The Attributes of God.
Notes
Transcript
Attribute is a quality, characteristic, or property ascribed to someone or something. It's essentially a defining feature.
For example, kindness is an attribute of a nice person, and reliability is an attribute of a good friend.
Introduction
Introduction
What is God, What is He like?
How do we answer a question like this?
Our God is incomprehensible, in other words He can never be fully understood. In fact, as believers we anticipate, look forward to eternity to discover new things about Him. King David said; Psa 145.3
3 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.
11 “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.
Paul wrote: Romans11.33
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
Knowing God and knowing that He is perfect in every one of his attributes is really important to growing in your Christian faith.
The Importance and Benefits of Knowing God's Attributes
The Importance and Benefits of Knowing God's Attributes
1. Deeper Relationship with God
1. Deeper Relationship with God
Enhanced worship: Understanding God's holiness, majesty, and glory leads to more meaningful and authentic worship.
Increased trust: Knowing God's faithfulness, goodness, and mercy strengthens our reliance on Him.
Stronger faith: A through understanding of God's omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence provides a solid foundation for our faith.
2. Practical Application in Life
2. Practical Application in Life
Overcoming challenges: Knowledge of God's power, wisdom, and love equips us to face difficulties with confidence.
Making wise decisions: Understanding God's sovereignty, holiness, and goodness guides us in making choices aligned with His will.
Interacting with others: Recognizing God's image in others fosters compassion, empathy, and love.
3. Protection from Theological Errors
3. Protection from Theological Errors
Accurate doctrine: A clear understanding of God's immutability, eternity, and unity safeguards against false teachings.
Balanced theology: Knowledge of God's justice and mercy prevents a one-sided view of His character.
Sound discernment: understanding God's holiness and righteousness equips believers to be able to tell the difference between things, especially good things and bad things. between truth and error.
Lets take a look at the Attributes of God.
Lets take a look at the Attributes of God.
Omnipotent: All-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17 God has unlimited power and can do anything
17 ‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,
Omnipresent: Present everywhere Psalm 139:7-10 God is not limited by space or time
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
Omniscient: All-knowing (Psalm 147:5 God knows everything, past, present, and future
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
Sovereign: Supreme ruler Dan4.35
God is in complete control of everything
3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
35 All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Eternal: Everlasting Psalm 90:2
God has no beginning and no end.
The word "eternal" (aionios) conveys the idea of timeless existence.
2 Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Infinite:
Self- existing: When we say God is self-existent, we mean He doesn't rely on anything or anyone else for His existence. He is the ultimate source of being. This is in stark contrast to everything else in creation, depends on something else for its existence.
Without origin: To say God is without origin means He has always existed and will always exist. There was no beginning point for Him. Time, as we understand it, doesn't apply to God. He transcends time.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
King eternal: This title emphasizes God's sovereignty and everlasting reign.
immortal: This attribute underscores God's imperishable nature, contrasting with the mortality of humanity.
invisible: This description highlights God's transcendence, beyond human perception.
the only God: This phrase asserts God's absolute uniqueness and singularity.
be honor and glory: This is a call to worship and adoration.
Immutable: Unchanging (Malachi 3:6
6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.
God is unchanging in His character, promises, and actions.
James wrote; "with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
'variation' (parallaxis): This word refers to a shifting or deviation, suggesting that God's character and nature are constant.'shadow due to change' (tropes aposkiasis): This is a metaphorical phrase. A shadow signifies something impermanent or fleeting. Here, it emphasizes that God is not subject to change or inconsistency.
Interesting Fact:
Interesting Fact:
God possesses attributes that are unique to Him, often referred to as incommunicable attributes. These are qualities that cannot be shared or fully replicated (copied) by humans. Examples include: Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence, Eternality, Immutability
On the other hand, there are communicable attributes that God shares with humanity, though to a limited degree. These are qualities that reflect God's character and are expressed in humans, though imperfectly. The Holy Spirit is who makes it possible to produce these fruits. Examples include:
Love: God is the ultimate source of love, and humans are created in His image with the capacity to love.
Justice: God is perfectly just, and humans possess a sense of right and wrong.
Holiness: God is perfectly holy, and humans are called to strive for holiness.
It's important to note that while humans possess these attributes, they do so in a limited and imperfect way compared to God's infinite and perfect expression of them.
lets continue.... with the attribute slides:
lets continue.... with the attribute slides:
Holy: means separate, separated from sin
The Hebrew word for "holy" (qadosh) conveys the idea of separation, purity.
2 “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
isaiah
God’s holiness exposes our sin, and causes a holy fear in us.
4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
Just: Fair and righteous (Deuteronomy 32:4
4 “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.
God always does what is right
Understanding God's Justice
Understanding God's Justice
Perfect Righteousness: God's justice is absolute and without flaw. It is the standard by which all other forms of justice are measured.
Impartiality: God treats everyone fairly, without favoritism or prejudice. Retribution: God will ultimately judge sin and wickedness. This is often referred to as His wrath or judgment.
Redemption: However, God's justice is also demonstrated in His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, offering redemption and forgiveness to those who believe.
Gracious: Showing favor and kindness
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Merciful: Showing compassion and forgiveness
5 Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
God is slow to anger and abounding in love
Psalm 103:8-13
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
Faithful: Always keeps promises
9 “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Faithfulness is a core attribute of God, signifying His unwavering commitment to His promises and people. It is the bedrock upon which trust in God is built.God can be trusted completely.
Promise Keeper: God is always true to His word. His promises are steadfast and reliable.
Glorious: Full of majesty and splendor
Psalm 29:1-2 God is worthy of all honor and praise
1 Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. 2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Worship: Understanding God's glory inspires heartfelt worship. Awe: Contemplating God's glory fills us with awe and wonder. Purpose: Recognizing God's glory gives life meaning and purpose.
Conclusion: Love - The Heart of God
Conclusion: Love - The Heart of God
9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Agape Love:
Sacrificial: Willingness to lay down one's life for another (John 3:16)
Unconditional: Love without limits or conditions (Romans 5:8)
Self-giving: Focus on the needs of others (Philippians 2:3-4)
Love as the essence of God's character Love as a reflection of God's image in humanity
A call to respond to God's love by loving others.
New Commandment: John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Agape Love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 outlines the characteristics of love: patience, kindness, etc.
1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
Inclusive: Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
Challenges and Applications
Challenges and Applications
Overcoming Differences: Ephesians 4:2
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Serving Others: Galatians 5:13 "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; but do not use freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love."
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Forgiveness: Eph4.32
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
