Understanding God is understanding His
essential nature. This is who God is.
August’s
Awakening, Day 23
We
will begin our discussion of God’s thirty-two attributes by breaking them down
into three broad categories—God’s attributes as to creation, God’s attributes as to time and space, and God’s attributes as to moral beings. Remember, this is just a guideline to help in our
mental organization, not a dogmatic dissertation.
For
each attribute, we will give a brief description and in most cases, a Scripture
reference to support the designated attribute. There are six attributes as God
relates to His creation—omnipresence,
omnipotence, omniscience, immutability/constancy,
infinity, and necessity/actuality.
Omnipresence. God is present
everywhere. As God is spirit, He is not limited by time or space or that which
He has created. As He is not limited by anything, He is ever present
everywhere.
Where
can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to
the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I
rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even
there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say,
“Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even
the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for
darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139:7–12 NIV
“Am
I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Who can hide
in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill
heaven and earth?” declares
the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23–24
NIV
Omnipotence.
God is all powerful, there is nothing greater than Himself, and nothing
that He is unable to do.
Jesus
looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things
are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NIV
Then
I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters
and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God
Almighty reigns. Revelation 19:6 NIV
Omniscience.
God knows all actual and all possible things. He knows every variable,
every possible event, every outcome of every possible event, what was, what is,
and what is to come. No minute detail escapes Him or is unknown by Him.
You
have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord,
know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon
me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalm
139:1–6 NIV
He
determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our
Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm
147:4–5 NIV
And
even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew
10:30 NIV
Remember
the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am
God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from
ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will
do all that I please.’ Isaiah 46:9–10 NIV
Tomorrow we will complete the last
three attributes as God relates to His creation.
Author Web Page Link
No comments:
Post a Comment