WHAT WE BELIEVED
-- The Attributes of God --
As God is infinite in His being, it is impossible for any creature to
know Him exactly as He is. Yet He has graciously willed to reveal himself
in language that we can understand, and that revelation is contained in the
Scriptures. For example, God says of Himself, “I AM HOLY”:
Therefore, we can say, God is Holy. Holiness then is an ATTRIBUTE OF GOD
because holiness is a quality that we may attribute or apply to Him. Thus
we may regulate our thoughts about God with the help of the revelation God
has given of Himself.
QUESTION: What is the difference between the names of God and the at
tributes of God?
ANSWER: The names of God express His whole being, while His Attributes
indicate various sides of His character.
NOTE: To comprehend God fully would he like trying to carry the Atlantic
Ocean in a teacup. But He has revealed Himself sufficiently to fill our
capacity.
The following classification may be found helpful:
I- UNRELATED ATTRIBUTES, or what God is in Himself, apart from creation.
It answers the question, “What qualities characterized God before anything
came into existence.
II- ACTIVE ATTRIBUTES, or what God is in relation to the Universe.
III- MORAL ATTRIBUTES, or what God is in relation to His moral being.
I- GOD’S INNER NATURE (Unrelated Attributes).
A. God is a Spirit. (John 4:24). God is a spirit with personality;
He thinks, feels, speaks, and therefore He can have direct communion with
His creatures made after His image.
As a spirit, God is not subject to the limitations to which possession
of a body subjects human beings. He does not possess bodily parts or
passions, and is composed of no material elements, and is not subject to
the conditions of natural existence. Hence He cannot be seen with natural
eyes or apprehended by natural senses.
This does not imply that God lives a shadowy, unsubstantial existence for
Jesus refers to God’s shape (John 5:37; compare Phil.2:6). God is a real
person, Heb.1:3 says: “Who being the brightness of His glory and the
express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His
power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand
of the Majesty on high.”
God is a person, but so infinite in nature, that He cannot he fully
apprehended by the human mind or adequately described by human language,
John declares: “No man hath seen God at any time” (1 John 1:18, compare
Ex.33:20); yet in Exodus 24:9,10 we read that Moses and certain elders
“SAW GOD.” There is no contradiction; John means that no man has ever
seen God AS HE IS. But we know that spirit may be manifested in bodily
form (Mat. 3:16). The Theological term for this is “THEOPHANY”-—The
visible manifestation of a Deity. Therefore, God can manifest Himself in
a way that can be apprehended by man (Gen. 18:17-33).
God also describes His infinite personality in language understood by
finite minds; therefore, the Bible speaks of God’s having hands,
arms, eyes and ears and describes Him as seeing, feeling, hearing,
repenting and so forth.
But Cod is unsearchable and inscrutable, consider Job 11:7, ”Can you
search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of
the Almighty? They are higher than the heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—-what can you know? Their measure is longer
than the earth and broader than the sea.”
QUESTION: Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
ANSWER: Our answer would be,… “We have nothing to draw with, and the
well is deep” (John 4:11).
B. God is infinite, that is, not subject to natural and human limitation.
God’s infinity may viewed in TWO WAYS:
1. In relation to space; God is characterized by IMMMENSITY
(1 Kings 8:27), this means IMMEASURABLE, LIMITLESS, BOUNDLESS,
INCALCULABLE, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, UNFATHOMABLE—MEASURELESS. That is, the
nature of the GODHEAD is equally present throughout the whole of infinite
space--to every part of it. No part of existence is untouched by His
presence, and energy, and no point of space escapes His influence. His
center is everywhere; His circumference is nowhere.
Yet we must not forget that in one particular place His presence and
glory are revealed in an extraordinary manner; and that place is
heaven.
2. In relation to time---God is eternal(Ex. 15:I8; Deut. 33:27;
Rev. 4:8,9,1O). He has existed from eternity and will exist to
eternity past, present and future are all present to His mind. Being
eternal--He is unchangeable, “The same yesterday, today, and
forever” (Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8).
NOTE: This is a comforting truth to the believers, who may rest in the
confidence that the eternal God whom they served is alive and a
real refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deut. 33:27).
C. GOD is ONE. (Ex. 2O:3; Deut. 4:35,39; 6:4; 2 Sam. 7:22; 1 Kings
8:6o;
2 Kings 19:15; Neh. 9:6; 1 Tim. 1:17) “Hear ,O Israel; The Lord our
God is one Lord.” This was a fundamental of Old Testament religion, and
was Israel’s distinctive message to a world that worshiped many false
gods (Isa. 42:5-8; 44:6-19; 45:11-21).
QUESTION: Does the teaching of the unity of God conflict with the New
Testament teaching of the Trinity?
ANSWER: We must distinguish between – TWO KINDS OF UNITY:
1. The ABSOLUTE UNITY—Heb. YACHIDH.
2. The COMPOUND UNITY—Heb. ECHAD.
NOTE: The expression “ONE MAN” conveys the thought of Absolute unity,
because we refer to ONE PERSON, Isaiah 44:6 states, “Thus say the Lord,
the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts: I am the first
and I am the last; besides Me there is no God.” Think of it: the
pronoun I and Me as of ONE person, singular number. This is yachidh-or
absolute unity. But if ONE PERSON is referred to—that is ABSOLUTE
ONENESS (Gen. 22:2,12; Amos 8:10; Jer. 6:26; Zech. 12:10.; Prov. 4:3;
Judges 11:34). The phrase “are one” refers to the unity of the Godhead.
But when we read --- Man and his wife shall be one
flesh—that is a
compound Unity (ECHAD---the union of two persons.
QUESTION: What kind of unity is referred to in Deuteronomy 6:4? From
the fact the word “our GOD” is in the plural form (ELOHIM) and not
“ELOAH” WHICH IS IN THE SINGULAR?
ANSWER: We can conclude, without a doubt, that compound Unity may be
inferred.
NOTE: The Hebrew language has 3 numbers, namely:
1. Singular ………………………………………………………………… 1 (ONE)
2. Dual …………………………………………………………………………. 2 (TWO)
3. Plural ……………………………………………………………………. 3 or more
Since ELOHIM (Hebrew) translated in English, “GOD,” is plural (3 more)
in this very name of Deity, we are introduce to a Godhead which is
revealed in 3 distinct persons equal in power and essence, co-eternal
(Isa. 48:16).
1. The Father ………………………………………………… Deut. 33:27.
2. (Dual) ………The…Son…………………………………… Prov. 30:4; John 3:13; Heb. 1:8,
3. Plural …The…Holy…Spirit………………………………………… Heb. 9:14; Acts 5:3,4
Please scrutinize this verse very carefully (1 John 5:7): “For there
are three who bear witness in heaven; THE FATHER, THE WORD, and THE
HOLY SPIRIT: and these three are ONE.”
NOTE: Three persons cannot be one person in number in any sense, but
the
three persons can be one in Unity (John 17:11).
EXAMPLES, ILLUSTRATIONS and ANALOGIES:
1. Water is one, yet it is known in three forms:
a. Water
b. Ice
c. Steam
2. The Sun is one, yet it manifest as:
a. light
b. heat
c. fire
3. The beam of light; it has three rays:
a. The actinic --- which is invisible.
b. The luminiferous --- which is visible.
c. The calorific --- which gives heat and is felt, but not seen.
Where these three are, there is light. Where there is light, we have
these three.
John the Apostle said: “God is light” (1 John 1:5).
a. God the Father has not been seen, yet He was the one who sent the
Son as Savior of the world (1 John4:14; John 3:16).
b. The Son who sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high ---
was addressed by God (Heb. 1:8-14): “But to the Son He says, Your
throne, O God, is forever and ever… You, LORD, in the beginning laid
the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your
hands” – which is visible.
c. The Holy Spirit – was sent by our Lord (John 16:7-14) can be felt
and is effective; He transforms the lives of men (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thes.
2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).
4. Our Government is One; yet it has three branches:
a. The legislative – (congress) composed of Senators and the House
of Representatives.
b. The Executive – composed of the President, the Cabinet and the
departments under the Cabinet members.
c. The Judicial – The Supreme Court, which has 9 members.
The Scriptures teach that “GOD IS ONE” and that besides Him there
is no God (Isa. 44:8; Isa. 45:18,21; Jas. 2:19).
The question might arise: “How could God have fellowship before
finite creatures came into existence?”
The answer is that – the Divine Unity is a Compound, and that in this
Unity there are Three Distinct Persons. So we see that there was an
eternal Fellowship before finite creatures were created. Therefore,
God is never alone (Gen. 1:26,27; Isa. 45:11,12; Prov. 8:22-31;
John 17:5).
It was not the Angels who were Co-creators with God --- When He said:
“Let us make man after our own image. According to Isaiah 15: 11,12
It was the Lord - the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker who formed
the earth and made it. The One who was with the Father from eternity
past … was not other than Jesus our Lord, before His incarnation
(John 1:1-3,14).
NOTE: a. Christ preeminent in creation (Col. 1:15-17).
b. Christ preeminent in redemption (Col. 1:19-22).
c. Christ preeminent in the church (Col. 1:24-29).
So it is, and it would be a great blasphemy and highly disrespectful
to say that, “There was a time that the son (Jesus Christ) did not
exist, then He will be Lord again (Heb. 1:10—12) see the oneness
booklet (page 51).
NOTE: WHAT THE APOSTLES BELIEVED:
a. The Father is God -- (John 20:17)
b. The Son is God ----- (Rom. 9:5)
c. The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4).
They put these three in the Apostolic Benediction (2Cor. 13:14;
Phil. 2:6—8; Eph. 4:30).
Try to examine closely this great ERROR of interpretation of the
Scriptures This error is commonly known as SABELLIANISM, from Bishop
Sabellius who taught that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
are simply three aspects or manifestations of God. This error has
appeared many times in the History of the Church and is current even
today, in Tanjay City and in Dumaguete City. If then, the Father,
Son and the Holy Spirit are only God under different aspects of names
and manifestations, then the New Testament is a mass of confusion,
For example: A reading of the intercessory prayer of Jesus (John 17)
with the thought in the mind that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit
are of one person--will reveal the absurdity of the Doctrine
(ridiculous, unreasonable, unsound).
NOTE: “As I have given myself power over all flesh, that I should
give eternal life to as many as I have given myself...I have
glorified myself on earth; I have finished the work which I gave
myself to do; and now I glorify myself with my own self with the
glory which I had with me before the world was” (compare with John
17:2-5). Oh how silly would it would be for us if this is the way
we interpret these Scriptures (weak in intellect, foolish). Many
intellectual people today are silly and have been deceived by the
spirit of antichrist who denies the real existence of the Father
and the Son and that they are separate persons. John testifies
that the Lord Jesus Christ is the SON OF THE FATHER – in truth and
love. He is not the Father but the SON OF THE FATHER (2 John 1:3).
Each member of the Trinity is mentioned in the Old Testament.
a. The Father---Isa. 63:16; Mal. 2:1O--(397 BC).
b. The Son of Jehovah-Psa. 45:6,7; 2:6,7,12; Prov. 30:4).
c. The Holy Spirit—(Gen. 1:2; Isa. 11:2,31; 48:16; 61:10; 63:10).
1 John 5:7 says: “These three are ONE” (in unity in the Godhead).
There are more than one hundred verses and proofs in the Bible that the
Father is not the Son, nor the Holy Spirit. Out of the more than one
hundred proofs and verses, I will just present forty (40) irresistible
proofs that the Father is not the Son.
1. (Mat. 16:13-17) God revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Son of
the Living God; And Jesus confirmed it, “Your are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.” Jesus said: “Flesh and blood has
not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Note: The one who revealed was in heaven while Jesus was on
earth. So it is very clear that Jesus is not the Father.
2. (Mat. 28:18) “All authority has been given to me in heaven and
on earth.” If Jesus is the Father, who gave to Him the
Authority? Therefore, Jesus is not the Father.
3. (John 5:22-23) “For the Father judges no one, but has committed
to the son,” so He is not the Father. The Father was the one
who sent Him. So, Jesus is not the Father, nor the Holy
Spirit.
4. (John 5:26) The Father and the Son have separate functions in
life, so how could Jesus be the Father?
5. (John 12:49,50) “I have not spoken on my own authority; but the
Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and
what I should speak.” Note: “Whatever He should speak came
from His Father not from His own. It is very clear that He is
not the Father.
6. (Dan. 7:9-14; Mat. 3:16-17; John 1:31-34; Acts 7:54-60; Rev.
6:16; 7:9-17; Rev. 21:22; 22:3) – Two and three persons called
God have been seen by the same men at the same time and place
as being separate persons. So, how could Jesus be the Father
or the Holy Spirit?
7. (Gen. 19:24; Gen. 18:33) Two Lords are mentioned, one on earth
and one in heaven.
8. Two Lords are mentioned sitting side by side (Ps. 110:1,5; Mat.
22:44; Acts 2:33-34; 7:54-56; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; Eph. 1:20;
Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:13; Heb. 8:1; Ps. 2:1; Prov. 30:4).
9. The Father and the Son spoke to each other in an audible voice
at the same time and place, being heard by many witnesses (Mat.
3:16-17; 17:5; John 12:27-30; 2 Peter 1:17,18).
10. The disciples heard the voice from heaven saying: “You are my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). The Father
acknowledges Jesus as His Son, but who are you to disagree with
this? Are you more wise than God and wise more than the
Apostles?
11. Jesus was resurrected and exalted by the father, so He could not
be the Father (Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 12:2; 1 Peter 1:3;
3:22).
12. He received this command, that He should lay down His life, and
that He may take it again. So He is not the Father (John
10:17,18).
13. Christ announces His departure of going back to His Father who
sent Him; so He is not the Father (John 16:27-29).
14. Christ Jesus prays for Himself, telling God that He had finished
the work that He should do (John 17:54:5). He longed to have
the glory that He had before with the Father before the world
was. So He is not the Father.
15. He was loved of the Father as a separate person. So he is not
the Father (John 10:17-18).
16. The Father was in heaven all the time, Jesus was on earth (Mat.
5:16,48).
17. Jesus promised that he would confess men before His Father
who is in heaven (Mat. 1O:32-33). If He is the Father, He would
confess men before himself? It is clear that Jesus is not the Father.
18. (Eph. 1:3,17) Paul says that, “Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ,” verse 17—“the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory;” proves that even the Apostle Paul
acknowledged that Jesus is not the Father God. If you disagree
with these, then you are more discerning than the apostle to the
gentiles (Rom. 11:13)! NOTE: I don’t believe that you are more
thoughtful than Paul, who are you?
19. (John 14:12-14; 15:16) Men are thought to go directly to the
Father in prayer, and not to pray to Jesus only. So He is not
the Father.
20. (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7) The Father knew all things about His
return, but Jesus did not know; proving that He is not the
Father.
21. Jesus committed His own spirit to the Father, not to his own
self. This shows that He is not the Father (Luke 23:46).
22. The Son died – not the Father (1 Cor. 15:3). So He is not the
Father.
23. Jesus called God – “My Father” – 57 times. How could He be His
own God and Father and beget Himself? (John 3:16; Luke 3:32).
24. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son” … NOTE: If this word “God” refers to the Son
(Jesus), who is the only Son of Jesus? It is very clear that
there is a Father and there is Jesus, the only son of the
Father.
25. (Acts 7:55) Stephen saw Jesus as a separate person standing at
the right hand of God. So He is not the Father.
26. Jesus proved that He had his own throne, and the Father has also
His own throne; It is clear that Jesus is not the Father nor the
Holy Spirit (Rev. 3:21). So, what makes our mind closed to
believe that Jesus is the Father at the same time! Do we have
the spirit of antichrist-—who does not believe the existence of
the Father and the Son? Why should we firmly stand in spite of
many verses telling us that Jesus is not the Father!
(2 John 1:3).
TAKE NOTE: One who denies the Father and the Son has the spirit of
antiChrist (1 John 2:22).
27. (John 1:14,18) Jesus is not the begotten of Himself, and He is
the only one who is in the bosom of the Father, Jesus has declared
the Father God.
28. Think of it, about the ambitious mother and her two sons
(Mat. 20:21—23; Mark 10:35-40) “Grant that these two sons of mine may
sit, one on your right hand and the other on the left, in your kingdom.”
TAKE NOTE: Jesus replied; “but to sit on my right hand and on my left is
NOT MINE TO GIVE, BUT IT IS FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT IS PREPARED BY MY
FATHER.” It is clear as crystal or transparent glass that the Father is
not the Son; because Jesus could not decide to grant their request, but
it is of the Father.
29. (John 20:17) … “I am ascending to my Father and your Father and
to my God and your God.” If Jesus is the Father, then who is
this Father that He referred to? So it is clear that Jesus is
not the manifestation of the Father (Mark 1:11) because it was
the Father Who Says: “You are my beloved Son” and not Jesus
talking to himself. In Matthew 17:5 we read that there was a
voice coming out of the cloud saying “This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased, HEAR HIM.” Who was that voice out of
the cloud? If Jesus was the one who says it, then this is what
He should say! Hear me; but it says hear him. So, who
introduced Jesus as His beloved son? Jesus himself?
30. (John 15:26) Jesus could not be the Father nor the Holy Spirit
at the same time, because He was the one who sent the Holy
spirit from the Father. If He is the Father and the Holy Spirit
and He is also the Son; --- Then this is what He should say:
“But when the Helper which is me, the spirit of truth who
proceeds from me, I will testify of me.” Oh! How silly would
it be if this is our belief that Jesus is the son and the Father
and the Holy Spirit at the same time.
31. (John 14:28) NOTE: “I am going to the Father, for the Father is
greater than I.” Jesus our Lord acknowledged that the Father
who sent Him is greater than Him (Jesus). So He could not be
the Father.
TAKE NOTE: If Jesus is the Father, then this is what it should say: “I
am going to me, for I am greater than me.” Is not a man insane
who would say this?
32. (John 8:16-18) “And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I
am not alone, for I am with the Father who sent me.”
Note: It was not Jesus who sent Himself, but the Father. Jesus
was the one who said this. “I am not alone… It is also written
in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one
that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears
witness of me.” Take note of this: these words came out from
the mouth of Jesus our Lord. “[He] is not alone. “[He] was
with the Father who sent [Him]. “The testimony of two men is
true.” Why would you disagree with this? Do you have the
spirit of unbelief (Heb. 3:12)?
33. (John 14:16) “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you
another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” If He is
the Father and the Holy Spirit at the same time, then this is
what He should say: “And I will pray to myself and I will give
you another me or myself that I may abide with you forever.”
Maybe, only the fool would say this.
34. (John 8:42) “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I
proceeded forth and came from God nor have I come of myself, but
He sent me.” ---- If the Son is the Father, This is what He
should say: If I were your Father, you would love me, for I
proceeded forth and came from me, nor have I came of myself, but
I sent me.
35. The Oneness doctrine says, “Jesus Christ is the manifestation of
the Father.” Note: this is the wrong interpretation of the
scriptures. (1 Tim. 3:16) This “manifestation of God” does not
refer to the Father. See 1 John 3:8 which says, “For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil” (Heb. 2:14,15). It was the Son and not the
Father. And John testified (2 John 1:3) that the Lord Jesus
Christ was the Son of the Father, so he is not the Father.
36. Take note of the three persons mentioned by Jesus Christ. (John
14:16-17,23) “and I [Jesus the Son] will pray the Father, and He
[the Father] will give you another Helper – Comforter, that He
may abide with you forever.” First, the Comforter, Holy Spirit,
will abide forever. Second, (verse 23) “and my Father will love
him,” note the WE not “I” next, “and we will come unto him
[believer], and make our home - abode with him [believer]. So
three are mentioned, a) The Holy Spirit, b) the Father and c)
Jesus the Son. I did not say three Gods, but three persons in
the Deity.
37. Read: Rev. 4:1-3; 5:1-7, The throne of God and the one who sat
on the throne. Note: the one who sat on the throne was no
other than God – the Father. Verse 7, “Then he took the book
out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.”
NOTE: If we consider that one who sat on the throne was the Lamb
(Jesus), then who was the one who came to the one who sat on the
throne and took the scroll? Therefore, it is clear that the
Father is not the Son (see Rev. 3:21).
38. 2 Cor. 11:31 – Paul says that Jesus has his own Father; therefore,
Jesus is not the Father (Eph. 3:14,15), but the Son of the Father (1 John
1:3; 2:1).
39. Col. 3:1; Heb. 8:1 – Christ is sitting at the right hand of God
acting as a high priest; therefore he is not the Father (Heb. 9:24).
40. In 2 Peter 1:17,18, Peter tells us that they were eyewitnesses of
His (Jesus) majesty; when Jesus received from God the Father honor and
glory. They heard the voice from the Father in heaven. So, it’s clear
that Jesus is not the Father, but the Son. Note: If God the Father had
said that Jesus is His Son, why should you disagree with this? The
apostles heard the voice while they were with Jesus on the holy mountain.
II – ACTIVE ATTRIBUTES – What God is in relation to the Universe
A. God is Omnipotent (Gen. 1:1; 17:1; 18:14; Ex. 15:7; Deut. 3:24; Deut.
32:39; 1 Chron. 16:25; Job 40:2; Isa. 40:12-15; Jer. 32:17; Mat. 19:26;
Rev. 15:3; 19:6; Ezek. 10:5; Dan. 3:17; Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Zech. 12:1).
God’s Omnipotence signifies TWO THINGS:
1. His freedom and power to do all that is consistent with his nature.
FOR EXAMPLE: “For with God nothing shall be impossible,” of course this
does not mean that He can or would do anything contrary to His own nature,
FOR EXAMPLE: To lie or steal; or that He would do anything absurd or
self-contradictory, such as to make a triangular circle, or make dry water.
2. His control and Sovereignty over all that is or can be done:
QUESTION: But if this is so, why is evil practiced in the world?
ANSWER: Because God has endowed man with a free will, which He will not
violate; He therefore permits evil acts, but for a wise purpose,
and with the prospect of ultimately overruling evil. Only God is
Almighty and even Satan can do nothing without His permission (Job
chapters 1 & 2; Acts 17:25,28; Dan. 5:23).
Man’s existence is like the note of an organ, lasting as long as
God’s fingers are on the keys. Therefore, every time a person
sins, he is using the Creator’s own power to outrage Him (to
arouse anger or resentment).
B. God is Omnipresent – that is unlimited by space (Gen. 28:15,16; Deut.
4:39; Psalm 139:7-10).
QUESTION: What is the difference between immensity and Omnipresence?
ANSWER: Immensity – is God’s presence in relation to space; while
omnipresence – is His presence viewed in relation to creatures.
He is present to His creatures in the following ways:
1. In glory, to the adoring hosts of heaven (Isa. 6:1-3).
2. Effectively, in the natural order (Nahum 1:3).
3. Providentially, in the affairs of men (Ps. 68:7,8).
4. Attentively, to those who seek Him (Mat. 18:19,20; Acts 17:27).
5. Judicially, to the conscience of the wicked (Gen. 3:8; Ps. 68:1,2).
NOTE: Man cannot hope to find a corner in the universe where ye may
escape the law of his maker.
6. Bodily, in the Son (Col. 2:9) “God with us.”
7. Mystically, in the church (Eph. 2:12-22).
8. Officially, with his workers (Mat. 28:19,20).
NOTE: While God is everywhere, He does not dwell everywhere. Only when
He enters into personal relationship with a group or an individual
is He said to dwell with them.
C. God is Omniscient, knowing all things (Gen. 18:18,19; 2 Kings 8:10,13;
1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 94:9; Psalm 139:1-16; 147:4,5; Acts 15:8; Rom.
8:27,29; 1 Cor. 3:20; 2 Tim. 2:19; Heb. 4:13).
God’s knowledge is perfect - He does not have to reason, or find out things
or learn gradually. His knowledge of past, present and future is
instantaneous.
NOTE; There is great comfort in the consideration of His Attributes - In
all the tests of life, the believer may be sure that – “our Father
knoweth” (Mat. 6:8).
The following difficulty presents itself to some: Since God knows all
things, He knows who will be lost; therefore, how can a person help from
being lost?
Answer: But God’s knowledge of how an individual will use his free will
does not force that person’s choice. God foresees, but does not fix.
D. God is Wise (Ps. 104:24; Prov. 3:19; Jer. 10:12; Dan. 2:20,21; Rom.
11:33; 1 Cor. 1:24,25,30; 2:6,7; Eph. 3:10; Col. 2:2,3). God’s wisdom
is a combination of His Omniscience and Omnipotence.
He has POWER to apply His knowledge that the best purposes are realized
by the best possible means.
God always does that right thing, in the right way, and at the right time.
“He hath done all things well” and overrules the course of events of His
own good purpose. This action is called – PROVIDENCE. God’s general
providence has to do with the government of the Universe as a whole; His
particular providence with the details of man’s life.
E. God is Sovereign; that is, He has an absolute right to govern and
dispose of His creatures as He pleases (Dan. 4:35; Mat. 20:15; Rom. 9:21).
He possesses this right by virtue of His infinite superiority, His
absolute ownership of all, and the absolute dependence of all things on
Him for their continuance. Therefore, it is both foolish and wicked to
criticize His ways.
III – MORAL ATTRIBUTES – What God in relation to moral creatures.
Reviewing the record of God’s dealings with mankind, we learn that:
A. God is Holy (Ex. 15:11; Lev. 11:44,45; 20:26; Josh. 24:19; 1 Sam.
2:2; Ps. 5:4; 111:9; 145:17; Isa. 6:3; 43:14,15; Jer. 23:9; Luke 1:49;
Jas. 1:13; 1 Peter 1:15,16; Rev. 4:8; Rev. 15:3,4).
The holiness of God means His absolute moral purity; He can neither sin
nor tolerate sin. NOTE: The root meaning of “HOLY” is “SEPARATED.”
QUESTION: In what sense is God separated?
ANSWER: He is separated from man in space. He is in heaven; man is on earth
(Eccl. 5:2). He is separated from man in nature and character He is perfect,
man is imperfect. He is Divine, man is sinful.
We see then that holiness is the attribute which guards the distinction
between God and the creature. It denotes not merely an attribute of God,
but the divine nature itself.
Therefore, when God reveals Himself in a way that impresses man with His
Godhead, He is said to sanctify himself (Ezek. 36:23; 38:23) that is He
reveals Himself as the Holy one.
When the Seraphim describe the Divine radiance emanating (come cut from
a source) from Him that sits on the throne, they cry out:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord of Hosts (Isa. 6:3).
Men are said to sanctify God when they honor and reverence Him as Divine
(Num. 20:12; Lev. 10:3; Isa. 8:13).
When they dishonor Him by violation of His commandments, they are said to
profane (to violate or treat with irreverence) in Latin —— profanus (abuse)
His name which is the opposite of sanctifying or hallowing (Mat. 6:9) His
name.
Only God is holy in himself. Holy people, buildings and objects are so
described because God has made them holy, or sanctified them.
The word “HOLY” applied to persons or objects is a term expressing a
relationship to JEHOVAH_-- the fact of being set apart for His service.
Having been thus set apart, articles must be clean; and persons must
consecrate themselves to live according to the LAW of HOLINESS. These
facts constitute the basis of the DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION.
B. God is Righteous.
QUESTION: What is the difference between holiness and righteousness?
ANSWER: Righteousness is holiness in action. Righteousness is God’s
holiness manifested in right dealing with His creatures. “Shall not the
Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25). Righteousness is conformity
to the right standard; it is right conduct in relation to others.
QUESTION: When does God manifest this attribute?
1. When He clears the innocent and condemns the wicked we see that justice
is done. God judges not as modern judges do, on evidence set before them
by others, but He discovers the evidence for Himself (John 2:24,25; John
16:30; Mat. 9:4).
Thus the Messiah, filled with the Divine Spirit does not judge – “after the
sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears,” but
judges with righteousness (Isa. 11:3,4).
2. When He pardons the penitent (Ps. 51:14; 1 John 1:9; Heb. 6:10).
3. When He chastises and judges His people (Isa. 8:17; Amos 3:2).
4. When He saves His people. God’s interposition of behalf of His people
is called – His Righteousness (Isa. 46:13; 45:24,25).
Salvation is the negative side, righteousness is the positive. He delivers
His people from their sins and their enemies and the result is
righteousness of heart (Isa. 60:21; 54:13; 61:10; 51:6).
5. When He gives victory to the cause of His faithful servants
(Isa. 50:4-9). After God has delivered His people and judged the wicked,
and we shall have “NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH,” wherein dwells
righteousness (2 Peter 3:13).
God not only deals righteously but He requires righteousness.
QUESTION: But what if the man has sinned?
ANSWER: Then He graciously imparts righteousness to (or justifies) the
penitent (Rom. 4:50). This is the basis of the DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION.
It will be noted that the Divine nature is the basis of God’s dealing
with men. As He is, so He acts. The Holy One sanctifies, the Righteous
One Justifies.
C. God is Faithful. He is absolutely trustworthy; His words will not fail.
Therefore, His people may stand on His promises (Ex. 34:6; Num. 23:19;
Deut. 4:31; Josh. 21:43-45; 23:14; 1 Sam. 15:29; Jer. 4:28; Isa. 25:1;
Ezek. 12:25; Luke 18:7,8; Rom. 3:4; 15:8; 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Cor. 20:13;
1 Peter 4:19).
D. God is Merciful. God’s mercy is the Divine goodness exercised with
respect to the miseries of His creatures, feeling for them, and making
provision for their relief, and in the case of impenitent sinners, leading
to long-suffering, patience (Titus 3:5; Lam. 3:22; Dan. 59:9; Jer. 3:12;
Ps. 32:5; Isa. 49:13; 54:7).
For the most beautiful descriptions of the mercy of God see
Psalm 103:7 and the ground of trust (Ps. 52:8).
NOTE: God’s MERCY was preeminently manifested is sending Christ His Son
into the world (Luke 1:78).
E. God is Love. Love is the attribute of God by reason of which He desires
a personal relation with those who bear His image, and especially with
those who have been made holy and are like Him in character.
1. Notice how God’s love is described (Deut. 7:8; Eph. 2:4;
Zeph. 3:17; Isa. 49:15,16; Rom. 8:39; Hos. 11:4; Jer. 31:3).
2. Notice to whom it is manifested (John 3:16; 16:27; 17:23; Deut. 10:18).
3. Notice How it was exhibited (1 John 4:9,10; Rom. 9:11,13; 1 John 3:1;
Isa. 43:3,4; Isa. 63:9; Titus 3:4-7; Eph. 2:4,5; Deut. 7:13; Rom. 5:5).
F. God is Good. The goodness of God is that attribute by reason of which
He imparts life and other blessings to His creatures (Ps. 25:8; Nahum 1:7;
Ps. 145:9; Rom. 2:4; Mat. 5:45; Ps. 1:19; Acts 14:17;
Ps. 68:10; Ps. 85:5).
QUESTION: Why did a God of love create a world with so much suffering?
ANSWER: 1. God is not responsible for evil. If the careless workman
throws sand into a delicate machine, should the manufacturer be held
responsible? God made everything good but man marred His work.
3. 2. God, being Almighty, evil exists by His permission. We
cannot in every instance, understand why He permits evil, “For His ways
are just” and “past finding out” (see Dan. 4:37; Rom. 11:33).
4. 3. God is so great that He can overrule evil for good.
EXAMPLE: remember how He overruled the wickedness of Joseph’s brethren
(Gen 50:20).
4. God has arranged the universe according to natural laws, and these
laws imply the possibility of accidents.
EXAMPLE: If a person carelessly or deliberately steps off a
precipice (a very steep or overhanging place such as a cliff) he suffers
the consequences of violating the law of gravity; yet we are glad for
these laws, for otherwise the world would be in a state of confusion.
5. It should always be remembered that this is not the perfect order of
things. God has another life and future age in which to vindicate (to
provide defense for) all His dealings because He works according to
“Heavenly Standard Time.” He will avenge His elect speedily
(Luke 18:7,8). God must not be judged until the curtain has fallen on
the last Scene of the drama of ages. Then we shall see that “He hath
done all things well.”
TAKE NOTE:
Every time a Hebrew uttered the name of God (ELOHIM) he was really
saying “GODS” —— see Old KJV (l Sam. 4:7,8). The word is in the plural
and is sometimes used in the Hebrew with the plural adjective
(Josh. 24:18,19) and with a plural verb (Gen. 35:7).
Let us imagine a devout and enlightened Hebrew pondering the fact that
Jehovah is one, and yet He is Elohim – “GODS.” He could conceivably be
imagined as concluding that there was a plurality of persons within the
ONE GOD (GODHEAD).
Paul the Apostle never ceased to believe in the unity of God as He had
been taught it from His youth (1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:4) indeed, he
insisted that he taught no other things but which were found in the
law and the prophets. His God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Yet he preaches the Deity of CHRIST (Phil. 2:6-8; 1 Tim. 3:16) and the
personality of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30); and puts these Three persons
together in the Apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14).
QUESTION: How can three persons be ONE GOD? is a question which
puzzles many people. We should not wonder at their perplexity, for we
are dealing the INNER NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD. We must not forget
that three can be ONE IN UNITY, and that is the case in the persons of
-- The FATHEH, and THE SON, and THHE HOLY GHOST: Those three are one in
unity in the GODHEAD.
Prepared by Pastor Ben. Dahildahil Sr.