says the Lord. (Jeremiah 13:24). Gods being is all together different from physical matter, the website Ligonier.org explains. Non-moral attributes represent the characteristics of God's being that does not relate to God's moral nature. If an attribute is something true of God, it is also something that we can conceive as being true of Him. Tozer answers this by reminding us that we find the answer through the Christian doctrine of justification and redemption. Seeing that God is all powerful, is there anything He cannot do? Gods purposes being fulfilled (Job 42:2). God, being infinite, must possess attributes about which we can know. 16:7; 1 Chr. All of Him is everywhere at once. Thus, he is a God of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 32:4). He knows our thoughts and motives (Psalms 139:1-4). 8:16; Psa. Wisdom is more than just head knowledge and intelligence. 4:4; Phil. 43:10), Separate from the world (Isa. This article first appeared in the Viewpoint column of the Christian Research Journal, volume 45, Este artculo es una exclusiva en lnea de Christian Research Journal. His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. Duet 32:4. Through the work of Christ in atonement, justice is not violated but satisfied when God spares a sinner. His mercy is does not forbid him to exercise his justice, nor does his justice forbid him to exercise his mercy. 7. Malachi 3:6 says, For I am the Lord, I change not. This verse refutes Joseph Smiths doctrine of eternal progression. He protects his honor. Therefore, he commands the people of Israel to tear down the altars of pagan gods in the land of Canaan, giving the following reason: For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9). Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. . Scripture frequently indicates Gods will as the final or most ultimate reason for everything that happens. All rights reserved. One of God's attributes or qualities is "light," meaning that He is self-revealing in information of Himself ( Isaiah 60:19; James 1:17 ). Matthew 5:45 tells us, For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.. We might not understand his ways today, but we can trust that because God is infinitely wise, he truly is working all things out in the best possible way. This does not mean Gods form is spread out so that parts of him are in every location. Omnipresence (God is everywhere at once, but we can only be in one place at a time) On the left are listed various attributes of God. Moral attributes are the most glorious of his divine perfections. When we talk about the attributes of God, we are trying to answer questions like, Who is God, What is God like,and What kind of God is he? There isnt a visible light that surrounds us, but there is a brightness, splendor, or beauty about the life of a person who deeply loves God, and its often evident to those around them. In fact, Paul says that God is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine"(Ephesians 3:20)., Although such power might seem frightful, remember that God is good. This passage and others like it in the Old Testament indicate that there was a sense in which God could not be seen at all, but that there was also some outward form or manifestation of God which at least in part was able to be seen by man. 1:23; 4:10; Col. 3:11), Nothing too difficult (Gen. 18:14; Jer. If you had the choice, would you choose to be ruled by blind fate, chance, irrevocable natural law, short sighted and perverted self (man), or an infinite, wise, holy, powerful, all knowing God who loves us and knows whats best for us? He cannot do anything contrary to His will, character, or nature. 4. A natural question that arises from this is, how then can a just God justify the unjust (as each of us are without Christ!)? OMNIPOTENT: God is perfect in that He can do all things consistent with the perfection of His being. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth. Inevitably, man will try to find glory in other things, or to try and make himself an object of glory. Jonah tried it, and in his quest to run away from God he ended up running right into Him. But Gods glory also describes the bright light that surrounds his presence. PERSONAL: God, as the author of personhood in the created universe, cannot be less than personal Himself; thus He experiences relationships with other persons, or self-conscious beings. If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! Nothing is hidden from God. Whatever God tells us, we should believe, r. We never have to ask God to be with us, First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End; as the Beginning, God has no cause (Isa. While all of humanity benefits from common grace, only those who profess believe and put their faith in Christ receive saving grace. God has both moral and non moral attributes. saith the Lord.. And yet, since we as human beings are made in the image of God, there are echoes of his attributes in our lives that we share with him. 102:25-27; I John 2:15-17), Implied by doctrine of creation (Gen. 1:1; Isa. Non-moral attributes represent the characteristics of God's being that does not relate to God's moral nature. God himself is the Most Holy One. He cannot cease to exist, or cease to be God, or act in a way inconsistent with any of his attributes. . 23:23-24; of Christ, Eph. Acknowledging these non-moral attributes of God can strengthen the faith and provide comfort for the believer in many ways. God wants us to know that he is omnipotent, meaning that he is infinite in power. 3:9), All things possible (Job 42:2; Psa. 1:8, 17; 2:8; 3:14; 21:6; 22:13), No God before or after Yahweh (Isa. What do the rest get? (e.g., Gen. 1:3, 26; Heb. Gods mercy, patience, and grace may be seen as three separate attributes, or as specific aspects of Gods goodness. So our whole existence and purpose is to glorify him, as we are created in his image and do the good work he has prepared for us to do. God is unchangeable (Hebrews 1:12, James 1:17). In Johns apocalyptic vision, the 24 elders proclaim, You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Revelation 4:11). The 4 non-moral attributes of God: Omnipresence, Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Immutability. This specific aspect of Gods truthfulness is sometimes viewed as a distinct attribute: Gods faithfulness means that God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised (Numbers 23:19, 2 Samuel 7:28, Psalm 141:6). When we realize that God is the definition and source of all good, we realize that God himself is the ultimate good that we seek. His Word of Promise is sure. 3:20; Eph. The concept of God as good and beneficent may be maintained to be an a priori postulate of higher theistic religion. "The goodness of God endureth continually" (Ps. . Let's begin with those attributes that are incommunicable. It belongs to him alone and its the outward expression of his excellence. 13. In this study we will be discussing God's non-moral attributes. The Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. This is what results in our sanctification and our glorification of God, that we might live for him and enjoy him for all eternity. The attributes of God are the inherent characteristics closely associated with or belonging to God. Learn more in Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology online course. He commands them, You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy (Leviticus 19:2). Practice His presence (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20). The seraphim around Gods throne cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). It means more than he is simply fair. 3:26), TRUE: God is perfectly truthful, and cannot lie (John 17:17; Titus 1:2; Heb. Likewise, although this is hard for many to accept, his sentencing of evil, unrepentant sinners to hell is also right and good. 3:14), None like God (Ex. God, however, has never once been in need of anything. 1.f2.n3.j4.a5.g6.r7.b8.p9.m10.k11.c12.i13.e14.l15.d16.h17.o18.s19.q. . OMNISCIENT: God is perfect in that He knows all things, including events before they happen. The beauty of our lives is so important to Christ that his purpose now is to sanctify the entire church that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). 11. And He never sleeps or slumbers, He's aware every moment of every day, exactly what we're up against. 9. It is the personal covenant name of Israel's God. God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise . It means he always does what is right and good toward all men. God delights fully in himself and in all that reflects his character. In Jeremiah, God rebukes the prophets who think their words or thoughts are hidden from God. This post will use the most common classification system, adapted from Wayne Grudems online systematic theology course. Self-sufficient as He is, He wants our love and will not be satisfied till He gets it. For instance, love would be a moral attribute, whereas omnipotence would be a non-moral attribute. Between the things God says and does, what other people say about him, and the life of Jesus, the Bible gives us numerous descriptions of Gods character. What Does It Mean That "Your Life Is Hidden with Christ"? We read in Psalm 90:4, For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. The phrase a thousand years is a figurative expression for as long a time as one might imagine. God does whatever he pleases. Our ability to exercise will and make choices is one of the most significant marks of God-likeness in our existence. 4:16; 7:1), Satan, idols, and the belly are all false gods (Psa. Nevertheless, God caused his glory to pass by Moses while he hid Moses in a cleft of the rock, and then God let Moses see his back after he had passed by, but said, my face shall not be seen (Exodus 33:2123). 23:19; 1 Sam. So what about passages where God appears to change his mind? Every good endowment 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). God has given us some reflection of his sense of goodness, so that when we evaluate things in the way He created us to evaluate them, we approve what God approves and delight in things he delights in. David says, for example, I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the Lord for his mercy is great . Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God that was due to our sin, in order that we might be saved (Romans 3:2526). For example: Arent these instances where God did change? Additionally, theres no quality of excellence that he does not have. What does it mean that God is just? Jesus speaks to his Father of my glory which you have given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24), indicating that there was love from the Father to the Son from all eternity. He is the same God always, and everything he says or does is fully consistent with all his attributes. If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. From the mass of humanity, God sovereignly decides to give mercy to some of them. Acknowledging these non-moral attributes of God can strengthen the faith and provide comfort for the believer in many ways. ONE: God is a perfectly unique and simple being, existing as one infinite Being called God. His common grace is a gift to all of mankind. 6:18; James 1:13), Knows the heart (1 Sam. 4:5-6; 1 Tim. I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is, I have seen this people . He knows our way, and is with us always. Or where shall I flee from your presence? Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? Nobody gets injustice - R. C. Sproul, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." In the space provided in the left column, place the letter of the lesson which applies to that attribute. The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. Omni means all and when combined with presence means he is all present or present everywhere at once. - Colossians 1:17, Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure Psalm 147:5. This . Omnipresence of God "Omni" means all and when combined with presence means he is all present or present everywhere at once. Thus, God cannot lie, sin, deny himself, or be tempted with evil. OMNIPRESENT: God is perfect in that He transcends all space and spatial limitations, and is thus infinite with respect to space, with His whole Being filling every part of the universe and being present everywhere (not diffused through the universe, but present at each point in His fullness). Salem Media Group. Every attribute of God that we find in Scripture is true of all of Gods being, and every attribute of God qualifies every other attribute. God himself is unified, completely integrated, and infinitely perfect in all of these attributes. who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, He knows what we need before we ask him (Matthew 6:8), He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30), He knows when we sit, when we rise, and what we think (Psalm 139:12), He knows words we will say before we speak them (Psalm 139:4), He knows the days of our lives before we are born (Psalm 139:16), He knows every possible future (1 Samuel 23:1113). Please check errors and resubmit. Paul says that Gods actions are characterized by peace and not by disorder (akatastasia, a Greek word meaning disorder, confusion, unrest). The former belong to the essence of God as considered in itself, while the latter belong to the divine essence considered in relation to His creation. When He plans something, it will come to be. Yet God told Moses, You cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live (Exodus 33:20). 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