Communicable Attributes of God

Communicable attributes of God are those that humans can also possess, although only to a finite extent. If something is communicable, it is able to be communicated or transmitted to others. Incommunicable attributes of God are those attributes exclusive to Him. Humans cannot share the incommunicable attributes of divinity.

The promises of God are nothing more than God’s covenant to be faithful to his people. It is his character that makes these promises valid.

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Scripture speaks often of God’s faithfulness. Over and over we learn that when God says He will do something, He does it (even when it seems impossible). When He says something will happen, it happens. This is true for the past, the present and the future. If this were not the case—if God were unfaithful even once—He would not be God, and we could not rely on any of His promises. But as it is, “Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave” (1 Kings 8:56). God is eternally reliable, steadfast, and unwavering because faithfulness is one of His inherent attributes. God does not have to work at being faithful; He is faithful. Faithfulness is an essential part of who He is (Psalm 89:8; Hebrews 13:8). In His faithfulness, God protects us from evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3), sets limits on our temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13), forgives us of sin (1 John 1:9), and sanctifies us (1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:6).

faithful reliable, trustworthy (Matt. 25:21; Ps. 51:10; 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 John 1:9). The Lord “is a faithful God, who always keeps his promise” (Deut. 7:9).

Faithful—as a designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful, and not simply trustworthy (Acts 10:45; 16:1; 2 Cor. 6:15; Col. 1:2; 1 Tim. 4:3, 12; 5:16; 6:2; Titus 1:6; Eph. 1:1; 1 Cor. 4:17, etc.).

It is used also of God’s word or covenant as true and to be trusted (Ps. 119:86, 138; Isa. 25:1; 1 Tim. 1:15; Rev. 21:5; 22:6, etc.).

(ʾĕmûnâ). n. fem. firmness, fidelity, steadiness, truthfulness, faithfulness. Refers literally to steadiness or firmness and abstractly to the quality of reliability, especially as possessed by God or to those who are in right relationship with God. This noun is commonly used to describe aspects of God’s character (Deut 32:4; Psa 36:5; Isa 11:5) that elicit trust from those who know him. People may also be characterized by ʾĕmûnâ, which either indicates their general integrity and trustworthiness (Prov 28:20; 2 Chr 31:18) or describes the character of someone living rightly before God (1 Sam 26:23; Prov 12:22). The most significant theological use of ʾĕmûnâ is Hab 2:4, often translated “the just will live by his faith.” In this verse, ʾĕmûnâ likely refers to the integrity that characterizes a righteous person’s way of life. The word may also indicate the constancy of something, as when Moses’ hands were ʾĕmûnâ (“steady”) until the sun set (Exod 17:12)

How Faithful is God? Gods Faithfulness is Limitless and Eternal because Faithful is who God is.. God does not just have faithful tendencies or seasons of faithfulness but He is Faithfulness. Faithfulness is who God is because He is Holy, He is Faithful.

Dt 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

He is God, God alone, The Faithful God, able and ready not only to fulfil his own promises, but to answer all the expectations of his worshippers. God will keep His promises not only to a thousand persons but to thousands of generations so inexhaustible is the fountain, so constant are the streams. - Matthew Henry

Faithfulness At least four Old Testament Hebrew terms highlight God’s faithfulness: ʼemet (faithfulness), ʼemuna (steadiness, reliability), ḥesed (loyalty), and zacar (remember). Each of these terms speak to different aspects of the concept of faithfulness.of God’s perfect loyalty and consistency in being true to his name, his character and his word.

ʼemet

firmness, faithfulness, truth

The word ʼemet occurs 127 times and is most frequently translated “faithfulness.” A core idea in this word is truth. God is true to himself and to his words. This word is used in the context of the relationships that God chooses to have with his people.

In Genesis 12 God calls Abram to himself and gives him incredible promises about acquiring land, having innumerable descendants, and blessing the world. One of the principal promises (having a son) was hard to fathom due to Abram’s advanced age and the delay in fulfillment. After twenty-five years, God finally grants his promise to the name-modified Abraham (Gen 21). God was faithful.

After Isaac is born and becomes a full-grown man, the promises are now threatened by his marital status. Abraham sends his servant Eleazar to search for a wife for Isaac. Upon finding Rebekah, Eleazar declares, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master” (Gen 24:27).

Jacob, the son of Isaac, prays to the “God of his father Abraham, and God of his father Isaac” and acknowledges his unworthiness and God’s faithfulness toward him as he had grown from having only a walking stick when he went to Laban into a wealthy man as he left him (Gen 32:10ff). Thus, God’s faithfulness passed from Abraham to Isaac and then to Jacob.

God reveals to Moses that he is faithful generation after generation (Exod 34:6). He would continue to show faithfulness to the descendants of Jacob by eventually bringing them out of Egypt into the land he promised Abraham.

When God promises David that he would build his house and give him an everlasting ruler, David declares (2Sam 7:28) that God’s words are true (reliable/faithful).

Nehemiah recounts God’s faithfulness to Israel during the Exodus, in the wilderness, throughout the conquest, in the time of the Judges, through captivity, and all the way to the return to the land despite their unfaithfulness during each period (Neh 9:33). Despite Israel’s perpetual lack of faithfulness, loyalty, and knowledge (Hos 4:1; cf. Zech 7:9), God will accomplish such a salvation in his people that Jerusalem will one day be called “the Faithful City” (Zech 8:3).

God was True to His promises to each of these individuals. Each one declared that God was True to His word.

ʼemuna

ʼemuna occurs 49 times and has the concept of steadiness or reliability at its core. The first occurrence of this word is a great illustration of the main idea communicated by this word. In Exodus 17 the Israelites are battling the Amalekites. When Moses held up his hands the Israelites would prevail, but as soon as they started lowering, the Amalekites would start winning. The solution was to have Moses sit on a stone while Aaron and Hur each held up one of his hands. As a result, “his hands remained steady [faithful] till sunset” (Exod 17:12).

God’s ʼemuna reaches to the skies (Ps 36:5). God is faithful from morning to night (Ps 92:2), and when he comes to judge the earth, it will be in righteousness and faithfulness (Ps 96:13). This connection of righteousness and faithfulness occurs multiple times (cf. Deut 32:4; 1Sam 26:23; Pss 40:11; 119:75, 138; 143:1; Isa 11:5) and emphasizes that part of being truly righteous (measuring up to a standard) means that you do so consistently. Even while enduring just punishment for breaking the covenant, God’s people recognize that his faithfulness is great and continues morning by morning. Is is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning.(Lam 3:23). One day God will so transform his people that they will go from being a prostituting wife to a people permanently and faithfully committed to the perfect Groom (Hos 2:20).

Ḥesed

The word ḥesed occurs 255 times and is frequently translated as “kindness/lovingkindness” or “mercy.” Even though it is not translated with a form of the word “faithful,” it is often used with some variety of the words for “faithful.” The word is often in the context of highlighting God’s faithfulness to his people because of his covenantal commitment to them. As a result, some modern versions translate this word as “loyalty/covenant loyalty.

The greatest illustration of this type of faithful loyalty is the story of Ruth. Even though Naomi compelled her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab and let her return to Bethlehem as a destitute and bitter woman, Ruth refused. In the same way she had shown loyalty to her deceased husband (Ruth 1:8), she vowed to cling to her mother-in-law until death (“Where you go I will go. . . . Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die. . . . May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16–17). God rewards Ruth—and Naomi because of Ruth—by showing her his “kindness” in leading her to Boaz (Ruth 2:20). Ruth responds by giving her “kindness” to Boaz in marriage (Ruth 3:10). This kind of loving loyalty is ultimately rewarded in making Ruth part of the genealogy of Christ (Boaz fathered Obed; Obed fathered Jesse; Jesse fathered David, see Ruth 4:21–22).

When God gives his laws to the people of Israel as they are about to ratify the covenant with him, he declares that he shows covenant loyalty to a thousand generations of those who are truly his (Exod 20:6; cf. Deut 7:9). Psalm 136 celebrates God’s loyalty to his people as he brought them out of the land of Egypt, sustained them in the wilderness, brought them into the promised land, and remembered them in their low points as a nation.

Although there are occurrences of ḥesed where the specific covenant in view requires certain conditions be met, other examples of unconditional loyalty occur frequently. When God gives David the promise of an everlasting king, he states (probably in reference to Solomon) that if the king sins, this would not negate God’s loyalty to him as happened to Saul (2Sam 7:15). David declares in Psalm 23:6 that God’s loyalty would “follow” (this word is used of military pursuit) him all the days of his life.

Nehemiah recognized that even though Israel had refused to listen to God and constantly rebelled against him, he was still abounding in loyalty toward them (Neh 9:17). David asks for forgiveness after his adultery with Bathsheba based on God’s loyal love (Ps 51:3). This loyalty that forgives the undeserving is what causes Jonah to flee from God’s command to warn Nineveh (Jon 4:2). Micah, however, celebrated this loyalty that will be shown in the restoration of God’s people and the forgiveness of their sin: 18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, And passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, Because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; And thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, Which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

His faithfulness is loyal. Loyal beyond our understading. Who is aGod like unto thee that Pardoneth- lifts away, takes away like a loan that was taken our that incrues high interest being lifted away from our charge of iniquity- our sin. His faithfulness is loyal when we are not. 2 Timothy 2:13 “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version.

Zacar

Zacar occurs about 235 times and is usually translated with some form of the verb “remember.” Although the word is often used of people trying to bring back to mind some idea or event, it can also refer to the action that accompanies actively thinking on something. When it is used of God, it does not suggest that he has somehow forgotten something or needs to be reminded of something. It highlights that God is going to act on whatever he is “remembering.” This word is connected to God’s faithfulness in those texts where God remembers his covenant or his people and the promises he gave to them.

The first occurrence of this word is in Genesis 8:1 when God remembers Noah and the animals in the ark after he has destroyed the earth with the flood. The bleak picture given at the end of chapter 7 is met with this dramatic “but God remembered” moment. This could have been the end of humanity, but God is faithful to his Word and ensures that they survive. After Noah and crew disembark, God establishes the rainbow as the sign of his promise never to destroy the earth with a flood again. He states that when he sees the rainbow, he will “remember the everlasting covenant” he made with his creation (Gen 9:16).

One of the main motivations that drove God to deliver his people out of slavery to the Egyptians was remembering “his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exod 2:24; 6:5). After the golden calf incident when God is threatening to destroy Israel, Moses pleads with God to “remember . . . Abraham, Isaac and Israel” to whom he had promised innumerable descendants and a land (Exod 32:13).

Psalms 105 and 106 recall numerous occasions in Israel’s history when God remembered his covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendants as they came out of Egypt, traveled through the wilderness, came into the promised land, and eventually were taken into captivity (Pss 105:8, 42; 106:45). Since God knew that the nation of Israel would perpetually rebel against him, he established a new, everlasting covenant with his people because he remembered the covenant he had made with them in their “youth” (Ezek 16:60).

Gods Faithfulness demonstrated in how He deals with us

New Testament

How we are to Live out .

Pistos

The main Greek word used for God’s faithfulness in the New Testament is pistos. It occurs 67 times in 63 verses. Pistos is used to describe people (often stewards or servants), statements, and God. Jesus referred to faithful (often indicating someone who is dependable) and unfaithful servants when he taught through parables in order to encourage genuine faith and perseverance among those who heard his teachings (Matt 24:45ff; 25:21ff; Luke 12:42; 16:10ff).

Pistos is also used to describe statements that are reliable because of their truthfulness (1Tim 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2Tim 2:11; Titus 1:9; 3:8; Rev 21:5; 22:6). In the same way that people who stay true to their job or ministry are dependable and trustworthy, so God is a person upon whom his people can depend (like Sarah in Genesis who believed she would have the promised child because God is faithful, see Heb 11:11).

God’s faithfulness is most clearly revealed through Jesus Christ, whose character of ultimate reliability personifies what it means to be faithful—even to the point of “faithful” becoming one of his names or titles. He is the faithful witness (Rev 1:5), the faithful one (Rev 2:13), the faithful and true witness (Rev 3:14), and the one called Faithful and True (Rev 19:11).

Because of the reliability of the work of Christ for his people, all the promises of God to his children find their “yes” in him (2Cor 1:20). God’s faithfulness can help a believer overcome temptation (1Cor 1:9) and suffering (1Pet 4:19). When God’s people are unfaithful, he remains faithful. No matter what people do, God’s faithfulness is unchangeable for he cannot deny himself (i.e., who he is, 2Tim 2:13).

When someone turns their back on God how many times have we seen God continue to be Faithful in His promises? In His Word? He is Faithful in the saying that He is not willing that any should perish but that ALL come to repentance.. But we must be Faithful Servants. While he is Faithful in the Forgiving He is also Faithful in Judgment.

Faithfulness is:

something taught

Something Learned

Something Practiced

When you are saved you do not automatically become Faithful. Faithfulness takes work and discipline. Faithfulness sometimes reveals itself in the fiery trials we may have to endure.

Faithfulness is not having faith in yourself or of yourself. Faithfulness is Trusting in God the One whom is higher, the one who is stronger, the one who is everlasting, and the one who is in Himself is Faithful.. We Trust in Him because He is Faithful.

Communicalble is twofold

1.How He deals with us=He is faithful towards us

2. How we live it= The Just live by Faith

His Nature displays Faithfulness. Everything that is not unique to Him alone, we can partake in.

2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

, Ne 7:1–2.

When a person walks consistently with God, in humble service to Him, he or she can be called “faithful.”

Paul wrote to the Corinthians this.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Co 4:2.

I came across this quote

What God requires of you is not success, but faithfulness in what he has assigned to you. Ask yourself: what has Jesus called you to do? You aren’t responsible to save the world, but you are responsible to follow Christ in your situation. For a servant, “success” in life is identifying what God has called you to and being completely faithful in it.

The Old Testament taught that “the just will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4), and that truth is quoted, amplified and illuminated three times in the New Testament. We obtain that faith, and our faithfulness, by the grace of God. He is faithful to His children, and by His grace we will one day hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23).

To Know God and His attributes I believe gives us the ability to love Him more. To know that many many many times Gods people turned their back on Him HE was Still faithful to His promises… To know that all God really wants from us is our Love, God seeks a relationship with each of us personally. Knowing the faults, the failures, the good the bad and the ugly. Yet despite all of that because of His Faithfulness he , compells us, convicts us, chases after us, pays our debts, restores us and He will one Complete us because He is Faithful who Promised.