My subject tonight is The Attributes of God. Our text is found in our Lord's high priestly prayer, in John chapter seventeen, verse three. In our text, the Lord Jesus Christ declares, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Proposition: Thus telling us that there is no possibility of salvation, no possibility of eternal life, no possibility of true Christianity apart from knowing God in his true character, as he is revealed in Holy Scripture.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we have some knowledge and understanding of the Divine character, that we know the attributes of his Being, the perfections of his character. A proper, biblical knowledge of the attributes of God is essential to saving faith. That person who claims to believe God, but has no idea what his character is, is deluded with a false faith. Our Lord Jesus tells us plainly, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." A knowledge of God's character, his attributes, lies at the very foundation of true religion.
It is impossible to trust and love God, until we know who he is, until we know the character of his Being. Indeed, it is impossible for us to know our need of such a Savior as Christ is, until we have some concept of infinitely holy character of God. We may be terrified by the fear of wrath to come and of eternal judgment, and we may be delighted by the hope of escaping the wrath of God in hell through Christ; but that is not salvation. Jesus Christ is not a fire-escape from hell. He is the revelation of and way to the living God. Eternal life, true Christianity, true salvation is a knowledge of God as God, faith in God as God, and love for God as God.
Yet, our Lord Jesus tells us that "God is Spirit." Therefore he cannot be known by natural senses and abilities. He can be known by us only as he is pleased to reveal himself to us in his Word and works, through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 1:14-18 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (15) John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. (16) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
Divisions: In this message, I want to simply answer two questions.
The attributes of God are the perfections of his nature, the characteristics of his Being as God. God's attributes are those traits of character essential to Divinity. As we look at the attributes of God revealed in the Scriptures, remember, this - If even one of these attributes did not belong to him, he would not and could not be God. These are the things which are essential to Godhood.
Theologians have many ways of classifying the Divine attributes. Some have classified them as communicable and incommunicable. Communicable attributes are those which are communicated to rational creatures (angels and men). Communicable attributes would be wisdom and power. Incommunicable attributes are attributes belonging to God alone, such as infinity, immutability, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
Others have attempted to classify the attributes of God as natural and moral. They would, for example, say that infinity, eternality, and omnipotence are among God's natural attributes, and that holiness, justice, and truth are moral attributes.
There are other ideas put forth by men to classify God's attributes; but the Bible never attempts to do so. When trying to understand the character of our God, I think we must recognize that we have come to a subject so majestically sublime that it is simply inappropriate for us to attempt to analyze God and divide his nature into parts like a psychologist dissects the psyche of a man. Instead, we will look at the glorious attributes of our God with the reverent wander of simplicity.
I have given you a brief sketch of God's attributes with numerous Scripture texts illustrating them. I hope you will carefully look up each text in your private study and bask your soul in the contemplation of God's glorious Being. Tonight, let me just go over these attributes, giving a brief description or definition of each one. In doing so, we will look at just a few of the Scripture texts illustrating them.
I have listed the attributes as thirteen. The list could be much, much longer; but I have tried to be brief. So we will lump several together at times, simply because they are intimately connected. For example: Justice demands Veracity, Omnipresence demands Infinity, and Goodness demands Love.
A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
A. Self Existence, simply means that God Almighty is Life in himself; independent and underived. His Being is inexhaustible.
Psalms 36:9 "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."
Acts 17:24-25 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (25) Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"
B. Spirituality, mean God is Spirit. He is not just a spirit. He is Spirit. He has no body or parts, like we do. He is the pure, underived, eternal Spirit.
Psalms 139:7 "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?"
John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
Philippians 3:3 "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."
Ge 1:2 De 4:15-19 Ps 139:7 Isa 60:1 Eze 37:14 39:29 Joe 2:28,29 Joh 4:24 Ac 17:28 Heb 12:9 Ro 8:9,15,1 1Co 2:11 2Co 3:17
C. Unity, means that though there are three Persons in the Godhead, these three are One and that this triune God is the only God there is.
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Ex 20:3 De 4:35,39 6:4 1Sa 2:2 2Sa 7:22 1Ki 8:60 2Ki 19:15 Ne 9:6 Ps 86:10 Isa 44:6-8 45:22 Jer 10:10 Joe 2:27 Zec 14:9 Mr 12:29 Joh 17:3 Ro 1:21-23 1Co 8:4-6 Ga 3:20 Eph 4:6 1Ti 2:5
D. Eternity. God's eternality means that he always is, that he is unlimited by time. He is the eternal "I AM."
Genesis 21:33 "And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God."
Revelation 4:8-10 "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (9) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, (10) The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,"
Ge 21:33 Ex 15:18 De 32:40 1Ch 16:36 Ne 9:5 Ps 90:1-4 Isa 44:6 48:12 57:15 Jer 10:10 La 5:19 Da 4:3,34 Mic 4:7 Hab 1:12 Ro 1:20 16:26 1Ti 1:17 Heb 1:10-12 2Pe 3:8 Re 4:8-10
E. Immutability, is the unchangeable in nature of God. When the Scriptures declare that God changes not, we are taught that though he changes all things, nothing moves or changes him. In his Being and in his purpose God is unchangeable. That is our security!
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."
James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
F. Omnipresence means that God is unlimited by space, and that he is everywhere present, in all the fulness of his being at all times! It means that he is immanent, that he fills all things with his Being and comprehends all things in his Being.
Psalms 139:7-10 "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
Isaiah 66:1 "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?"
Ephesians 1:23 "Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
Ge 28:15,16 De 4:39 Jos 2:11 1Ki 8:27 Ps 139:7-10 Pr 15:3,11 Isa 66:1 Jer 23:23,24 Am 9:2-4,6 Ac 7:48,49 17:27,28
H. Omniscience is God's knowledge of all things.
Isaiah 40:28 "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."
Isaiah 46:9-10 "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
John 21:17 "He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."
Ge 18:18,19 25:23 Ex 3:19 De 31:21 1Sa 2:3 1Ki 8:39 2Ki 8:10,13 1Ch 28:9 Ps 94:9,11 139:1-16 147:4,5 Pr 15:3,11 Isa 29:15,16 40:28 Jer 1:4,5 16:17 Eze 11:5 Da 2:22,28 Ho 7:2 Am 4:13 Na 1:7 Zec 4:10 Mt 6:4,6,8,18 Lu 16:15 Ac 15:8,18 Ro 8:27,29 1Co 3:20 2Ti 2:19 Heb 4:13 1Pe 1:2 1Jo 3:20
I. Wisdom. God realizes the best designs by the best possible means.
Psalms 124:4 "Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:"
Romans 11:33-36 "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (34) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (36) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
Ps 104:24 Pr 3:19 Isa 28:29 Jer 10:12 Da 2:20,21 Ro 11:33 1Co 1:24,25,30 2:6,7 Eph 3:10 Col 2:2,3
J. Omnipotence means that God is all-powerful, almighty. In the truest sense nothing is impossible
Psalms 135:6 "Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places."
Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:"
Colossians 1:16 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"
Revelation 15:3 "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."
Revelation 19:6 "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."
Ge 1:1 17:1 18:14 Ex 15:7 De 3:24 32:39 1Sa 14:6 1Ch 16:25 2Ch 20:6 Job 40:2,9 42:2 (* read together ) Ps 33:9 135:6 Isa 40:12-15 Jer 32:17 Eze 10:5 Da 3:17 4:35 Am 4:13 5:8 Zec 12:1 Mt 19:26 Mr 10:27 Lu 1:37 18:27 Ro 1:20 Eph 1:19 3:20 Col 1:16,17 Re 15:3 19:6
K. Holiness is God's absolute moral purity. He can neither sin nor tolerate sin. All that God is is holy. He cannot do anything, be anything, associate with, or accept anything short of absolute, perfect holiness.
Isaiah 6:3 "And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
R. L. Dabney wrote, God's "holiness is the collective and consummate glory of his nature."
A.A. Hodge said, Infinite, moral perfection is the crown of his Godhead; holiness is the total glory thus crowned."
Ex 15:11 Le 11:44,45 20:26 De 32:4 Jos 24:19 1Sa 2:2 2Sa 22:31 Ezr 9:15 Ps 5:4 111:9 145:17 Isa 6:3 43:14,15 Jer 23:29 Eze 39:7 Da 9:7,14 Hab 1:13 Zec 8:8 Mal 2:17 Mt 5:48 Lu 1:49 Joh 17:11 Jas 1:13 1Pe 1:15,16 1Jo 1:5 3:3 Re 4:8 15:3,4
L. Justice. God's justice means that he is just and that he demands justice. He demands righteousness from all his creatures and always deals righteously toward them, upon the grounds of absolute, strict justice.
Psalms 9:8 "And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness."
Psalms 11:6-7 "Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. (7) For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Ge 18:23-32 Ex 20:5,6 De 7:9,10 10:17,18 24:16 2Ch 19:7 Ne 9:23 Ps 9:8,16 89:14 Pr 24:12 Isa 9:7 45:21 Jer 17:10 32:19 La 1:18 Eze 18:1-32 33:18-20 Da 9:7,14 Na 1:3 Zep 3:5 Lu 12:47,48 Ac 10:34,35 17:31 Ro 11:2,5-11 3:26 Ga 2:6 6:7,8 Eph 6:8,9 Col 3:25 Heb 6:10 1Pe 1:17 2Pe 2:9 1Jo 1:9 Jude 1:14,15 Re 16:17
M. Goodness. The goodness of God includes benevolence, love, mercy, grace, long-suffering, patience, forbearance, and kindness.
Psalms 145:8-10 "The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. (9) The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (10) All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee."
1 John 4:8 "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
Ge 19:16 Ex 34:6,7 Nu 14:18 De 4:31 7:7,8 Jud 2:18 1Ki 8:23 2Ki 13:23 1Ch 16:34 2Ch 30:9 Ne 9:17,31 Ps 23:1-6 25:8-10 86:5,15 Pr 22:23 Isa 63:9 Jer 3:12 31:3 La 3:22,23 Eze 33:11 Da 9:9 Ho 11:1-4,8,9 Joe 2:13 Jon 4:2,10,11 Mic 7:18-20 Na 1:7 Zep 3:17 Zec 9:17 Mal 1:2 Mt 5:45 19:17 Lu 1:50 6:36 Joh 3:16 Ac 14:17 Ro 2:4 5:8 8:38,39 2Co 1:3 13:11 Eph 2:4,7 2Th 2:16 Tit 2:11 3:4,5 Jas 5:11 1Pe 1:3 2Pe 3:9 1Jo 3:1 4:7-10,16
N. Faithfulness. God's faithfulness means that he is absolutely trustworthy, dependable, and true in all things. His decrees are sure. His promises are certain. His words will not fail. We may safely trust him in all things, with all things, and at all times.
Lamentations 3:23 "They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
2 Timothy 2:13 "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."
Ex 34:6 Nu 23:19 De 4:31 31:7,9 Jos 21:43-45 23:14 1Sa 15:29 2Sa 7:28 1Ki 8:24,56 Ps 105:8 119:89,90 Isa 25:1 49:7 Jer 4:28 La 3:23 Eze 12:25 16:60,62 Da 9:4 Mic 7:20 Lu 18:7,8 Joh 3:33 Ro 3:4 15:8 1Co 1:9 10:13 2Co 1:20 1Th 5:24 2Th 3:3 2Ti 2:13 Tit 1:2 Heb 6:18 10:23 1Pe 4:19 2Pe 3:9,13 (* read with 3,4,8) 2Pe 3,4,8 1Jo 1:9 Re 15:3
II. HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIS ATTRIBUTES TO US?
I must be very brief in answering this second question; but I want to be crystal clear.
A. We see some of our God's great attributes in creation.
Everything our eyes see, our ears hear, or our hands handle, in heaven and earth is filled with the glory of the Lord. Even the unbelieving and the heathen have God's attributes sufficiently revealed to them to render them utterly without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"
B. The Lord's attributes are revealed to us in his Word.
Even before the fall, in innocence, Adam and Eve were ruled by the Word of God, by his revealed will; and God's revelation of himself is the revelation of his attributes.
C. The attributes of God are somewhat revealed in the character even of fallen men, who are created in the image of God.
Without question, the image of God in man is terribly effaced since the fall; but man still reflects his Creator. The law of God is stamped in the hearts of all. And man is so much a reflection of God, even in his fallen state, that those who abuse, malign, or murder their neighbors incur the wrath of God in doing so.
Genesis 9:6 "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."
James 3:9 "Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."
D. Certainly, we see the attributes of our God in the Lord Jesus Christ, our great and glorious Redeemer, the incarnate God.
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Though our Lord Jesus veiled his glorious attributes as God, emptying himself of any display of his dazzling, essential glory as God, still, Godhood beamed forth and radiated from him while he walked on this earth as a man. And now, the exalted Christ is worthy as a man to receive all the honor of his Divine attributes, as it is heaped upon him in his glory.
Revelation 5:12 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
E. The law of God, in great measure, displays the attributes of his Being.
The precepts of the are a mirror in which we see the reflection of God's perfections. Each commandment is an expression of his nature. The book of the law reveals what God loves and what he hates, what he approves of and what he despises, thus revealing in some measure what his character is.
Still, in all these things (creation, law, man, even the incarnation), as Job puts it, we see only "parts of his ways."
Job 26:14 "Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?"
F. The only total, full, complete revelation of God's glory as God, the only full display of his glorious attributes is the gospel of our great and glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The only place in this world where God is fully revealed is in the sin-atoning sacrifice of Christ at Calvary for the salvation of God's elect. With regard to all the other manifestations of God's glory, it must be said, "No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." It is only in the death of Christ as our Substitute that every attribute of God's Being meets and is revealed in perfect harmony.
I do not suggest for a moment that God's attributes ever conflict with one another. They do not. But everywhere else, they appear to conflict. We see many displays of righteousness, justice, and truth, and of mercy, love, and grace. But only in our glorious Christ do see them all displayed fully and perfectly.
Psalms 85:9-13 "Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. (10) Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (11) Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. (12) Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. (13) Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps."
I see justice in the flood and mercy in the ark. I see justice in Sodom's destruction, and mercy in Lot's deliverance. I see justice in the slaying of the firstborn and mercy in the salvation of Israel. I see mercy in the parting of the sea, and justice overflowing Pharaoh's army. I see justice in the fires of hell and mercy in the glories of heaven. But only in the crucified Son of God for the saving of my soul do I see mercy and justice, peace and truth shining forth brilliantly unto the glory of God.
Romans 3:24-26 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Application:
This is the glory of the gospel. It reveals the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Therefore it is written…
2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."?
1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
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