· Theology Proper ·

Lecture Twenty Four:  The Communicable Attributes of God III

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. Teleological Attributes (Attributes of Purpose)

A. Will

“God’s will is that attribute of God whereby he approves and determines to bring about every action necessary for the existence and activity of himself and all creation.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 211)

1. General Comments on God’s Will

Eph 1:11.  “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…”

“accomplishes” (ejnergew; energeo) – works out, brings about, produces.

“all things”  (ta panta; ta panta) – Paul frequently uses to refer to everything that exists.

Col 1:16-17.  “For by him all things (ta panta) were created:  things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things (ta panta) were created by him and for him.”

Cf. Rom 11:36; 1 Cor 8:6; 15:27-28; Eph 1:10, 23; 3:9; 4:10

James 4:13-15.  “No listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  … Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”

Acts 4:27-28.  “Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

PONTIUS PILATE MADE HIS DECISION AND FREELY MADE IT, BUT GOD DETERMNED AND FOREKNEW WHAT HE WOULD DO.

1 Pet 3:17; 4:19.  “It is better, if it is God’s will, to sufer for doing good than for doing evil.  … So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

2. Distinctions Between Aspects of God’s Will

a. Necessary Will and Free Will

i. Necessary Will

God cannot act in contrary ways to Himself. God wills what is good, ie He cannot sin.

ii. Free Will

God will choose things like creation, or other things to do that are good.

b. Secret Will and Revealed Will

Deut 29:29.  “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

i. Revealed Will

Refers to God’s commands. To show us what we as creatures what His will is.

ii. Secret Will

James 4:15

iii. Examples of God’s Revealed Will

(a) Matt 6:10.  “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

(b) Matt 7:21.  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

iv. Examples of God’s Secret Will

(a) James 4:15.  “[Y]ou ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”

(b) Gen 50:20.  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Presents that the secret will is being revealed after the act.

(c) 1 Cor 4:19.  “But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.”  (Cf. Acts 21:14; Rom 1:10; 15:32; Eph 1:11; 1 Pet 3:17; 4:19)

v. God’s Secret Will in Regard to the Gospel

Matt 11:25-26.  “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.”

Rom 9:18.  “God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.”  (cf. Acts 4:28)

1 Tim 2:4.  “[God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

2 Pet 3:9.  “The Lord … is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

c. God’s Will and the Problem of Evil

Ezek 33:11.  “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”

Acts 2:23.  “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

“However we may understand the secret workings of God’s hidden will, we must never understand it to imply that we are freed from responsibility for evil, or that God is ever to be blamed for sin.  Scripture never speaks that way, and we may not either, even though how this can be so may remain a mystery for us in this age. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 215-216)

B. Freedom

“God’s freedom is that attribute of God whereby he does whatever he pleases.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 216)

Ps 115:3.  “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”

Prov 21:1.  “The king’s heart  is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.”

Dan 4:35.  “[God] does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him:  ‘What have you done?’”

C. Omnipotence

“God’s omnipotence means that God is able to do all his holy will.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 216)

Gen 18:14.  “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”  (cf. Ps 24:8; 115:3)

Jer 32:17.  “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstrectched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.”  (cf. v27)

Eph 3:20.  “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…”

Luke 1:37.  “…[N]othing is impossible with God.”  (negatively stated)

Matt 19:26.  “…[W]ith God all things are possible.”  (positively stated)

“Although God’s power is infinite, his use of that power is qualified by his other attributes (just as all God’s attributes qualify all his actions).”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 217)

II. Summary Attributes

A. Perfection

“God’s perfection means that God completely possesses all excellent qualities and lacks no part of any qualities that would be desirable for him.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 218)

Matt 5:48.  “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Ps 18:30.  “[God’s] way is perfect…”  (cf. Deut 32:4)

B. Blessedness

1. The Meaning of Blessedness

“God’s blessedness means that God delights fully in himself and in all that reflects his character.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 218)

1 Tim 6:15.  “…God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords…”

1 Tim 1:11.  “…the blessed God…”

2. Divine Blessedness and Creation

Gen 1:31.  “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Isa 62:5.  “…As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”

C. Beauty

“God’s beauty is that attribute of God whereby he is the sum of all desirable qualities.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 219)

“[A]ll of our good and righteous desires, all of the desires that really ought to be in us or in any other creature, find their ultimate fulfillment in God and in no one else.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 219)

Ps 27:4.  “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

“We reflect God’s beauty in our own lives when we exhibit conduct that is pleasing to him.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 220)

D. Glory

Isa 43:7.  “[E]veryone who is called by my name … I created for my glory…”  (cf. Rom 3:23; John 17:5)

“Glory is the created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself.  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 220)

Rev 21:23.  “The [eternal] city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

2 Cor 3:18.  “[Christians] reflect the Lord’s glory … [and are] being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Phil 2:15.  “[Believers are to] become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…”  (cf. Matt 5:16)

Matt 13:43.  “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

Dan 12:3.  “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”  (cf. Prov 4:18; 1 Cor 15:43)