02.C.1 Exalting the Lord: Absolute Attributes of God
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Exalt the Lord
Who God is from Eternity to Eternity: Absolute Attributes
Key Passage: Psalm 113:1-9
Contents |
Summary
The Psalmist proclaims the absolute nature of God who is “exalted over all the nations, and His glory above the heavens.” But this most high God stoops down to lift up the poor and needy, with no special favor for those of higher human status (cf. Jam. 1:17-27).
Guided Reflection
The greatness and splendor of God extends beyond this world. Psalm 113 declares that His glory is high above the heavens, in a realm that goes beyond the earth, and above all nations.
Look out the window. Use your senses. Smell something, like a flower, or spices from the kitchen. For those who cannot see or smell, there is a world that is “beyond,” that cannot be enjoyed by those whose senses are disabled. They have no idea of what is experienced by those who have those senses. What would it be like if you had never smelled anything? How could anyone explain it to you? Could you ever understand a flower’s fragrance, the aroma of cooking food, and fresh air after a rainstorm?
Natural senses are the means by which we perceive the natural world. How can we perceive the spiritual world and the revelation of the incomprehensible being of God? Certainly not through natural senses (1 Cor. 2:14). We cannot perceive God apart from revelation. The lost are “blind” to spiritual truth, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). When we are born again we are enabled to “see” Him. Faith is the spiritual “sense” needed to perceive God. We cannot grasp the being of God apart from faith (Heb. 11:6).
As a blind person is led by the hand of a sighted person, so those who can see God must reach out to help those who cannot. You can show someone lacking spiritual “sight” what God is like. An effective way to communicate the being of God to those unable to perceive Him is by showing compassion. God showed Himself to the world through the compassion of Jesus Christ.
When Scripture describes God as being high above us we often find a call to humbly care for the lowly and needy as a display of God’s glory. The way unbelievers “sense” or perceive God is largely through the actions of His people that flow out of a heart of compassion.
Essential Truth Regarding Absolute Attributes of God
The term “Attributes of God” speaks of various facets of the being of God, characteristics or qualities which combine perfectly in His being. What was God like before there was any creation? Absolute attributes describe what God is always like from eternity to eternity.
Core Issues of the Attributes of God
a) Scripture as the Source of Understanding the Attributes of God
We can only know God according to His revelation of Himself to us. The created world suggests a particular cause, but any attempt to reason up to God from nature will prove inadequate. Nature, nevertheless, is valuable as a revelation from God of His glory, goodness and eternal power (Acts 14:17; Rom. 1:20).
We cannot figure out God by reasoning, but He reveals Himself through Scripture. Learning the attributes of God involves observing the descriptions of God found in the Bible. We bring together these glimpses of God’s being to obtain the fullest possible view of what God is like. Until we see Him face to face we can only know in part (1 Cor. 13:9-12; Rev. 22:1-5).
b) Relationship between the Attributes of God
Sometimes two characteristics seem to be mutually exclusive or a contradiction, yet they come together as an amazing unity within the being of God. For example, God’s justice and His grace are both wonderfully revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ. Careful comparison (Luke 13:18-20) reveals many of the attributes as complementary pairs, such as justice and mercy, goodness and severity, love and wrath.
The attributes of God never oppose each other, but they complement one another perfectly. There is harmony within the attributes of God (Ps. 85:10). God is a unity and the attributes are like facets of a single precious gem. Every action and decree of God is perfectly consistent with all His attributes.
c) Descriptions of the Attributes of God
Since we know the Scriptures are the authoritative revelation from God, then we understand that He is showing us Himself through those inspired words. As we search the Scriptures, we find that the attributes are displayed through a number of different terms and in the various literary forms, such as historical narrative or poetry. We carefully bring together all the particulars God has declared throughout the Bible in order to arrive at a unified understanding of His attributes. We must consider the living context of these descriptions and avoid producing artificial manmade lists. Our chief aim in examining these descriptions is to know God as He reveals Himself and to thereby find life (John 17:3).
i) Names of God and titles of God are descriptions of who He is (Ps. 47:7; 50:6; 74:12; 75:7; 84:12; 118:27; Is. 9:6; 45:15). These include the “I AM” compound names of God (Ex. 15:26; John 6:35).
ii) Description in statements and adjectives are God’s disclosure of His attributes (Deut. 10:17; Josh. 3:10; Ps. 29:3-4; 45:6; Neh. 9:31).
iii) “God Is” declarations are direct statements about what God is like (Deut. 4:24, 31; 6:4, 15; 7:21; 9:3; 33:27; 2 Sam. 22:33; 2 Chron. 30:9; Ps. 7:11; 46:1; 59:9, 17; 62:7-8; 71:19; 73:1, 26; 84:11; 94:22; 99:9; 116:5; Is. 12:2; Jer. 3:23; Nah. 1:2-3; Mark 12:27; John 3:33; 4:24; 1 Cor. 1:9, 24; 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18-19; Gal. 3:20; Heb. 12:29; 1 John 1:5). “God is not” statements provide helpful contrast (Num. 23:19-20; Matt. 22:32; Acts 10:34; 1 Cor. 14:33; Heb. 6:10; 1 John 1:5).
iv) His Works as described in narratives and statements reveal His attributes (Deut. 3:24; Josh. 23:3; Dan. 9:14). God tells us what He is like by what He does.
v) Life of Christ is the ultimate and perfect revelation of the being of God (John 14:8-11; Acts 10:36-38; Heb. 1:1-5).
Absolute Attributes: What God is Like Apart from Creation
While God is a unity and cannot be divided up, we can benefit from considering His attributes from two distinct perspectives.
First, “absolute” attributes are possessed by God independent of any created thing; for example, God’s infinity and holiness. These transcendent attributes describe who He is, His nature, His core being as exalted, high and lifted up. Gazing upon and adoring the absolute being of God as He is from all eternity is the foundation of true worship. We want to know God as He is, exalted beyond creation. Absolute attributes describe who God is, and who God is stands as the basis for all that He does, and is the foundation for genuine union with Him. We must appreciate the infinite, the exalted God, who is complete in Himself if we are ever to enter into real relationship with this high and holy God.
Second, God’s “relational” attributes describe His interaction with the creation, what He does; for example, God’s justice or mercy. These attributes proceed from who He has always been. God’s justice toward man comes from His absolute holiness, while His mercy for sinners comes from His infinite and eternal love.
The following is an examination of God’s absolute attributes.
a) Self-existence or Independence
God’s existence does not depend on anyone or anything else (Is. 43:10-13). God is who He is whether we exist or not. God did not create the world out of need. God has no needs (Acts 17:25). He was perfect and complete in Himself before time began. Who He is and what He is like does not depend on what anyone else does.
In contrast, we came into existence through our parents. In addition, we need air, water, and food in order to sustain our existence. What we are like has been shaped by our relationships and environment. Unlike dependent humans, God is perfect and complete in Himself.
God’s self-existence gives us great confidence in Him as our source of life and purpose. As we grasp God’s self-existence we come to a deep humility (Job 42:1-6). He is God and we are not!
b) Eternalness, Infinity, or Greatness
God is beyond any limitation of time, space, or anything that can be imagined (Ps. 90:1-2; Eph. 3:20; 1 Tim. 1:17). His being cannot be measured (Ps. 145:3) or fully comprehended (Is. 40:26-28). In all that He is, God is infinite in quality – that is, He is perfect (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 50:2; Rom. 11:33). Splendor, majesty, wonder, awesomeness, glory are some of the words used to describe the perfection of God’s being.
Though He is too wonderful for human language, God is honored when we worship Him with feeble words to describe the indescribable (Ps. 35:27-28; 71:24; 145:1-7). Worship is the response of a heart humbled by the greatness of God.
He is infinite, beyond time and space, yet He dwells in the hearts of His people (Is. 57:15; Eph. 3:17). This awesome God is our refuge and resting place (Ps. 46:1). In our finite humanity, we offer ourselves to the One who is infinite (Rom. 11:33-12:2). More importantly, our great God stepped into time and space to give Himself for us (1 John 4:9). We are in union with the eternal infinite God!
c) Boundless Spirit, Immaterial and Immortal
That God is Spirit does not merely mean that He is spiritual. “God is Spirit” (John 4:24), refers to His essence as being not limited or bounded by any bodily form or containment. He fills the entire universe and extends beyond all of space and time. Yet because He is Spirit, He reaches down to permeate fully and personally the smallest nook and cranny.
He is not of the natural world, but beyond the natural world. He is immortal and immaterial (1 Tim. 6:16). There are many beings in the universe that are “spirits” –such as humans who are separated from their bodies in death, as well as angels and demons (Heb. 12:22-23). But God is pure eternal and infinite Spirit, not just a spirit.
The marvelous reality about the incarnation of the Son is that God, who is eternal Spirit and without bounds, placed himself within the limitations of human life in Jesus of Nazareth. While in the flesh Jesus could not be in two places at the same time, but needed to travel from place to place. Yet, after the Resurrection Jesus was restored to the glory He had with the father before the world began (John 17:5). Now Jesus of Nazareth fills the universe (Eph. 1:23).
Jesus now dwells in our hearts by faith and is with each of us personally to the end of the world (Eph. 3:17; Matt. 28:19-20). Full and individual union between God and man is possible because God is Spirit. Each of us can have personal individual fellowship with God.
Furthermore, Jesus is in the midst of us when we gather in His name (Matt. 18:20). Every local Church wherever and whenever it meets can enter into a vital and living experience of corporate fellowship with God (1 Cor. 12:27).
When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, He said that because God is Spirit He seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The issue of worship in spirit is our heart – not the place, nor the building, nor the form, nor the posture of our worship in the natural world. We must come to God by faith, and when we do so we will be rewarded with real contact, connection, and union with Him (Heb. 11:6).
d) Personal: Relational and Communicative
God is personal and not impersonal. One might mistakenly imagine that since God is Spirit, He is some vast impersonal force or energy only. God is not a “what” but He is a “Who.” He is someone not something. Personal means having self-conscious identity and the capability of relationship and communication with others.
Because He is personal, He possesses real emotions and compassion (Zeph. 3:17; Heb 4:15-5:2; Eph. 4:30). As a personal being, God cares and feels (Ex. 3:9). He can be pleased or displeased. In the Bible, God is described using personal terms such as Father, Shepherd, Judge, Redeemer and Helper.
God is personal – relational and communicative – within Himself. In eternity, before the creation of the world, there was perfect fellowship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This vital attribute of God, the desire for relationship, extends to the created world.
Personal relationships involve communication. God is One who speaks and listens. He desires that we listen to Him and speak to Him. Beyond communication is the capability of communion or fellowship. He wants to be with us and He wants us to be in His presence, enjoying who He is. Biblically, God is shown inviting and entering into friendship with human beings (Ps. 81:13; John 15:15; 1 John 1:3-7). Our own personal nature originated in God, as an element of the image of God. We are designed for fellowship with Him.
e) Life, Life-giving, Living
Scripture speaks of the Living God to emphasize that He truly is, that He is real and dynamic – not a mere imagination, nor an inanimate object or force. He has life in Himself and is the source of all life.
Because He is the living God, He is also Life-giving, the Creator (Jer. 10:10-13; John 11:25-26). This is part of God’s nature: He is the Uncreated One, the Living God. No one and nothing gives life to God. Everything else that lives has life from God (Ps. 36:9; Acts 17:25). All that lives is given life from Him who is Life, from God. Our natural life comes from Him, and certainly our new life comes from Him (John 3:16, 36; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:2). We will one day be resurrected from death because of Christ who is our life (Col. 3:1-4).
Jesus Christ is life (John 14:6), and just like the Father, He has life in Himself (John 1:4; 5:21-29; 10:17-18; 17:1-3). The transformed life comes from constant, abiding connection to Jesus Christ, as certainly as the branch has life only by a living attachment to the trunk, the main vine (John 15:4; 1 John 4:9; 5:11-12).
He is also living in the sense that He is active, responsive, and purposeful. He engages and interacts with His creation (Acts 14:11-18). The living God is not like the gods of the people – vain, dead, non-living, and therefore, not real (1 Thess. 1:9). In confronting pervasive idolatry, God’s messengers often contrasted lifeless idols with the living God (Jer. 10:7-10; Acts 14:15; 2 Cor. 6:16). The false gods of the heathen are viewed as empty and vain nothingness, while Israel trusted the living God (Josh. 3:10; Is. 37:4).
Men try to fill the emptiness of their hearts with all sorts of vain substitutes (1 John 5:21), when only fellowship with the God who is REAL – the living God – will satisfy (1 John 5:20; Ps. 42:2; 84:2; 1 John 1:1-3). The Living God alone is worthy of our worship (Josh. 3:10; 1 Tim. 6:13-16).
f) God is One, Unity
Throughout both testaments, the Bible presents God as one in nature, a single and indivisible divine essence (Deut 6:4-5; Mark 12:29-30; Eph. 2:18; 4:5; 1 Cor. 8:4-6; John 10:30). He is a complete and perfect unity of being. There is no God besides Him (Deut. 4:35; 2 Sam. 7:22; Is. 45:5-6).
His oneness is foundational to Truth. Truth is whatever is in accord with reality; the being of God is ultimate reality. God is in perfect accord with Himself – in perfect unity with His own being. There is therefore no conflict within the nature of God. He is one, a unity, and consistent in purpose. There are no contradictions within the being of God or within the Truth of God.
Those who live in fellowship with the one God should be unified in purpose and mind (1 Cor. 1:10-11; Phil. 2:1-4). While there are diversities of the Spirit’s operation, there is one purpose and one faith which all of us who are in Christ are to embrace and advance (Eph. 4:1-16). Believers are in union with God and are one body in Christ, contending together “as one man for the faith of the Gospel” (1 Cor. 12:27; Phil. 1:27).
g) God is Triune, Perfect Fellowship
The Scriptures reveal that God is one divine Spirit eternally manifested as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Is. 48:16; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). The profound mystery of the triune nature of God is intricately woven throughout the Scripture and will always relate to every element of divine truth.
God is one in essence or substance, but three in personality. This does not mean there are three Gods existing as one, but that there are three (and only three) co-equal and co-eternal manifestations who are interdependent, and eternally one in divine essence.
From eternity the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have enjoyed perfect love and fellowship. Within the Godhead there has always been an interchange of respect and giving of honor in love and humility. As we join in fellowship with God, this love will be reflected among us by our humility and deference toward one another.
Just as there is perfect love within the being of God, our love toward one another abounds as we together are in union with Him. In love, we value one another’s gifts, respect one another’s preferences, and honor one another’s callings (1 Cor. 12:4-11; Rom. 12:3-16; 14:5-6; 16:1-16). We hope the best for one another, caring for one another in love so that we all grow in Christ together (Eph. 4:14-16; 1 Cor. 13).
h) God is Unchangeable
Because God is eternal and self-existent, He is unchangeable – He does not grow or progress, fall back or fail (Ps. 102:24-28). God does not change (Jam. 1:17; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). His being and nature is unchangeable apart from the created world. Even after the creation, God remains steadfast in His decrees and plans, His word and His will. To understand God’s unchangeableness, it is helpful to consider what it is not.
i) Not Static. The I AM does not change, but that does not mean bland sameness. A mountain is firm and solid in its features. Yet within that mountain are places of safety, beautiful valleys, and shelters. There may also be hot lava and steep cliffs. When a man moves from place to place he may enjoy safety or face peril. The mountain has not changed. The man has changed his position in relation to the firm features of the mountain.
God is unchangeable, but when men change in relation to Him they may experience a different aspect of the perfect nature of God. For example, God’s wrath against sin is unchanging, but when men are forgiven by the grace of God, they are no longer under wrath, but they are recipients of God’s unfailing kindness and love (Isa. 54:8; Rom. 2:2-10).
ii) Not Stoic. Unchangeableness does not mean that He is stoic or unemotional. He is not such a rock as to be impersonal or unmoved by our difficulties (Judg. 2:18; Ps. 145:8-9; Heb. 4:15). He is not emotionless (Zeph. 3:17). In fact, because of His unfailing love, He changes created things. He provides redemption, though not arbitrarily. It is always in accord with His character and plan that He redeems and delivers and forgives – because His merciful love endures forever (Ps. 136).
God responds to prayers of faith and intercession. It is not that prayers change God. In fact, God only answers prayers that are in accord with His unchanging will (1 John 5:14-15). Likewise, because of His unchanging nature God judges sin and sinful nations. Yet as men pray and turn from sin, God will turn from His wrath because of His unchanging nature (Ezek. 22:29-31; Is. 59:16; Jer. 18 cf. Jonah). When we pray, we change our position in relation to God, moving away from our self-will and our own abilities, so we can receive the goodness of God (John 3:36; Rom. 8:32).
iii) Not Stagnant. God is not like a pool of motionless water, full of algae and rotting plants. He is alive and moving, working to accomplish that eternal plan which He has for His creation. The progressive unfolding of God’s eternal plan does not indicate a change in God, but it is simply His changeless purpose being carried forward in relation to a changeable creation.
Divine changelessness is not immobility. Constant activity and perfect freedom are fully consistent with God’s unchanging nature, as He accomplishes His sovereign plan.
Common Errors
1. “God is like man.”
In fact, God is not a man and not at all like man (Num. 23:19). It is a mistake to try to picture God in the image of man (Rom. 1:22-23). Rather, it is man who is created in the image of God; so man is a little bit like God. Since God is Spirit, He is not limited to any shape or body. Furthermore, the perfections of God are far beyond any aspect of human nature or potential.
Although human terms are used to describe God, it is only to help us understand. For example, Scripture speaks of the hand of God, the face of God, His right arm, and the eyes of the Lord; yet God does not possess bodily form like a human. These figures of speech are used to express the “other-than-ness” of God in language we can grasp.
God often appeared in the Old Testament as a man, not because He is a man, but in order to relate to men. While God is not like corruptible man, He shows us through the perfect humanity of Jesus Christ what He is like (Heb. 1:3; John 14:9).
The Son of God became a man so that He could die for man’s sins. Now the risen Christ is exalted and rules the universe (Phil. 2:9-11; Matt. 28:20). He is omnipresent since He dwells in our hearts (Eph. 3:17) and He is present wherever two or three are gathered in His name (Matt. 18:20). Jesus said that He would be with us. Not just a part of Him, but Jesus Himself is with us.
2. “We can never understand God since His being is so far beyond our limited intelligence.”
God is eternal and far beyond being fathomed by man’s finite mind. On one hand, God is incomprehensible and can never be fully understood and known. Yet He makes Himself known so that we can have a limited knowledge of His nature and being. Scripture insists that we should seek to know His attributes (Ps. 89:1) and His deeds (Ps. 105:1-2; 145:9-12), and that we should come to know Him personally in a deepening relationship (Acts 17:27; Phil. 3:10). To the extent that God graciously reveals Himself to us we can know Him!
3. “Knowing about God is empty and distracts from knowing God.”
In pursuing a personal relationship with Jesus, we must never neglect the Scriptures as the source of truth about who Jesus is. There is definite knowable truth about God from His Word and as we hold to His teaching we will be His disciples, in a genuine relationship with Him (John 8:31-36). The Son of God has come to give us understanding “so that we may know Him who is true” (1 John 5:20).
Further, this error demands an unnecessary choice between knowing God and knowing about God, as if these were in conflict. The purpose of divine revelation is to experience God, but He must be worshiped in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Knowing about God is vital to experiential knowledge of God (Acts 8:29-31; 11:13-14; Rom. 10:8-14; 2 John 1:9).
If we are to truly experience Him we will know about Him from the revelation that He gives us of Himself in the Scriptures. Knowing the scriptural revelation of the nature and attributes of God helps ensure that our experience is with the True God, and not a false deity of our own imagination or an inferior idolatrous concept.
4. “Knowing about God is all that matters.”
This approach erroneously holds that careful scholarly research and mere academic study of the Scriptures provides sufficient knowledge of God, like reading cookbooks but never eating a delicious meal. Satisfaction with mere knowledge about God is prideful, self-assured religious emptiness and leaves no place for a living relationship with Jesus.
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who were diligent in searching the Scriptures but did not truly know Him (John 5:37-40; Mark 12:45). The revelation of Scripture must be received by faith as the word of God (1 Thess. 1:13) or it will be a dead letter and empty words. A true grasp of the Word of God will bring us to a living relationship with the Son of God (John 17:3). We want to know about God so we can know Him. Therefore, we rely on the living Lord to open our hearts to the Scripture (Luke 24:32; 45-47).
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth as we study the Scriptures prayerfully and reverently (Ps. 25:4-5, 14; 119:18; John 16:13). Scholarly research and study is life-giving when it is for the purpose of knowing Him and helping others know Him. We study biblical truth to grow in our relationship with God and be transformed into His likeness. Our experience of God flows out of the truth of God; and greater understanding of the truth flows out of our experience of God.
Connecting Points to the 5Cs
1. (Christ) The attributes of God inspire us to pour out our hearts to Him in true worship and deep prayer (Ps. 62:7-8; John 4:24).
2. (Christ) A leader who understands the attributes of God will have a balance of the fear of the Lord and fervent love of the Lord (Ps. 85; Deut. 6:4-6; 10:12).
3. (Community) Love your children (both biological and spiritual) by impressing on them His glory as the source of His loving commands (Deut. 6:7-9).
4. (Community) Care for the needy and lowly in imitation of God who, while He is high and lifted up, shows compassion to us (Ps. 113).
5. (Character) We increasingly trust in the Lord when we see Him as Almighty (Ps. 84:12).
6. (Character) Do not fear in the midst of trouble because of the greatness of our ever-present God (Ps. 46:1-3).
7. (Character) As we see more clearly God’s infinity and eternity, we will be humbled and more deeply submit to His purposes seeking to bring Him glory (Rom. 12:1-2).
8. (Calling) In your calling to set the captives free, be assured that the Almighty Sovereign God will drive out the dark forces that oppress and torment His people (Deut. 7:21-22; 33:27).
9. (Competency) Know key attributes of God with Scriptures that show them. Apply the attributes of God in your ministry to people, always pointing them to the fullest description of God as found in the Bible.
Connecting Points to the 4Ds
Spiritual: Meditate on Psalm 85, considering the folly of turning away from the One who in perfect righteousness and faithfulness to His holy character extends mercy, love and peace to us who deserve His wrath.
Relational: Discuss with a mature believer personal experiences in discovering various attributes of God in especially meaningful ways. For example, ponder together how has God’s immutability come to light in your experiences?
Experiential: Consider three of God’s attributes and note how you have experienced them in the last two weeks.
Experiential: Serve the poor at a local homeless shelter or food pantry. Commit to doing so for a period of time.
Instructional: Write down on sticky notes as many attributes of God as you can think of. Which ones describe the same attributes with different words? Which are complementary pairs? Organize the attributes on a wall in a logical system.
Instructional: Memorize a passage of Scripture relative to God’s:
1. Self-existence
2. Infinity
3. Spirit nature
4. Personality
5. Life
6. Unity
7. Triunity
8. Unchangeableness
Essential Truths (Conclusion)
1. We serve a mighty God who fills the universe, yet dwells within the hearts of finite beings. Though He is exalted above the heavens, He humbles Himself to care for the weak and lowly (Is. 57:15; 2 Chron. 6:18-20; Ps. 113:5-6).
2. While the being of God is vast and unsearchable, He yearns for us to come to know Him.
3. The high and holy God makes Himself known through showing kindness and mercy to the lowly (Rom. 9:22-24; Eph. 2:4-7; 3:7-11). Those who have received such goodness should be a display of God’s greatness by showing mercy and kindness to others in need (Jam. 1:17-27).
