide to the Bible.adds:
1. He is self-existent Sometimes God’s self-existence is referred to as His aseity (from the Latin words a + se, which mean “existence derived from itself, having no other source”).2 <allaboutgod.com>
a. meaning. God is self-existent. This means that He had no creator, but always exists, unchanging, from before time until after its end
4. Eternity a. meaning: free from succession of time.
b. Scripture: Genesis 21 :33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God. Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
c. Problem: Is time unreal to God? No, He recognises successive events, but all past, present and future events are equally vivid to Him.
5. Immutability. a. Meaning. God is unchanging and unchangeable. b. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Mal 3:6 Descendants of Jacob, I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I never change. That's why you haven't been wiped out, CEV
c. Problem: Does God change His mind or repent. Gen. 6:6, as seems apparent from our viewpoint; or is this an expression of God’s Permissive Decree?
JFB Commentary says, “God saw it ... repented ... grieved — God cannot change (Mal_3:6; Jam_1:17); but, by language suited to our nature and experience, He is described as about to alter His visible procedure towards mankind - from being merciful and long-suffering, He was about to show Himself a God of judgment; and, as that impious race had filled up the measure of their iniquities, He was about to introduce a terrible display of His justice (Ecc_8:11).”
(Remember the Unchangeableness of God’s decree that He would punish the wicked on the earth. The soul that sins will surely die).
The Immutability of God gives us comfort and security in who we are and who God is. Knowing God does not change provides us with a spiritual and moral anchor in a rapidly changing culture. When we are pulled in many directions and are searching for answers, we can know that God is constant, dependable, and faithful to help us when we ask.
One insurance company in the United States of America uses an image of the Rock of Gibraltar to illustrate the solidity and stable condition of their firm. This Rock is a huge, imposing boulder jutting out of the ocean at Spain’s southern tip. Come what may, it does not change. After centuries of hot summers, freezing winters, and severe storms, the Rock of Gibraltar still stands. God is our Rock. His character, His love for us and His faithfulness to us will never change.
<allabout God.com>
God is our Rock of Gibraltar
6. Omnipresence
a. Meaning. God is everywhere (not in everything; that would be pantheism).
a. Meaning. God is everywhere (not in everything; that would be pantheism).
b. Scripture : Psa 139:7 Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your face?
Psa 139:8 If I go up to Heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there!
Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the morning, dwelling in the uttermost part of the sea,
Psa 139:10 even there Your hand shall lead me; and Your right hand shall seize me.
Psa 139:11 If I say: Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light around me.
Psa 139:12 Even the darkness will not be dark from You, but the night shines as the day; as is the darkness, so is the light.
Psa 139:13 For You have possessed my inward parts; You wove me in the womb of my mother.
7. Sovereignty
a. meaning :
a. meaning :
The Sovereignty of God is the biblical teaching that all things are under God's rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of His own will (see Eph. 1:11). His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted (see Isa. 46:11); nothing takes Him by surprise. The sovereignty of God is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things, but that He does so, always and without exception. In other words, God is not merely sovereign de jure (in principle), but sovereign de facto (in practice).
Quotes
"What do we mean by [the sovereignty of God]? We mean the supremacy of God, the kingship of God, the god-hood of God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that God is God. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say unto Him what doest Thou? (Dan. 4:35). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will (Psa. 115:3). To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psa. 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleaseth Him best. To say that God is Sovereign is to declare that He is the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim. 6:15). Such is the God of the Bible."A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God, chapter 1.
8.Omniscience
a. meaning: God is all-knowing 1.: having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight.2. : possessed of universal or complete knowledge. merriam-webster dictionary
a. meaning: God is all-knowing 1.: having infinite awareness, understanding, and insight.2. : possessed of universal or complete knowledge. merriam-webster dictionary
b. Scripture: Psa 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power, His understanding is infinite.” Isaiah 40:13-14.
Hebrews 4:13 “ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
He sees all things Psa 15:3;He know all things Psa 147:4; Matt:29-30
He knows mankind a. our thoughts Psa 139:2b;Psa 44:21; b. our words; Psa 139:4;c.our deeds; d. our sorrows Exodus 3:7; e. Our needs Matthew 6:32; f. Our devotion; Gen. 18:17-19 Gen 22:11-12; 2 Chron 16:9; g. Our Frailties Psa 103 :14; h. Our foolishness; Ps 69:5;
i. He knows His own; John 10:14; 2 Tim 2;19
i. He knows His own; John 10:14; 2 Tim 2;19
He knows what might and could have been; Matt 11:23
A.W. Tozer says, “ God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that he knows all that can be known. And this he knows instantly, and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or the ages yet unborn.
9. Omnipotence
a. meaning all power; having unlimited power
 |
| Niagara Falls |
b. Scripture: Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying, "Praise the Lord! Our Lord God All-Powerful now rules as king.CEV
b. Scripture: Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying, "Praise the Lord! Our Lord God All-Powerful now rules as king.CEV
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth - Yahweh - God Almighty - the true God. The meaning is, that as the last enemy of the church is destroyed, he now truly reigns. This is the result of his power, and therefore it is proper that he should be praised as the “omnipotent” or “Almighty God” - for he has shown that he can overcome all his enemies, and bring the world to his feet.
Relative, Communicable or personality attributes Nos. 10-14
10. Justice
a. Meaning : “Moral equity”, “No respect of persons.”
a. Meaning : “Moral equity”, “No respect of persons.”
Question: "What does it mean that God is a God of justice?"
Answer: Justice is a term used for what is right or “as it should be.” Justice is one of God’s attributes and flows out of His holiness. Justice and righteousness are often used synonymously in the Bible. Since righteousness is the quality or character of being right or just, it is another attribute of God and incorporates both His justice and holiness.
b. Scripture : Act 17:31 He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.CEV becauseG1360 he setG2476 a dayG2250 inG1722 whichG3739 he is aboutG3195 to judgeG2919 theG3588 worldG3611 inG1722 righteousness,G1343 byG1722 a manG435 in whomG3739 he confirmed,G3724 [2beliefG4102 1having furnished]G3930 to all,G3956 having raisedG450 himG1473 fromG1537 the dead.G3498
In the which he will judge the world in righteousness; the whole world will be judged, and every individual in it, good and bad, righteous and wicked; and this judgment will be a righteous one; it will proceed according to the strict rules of justice and equity, and upon the foot of the righteousness of Christ, as that has been received or rejected by men, or as men are clothed with, or are without that righteousness: J. Gill
11. Love
a. meaning: God seeking the highest good of Displaying His own Will.
b. Scripture: Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us,
Eph 2:5 caused us, dead though we were through our offences, to live with Christ--it is by grace that you have been saved-
The Hymn: The Love of God
Words: Frederick M. Lehman; he wrote this song in 1917 in Pasadena, California, and it was published in Songs That Are Different, Volume 2, 1919. The lyrics are based on the Jewish poem Haddamut, written in Aramaic in 1050 by Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai, a cantor in Worms, Germany; they have been translated into at least 18 languages.
One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song…Since the lines (3rd stanza from the Jewish poem) had been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave, the general opinion was that this inmate had written the epic in moments of sanity.
Frederick M. Lehman, “History of the Song, The Love of God,” 1948
http://cyberhymnal.org/img/l/e/lehman_fm.jpg
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Refrain
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
Refrain
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Refrain
12. Truth
a. Meaning: Agreement to and consistent will all that is represented by God HimselfWhat follows is Cadet Ruth Hickman’s paper entitled: Attributes of God: Truth.J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig write that “God’s self-revelation in Scripture is obviously paramount in understanding what God is like.”[2] In English translations of the Bible the word “truth” is used to describe God frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. In the original texts, however, “truth” is translated from a few different words. The Hebrew of the Old Testament uses the word ‘emeth and the Greek of the New Testament (primarily) uses the word alēthĕia. These terms, though both translated as truthin English, have slightly different meanings but complement each other, bringing the truth of God into better understanding.The Hebrew word ‘emeth defines truth as the fulfillment of God’s promise.[3] Exodus 34:6 tells the reader that God is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and ['emeth].” (KJV)[4] In the King James Version ‘emeth is translated as “truth,” but the New International Version seems to better capture the essence of the word, translating it as “faithfulness”. According to J. Carl Laney, this passage indicates that “[God] is forever reliable, [His] word can be trusted, [His] promises will always be fulfilled”.[5] Again Psalm 57:3 refers to the truth of God, this time linking it with His mercy: “God shall send forth his mercy and his ['emeth].” (KJV) English synonyms for ‘emeth are sureness, reliability, and stability.[6] Not only does this verse emphasize God’s truth as faithfulness, but it also demonstrates agreement within God’s nature in that the verse suggests that His mercy is also sure, reliable, and stable.The Greek New Testament sheds further light on the reader’s understanding of the truth of God. John 1:17 reads, “grace and [alēthĕia] came through Jesus Christ.” (NIV) The wordalēthĕia is defined as “what is true in any matter under consideration.”[7] That is, the truth of God present in Jesus Christ is not only faithful to a standard, but is itself the standard. John 3:21 reads, “But whoever lives by [alēthĕia] comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” (NIV) According to this verse, the truth of God is not confined to Himself; rather, He works truth – that which is always considered true – through His people. Donald G. Bloesch cautions, however, that, “The Christian is always in the position of ‘having and not having’ the truth, since reason cannot penetrate the paradox of God becoming human in Jesus Christ.”[8] Humanity is, therefore, solely dependent on God’s revelation of Himself for understanding of truth.Particularly in the New Testament, God’s attribute of truth is assigned freely to God in the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In fact, truth is revealed as God reveals Himself in each of these persons. In John 17:3 it is seen that eternal life is found in the true God who is revealed in Jesus Christ. In this passage, the word “true” is translated from the Greek word alēthinos which shares its root word (alēthēs) with alēthĕia and means “that which has… the real nature.”[9] Similarly, <www.cfot.ca>
13.Freedom.
a.Meaning: Independence from all His creatures.
b. Scripture. Isa 40:13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD or instructed him as his adviser?
Isa 40:14 Whom did he consult? Who gave him understanding? Who taught him the right way? Who taught him knowledge? Who informed him about the way to understanding? GW.
14. Holiness
a. Meaning:several dimensions of the definition of holiness.
(1) To be holy is to be distinct, separate, in a class by oneself. As Sproul puts it:
The primary meaning of holy is ‘separate.’ It comes from an ancient word that meant, ‘to cut,’ or ‘to separate.’ Perhaps even more accurate would be the phrase ‘a cut above something.’ When we find a garment or another piece of merchandise that is outstanding, that has a superior excellence, we use the expression that it is ‘a cut above the rest.’22
This means that the one who is holy is uniquely holy, with no rivals or competition.
“When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way. The same basic meaning is used when the word holy is applied to earthly things.”23
The Scriptures put it this way:
11 “Who is like Thee among the gods, O LORD? Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11). 2 “There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides Thee, Nor is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2).
8 There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine. 9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name. 10 For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds; Thou alone art God (Psalms 86:8-10; see also Psalm 99:1-3; Isaiah 40:25; 57:15).
(2) To be holy is to be morally pure.
When things are made holy, when they are consecrated, they are set apart unto purity. They are to be used in a pure way. They are to reflect purity as well as simple apartness. Purity is not excluded from the idea of the holy; it is contained within it. But the point we must remember is that the idea of the holy is never exhausted by the idea of purity. It includes purity but is much more than that. It is purity and transcendence. It is a transcendent purity.24
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? and who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalms 24:3-5).
(3) For God to be holy is for Him to be holy in relation to every aspect of His nature and character.
When we use the word holy to describe God, we face another problem. We often describe God by compiling a list of qualities or characteristics that we call attributes. We say that God is a spirit, that He knows everything, that He is loving, just, merciful, gracious, and so on. The tendency is to add the idea of the holy to this long list of attributes as one attribute among many. But when the word holy is applied to God, it does not signify one single attribute. On the contrary, God is called holy in a general sense. The word is used as a synonym for his deity. That is, the word holy calls attention to all that God is. It reminds us that His love is holy love, his justice is holy justice, his mercy is holy mercy, his knowledge is holy knowledge, his spirit is holy spirit.25
Willmington’s Guide to the Bible.adds:
1. He is self-existent Sometimes God’s self-existence is referred to as His aseity (from the Latin words a + se, which mean “existence derived from itself, having no other source”).2 <allaboutgod.com>
a. meaning. God is self-existent. This means that He had no creator, but always exists, unchanging, from before time until after its end
b. Scripture. Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said to God, “Behold when I come to the Children of Israel, and say to them.’The God of your fathers has sent me, What is His Name? what shall i say to them?”
And God said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM”: and He said, “Thus shall you say to the the Children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.”
And God said to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM”: and He said, “Thus shall you say to the the Children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.”
A self-existent God simply means (with staggering implications), that God exists because He exists. He is not dependent upon anything or anyone for His thoughts.
Rom 11:33 Oh, how inexhaustible are God's resources and God's wisdom and God's knowledge! How impossible it is to search into His decrees or trace His footsteps!
Rom 11:34 "WHO HAS EVER KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR SHARED HIS COUNSELS?"
Rom 11:35 "WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN GOD ANYTHING, SO AS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT IN RETURN?"
Rom 11:36 For the universe owes its origin to Him, was created by Him, and has its aim and purpose in Him. To Him be the glory throughout the Ages! Amen.
He is not dependent upon anyone for His Will (Romans 9:19; Eph 1:5); His Power Ps 115:3 or His Counsel (Ps 33:10,11)
2. God is Self-Sufficient
a. meaning This is closely aligned with self-existence, but carries it a step further. This means God has never had in eternity past, nor ever can have in the ages to come, a single need for which His own Divine Nature has not already provided.
b. Scripture Psa 50:10-12
Psa 50:10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
Psa 50:11 I know all the birds of the mountains; and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
Psa 50:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness of it.
NOTE Self-Sufficient God – The Definition
God, being identified and defined as self-sufficient, means He possesses within Himself every quality, ability, and supernatural command with never-ending measure. Every attribute or mighty and wonderful power is His endlessly. God wants for nothing and lacks nothing; He is complete.
There are many names for God in the Bible. Each name is actually a word that describes His nature and attributes. For instance, in the original Hebrew text, “El-Shaddai” was first used in Genesis 17. It is used throughout the Bible and is still an accepted name for God today among Christians and Jews. “The most simple translation is ‘God’ (‘el), THE ALL-MIGHTY ONE (shadday), to clearly differentiate the One true God from other ‘gods, as ‘el’ was a common term for any god at that time, age and area. It is significant that it is THE Name that God uses in reference to Himself as He begins to set aside a people for Himself, to be uniquely His as a possession, and to be uniquely His as His representatives on this planet. It was at this point that God revealed Himself as ‘THE ALMIGHTY GOD’, or
- the omnipotent,
- omnipresent,
- omniscient One.<allaboutGod.com>”1
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