Tonight, September 8th, we’ll explore more attributes of God. Tonight’s list would be numbers 7-16 overall, but they show up here starting with number 1.

1. God is Spirit
   God’s existence is different from any created being. He is not limited by spatial constraints. He is described in scripture as “spirit” – John 4:24. We can’t think about Him as we think about anything else in the universe. His existence is different – and way beyond. 1 Corinthians 6:17, Romans 8:16, Ecclesiastes 12:7
   
2. God is Invisible
   No one has ever seen God – John 1:18
   But God did show certain manifestations of himself to people in scripture – but not his whole self
   Isaiah 6:1, Genesis 18:1, Genesis 32:30, John 14:9
   
3. God is Omniscient
   God is all-knowing. He has full knowledge of the past, present, and future. Nothing surprises Him or catches Him off guard. He knows what would have happened had He chosen to create something differently. 1 John 3:20, Hebrews 4:13, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Matthew 11:21, Isaiah 42:9, Isaiah 46:9-10
   
4. God is Wise
   God always chooses the best possible way to accomplish His goals and outcomes. Romans 16:27, Job 9:4, 12:13
   We see His wisdom in creation and how He works things in our lives – Psalm 104:24, Romans 8:28
   He offers wisdom to us as His children – and He encourages us to ask for it – James 1:5, Psalm 19:7
   We will never have His full measure of wisdom because He is above us – Romans 11:33, Proverbs 3:5
   
5. God is Truthful
   God’s words and His thoughts define what truth is. When He says something, it will happen – Numbers 23:19.
   We can imitate God in His truthfulness. We try to be like Him – not be Him – Colossians 3:9-10
   
6. God is Good
   God is the final standard of good – He defines good. Genesis 1:31
   Since He defines goodness – He is the source of goodness – James 1:17, Psalm 84:11, Matthew 7:11, Hebrews 12:10, Psalm 73:25
   His goodness is seen by knowing we deserve punishment for our sin, but instead, God gave us grace and mercy through Jesus. He wants us to treat others well like He treated us well – Galatians 6:10
   
7. God is Love
   1 John 4:8
   God eternally gives of himself for the good of others – that quality defines His love – it was there from the beginning – John 17:24, 14:31
   He shows us His love by giving to us and by offering our salvation – 1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8
   He demonstrates love for us so we can give it away to others – Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 3:16-18
   
8. God is Holy
   Psalm 99:9
   God is holy and we are separated from Him because we are not holy. We are to seek to imitate His holiness
   
9. God is Righteous and Just
   Deuteronomy 32:4
   He is the final standard for what is right. Because He is also just, He must treat people as they deserve, but He forgives sin because of Jesus – Romans 3:25-26
   
10. God is Jealous
    He is the only one worthy of worship and praise. He seeks to protect His own honor – because He knows we are never complete until we give Him the honor He deserves. Exodus 20:5, Isaiah 48:11
    

This is our first week exploring the question “what is God like?”. We will look at 24 separate characteristics of God and His nature. Here are the 6 attributes we studied August 25th.

What is God Like?
If there is a higher source of information about God than God himself, then He would not be God.

Characteristics of God:

1. God Exists
   Scripture assumes God’s existence. Genesis declares Him as the creator.
   Romans 1:19 says that even people who aren’t believers know that He exists. Romans 1:25
   Human beings are the greatest proof because we are created in His image.
   

2. God is Knowable
We can know God personally – not just know about Him. We do get to know Him better by understanding His characteristics, but He is infinite and we are finite. That difference prevents us from fully understanding who He fully is.
Psalm 145:3, 147:5, 139:6,17-18; Jeremiah 9:24, 1 John 4:8, 1:5, Isaiah 43:7

3. God is Independent
The truth is, God doesn’t need us. We were not created to “complete” God – like in Jerry Maguire. Acts 17:24-25
God always was – He wasn’t created – Psalm 90:2, Romans 11:36
God is completely ok without us, but He chooses to give us significance and value. All of His creation glorifies Him and brings Him joy. Isaiah 43:7

4. God is Unchangeable
God is unchangeable in His being, attributes, purposes, and promises.
Psalm 102:27, Malachi 3:6
His purposes are going to be done once He determines to do them – Psalm 33:11, Matthew 25:34, Ephesians 1:4,11
Numbers 23:19 – God is not us – He fulfills ALL of His promises
There are times in scripture where God changes His intentions toward a person or group of people – but this doesn’t contradict His unchangeableness. He doesn’t change who He is, but He allows us to repent and change our ways so His intentions toward us change. Jonah 3:4, Exodus 32:9-14, Isaiah 38:1-6

5. God is Eternal
God has no beginning and no end. That is impossible for us to fully understand, but it is affirmed in scripture – Psalm 90:2, Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 1:8, Jude 25.
Because He doesn’t have a beginning and end, His view of time is very different from mine. He sees our past, present, and future equally as vivid. He doesn’t struggle to see my past or my future, while He’s right with me in the present.

6. God is Omnipresent
Just like time doesn’t define God, neither does space. He isn’t too big or too small for something. He created material space, so He can’t be limited by it. Genesis 1:1,
His presence fills everything – Jeremiah 23:23-24
He’s everywhere – Psalm 139:7-10
He is present to accomplish different things in different places – Psalm 16:11, Amos 9:1-4
He holds the universe together – Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3

More to come…