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  • 01 I. Introduction to the Attributes of · PDF fileCHAPTER I INTRODUCTION TO THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD A. GOD CANNOT BE KNOWN APART FROM HIS SELF‐REVELATION To
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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION TO THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD A. GOD CANNOT BE KNOWN APART FROM HIS SELF‐REVELATION To consider knowing God presupposes that God is. So the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote that, “he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Heb. 11:6). But specifically who is this God who is so definitively referenced in Hebrews (Heb. 1:1‐2; 3:4; 10:31; 12:28‐29; 13:20) to Hebrew Christians? Paul declared in equally definitive terms, to the religious sophisticates on Mars Hill in Athens including Epicureans and Stoics, that, “what [unknown God] you worship in ignorance, that [God] I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:23). He then declared this God to be the Creator, the sovereign over heaven and earth, transcendent and imminent, life‐giving, and demanding accountability from man in terms of His impeccable righteousness. This being our assumed starting point, we are specifically concerned here solely with the God of the Bible according to His self‐ revelation, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. 1 This is the God (Elohim) of Genesis 1:1, the God (Elohim, Adonai) of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God (Elohim, Adonai, Jehovah/Yahweh) of Moses, the God of the prophets, the God of the Apostles including Paul, and the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, which God is one and the same in biblical Judaeo‐Christianity. So Paul writes, “there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.... [T]here is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him” (I Cor. 8:4, 6). 1. God cannot be known through human self‐discovery. Can a man, believing in the existence of the God of the Bible who he confesses not to know, yet find that same God by diligent, even strenuous searching? Man may attempt this quest, as was the case with Greek philosophy, except that its ultimate failure was evidenced by its inability to deal with sin, especially in any effectual redemptive sense. Such a trail, like a man attempting to find light by groping in the midst of darkness, or his impossible quest to reach the extremities of the universe, is doomed to failure. When man is seen to take the initiative in the discovery of God, even though seeming pietistic motives are expressed, or sincere ritualistic forms are employed, such as meditation concerning self or the universe, whatever he discovers 1 In contrast with the Roman Catholic Church, which has added the fifteen books of the Apocrypha to the Old Testament, for very good reason it is excluded from the Canon as non‐inspired Scripture. The Old Testament here is essentially the same as the Hebrew Bible or Tanach. The Jews have never included the Apocrypha within the Canon of the Tanach as if it were God‐inspired Scripture.

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  • CHAPTER I

    INTRODUCTION TO THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD A. GODCANNOTBEKNOWNAPARTFROMHISSELFREVELATION

    To considerknowingGodpresupposes thatGod is.So the authorof theEpistle to theHebrewswrote that, hewho comes toGodmust believe thatHe is (Heb. 11:6).ButspecificallywhoisthisGodwhoissodefinitivelyreferencedinHebrews(Heb.1:12;3:4;10:31;12:2829;13:20)toHebrewChristians?Pauldeclaredinequallydefinitiveterms,tothereligioussophisticatesonMarsHill inAthens includingEpicureansandStoics, that,what [unknownGod]youworship in ignorance, that [God] Iproclaim toyou (Acts17:23).HethendeclaredthisGodtobetheCreator,thesovereignoverheavenandearth,transcendentandimminent,lifegiving,anddemandingaccountabilityfrommanintermsof His impeccable righteousness. This being our assumed starting point, we arespecifically concerned here solely with the God of the Bible according to His selfrevelation,inboththeOldTestamentandtheNewTestament.1ThisistheGod(Elohim)ofGenesis1:1, theGod (Elohim,Adonai)ofAdam,Abraham,Isaac,andJacob, theGod(Elohim,Adonai, Jehovah/Yahweh)ofMoses, theGodof theprophets, theGodof theApostlesincludingPaul,andtheGodandFatheroftheLordJesusChrist,whichGodisoneandthesameinbiblicalJudaeoChristianity.SoPaulwrites,thereisnosuchthingasan idol in theworld,and that there isnoGodbutone. . . . [T]here isbutoneGod, theFather, fromwhomareall thingsandweexist forHim;andoneLord, JesusChrist,bywhomareallthings,andweexistthroughHim(ICor.8:4,6).

    1. Godcannotbeknownthroughhumanselfdiscovery.

    Canaman,believingintheexistenceoftheGodoftheBiblewhoheconfessesnottoknow, yet find that same God by diligent, even strenuous searching?Man mayattempt thisquest,aswas thecasewithGreekphilosophy,except that itsultimatefailurewas evidenced by its inability to dealwith sin, especially in any effectualredemptivesense.Suchatrail,likeamanattemptingtofindlightbygropinginthemidstofdarkness,orhisimpossiblequesttoreachtheextremitiesoftheuniverse,isdoomed tofailure.Whenman isseentotakethe initiative inthediscoveryofGod,eventhoughseemingpietisticmotivesareexpressed,orsincereritualisticformsareemployed,suchasmeditationconcerningselfortheuniverse,whateverhediscovers

    1 IncontrastwiththeRomanCatholicChurch,whichhasaddedthefifteenbooksoftheApocryphatothe

    OldTestament, forverygood reason it is excluded from theCanonasnoninspiredScripture.TheOldTestamenthereisessentiallythesameastheHebrewBibleorTanach.TheJewshaveneverincludedtheApocryphawithintheCanonoftheTanachasifitwereGodinspiredScripture.

  • THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD 2

    willonlyfallwithintherealmofhiscognitiveandanalyticalcapacity.Howfutileitisfor finitude to discover infinity ormortality to attain to immortality.Zopharwascorrectwhenheexhorted Jobconcerningsuchan impossibility:CanyoudiscoverthedepthofGod?CanyoudiscoverthelimitsoftheAlmighty?Theyarehighastheheavens,whatcanyoudo?Deeper thanSheol,whatcanyouknow? (Job11:78).2CarlHenrywelldescribesthefutilityofmansarroganceatthispoint.

    GodisnottheGreatPerhaps,acluelessshadowcharacterinaScotlandYardmystery.Far less isheanamelessspiritawaitingpostmortemexamination insome theologicalmorgue.Heisaveryparticularandspecificdivinity,knownfromthebeginningsolelyonthebasisofhisworksandselfdeclarationastheonelivingGod.Onlytheoristswhoignoredivineselfdisclosureareprone to identifyGodas thenondescriptJohnDoeofreligiousphilosophy.3

    Henceas John theBaptistdeclared:Amancan receivenothingunless ithasbeengiven him from heaven (John 3:27; cf.Matt. 16:1617). Of course such truth ishumiliatingforproudhumanity.Howevermansegotismasthispointissuchthatitcauseshimtothinkotherwiseand,asaresult,reachforhisownconceptionsofdeitythat, bymeans ofmere projection, lead to sophisticated self idolatry. In contrast,Gods selfrevelation, according toHis sovereign intent, beingwholly exclusive ofhumanderivation,isbyitsverynatureanactofpurestgrace.Thisisevenmorethecasewhen one contemplatesmansdebilitating spiritual blindness (Matt. 16:1617;John3:3,910;ICor.2:1014;Gal.1:1112;Heb.1:12).

    But in itbeinggrantedhere thatGods selfdisclosure is in theBible, is itnot thenmans responsibility to search this selfrevelation so as to findGod?However thepresuppositionhereisthatman,asasinfulchildofAdam,withtheBibleopenbeforehim, yet has the innate capacity to discover and embraceGods saving truth forhimself,andforsuchamanboastinginhisautonomyatthisjuncture,thisbecomesaseriousandmostfundamentalerror.DuringJesusChristspublicministry,theJewswere very well acquainted with the Scriptures, yet were blind to the truth thatconfrontedthemevenastheSonofGodplainlypointedout(John5:3940).PontiusPilatewassimilarlyblindwhen Jesuswason trialbeforehisveryeyes (John18:3738).However the Psalmistwaswell aware ofmans spiritual blindness in such asituation,evenwhen theWordofGodwascerebrallyembraced.For thisreasonhewisely sought Gods Spiritual selfrevelationwhen Gods objective selfrevelationwasinhishand,andsoprayed:Openmyeyes,thatImaybeholdwonderfulthingsfrom Your law (Ps. 119:118).Ultimately,Gods selfrevelation only reaches deepwithin thehumanheartwhen it isHis sovereign goodpleasure (Matt. 11:27;Gal.1:1516).Itisforthisreasonthatthemereacademicstudyoftheologyproper,thatis

    2 F.Delitzschcommentsontheseverses:ThenatureofGodmaybesoughtafter,butcannotbefoundout.BiblicalCommentaryontheBookofJob,I,p.181.

    3 CarlHenry,God,RevelationandAuthority,II,p.7.

  • INTRODUCTION 3

    Godsbeing, isamostdangerouspursuit,except theHolySpiritdirects thehumanheart,inwhichcaseitthenbecomesamostblessedpursuit.

    2. Godcannotbyknownthroughhumanrepresentation

    Man,especiallyfallenman,cannotportrayGodinmaterialterms,whetherbymeansofthepainterscanvas,thestonecraftmanschisel,thepottersmolding,orthemetalworkerscasting.HereistheproblemofidolatrythatGodsovehementlycondemns(Exod. 20:4; Deut. 4:1519). For man to attempt to reproduce God is supremearroganceandsuggestiveofignoranceconcerningthegloryofHisBeing.FormantoprofessthathecanbeaidedintheworshipofGodbymeansofamaterialdepictionis to lay down terms of worship before God that He has clearly repudiated.GodisSpirit,andthosewhoworshipHimmustworshipinspiritandtruth(John4:14).Tobelieve thatGodcanonlybeknownbymeansofHisselfrevelation is,ofnecessity,torenouncethatHecanalsobeknownbymeansofhumanreproduction.SoJ.I.PackerquotesCalvininmakingexplanationhere.

    Images dishonorGod, for they obscureHis glory. . . . A true image ofGod,wroteCalvin,isnottobefoundinalltheworld;andhence...Hisgloryisdefiled,andHistruth corruptedby the lie,wheneverHe is setbeforeour eyes in avisible form. . . .Therefore,todeviseanyimageofGodisitselfimpious;becausebythiscorruptionHismajesty isadulterated,andHe is figured tbeother thanHe is. . . .Theheartof theobjection topicturesand images is that they inevitablyconcealmost, ifnotall,of thetruthaboutthepersonalnatureandcharacterofthedivineBeingwhomtheyrepresent....Imagesmisleadmen.TheyconveyfalseimagesaboutGod.4

    3. GodcanonlybeknownthroughSelfdisclosure.

    Whileman cannot, of his own initiative, come up toGod, yet thewonder ofHiscondescensionisthatHeispleasedtocomedowntoman:TheLORDsaid,Ihavesurely seen the afflictionofMypeoplewho are inEgypt, andhavegivenheed totheircrybecauseof their taskmasters, for Iamawareof theirsufferings.So IhavecomedowntodeliverthemfromthepoweroftheEgyptians,andtobringthemupfromthatlandtoagoodandspaciousland,toalandflowingwithmilkandhoney(Ex.3:78;cf.19:11;Num.11:1617).TheScriptureisabundantlyclearthatformantoknowHim,GodmusttaketheinitiativeinfindingmanandmakingHimselfknown.Even intheGardenofEden,followingthefallofAdamandEve insin, itwasGodwhowascallingout,Whereareyou [Adam]? (Gen.3:9),andnot to thecontrarysincetheywereinhiding(Gen.3:8).Manislimitedasacreatureinbeingfinitewhileat thesame timehe isperverted innatureasasinner.For thisreason,whilebeingdeadintrespassesandsins,yetatthesametimehewalksaccordingtothecourseof this world (Eph. 2:12). However, God graciously stoops to reveal Himself

    4 J. I. Packer, Knowing God, pp. 40-41.

  • THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD 4

    wherevermanis,especiallyinhisextremity,evenasHedesiredtowalkwithhimintheGardenofEden immediately following the fall (Gen.3:89).FurtherHereachesthroughthebarrierthatmanhasencounteredsothat,thethingswhicheyehasnotseenandearhasnotheard,andwhichhavenotentered theheartofman,all thatGodhaspreparedforthosewholoveHim.FortousGodrevealedthemthroughtheSpirit(ICor.2:910).

    4. GodcanonlybeknownthroughHischosenmedia.

    Butspecifically,howhasGodmadeHimselfknown?WhatmeanshasHeemployed?AccordingtoHebrews1:12Godhasspokentothefathersintheprophetsinmanyportionsandinmanyways.FurthertherehasbeenprogressthatisclimacticintheLordJesusChristsince,inthese lastdays[God]hasspokentous inHisSon.FortheChristianthroughthecenturiesallofthishascomebymeansofScripture.YetacleardistinctionhasbeenrecognizedinGodsspeaking.

    a. Naturalrevelation(Psalm19:16).

    Godspeaksuniversallythroughnature,thecreatedorder,especiallybymeansofhis evident power and majesty, such as through the wonder of the silentheavens that loudly, eloquently speak ofHis great glory.As JohnHampdenGurneyhaswritten:

    Yes,Godisgoodinearthandsky,Fromoceandepthsandspreadingwood,Tenthousandvoicesseemtocry:Godmadeusall,andGodisgood.

    Thesunthatkeepshistracklessway,Anddownwardpourshisgoldenflood,Nightssparklinghosts,allseemtosayInaccentsclear,thatGodisgood.

    Yes,Godisgood,allnaturesays,ByGodsownhandwithspeechendued;Andman,inloudernotesofpraise,ShouldsingforjoythatGodisgood.

    Yetthere is limitationwithnature,especiallywhenweobserve it,accordingtoTennyson,redintoothandclaw.AtbestthegoodnesswebeholdatthislevelconcernsGods attractive benevolence as, all nature says, not goodness onaccountofmoralattractiveness.Formanasasinner, thisrevelationwill likelycausehimtomingleawesomeadmirationwithguiltytrembling.Butitdoesn


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