Baptist Catechism Q7

Introduction

It has been some time sense we considered the Baptist Catechism and the Scriptural truths it states and orders in simple and memorable way. We ended with the sixth question that set the stage for questions 7-86.

Q. 6. What are the Holy Scriptures mainly about?

A. 6. The Holy Scriptures are mainly about what man should believe about God and what duty God requires of man. (2 Timothy 1:13; 3:15, 16)

Therefore, we begin with question 7 and it starts with some of the most fundamental truths we must believe about God.

Question

Q. 7. What is God?

A. 7. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth (John 4:24; Job 11:7, 8, 9; Psalm 110:2; James 1:17; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 147:5; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 15:4; Exodus 34:6).

Exposition

I. God is a Spirit.

To say God is a Spirit is to say that God has no body or parts and is invisible. Jesus says, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24). John says, “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known” (John 1:18). God is the “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14).

II. God is infinite.

To say God is infinite is to say that God has no limit. Job’s friend Zophar, though wrong about a lot, is undoubtedly correct when he says, “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea” (Job 11:7-9).

III. God is eternal.

To say God is eternal is to say that He has no beginning or end. He is and never was not, and He always will be. He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, and the first and the last (Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 44:6). As Moses writes, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:2).

IV. God is unchangeable.

To say God is unchangeable is to say that He does not change. He is always who He is. Creatures cannot change Him. Creatures change, but He does not. God, Himself says, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). James states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

V. God’s being is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

God is period. He is being in its most pure state. He has no potential to move from one state of being to another state of being. He is actual in the fullest sense. If He was not actual in the fullest sense without any potential, then He could not be the God from whom, through whom and to whom are all things (Romans 11:36).

VI. God’s wisdom is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

To say that God is wise is to say that God “understands all things understandable.” The Psalmist says, “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5). David reflects on the fact that there is no escaping God’s knowledge. Our thoughts, path, lying down, words, past, and future do not allude His knowledge (Psalm 139:2-6).

VII. God’s power is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

To say God is all-powerful is to say that God has all power to do what He in His infinite wisdom wills. The texts referenced moments ago are enough to prove this notion. Nothing can stand against God from accomplishing His good and perfect will. For this reason, we may cleave to the promise of Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

VIII. God’s holiness is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

To say God is holy is to say that God is transcendent and distinctly other from all that He has made. Samuel’s mother, Hannah agrees when she prays, “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2). According to Peter by the power of Christ, we are to reflect the transcendent otherness of our God in a creaturely way. Put more simply, the Lord says, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus 11:44).

IX. God’s justice is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

To say God is just is to say that God gives to His creatures what they deserve in either grace or punishment. David affirms God’s goodness and justice when he says, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way” (Psalm 25:8). Moses concurs when he writes, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4). God remains just in both condemning some according to their sin and pardoning others according to Jesus’ imputed righteousness (Romans 3:21-26; 6:23).

X. God’s goodness is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

To say that God is good is to say that He is that which is most desirable, and in Him, there is nothing bad, by Him, there is no wrong done, and His ends for all His acts are beautiful, lovely, and perfect. The Psalmist proclaims of God, “You are good and do good” (Psalm 119:68). We shall see that God’s goodness is also paralleled with His mercifulness and justice.

XI. God’s truth is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

To say that God is truth is to say that He is real, without error, without deceit, and always faithful to Himself and His Word. Moses says, “The Rock, His work is perfect for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4). The Psalmist sings, “Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true” (Psalm 119:142). God for His Word to be true, God Himself must be true. Moreover, God the Son incarnate, Jesus, says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19).

Uses

I. God alone is worthy of worship.

II. God cannot be contained in buildings or be captured by a physical image.

III. God should be worshiped in the ways that He explicitly commands within His Word.

IV. Wonder, Love, and Fear are all appropriate responses to God.

Conclusion

Q. 7. What is God?

A. 7. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth (John 4:24; Job 11:7, 8, 9; Psalm 110:2; James 1:17; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 147:5; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 15:4; Exodus 34:6).

As we considered earlier, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him in Spirit and truth” (John 4:24) and “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him know” (John 1:18). Thus, unless we know the only begotten God, the Word who became flesh, full of grace and truth, then we cannot know God the Holy Trinity as our God. Therefore, trust Christ and point all others to Him.