A brief study of the Attributes of God The Solitary God

A Definition of “Attribute” “The Characteristics of God which distinguish Him as God” “Whatever God has in anyway revealed as being true about Himself” “It is also something that we can conceive as being true of Him.” “An attribute, as we can know it, is a mental concept, an intellectual response to God's self-Revelation”

Knowledge of The Holy: Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7 God’s “Self ie” Self-Existence Self-Sufficient Eternal Incomprehensible Knowledge of The Holy: Chapters 2, 5, 6, 7

Westminster Assembly 1643-1649

Westminster Assembly Met 1643 - 1649 Called by the Long Parliament During English Civil War to settle Religious Issues 121 Clergy and 30 observers Attempts to Revise 39 Articles – chose to write a Confession of Faith Oath: Scriptural Authority – For God's Glory Rule: Prove it out of Scripture - Confession resubmitted for proof Texts Added Catechisms for instructing Ministers and Children

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter II Paragraph 1 There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments; hating all sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty.

Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter II Paragraph 2 God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone foundation of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.

Larger Catechism #7 God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

Shorter Catechism #4 “God's Glory is the sum total of all of his attributes as well as any of his attributes.” “What ever God is He is completely and simultaneously.” The chief end of man is to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever

God is a Spirit . . . In His . . . “a self-conscious and self determining, living and active Spirit” “personal and non corporeal” “simplicity” – without parts

Some Definitions . . . “Spirit” = Incorporeal and personal Incommunicable – Those Characteristics of God that are unique to Him. Communicable – Those Characteristics of God that are reflected in his creatures. Transcendence – God is completely separate from all creation Immanence – God is fully present and involved in all creation

I AM THAT I AM

Self Existence It is God's nature that He exists. Genesis 1:1  In the beginning, God . . . Exodus 3:14  God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” John 5:26 26  For as the Father has life in himself, It is God's nature that He exists. He is independent of all things and all things have their origin in Him

Self Sufficient “Need” is a creature word Acts 17:24-25  The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. “Need” is a creature word not appropriate to the Creator. God possesses within Himself or intrinsically every quality in infinite measure. All that we are and have are gifts from Him.

Eternal Psalm 90:1-2  Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Isaiah 57:15 5  For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Eternal Psalm 102:24-27 . . . you whose years endure throughout all generations!2  Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,but you are the same, and your years have no end. Hebrews 13:8 8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Revelation 1:8 8  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Eternal Before God created the heavens and the earth there was no space or time. He brought both into existence. He enters our space and time, but God in Himself, apart from creation, is neither spatial nor temporal. God stands outside of time, but is actively involved in it.

Incomprehensible 1 Timothy 1:17  To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Psalm 145:3 3  Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Job 11:7-8 7  “Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?  It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? Romans 11:33-36 33  Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!4  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”  “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Within the Trinity reside all God’s Attributes

The Doctrine of Trinity In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternal begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. That historic, orthodox teaching on the Trinity eliminates many possible misunderstandings of its nature, such as these: We worship three gods Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three different names for God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three different parts of God God shows up at different times as either Father, Son, or Holy Spirit Jesus is a lesser god than the Father or a created god Jesus is fully God, but he was not fully man The Holy Spirit is an impersonal force from God