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The Attributes of God A Bible Study On Doctrine

The attributes of God are those characteristics that define who God is by nature. As one

studies the “The Identity Of God” it can be understood that; God is real, God is spirit,

God is living, God is personal, and God is one. So as we continue our study of God we

must look at the characteristics that define who God is by nature—which are called His

Divine Attributes.

According to Towns, “The attributes of God are those virtues or qualities which manifest

His nature. In another way, an attribute of God is the extension of His nature.1

Enns states that, “God’s attributes are to be distinguished from His works. God’s

attributes do not “add” anything to God; they reveal His nature.”2

The attributes of God are to be studied and understood so that the nature of God and how

he operates in and with His creation is properly understood. It is when there is a

misbalance of understanding the attributes of God, that one’s idea or concept of God

becomes out of order. This is seen in two of the attributes of God which are His

omnipotence, and His goodness. It is due to a misbalance of these two attributes that

leads to the debate between Calvinism (Reformed Theology) and Arminianism (Wesleyan

Theology).

To begin our study of the attributes of God it must be noted that the attributes of God are

divided into two separate divisions which are called by many different names as listed

below.

The Attributes of God Divided Into Two Categories

Absolute Attributes Relative Attributes

Incommunicable Attributes Communicable Attributes

Intransitive Attributes Transitive Attributes

Moral Attributes Non-moral Attributes

Not Discernable To Man Traceable To Man

The differences in the two types of attributes are as follows:

Communicable Attributes—“are those qualities of God for which at least a

partial counterpart can be found in his human creation.”3

Incommunicable Attributes—“are those unique qualities for which no

counterpart can be found in humans.”4

Now that we have determined that the attributes of God can be divided into two

categories, let us determine those infinite attributes which can also be found in man in a

finite sense. What this tells us is that no man who is created by God can obtain to the

character of God, but that through Christ we are to become imitators of Christ.

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It is also for this reason that we study the attributes of God. Therefore the purpose for this

study can be summed up in three points:

1. The Study of God’s Nature which determines how He governs and responses

to His creation.

2. The Study of Balance between God’s Attributes and the significance in

theological perspectives mainly Calvinism vs. Arminianism (Unconditional

Eternal Security vs. Conditional Eternal Security).

3. The Study of Becoming like Christ in our character.

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Incommunicable Attributes

It must be noted that there are some debate over what all the Incommunicable Attributes

are in their entirety. Some scholars hold to a great number of incommunicable attributes

which are only seen in God and not in man such as (spirituality, self-existence,

immutability, unity, truth, love, and holiness) Enns in his list of absolute attributes as

noted.5 Others such as Arrington hold to a shorter list which are as listed (self-existence,

eternity, omnipresence, and immutability).6 The only problem that I have with

Arrington’s list is that of his placement of the attribute known as omnipresence into this

list known as absolute or incommunicable attributes (this will be covered later in the

study in the communicable attributes).

It must be understood that incommunicable or absolute attributes can only be seen in God

and not in his creation. To be an absolute attribute means that man can not obtain this

characteristic.

As I study the attributes of God and the different division of the attributes I want to

divide the incommunicable attributes into two categories. The first category is that of the

absolute attributes that are just that absolute, for they are incommunicable or not

discernible in mankind. The second category of incommunicable attributes are those

absolute attributes that can not be seen in sinful man, who is unjustified, but can be seen

in the regenerated, justified, righteous, and sanctified man in Christ.

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Absolute—Incommunicable Attributes These Absolute—Incommunicable Attributes are absolute to God and can not be found in

created man in any form or fashion what so every. They are total divine attributes and can

not be found even in redeemed or justified mankind.

Spirituality—God is spirit (not a spirit, but is spirit).7 God does not have a physical or

visible body form by nature.

God is invisible to man in the physical by nature, however; there are a few exceptions to

this found in Scripture.

Christ revealed Himself in the form of an angel in several points

throughout the Old Testament (In Exodus 3:2 “the Angel of the Lord” was

a visible form of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.)

God revealed Himself to Moses as he allowed Moses to see His hinder

parts in Exodus 33:20-23.

Christ has revealed the Father to us through His first advent and teaching

and the Holy Spirit has revealed the Son through regeneration or the new

birth.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the

bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

God is invisible and as John 4:24 would state God is spirit, which would imply that God

is not limited to carnal or physical limitation. God is eternal, immortal, invisible, the

source of wisdom; therefore, He is worthy of honor and glory forever and ever.

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory

for ever and ever. Amen.

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Self-existence—The self-existence of God implies that “He has the grounds for His

existence in Himself.”8

God is the I AM—which means that God in majesty and in his self-sufficiency is the one

True God who is constant in His faithfulness to His people.9

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the

children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Life can be seen as a separate attribute, but I would hold that Life is given by God

because He is the only self-existent one.

John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

It was Belshazzar who failed to acknowledge God as the self-existent one who gives life.

Let us not make the same disastrous mistake. For such a mistake Belshazzar and the

whole Babylonian Kingdom was “weighed in the balances, and art found wanting”

(Daniel 6:27).

Daniel 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of

his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk

wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood,

and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is,

and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Man can not exist without God who is the creator of mankind. Life only exist because

God has created it and ordained it to exist for life is only from God for who there is no

beginning or end. It is from this point that some would state that one of God’s attributes

is that he is eternal but this can be stated in this attribute known as self-existence.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have

said, For we are also his offspring.

From all that one can learn from the self-existence of God is that He is naturally the

source of life for there was no creation of God which includes the Father, the Son, and

the Holy Spirit. God has always existed and will always exist. Therefore, He holds all

rights to give life in the physical and also in the spiritual. Because God deals according

to His nature with man God can give life in the spirit through the atoning work of Jesus

Christ and one’s faith in that saving act known as redemption.

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Immutability—“Is that perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change, not only

in His Being, but also in His perfections, and in His purposes and promises…and is free

from all accession of diminution and from all growth or decay in His Being or

perfections.”10

God is compared to a rock which is unmovable.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and

without iniquity, just and right is he.

God does not change:

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

God is the only perfect gift and in him there is no change, swaying, or turning back.

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.

God is the same day-after-day-after-day.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Arrington states, that though God is immutable or unchanging the “Scriptures say that

God repents and changes His mind.” He goes on to affirm the statement above

concerning the character, nature, purpose, and promises of God which do not change, but

goes on to ask the meaning of 1 Samuel 15:11 which states the following.11

It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from

following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he

cried unto the LORD all night.

It can also be noted that God repented that he made man in Genesis 6: 5-6.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every

imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the

LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

In both of these passages (1 Samuel 15:11 and Genesis 6:5-6) it can be noted that God

did repent and change his mind, but thanks be to God nothing catches God unaware and

though God repented that he had made man and that he has set Saul up to be King, God’s

character, nature, purpose, and promises did not change.

It must also be noted that the Scripture states in Numbers 23:19 that,

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath

he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

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Some will note that this means that God does not change His mind or repent though 1

Samuel 15:11 and Genesis 6:5-6 state so. What was meant in this verse is that God’s

character, nature, purpose, and promises will not be changed for if He said that He would

do it He will do it. However; to state that God did not repent that He had made man or

that He had set Saul up as king is not implied by this verse.

Also in 1 Samuel 15:29 it states,

And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should

repent.

This verse follows shortly behind of that of 1 Samuel 15:11 which speak of God

repenting that He had set Saul up as king. However; verse 29 speaks in conformation to

verse 28 which speaks of how God was going to rent the kingdom from him [Saul] and

give it to his neighbor [David] which was already God’s purpose and promises. Verse 35

of the chapter also states that “the LORD repented that he had, made Saul king over

Israel.”

So no matter what you are going through today understand that God is the “same

yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). God’s character has not changed

because of your circumstances, God’s nature has not changed because of your

circumstances, God’s purpose has not changed because of your circumstances and

choices you have made, and God’s promises have not changed because of your

circumstances or choices you have made, for God has promised to be just no matter your

choice to be obedient or disobedient.

Pink gives us an encouraging word of comfort when he states, “Human nature cannot be

relied upon; but God can!”12 This is great news for imperfect man for God is perfect in all

His ways and He does not change.

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Truth—The term truth identifies things as they really are in reality. There is no truth

that does not begin with the foundation that God is God and God alone.

There is no other like Him.

Isaiah 44:8-10

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have

declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no

God; I know not any. 9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and

their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see

not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a

graven image that is profitable for nothing?

Truth is His nature.

John 14:6-7

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the

Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also:

and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

The very nature of God is truth for as Thomas asked the Lord how he could know

the way, Jesus replies by knowing the nature of God for God is the way, the truth,

and the life. It is only through truth that one can come to the Father. It is through

one’s faith in the acknowledgement of Christ and His saving work that one comes

to know Truth and hence know the Father for truth must be seen through the eyes

of faith.

God’s word is reliable for He by nature is truth.

God can not lie for He is not bound to the sinful nature of man.

Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should

repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall

he not make it good?

God can not lie for it is impossible for God to lie. The very possibility does not

exist for God to lie or even be deceitful.

Hebrews 6:18

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,

we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold

upon the hope set before us:

God is truth and by Him and Him alone can truth be seen.

Truth is found in God alone for in man there is no truth, though wisdom is found

in man it is not the source of truth. Every man and women in this earth is

searching for truth for in themselves there is no truth and never can be. Truth can

only be found through Jesus Christ and the revelation of God’s word.

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Though there is great wisdom in mankind such at logic, science, and philosophy

all of these wisdoms are only true because God is truth. Berkhof states, “He is the

source of all truth, not only in the sphere of morals and religion, but also in every

field of scientific endeavor.”13 All the outlets of searching for the truth are not

truth in themselves, but only wisdom once obtained. Therefore; all truth rest in the

Creator of this massive universe.

Based upon this knowledge of truth, it is noted that God is the source of truth and

one can only know ultimate truth that sets one free through the eyes of faith in

Jesus Christ.

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Closing Remarks on the Absolute—Incommunicable Attributes Based upon these attributes which only God obtains it must be noted that God deals with

mankind in the following ways.

1. God is Spirit by nature which set Him apart from created man who is physical.

Therefore; God is not limited to mankind’s carnal mindedness, nor is He

limited to man’s opinion of how things should be or must be.

2. God is self-existent by nature which causes Him and Him alone to be the

source of life both physically and spiritually. Therefore; God is the one who

holds man’s life in the palm of His hand, and also is the one who offers

eternal life through the saving work of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

3. God is immutable by nature which means that He is perfect in nature.

Therefore; though man my choice to walk away from God in there life upon

this earth, God’s character, nature, purpose, and plan does not change. God

deals with mankind according to His unchanging nature, therefore; God will

deal with mankind according to his nature based upon one’s persevering faith

or lack there of.

4. God is truth by nature which states that He alone is the source of truth and that

which mankind is searching for in life. Man is searching for truth in every

area but no matter how much knowledge they obtain they are still not satisfied

for ultimate truth is only found in Jesus Christ and the revelation of God’s

word. God has created man to search for truth, but yet so many refuse to learn

therefore; always learning and never able to come to the truth of God’s word

(2 Timothy 3:7).

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Limited Discernment—Incommunicable Attributes

The term “Limited Discernment” means just that limited to man. Apart from Christ these

attributes are none existent in mankind’s nature. They can not at any point be seen in

sinful mankind apart from Jesus Christ. This means that unless the sinful man has

accepted Christ as his personal savior through faith, therefore; now being regenerated,

justified, made righteous, and sanctified, he can not possess these attributes.

Though we have stated that the sinful many who has been forgiven and now is found

righteous in the sight of God can obtain these attributes it must still be noted that it is not

the man who possess the attributes, but Christ who now dwells in the heart of the

individual and also the Holy Spirit you dwells and empowers the believer’s life.

Therefore; though these attributes are seen in the believer’s life it is not the believer but

God who dwells within the believer. This makes these Incommunicable Attributes for

they truly can not be found in mankind discernable to a limited state.

The presence of these attributes in a believer’s life shows the process of spiritual maturity

as one becomes an imitator of Jesus Christ as the Apostle Paul spoke of in several

passages in the New Testament.

I Corinthians 11:1 (NASB)

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Ephesians 5:1 (NASB)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

Paul used this term which is translated imitators in the (NASB) three times to speak of

being an imitator of Christ, twice as imitators of people of faith, and once in the way of

asking a church to imitate another church. Paul believed in imitation Christ or better

translated becoming like Christ. Therefore, as one accepts Christ and begins to grow in

maturity or in Christ these incommunicable attributes which are listed below can be seen

for it is not the individual, who is being seen, but Christ and the Holy Spirit who dwells

within them.

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Unity

The unity of God shows He uniqueness as only one God. The teaching of God being one

has been touched upon in the study of His self-existence. Due to God’s self-existence it

must be noted that God does not need anyone else to support Him or to even help Him

govern His creation.

Enns gives two great thoughts concerning the unity of God. First, he states that the unity

of God stress that God is one numerically. Second, he states that the unity of God stress

that God is not made up of a composite nor is He divided into separate parts for God is

one and God is unity.14

From the affirmation of the Shema which states “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the

Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) it can be stated that God is united.15 However; it must

be noted that some will try to come against this teaching because of the Doctrine of the

Trinity which is clearly seen throughout the Bible.

Genesis 1:1 is the first evidence of the Trinity with the term Elohim which means

Lord—one with great power and strength, but it must be noted that this term

suggest “plurality of majesty or greatness” because the term is plural.16 Therefore,

from the beginning of the Bible God is spoken of in plurality.

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the unity of God as he spoke of God and His Spirit

with teaches the Doctrine of the Trinity.

Isaiah 48:16

Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the

beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD,

and his Spirit, hath sent me.

In the New Testament the unity of the God is seen the event of Jesus being

baptized for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit acted in unity as Jesus was

brought up out of the water. This demonstrates the unity of God though there are

three distinct persons of the Godhead.

Luke 3:21-22

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also

being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy

Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came

from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well

pleased.

The unity of the Godhead can not be seen in mankind by nature for it is perfect unity. It is

perfect unity in that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will not

perform or will anything contrary to God’s nature, character, purpose, or promise. Nor

will any one person of the Godhead go against the other in power. Everything that is

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promised and purposed is done in unity from the creation of the universe to the saving of

man to the judgment at the end of this age, God is unity.

Unity can not be seen in man apart from Christ. No matter how well a group may seem to

work together they are not in unity. They may be together in purpose, plan, design, and

any number of ways, but in unity they are not. Unity is only seen where the following is

absent.

1. Sin—The sin nature of man causes unity to be impossible.

2. Pride—The presence of pride destroys unity because in the presence of pride

togetherness becomes oneness in the sight of the individuals involved.

3. Material Gain—In the presence of material gain unity is destroyed because of

the human nature of greed.

4. Self—The presence of self is the second most deadly weapon to unity in

mankind because self seeks to only look out for self most of all for there is

nothing good in man.

This list could continue, but unity can not be seen in mankind. However; in Christ a

limited discernment of this incommunicable attribute is seen. It is however; not the

attribute of man, but of Christ and the Holy Spirit who dwells within the believer’s life.

The reason for this is because in Christ as one becomes an imitator of Christ the

following things should die with the Old Man and a New Man should be raised in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed

away; behold, all things are become new.

Colossians 3:8-10

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy

communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have

put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is

renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Due to the Old Man being put off and the New Man being put on the following must

change for a limited unity to be seen in the life of man.

1. Sin must be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.

2. Pride must die and humility must arise.

3. The desire of man must go from being material gain to that of the King and

His Kingdom.

4. Self must die and one must desire to build up the Kingdom of Christ.

It is only in this way that a limited discernment of unity can be seen in mankind. For

without Christ no unity at all is seen in mankind.

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Love

The Bible states that “God is love” (1 John 4:8) which means love that man can not

produce. The term used here in this text in 1 John 4:8 is the Greek term a.ga,ph or agape

which means love, in the New Testament usually the active love of God for his Son, and

his people, and the active love his people are to have for God, each other, and even

enemies.17

This agape love can not be produced in the lives of individuals. Though a form of love is

present in mankind the love that God is does not resided in the nature of man. We would

say well a type of love does rest in man but in the original language of the Bible it must

be noted that there were three different terms for love but only one term in the English

language, therefore; the reason why love is not seen in mankind.

The love of God known as “agape love” is seen as self-denying, self-emptying, and self-

giving love. Man kind can not produce this love because of the Sin problem that cause

one to rely upon self. Mankind is deprived in nature to the point of changing their own

nature to one of self-denial, self-emptying, and self-giving without Christ.

Thiessen defines love as “that perfection of the divine nature by which God is eternally

moved to communicate himself. It is not a mere emotional impulse, but a rational and

voluntary affection, having its ground in truth and holiness and its exercise in free

choice.”18 This definition states that love is grounded in truth and holiness which are also

incommunicable attributes of God which are not seen in man. However; Thiessen also

states that love has “its exercise in free choice” which means that only through faith in

Christ can love be exercised or even seen in the lives of mankind.

Pink gives seven things the love of God is:

1.”The love of God is uninfluenced.”

The term uninfluenced means that there is nothing in creation that causes

God to love it, but in His own will he chooses to love that which He has

created.

2. The love of God “is eternal.”

The love of God has no beginning or ending, thank God! For where

would mankind be today if God’s love ended or ceased just because of our

actions or deeds? God has loved us as He did Jeremiah in (Jer. 31:3 which

states,

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have

loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness

have I drawn thee.

3. The love of God “is sovereign.”

The term sovereign states that God’s loves who He wills, which simply

means that God loves all mankind in spite of there sinful nature. The

passage states in Romans 9:13” Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated”

which implies that God does not love all, but to the contrary this verse

speaks of the concept of choosing and rejecting. God in His

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foreknowledge knew that Jacob would choose life over death, but God

loved them both, but God rejects the sin.

4. The love of God “is infinite.”

This means that the love of God is unlimited or unlimitable. This

understanding of love gives the reason why God can love the sinner in

spite of his sin, and how Christ could love us and die for us while we were

yet sinners.

5. The love of God “is immutable.”

The immutable love of God means that the love of God does not change

according to our choice to serve God or reject Him. No matter what the

covenant love of God is unconditional and unchangeable.

6. The love of God “is holy.”

The love of God never contradicts the nature of God, therefore making

God’s love that which is holy for God is holy. God’s love is holy;

therefore just as God demands holiness and requires justice to be served,

God’s love is also governed by His divine justice. This means that though

God loves the sinner He can not grant life to the sinner because of the sin

that is present.

7. The love of God “is gracious.”

This means that “the love and favor of God are inseparable.”19

Two Reasons Why God Loved Sinful Man

1. God first loved sinful mankind so that mankind could love Him.

The love that God had for mankind cause the Father, to send His only Son to die

for sinful man so that reconciliation could take place and a loving relationship

could be established. Jesus did not come to condemn the sinful creation to hell,

but to save it from hell, this is the greatest love story every told. That Jesus died to

save sinner and not to condemn them. There is hope because of God’s love.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that

the world through him might be saved.

The love of God reaches beyond were one is, who one is, and what one has done.

The love of God embraces the sinner even though God hates the sin, for God

loves the sinner. Many will say that God is just, therefore; His nature of just

requires sinner to pay the consequences of God’s wrath. This is true for those who

die in their sins, but to those who place there faith in the just, loving, and merciful

God there sins are forgiven for the scriptures states they shall be white as snow

(Isaiah 1:18) and that they shall be removed as far as the east is from the west

(Psalm 103:12). God love reaches to sinful man for as the Scripture states He died

for the sinner.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet

sinners, Christ died for us.

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The love of God reached out to sinful man to draw them back into covenant

relationship with God. Nothing that man can do will draw them back into

relationship with God, that relationship was destroyed in the Fall (Genesis 3), but

it is restored through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Man can not

love God first because love of this nature does not rest in man. For this love

“denotes a reasoned-out love, rather than an emotional-based love (but not devoid

of emotion).”20 Yes, to love God one must first be loved of God and know that

love from experience.

2. God first loved sinful man so that redeemed man would love others.

The love of God is seen in the lives of believers to a limited degree by the love

that one has for another, for if the man or woman can not love their enemies, their

friend, and all of mankind then they have not known the love of God. If an

individual has not known the love of God he or she can not possess the love

mentioned of in verse 8. It is by the demonstration of God’s agape love though the

way one loves others, that you can tell if an individual is a believer in Christ.

This is known for without Christ’s presence and the Holy Spirit’s presence in an

individual’s life love can not be found.

1 John 4: 7-13

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that

loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not

God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us,

because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might

live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he

loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if

God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen

God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love

is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us,

because he hath given us of his Spirit.

The love of God is characterized in 1 Corinthians 13 as that which gives, for the term

“charity” is also translated from the Greek term a.ga,ph or agape. The uses of the term in

this “love chapter” means to give “to those whom we thing are worthy.”21 This usage of

the term agape truly shows the nature of God for He is giving.

1. God the Father gave His Son, Jesus Christ to be the propitiation for our sin.

1 John 2:2

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for

the sins of the whole world.

2. God the Son promised the coming of the Spirit and also baptizes the believer’s

with the Holy Spirit.

3. God the Holy Spirit baptizes sinners through faith into Jesus Christ therefore,

the process of regeneration, justification, and sanctification.

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It must be noted that love is given through the authority of Christ, but by the Holy Spirit.

This love that mankind is to have for God and others is spoken of in Matthew 22:36-40

when it states,

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and

with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is

like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two

commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

This incommunicable attribute of love can only be seen in the lives of the believer in a

limited state. It is seen in the believer’s life in this limited state as a “fruit of the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22a

But the fruit of the Spirit is love…

The incommunicable attribute of love is not seen in the lives of man apart from Jesus

Christ, but to those who are in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit the fruit of love

becomes present as one becomes an imitator of Christ. It must be noted that “God’s love

is different from mere human lust, passion, or desire. God’s love is holy and supremely

good.”22 This quote from Arrington supports my thought that there is a difference in the

love of the English language and that of the original biblical language of Greek.

The final note that I would like to make concerning the limited discernment of the

incommunicable attribute of love is the question that Arrington closes his study of this

attribute with which is, “What would our churches be like if we loved one another as God

and Christ loves us?”23

1. Our churches would be less selfish and more selfless.

2. Our churches would be less hurtful and more helpful.

3. Our churches would be less hateful and more loving.

4. Our churches would be like Christ intended because the people would be more

like Christ.

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Holiness

The Holiness of God is that which speaks of the moral purity of God. Erickson in his

study of God’s moral purity states that this concept of moral purity speaks of “God’s

absolute freedom from anything wicked or evil.”24 This concept of moral purity is seen in

God’s holiness and in God’s justice, however; it must be noted that God’s justice can not

be separated from God’s holiness. It is for this reason that this study has been titled the

holiness of God.

The two terms qedosh in the Hebrew and hagiazo in the Greek literally means “to set

apart” or “to separation,” which carries with it the concept of holiness. The concept of

holiness, therefore, implies that of separation or to be apart from. When we speak of the

holiness of God it implies that God is completely separated and apart from all other. This

means that God stands apart, high and above His creation. It means that the holiness of

God is as Louis Berkhof has stated the “majesty-holiness,” which implies that the God is

high and lifted up.25

Exodus 15:11

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in

holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

The question is asked in the book of Exodus “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the

gods?” This question is teaching the people an important lesson, for “who is like... [the]

LORD?” There is no one that is like the LORD. This is the simply fact that no matter

what man may try to do or even endeavor to accomplish they are nothing without God.

However; God is God without any one or thing to support Him, for God is self existent.

The text goes on to state that the LORD is “glorious in holiness.” This means that God is

holy and worthy of praise.

In this passage the transcendence of God is clearly seen. (The transcendence of God

states that God is separate or independent from and superior to His creation.)26 As

Berkhof states, “He is absolutely distinct from all His creatures and is exalted above them

in infinite majesty.”27 This states that God is without limits highly and distinctly

separated, exalted, and apart from His creation. However, it must be noted that God is

not totally removed from His creation that He does not have involvement with His

creation. Erickson states that “The Bible teaches that God is both immanent and

transcendent.” That is to say that God is involved in creation, but above and separated

from it at the same time.28

When speaking of the holiness of God it must be noted that holiness is an

incommunicable attribute of God which means that it can not be seen in man. Man is not

holy by nature, nor can man be holy at any state, for holiness is that of being set apart.

Man is a part of creation for the creation account in Genesis places the creation of man on

the sixth day (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7).

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Though man is a part of creation God is not for God is self-existent and is the source of

creation. God is holy, which means that it is holiness that is God’s standard for His

character.29 The character of God is founded upon the principle of holiness. What is this

principle of holiness? The principle of holiness is as listed below:

1. That holiness is who God is by nature.

As Towns begins his study of the holiness of God he states, “Holiness is

the first description that comes to our mind when we think of God.”30 God

is Holy! If every a true statement has been made about God it is that “God

is Holy” The angels of God cry as they worship God by saying, “holy,

holy, holy” in 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.

This same call of worship is seen in the book of Revelation as the angles

are again worshiping God by crying out “holy, holy, holy.” This call of

worship gives praise to God and states His very character as a reason to

worship God, for He is holy, for He is high and exalted, for He is above

all, for He is supreme, for He is God.

The very name of God is Holy for as the Scripture states in Isaiah that He

who “inhabited eternity, whose name is Holy.” God is by His very nature

holy as His name implies.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,

whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him

also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of

the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

As this verse also implies God is high above His creation, yet He is

involved in creation.

What does it mean to be holy by nature?

1. It means to be separated from sin.

2. It means to be separated from evil.

3. It means to be separated from moral decay.

4. It means to be separated from that which is not perfect.

Man can not be holy by nature because the flesh is sinful, the flesh turns

man toward evil desires, and the fallen man is in moral decay, therefore,

leaving man imperfect.

2. That holiness is that which is right.

Psalm 119:137

Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

This verse tells exactly who the Lord is, for he is right in all He does.

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The term right would better be seen from a doctrinal stand point as

righteousness. The term righteousness means to be in the right with God.

However; when referring to God it must be stated that righteousness is that

which comes from the very nature of God for God is holy. God is

separated from sin, evil, and moral decay, therefore, He is perfect in nature

making God that which is right or righteous.

Stating that God is the source of righteousness it must be acknowledge

that man is not right, but the direct opposite. Man is wrong, man is

imperfect, man is sinful, and man is by nature turned toward evil desires

by the flesh.

3. That holiness is that which is just.

The term just speaks of the justice of God which is inseparable from

God’s nature. God is just, therefore, demanding justice to be served. God

created mankind with the intention of man’s loyalty through obedience

and worship. However; man sinned by being disobedient and by seeking

to worship or exalt self above God.

Due to man’s sin justice must be served. It is at this point that many

people have a conflict in their theology for they over play God’s justice in

that man must suffer the consequence of the sin and many even hold that

one must work diligently at paying the price for salvation.

It is to this point that I will state that God is just and justice must be

served, however; Christ paid the price for salvation. Therefore, nothing

that man can do will pay the price for God’s wrath and justice. It was at

Calvary when God the Father turned His back on His only Son Jesus

Christ as He bore the weight of every man’s sins throughout eternity that

victorious day so long ago as the old song states, “Long ago, long ago,

Yes, the old account was settled long ago; And the record’s clear today,

for he washed my sins away, When the old account was settled long ago,”

that the wrath of God was satisfied and justice was served.31

It was for the reason of God’s justice being served due to God’s holy

nature that caused Christ to pay the ultimate price for sin. Justice had to be

served because holiness is that which is just and God is Holy. Due to

God’s holiness had to be served because mankind was unholy,

unrighteous, and unjust.

What is the justice of God?

1. The justice of God is faithful.

2. The justice of God is equal.

3. The justice of God includes all mankind.

4. The justice of God is unchangeable.

5. The justice of God is workable.

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6. The justice of God is truthful.32

Psalm 89:14

Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth

shall go before thy face.

It is in the light of this Scripture that it must be stated that the very

foundation of the throne of God is found in His holy character of being

just and demanding justice to be served.

God is holy in His character as we have now looked at in the above points, but where is

God’s holy nature seen in creation? To answer this question Pink has given three

manifestations of God’s holiness as seen by man.

1. God’s holiness is seen in His works.

Psalm 145:17

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

The Lord is holy in all that He does and as the Scripture in Romans 1

states the holiness of God is seen in creation. So as stated in Genesis 1

after the end of every day God saw that which He had created good for the

Lord is holy in all He does.

2. God’s holiness is seen in His law.

Psalm 19:8-9

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment

of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is

clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and

righteous altogether.

Romans 7:12

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

The law of God is holy for it processed from God and is used to denounce

sin and wickedness within the lives of mankind.

3. God’s holiness is seen at the Cross.33

This is the greatest example of God’s holiness revealed for in it is seen all

the attributes of God that brought redemption to mankind.

Looking at these three principles of holiness it must be concluded that holiness is not who

man is, that man is not right, and that man is not just by nature. Though I believe that

man was originally created to bare the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) man has fallen

short of the intended glory (Genesis 3: Romans 3:23).

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As a sinner man can not by nature have this incommunicable attribute of holiness.

Holiness is only found in God. Therefore, it must be noted that when the Scripture in

Leviticus 19:2 calls man to holiness and also in 1 Peter 1:15-16 this call to holiness

requires sinful man to walk in faith with God.

Leviticus 19:2

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye

shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of

conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

It is nothing that man can do to become holy, but to submit to the Lord, Jesus Christ as

Savior through faith for Romans 1:17 states,

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is

written, The just shall live by faith.

So as man studies the nature of God it must be accepted that God is holy and that man

can never posses holiness, but man can become the servant, obedient, and God praising

man that God created them to be through surrender to Christ in faith. Therefore, God

deals with man in a just, righteous, and above all a holy manner for holiness is the very

nature of which God is, therefore, holiness determines how God interacts to our

unrighteous, unjust, and unholy nature. He calls us to faith in Jesus Christ the possessor

of holiness, justice, and righteousness.

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Goodness

The Goodness of God is defined by Tozer as, “That which disposes Him to be kind,

cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men.”34 The Goodness of God is that by

which He is by nature and that by which He deals with mankind. God is good!

If God is good then why does he allow suffering, pain, and such violence to happen to

people everyday? Why does God allow bad things to happen to good innocent people?

Well in answer to these questions it must be first of all noted that the passage in Matthew

5:45 states,

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his

sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the

unjust.

God is good by nature and He does not deliberately cause bad to enter an individual’s life

just because He wants to for by nature God is good. That which comes into our lives is

an ultimate consequence of the fall in the Garden of Eden and God permits it because He

allows man to have a free will. The answer, though many try to complicate it with God

being the creator of sin and evil, is that God is not the creator of sin and that because of

man’s sin suffering, pain, violence, and many bad things happen to good people, but no

one is innocent of sin.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Now that these questions have been answered what does the Goodness of God involve

one may ask? The Goodness of God involves that which is natural to God’s being. The

Goodness of God is that which is an incommunicable attribute that can not be seen in

sinful man, but in the born again believer it can be seen in a limited state.

First of all the Goodness of God includes the concepts of God’s Mercy, God’s Grace,

God’s Persistence, and God’s Benevolence.

God’s Mercy—The mercy of God is defined by Enns as, “the goodness or love of

God shown to those who are in misery or distress, irrespective of their deserts.”35

The mercy of God reaches beyond the sin to the guilty, miserable, condemned sinner.

The mercy of God is seen, but it is governed by God’s just nature.

The greatest act of God’s mercy was seen in the crowning event of history when Jesus

gave His life a ransom for many.

Towns gives a list of four groups of people that God’s mercy is extended towards.

1. Mercy to the church

2 Corinthians 1:3

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the

Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

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2. Mercy to the believers

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may

obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

3. Mercy to the nation of Israel

Isaiah 54:7

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies

will I gather thee.

4. Mercy to God’s called

Romans 9:15, 18

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have

mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have

compassion. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have

mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.36

The mercies of God stress the faithfulness of God no matter the extent of man’s

unfaithfulness. This is seen in the continual covenants throughout the Old Testament

from that Abrahamic Covenant to that of the Davidic Covenant. For God through both of

these covenants shows His immutability or unchanging nature as well as his goodness in

spite of man’s failure He seeks to bless His chosen people. This is the Goodness of God

seen through His mercy.

As one looks back at God’s Goodness as seen through His mercy the crowning events of

Calvary and the Resurrection show us the mercy of God toward us, who are sinners.

It is only through mercy that has been realized through faith in Jesus Christ that mankind

can show such mercy for the mercy of God is that which is without conditions for it is

birthed out of agape love (which mankind can not produce or possess). However; the

regenerated man is to be merciful to others as God has been merciful to him.

Luke 6: 35-36

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and

your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is

kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your

Father also is merciful.

God’s Grace—The grace of God has been defined throughout the age as God’s

unmerited favor. It is that blessing of God’s love upon sinful man that does not deserve it

and can not purchase it. The grace of God is freely give to man that does not deserve it

nor can they every posses it apart from God’s Goodness.

Arrington states that “Divine grace is God’s love shown forth to the underserving.”37

Thiessen states that God’s grace is “the goodness of God manifested toward the ill-

deserving.”38

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These two statements above state that God’s grace is seen through divine love and divine

goodness. It is only through God that grace is seen and man can not produce it on their

own nor can they show it on their own.

The grace of God is the foundation for mankind’s salvation. For without the free gift of

love in which God the Father showed toward mankind by sending His only begotten Son,

Jesus Christ to be the “propitiation for our sins: and not ours only, but for the sins of the

whole world” ( 1 John 2:2).

It is through the free gift of grace, which is through Jesus Christ that salvation has

appeared to all men. This means that salvation is given to all, not just a selected few,

who will accept God’s free gift through faith. This means that salvation is presented to

mankind because of God’s good nature.

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Saving faith is required and nothing that man can do will change that. Man has been

given by God the freedom to choose between life and death, good and evil, and God and

this world. Works will not save, but by grace are we saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift

of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Man can not in their own nature be graceful, but in the state of the born again man grace

can be seen in a limited state. Man by nature seeks to have a return for that which they

give of great value, but God gave His Son expecting to receive nothing in return. Man’s

greedy, sinful, and selfish hearts can not give such a gift as that which grace pictures,

without the grace of God first being realized in one’s heart. A change has to take place in

the lives of mankind through faith.

God’s Persistence—The persistence of God is the same as the longsuffering of

God, which means that God is slow to wrath, slow to judgment, and slow to anger. I

thank God that His Goodness is pictured not only in mercy and grace, but also in His

persistence toward me and all mankind.

Where would we be if God was not good by nature, in that He is persistent or

longsuffering? The answer is very simply we would all be judged guilty of sin and death.

The Bible speaks on several occasions to the long suffering of God.

Psalm 86:15

But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering,

and plenteous in mercy and truth.

This verse shows that though the world calls the Lord hard and cruel to sinners, the Bible

teaches the direct opposite, for God is loving, giving, patient, merciful, and true.

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Therefore, the God to whom the Bible speaks of is a God who is persistent or patient

toward sinful man because He loves them and because He is good.

Romans 2:4

Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not

knowing that the goodness of God leads you to Repentance?

It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance. This statement is realized in the

patience of God toward sinners, for through God’s patience the sinner is given time to

repent and turn to God. Therefore, I thank God that He is longsuffering and patient with

me, for I have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Rom.3:23).

Romans 9:22

What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make His power known, endured

with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.

In this verse the question is asked, concerning the patience of God, “why does God not

demonstrate His power over sin and pour out His wrath?” To answer this question it must

be noted that though God is just, He is equally good. Therefore, God is governed by His

nature. This means that though God requires justice to be paid, God also is good,

therefore; He is patient toward sinners. His patience or goodness postpones His

immediate and powerful wrath to be demonstrated in man’s life, but ultimate His wrath

will be seen.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His Promise, as some men count slackness; but

is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should

come to Repentance.

In this verse it is noted that God is not slack concerning His promise to return and to

establish His kingdom, but God is longsuffering—slow to anger—slow to bring about

His judgment for the very purpose of giving ample time for sinners to come to faith in

Christ.

God’s goodness is seen though His persistence or longsuffering in the following ways:

1. In the manner in which God deals with sinners.

1 Peter 3:20

Which sometime were disobedient once the longsuffering of god waited in the

days of Noah, while the Ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls

were saved by water.

According to this passage in 1 Peter God was longsuffering toward the wicked

generation of Noah’s day that was destroyed by a flood. However; only the house of

Noah who found grace in the sight of God was saved. To the sinner God’s

longsuffering will not always stand, but God’s nature of goodness will give way to

God’s holiness for God is just. Lewis states that, “Although the Lord is slow to anger,

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he will in no way leave the guilty unpunished, but will pour out his fury upon them

(Nah 1:3).39

2. In the manner in which God deals with Israel.

It is through God’s unlimited patience that God dealt with unfaithful Israel. From the

time of the wilderness wondering to the time of the New Testament there are accounts

after accounts of unfaithfulness to the covenant by the people of Israel, yet God is

good for God is patient.

However; it must be noted that just as God deals with the sinner God deals with His

people who continually disobey and become unfaithful. It is for this reason that the

doctrine of conditional eternal security is found in the Bible.

Though Israel was God’s chosen people and though from time to time Israel was

faithful to God, it must be noted that those who were faithful at one point were called

to repentance and commitment again because of their unfaithfulness.

Examples of this are seen in several places, but for time here is a short list.

1. Abraham (Time and time again Abraham had to be reminded of the covenant

because of his disbelief.)

2. Samson (Time after time Samson played with God and finally found himself

blind, beaten, and imprisoned, but at the bottom he recommitted himself to God

and had the great victory of his life).

3. David (Sinned and had to continue to sin in order to hind his sin, but God saw it

and called his hand. David had to repent for he had sinned).

4. The whole nation of Israel (After the Babylonian Captivity Israel had to repent

and turn back to God.)

This proper understanding of God’s goodness tells us that God is longsuffering, not

because God has predestined individuals to Heaven, but that because God knows

through His foreknowledge who will believe and when they will believe. God is

longsuffering because He desires for all to come to repentance and He is patient and

persistent so that they that will choose life can have life.

Though one chooses life at one point in their life it must be noted that due to the

covenant that has been made with mankind a faithful walk must follow one’s choice.

God is not in the business of giving life to the unfaithful, uncommitted, and

unconditional man. However; God is in the business of giving life to the faithful,

committed, and conditioned man. The covenant of life is conditional, therefore; the

doctrine of conditional eternal security is biblical whereas; the doctrine of

unconditional eternal security is only derived from reason, logic, and above all man

made concepts not supported by God’s word rightly divided from Genesis to

Revelation. To accept the doctrine of unconditional eternal security comes at a great

price of underplaying the goodness of God and placing the power of God in its place.

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3. In the manner in which God deals with us today.40

God deals with us today through patience and persistence as He gives each individual,

not just a select few, the opportunity to become the son’s of God through faith in

Christ. God is good in that He gives each man and each woman the chance to believe

or deny life through Jesus Christ.

God does not send anyone to hell, each individual who dies in their sins send

themselves to hell. God is good and by accepting that God is good and does not send

anyone to hell it is impossible to accept the doctrine of double predestination. God is

good, God is so good, God does not send to hell, but man chooses hell, death, and

separation from God, for God does not determine it, man does through God’s

allowances of free will which is clearly seen from Genesis 2:15-17.

Man can not by nature be good in the respect of being patient, however; the Bible

teaches that patience is a Gift of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 for it states, “But the

Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, Faith,

meekness, temperance: against such there is no Law.” Based upon this verse it could

be stated as Pink as stated, “God is both the Author and Object of the grace of

patience in the saint.”41 Without God in man’s life patience can not be seen among

God’s creation.

God’s Benevolence—The benevolence of God speaks of the welfare or care that

God extends to those whom He loves.42 Though this concept of God’s Goodness also

speaks of God’s Love it must be noted that the benevolence of God gives light to how

God’s cares for His creation because He is good.

In John 3:16 we are told that God sent His Son because He loved man, but also it could

be noted that God sent His Son because of the devastation of man’s spiritual welfare. It is

in this verse that God is seen as taking care of spiritual welfare of man by providing the

sacrifice of love and by extending His goodness towards man. Man must simply believe

and receive the free gift of grace because God has taken care of man’s sin problem.

The benevolence of God is seen throughout the Bible through the character of the

shepherd. In the book of Psalms the shepherd is spoken of on many occasions especially

in Psalm 23 when it states,

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green

pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth

me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through

the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod

and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence

of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely

goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the

house of the LORD for ever.

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In this passage the Lord is seen as the caring shepherd who leads, guides, feeds, and

protects the sheep, or God’s creation. However; at this same time in this passage the

sheep or man must be obedient and follow the Lord. This same concept is taught by

Christ in the New Testament as He teaches concerning the Good Shepherd in John 10:1-

18.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,

but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that

entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth;

and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth

them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and

the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not

follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This

parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were

which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say

unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves

and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man

enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10

The thief

cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might

have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11

I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12

But he that is an hireling, and

not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and

leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the

sheep. 13

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the

sheep. 14

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for

the sheep. 16

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must

bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one

shepherd. 17

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I

might take it again. 18

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have

power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I

received of my Father.

As this passage is presented it becomes clear how the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ is

benevolent toward those He loves for He gave His life for them. God cares for us today

and desires that we will come to Him in faith so that the goodness of God can overwhelm

our souls and lives.

The Goodness of God is seen in four areas which are:

1. God’s Mercy.

2. God’s Grace.

3. God’s Persistence.

4. God’s Benevolence.

Though man can not be good on their own account, it must be noted that the regenerated

man can be good only because of the goodness of God that dwells in them through Jesus

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Christ and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we are encouraged as students of God’s Word and

as Believer’s first of all to become like Christ in our very being. I wish that it could be

said of me as it was of Enoch, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not: for God

took him” (Genesis 5:24). The book of Hebrews states that Enoch was taken because he

pleased the Lord and that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:5-6).

Closing Remarks on the Limited Discernment—Incommunicable Attributes

As it obtains to these incommunicable attributes which are limited in their discernment

only to those individuals who are in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. These

attributes are not the individual’s possession but that of Christ and the Holy Spirit who

dwell within the believer’s life. Therefore, the following ways show how God deals with

mankind according to his incommunicable attributes which are limited in their

discernment in mankind.

1. The unity of the Godhead shows how God seeks to bring mankind back to

Himself in Christ. The Father sent the Son, the Son died for our sins and sent

the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit draws sinner to Christ. Therefore, the unity of

God seeks to draw you to Himself, this act is made possible by God’s love.

2. The love of God is seen in the self-denying, self-emptying, and self-giving

love of Jesus Christ upon the Cross. It is through God’s love that His united

purpose is accomplished and the plain of sending His Son to die for

mankind’s sin and the Holy Spirit drawing sinners to Christ comes to the

crossroads of faith and doubt. It is at this crossroads that free choice is placed

into action, for the sinner must place his faith in Christ to experience the love

of God and for Christ and the Holy Spirit to dwell in their life.

3. The holiness of God is that attribute that stands out as the crowning worth of

which God is for He is “holy, holy, holy.” Therefore; as the book of Leviticus

and 1 Peter it is important to understand that for man to fulfill the requirement

of God which states to be holy as He is holy can only be realized in

submission to the Son and the Holy Spirit who dwells within our lives. The

holiness that God requires is thus not an outward display, but a submission to

God. In full submission to God the holiness of Christ and the Holy Spirit can

be seen in the submitted life of the believer.

4. The goodness of God is seen in four areas which are God’s mercy, God’s

grace, God’s persistence, and God’s benevolence. It is through these four

areas of concern that God is seen as being good. It is through God’s goodness

that mankind is saved and it is in submission to God that goodness can be seen

in man. For as the Bible teaches non is good, but God, therefore; man is only

good in full submission to God. It is Christ in us and the Holy Spirit who

dwells in us that goodness or any of the limited discernable—incommunicable

attributes of God are seen in mankind.

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Communicable Attributes

In the study of the attributes of God it is now time to look at the subject of communicable

attributes. So to refresh our memory of the two different types of attributes the following

will help to define.

Communicable Attributes—“are those qualities of God for which at least a

partial counterpart can be found in his human creation.”43

Incommunicable Attributes—“are those unique qualities for which no

counterpart can be found in humans.”44

The communicable attributes of God are those characteristics that can be discerned within

man’s nature. The incommunicable attributes of God which have been studied to this

point such as God’s:

1. Spirituality

2. Self-existence

3. Immutability

4. Truth

5. Unity

6. Love

7. Holiness

8. Goodness

These attributes are either not seen in man at all or can only be seen through one’s

surrender to Christ and the Holy Spirit. These attributes are not a part of man’s nature,

but are absolutely characteristics of God’s nature.

However; as this study continues concerning the attributes of God it must be noted that

there are three characteristics that are seen in God’s nature that are present in man’s

nature. These three characteristics are knowledge, presence, and power. There is no

individual who does not possesses some form of knowledge or intelligence, however;

there is no one who possesses all knowledge as God does in his nature. At the same time

there is no one that does not possesses presence, but not one possesses presence in all

places as God does in his nature. Finally there is no one that does not possesses power,

but yet God is the only one who possesses all power.

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Omniscience

The term Omniscience means that God is all knowing or possesses all knowledge. This

implies that God is perfect in knowledge as he is perfect in his character. The definition

that Enns gives for the Omniscience of God is that “God knows all things actual and

possible, past, present, and future, in on eternal act.”45 It is in this definition of the

knowledge of God that it can be understood that God knows all at one time without any

effort or even thought upon God’s part.

Elmer Towns states that God’s knowledge can properly be understood when five points

are made concerning God.

1. God had not been taught by man.

Isaiah 40:13-14

Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath

taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and

taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and

shewed to him the way of understanding?

2. God knows himself accurately to the point of giving a proper revelation of

himself.

3. God knows everything that is possible to know.

Romans 4:17

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him

whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those

things which be not as though they were.

4. God knows without any effort on his part.

5. God knows all things equally well.46

Hebrews 4:13

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things

are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

The best text to understand God’s knowledge is seen in Psalms 139:1-6 which states,

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting

and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my

path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a

word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset

me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too

wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

This passage speaks of the infinite knowledge of God which is without limits and

barriers. The Psalmist spoke of how God knew him in all his ways and that the

understanding and knowledge of God is too high, too wonderful for mankind to ever

attain unto it. Man can not obtain to the infinite wisdom, knowledge, and understanding

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to which God possesses for mankind is limited or is finite in nature. However; as Enns

states,

1. “God knows all things that exist in actuality.”

2. “God knows all the variables concerning things that have not occurred.”

3. “God knows all future events. Because God is eternal and knows all things in

one eternal act.” The “events that are future to man are an “eternal now” to

God.”

4. “God’s knowledge …is immediate… it is simultaneous…it is actual,

complete, and according to reality.”47

The question has been stated how can God know the ending from the beginning?

The best answer is that God is all knowing both of the past, present, and future all at one

time. Therefore; if this is properly understood then it is clear how that God knew from the

foundation of the world that a savior would be need and that man would fall. Also it is

clear as to how God knows from the beginning who will believe and how will reject him

therefore, God knows my eternal destiny before I was every thought of in the womb.

Let it be clear that I am not teaching double predestination, but that I am teaching that

God is all knowing therefore; in his foreknowledge God knows the future of mankind’s

destiny just as he knows the future of the earth which is seen throughout the prophets and

the book of Revelation. In a quote from Augustine it is stated, “God knows the whole of

history at once, simultaneously because not limited by time and succession, but God also

knows what part of history is past today and what is future, for time is not unreal or

unimportant to God (Confession XI, 31).48

Through all of this the main point concerning the Omniscience of God is that knows you,

knows were you are, and knows what you have need of in your life. God simply knows all.

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Omnipresence

The term Omnipresence means that God is present everywhere at the same time. This

teaching of God states that God is Lord over time and space. In this attribute of God is

can be noted that God “fills the universe in all its parts.”49 One definition of

Omnipresence is that which Clarke gives with states, “that God is not conditioned or

limited by space in his power of acting, but is able to put forth his entire power of action

anywhere. The whole of his ability for action, of every kind, is available for exertion

everywhere at any time, without any need that he move from place to place in order to

reach the scene of action.”50 In other words it can be stated that God is around the world

from were you are at this moment and also in your presence at the same time without

moving; therefore, God is always present at all places at all times.

Elmer Towns gives four points concerning the Omnipresence of God which are as

follows:

1. “God’s omnipresence is a manifestation of His immensity.”

There are no limits to God concerning space. Even in the absence of space

God exist, therefore; there is no existence outside of God.

2. “God’s omnipresence implies His immensity.”

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.

3. “God’s omnipresence allows for transcendence.”

The Bible teaches that God is involved in his creation and is present

among it, but at the same time the Bible teaches that God is far above it

and distinct from his creation. This point shows that God is present among

his Creation, but at the same time is worthy of worship from his creation

and one day will judge the world.

4. “God’s omnipresence teaches He will manifest Himself in some places more

than in others.”51

God is seen throughout Scripture as manifesting his presence more within

certain places more than in others for example in the Old Testament the

presence of God was manifested more within the Holy of Holies above the

mercy seat and in the New Testament a emphasis is placed upon the heart

of the believer. However; it must be noted that God’s presence is

everywhere, and not only in the hearts of believers.

God is not limited by space or time and is Lord over time for time and space are not lord

over him therefore, God being Lord or master over time can be present in China and the

United States all at the same time because he is Lord and is unlimited or infinite.

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The main point concerning the Omnipresence of God is as Enns states in his teachings on

Omnipresence is the importance of God’s “comfort to the believer who recognizes that

no calamity can befall him that God is not present with Him: it is also a warning to the

disobedient person that he cannot escape the presence of God.”52

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Omnipotence

The term Omnipotence means that God is all powerful. This term implies that God is

sovereign and that he is the ruler of all. However; it must be noted that this term does not

state that God is all powerful that he can do anything and everything at radom.53

Everything that God does must be in unity or harmony with his nature. The other ten

characteristics of God which are Spirituality, Self-existence, Immutability, Truth, Unity,

Love, Holiness, Goodness, Omniscience, and Omnipresence govern God’s Power.

Now that the statement has been stated the God can not do anything contrary to his nature

what cann’t God do?

Elmer Towns states that God is limited in seven areas which are:

1. God cannot create a being or world to which His essential incommunicable

attributes can be given.

2. God cannot create a being whose nature is sinful.

3. God cannot impose laws not accordant with righteousness and holiness.

4. God cannot deal with any of His creatures unjustly.

5. God cannot commit sin.

6. God cannot change His own nature.

7. God cannot change His decrees and purposes.54

The Bible states,

God cannot look on sin (Hab. 1:13)

Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:

God cannot deny His existence (2 Tim. 2:13)

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

God cannot lie (Heb. 6:18)

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,

we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold

upon the hope set before us:

Lewis states that, “God does not choose to do anything contrary to his nature of wisdom

and holy love. God cannot deny himself, and God does not choose to do everything by

his own immediate agency without intermediate angelic and human agents. Although

God determines some things to come to pass unconditionally…most events in history are

planned conditionally, through the obedience of people or their permitted disobedience to

divine precepts. In any case, God’s eternal purposes for history are not frustrated, but

fulfilled in the way he chose to accomplish them.”55

Elmer Towns gives five points concerning the Omnipotence of God.

1. God’s power is potentially unlimited.

2. God’s power is comprehensive.

God does not put forth an effort to be all powerful.

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3. God’s power is discernable.

God’s power can be seen in nature.

4. God’ power is what holds the world together.

5. God’s sovereignty is a result of God’s omnipotence.56

The main point concerning the Omnipotence of God is that for the believer it is

comforting to know that God is in control and that nothing can overthrow the Almighty.

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Endnotes:

___________ 1. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today. {Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2002}: 110.

2. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology. {Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1989}: 188.

3.Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. {Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1998}: 293.

4. Ibid., 293.

5. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 188- 193.

6. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One. {Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 1992}: 120-124.

7. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 188.

8. Ibid., 188.

9. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One., 88.

10. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 189.

11. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One., 123-124.

12. Pink, Arthur W. The Attributes of God. {Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1975}: 49.

13. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 192.

14. Ibid., 192.

15. Ibid., 192.

16. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One., 100.

17. Strong, James, John R. Kohlenberger III, and James A Swanson. The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible. {Grand Rapids,

MI: Zondervan, 2001}: 1587.

18. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 192.

19. Pink, Arthur W. The Attributes of God., 99-103.

20. Ibid., 192.

21. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 115.

22. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One., 115.

23. Ibid., 115.

24. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology., 310.

25. Ibid., 311.

26. Ibid., 338.

27. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 193.

28. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology., 327.

29. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One., 117.

30. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 111.

31. Graham, F. M. An Old Account Settled. Church Hymnal.{Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 1951}: 176-177.

32. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 114.

33. Pink, Arthur W. The Attributes of God., 53-54.

34. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 115.

35. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology.,195.

36. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 116.

37. Arrington, French L. Christian Doctrine: A Pentecostal Perspective Volume One., 115.

38. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 116.

39. Lewis, G. R. God, Attributes of. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd Edition. Walter A. Elwell.{Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001}:

497.

40. Pink, Arthur W. The Attributes of God., 81-82.

41. Ibid., 81.

42. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology., 318.

43. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. {Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1998}: 293.

44. Ibid., 293.

45. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 194.

46. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 118.

47. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 194-195.

48. Lewis, G. R. God, Attributes of. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd Edition. Walter A. Elwell., 494.

49. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 194.

50. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 119.

51. Ibid., 119-120.

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52. Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook Of Theology., 194.

53. Ibid., 195.

54. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 121.

55. Lewis, G. R. God, Attributes of. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd Edition. Walter A. Elwell., 498.

56. Towns, Elmer L. Theology for Today., 121-122.