The Attributes of God - Part 1 Definition: An attribute is “… whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.” - A. W. Tozer Why is this study important: “What you think of God is the most important thing about you.” - A. W. Tozer **How will a study of God’s attributes help me serve and worship God? ** “We shall never want to serve God in our … hearts if He looms in our sub-conscious mind as an arbitrary Dictator for a Spoil-sport, or as one who takes advantage of His position to make us poor mortals feel guilty and afraid. We have not only to be impressed by the “size” and unlimited power of God, we have to be moved to genuine admiration, respect, and affection, if we are ever to worship him.” - J.B. Phillips, Your God is Too Small What do you mean by God? • The Bible reveals God as One (monotheism), Infinite (without limits), Transcendent (beyond Creation), and Personal (Immanent in creation). • This view of God defeats atheism, agnosticism, polytheism, panentheism, finite godism, pantheism, and deism. 1. GOD is . Def. - God exists “from himself” (Aseity) “God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness, in and of himself.” (Westminster Confession) God is the uncreated, uncaused Creator. God exists independently of anything else. G OD is self-existent. • Gen. 1:1 (NASB), “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” • Ex. 3:14, “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’” • John 8:58, “… before Abraham was born, I am.” • John 5:26, “… the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself.” 2. GOD is . Def. - God is the absolute First Being who necessarily causes all creation. God is a MUST-BE (necessary) and creation is a MAY-BE (contingent). If there ever was nothing, then nothing would exist today. God cannot possibly “not be.” GOD is necessary. • Acts 17:24, “The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things… 28… for in Him we live and move and exist.” • Romans 11:36, “For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things.” 3. GOD is . Def. - God is unchanging; incapable of change of any kind. God is unchanging in His character, His standards, His promises, and in His salvation. God is a perfect being. Any change would only subtract from his perfections. God’s Word is the unchanging foundation of life. GOD is immutable. • 1 Sam. 15:29, “… the Glory of Israel will not lie nor change His mind.” • Psalm 102:25, “You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 Even they will perish, but You endure; All of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing you will change them and they will pass away. 27 But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.” • Mal. 3:6, “For I, the Lord, do not change.” • Heb. 6:17, “His purpose is unchangeable.” 4. GOD is . Def. - God is non-temporal, timeless. God alone is eternal. God created time and space. God freely acts in time as an actor yet unlimited by time. GOD is eternal. • Psalm 90:2 (NASB), “… from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” • Isaiah 57:15, “...Who lives forever.” • John 17:3, “… this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” • Matthew 25:46, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” • Good News: Because God is eternal, He can give eternal life and eternal rewards! • Bad News: Because God is eternal, His punishments are also eternal. **Conclusion: ** • God is one, infinite, transcendent and personal God: • God is self-existent. • God is necessary. • God is unchanging. • God is eternal. If we get God wrong, we get our eternity wrong. “The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him - and of her. In all her prayers and labors this should have first place.” - A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy