Understanding the attributes of God is foundational to the Christian faith. God’s attributes reveal who He is, how He acts, and how we, His creation, should respond to Him. These attributes are not abstract concepts but glorious realities that provide the framework for our worship, obedience, and trust. Drawing from Scripture and Reformed confessions such as Chapter 2 of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF), we will explore the attributes of God, emphasizing their relevance for believers in Greenville, South Carolina, and beyond.
The Attributes of God: An Overview
The attributes of God can be categorized in various ways, but traditionally they are divided into communicable and incommunicable attributes:
- Incommunicable attributes are those qualities that belong to God alone and are not shared with His creation, such as His independence, immutability, and infinity.
- Communicable attributes are those qualities that God shares, in a limited and analogous way, with His creatures, such as His love, holiness, and wisdom.
These attributes are not parts or pieces of God; He is entirely and perfectly all that He reveals Himself to be. For example, His love is holy, His holiness is eternal, and His eternality is wise. God’s attributes are inseparable from His being.
God’s Incommunicable Attributes
1. Independence (Aseity)
God is self-existent and self-sufficient. He depends on no one and nothing for His existence or for anything He is or does. As Paul declares in Acts 17:24-25:
“God that made the world and all things therein… neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”
This truth reminds us that God is entirely distinct from His creation. He is not a being among beings but the source of all being. His independence assures us that He is unchanging and unaffected by the circumstances of the world.
In Greenville, where the beauty of creation reflects God’s handiwork, we are reminded that while God delights in His creation, He is not dependent on it. Instead, He sustains it by His power and purposes it for His glory.
2. Immutability
God does not change. His nature, character, and purposes remain constant throughout eternity. Malachi 3:6 states, “For I am the LORD, I change not.” Similarly, James 1:17 describes God as the one “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
This attribute is a source of great comfort for believers. While human life is marked by uncertainty and change, God’s unchanging nature assures us that His promises are steadfast. For the church in Greenville, this means that God’s Word, His love, and His covenantal faithfulness remain constant, even amid a rapidly changing culture.
3. Infinity
God is infinite in His being, meaning He is without limits in His essence and attributes. Psalm 147:5 declares, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” His infinity extends to His omnipresence, omnipotence, and omniscience, affirming that He is present everywhere, all-powerful, and all-knowing.
God’s infinity should humble us and inspire awe. He is greater than anything we can imagine, yet He condescends to know and care for His people personally.
4. Eternality
God is eternal, existing outside of time and without beginning or end. Psalm 90:2 proclaims, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
God’s eternality assures us that He is not constrained by time. His purposes and plans are eternal, and His perspective encompasses all of history. For believers in Greenville, this means that the God we worship today is the same God who has faithfully sustained His people throughout all generations.
God’s Communicable Attributes
1. Holiness
God is utterly set apart, perfect in purity, and transcendent above all His creation. Isaiah 6:3 captures this truth with the seraphim’s cry: “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
God’s holiness demands our reverence and awe. It also calls us to pursue holiness in our lives, as Peter exhorts, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). In Greenville, the call to reflect God’s holiness is a reminder that our lives should stand as a testimony to His transforming grace in our community.
2. Love
God is love, and His love is demonstrated most clearly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. John writes, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
God’s love is selfless, sacrificial, and unchanging. It is the foundation of our salvation and our motivation to love others. In Greenville, where relationships and community are vital, God’s love equips believers to love their neighbors and display the gospel in tangible ways.
3. Wisdom
God is infinitely wise, perfectly ordering all things according to His purposes. Romans 11:33 declares, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
God’s wisdom assures us that His plans are always good and perfect, even when we do not understand them. For believers navigating life’s challenges in Greenville, trusting in God’s wisdom provides peace and confidence in His sovereign care.
4. Justice
God is perfectly just, upholding righteousness and executing judgment. Deuteronomy 32:4 proclaims, “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’s justice assures us that He will right all wrongs and punish sin. It also reminds us of our need for a Savior, as no one can stand before His perfect justice apart from Christ’s atoning work.
5. Mercy
While God is just, He is also rich in mercy, showing compassion to sinners. Ephesians 2:4-5 states:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).”
God’s mercy is a source of hope for all who turn to Him in repentance and faith. In Greenville, the proclamation of God’s mercy is a reminder that His grace is available to all, regardless of their past.
The Unity of God’s Attributes
While we can study God’s attributes individually, they are never separate or in conflict. God’s justice is not at odds with His mercy, nor is His holiness contrary to His love. Instead, His attributes work together in perfect harmony, revealing the fullness of His character. For example, the cross of Christ beautifully displays the unity of God’s justice and mercy, as He punishes sin while extending grace to sinners.
Worshiping the God of Glory
The attributes of God are not merely theological truths to be understood; they are realities that compel our worship. As we meditate on His greatness, we are drawn to respond with awe, adoration, and obedience. Psalm 145:3 declares, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”
For the church in Greenville, this worship is both a privilege and a responsibility. In a world that often seeks to define God on human terms, we have the opportunity to proclaim the truth of who God is and invite others to know and worship Him.
Conclusion
The attributes of God reveal His incomparable majesty and infinite worth. He is the eternal, unchanging, and all-sufficient Creator and Redeemer, worthy of our deepest reverence and devotion. In Greenville, South Carolina, and beyond, the study of God’s attributes calls us to know Him more fully, trust Him more completely, and worship Him more fervently.
As we reflect on the character of God, may we be transformed by the knowledge of who He is and live lives that glorify His name. Let us join with the psalmist in declaring, “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Ps. 145:8-9). To God alone be the glory!