THE CHARACTER OF GOD

THE CHARACTER OF GOD

Brian G Huggett

The creation of all that is material and spiritual, and the inviolable laws that govern the universe and human existence, are an expression of God’s character.  The heavens and the earth exist because of who he is.  They have been created by him and for him, and are a material demonstration of his being; for they allow his thinking and his will to be made known.  Left to himself, finite man is not able to grasp this fact but God has given us his word so that we might believe and know and rejoice in his greatness. 

The natural laws allow for the continuity of life on the earth, for without the law of gravity there would be no atmosphere, no rain, no food and nothing to keep us from floating off into space.  Gravity is a provision from God that allows us to exist. 

His moral and spiritual laws are designed to promote harmony between men and fellowship with God.  If God’s laws are defied then destruction follows, as one would discover if one jumped off a cliff.  Moral law is just as inviolable, and if it is defied, a man will destroy his peace of mind and well-being.  If a society does so, it will inevitably crumble into anarchy and destruction. 

These moral laws are the embodiment of righteousness, justice and love.  These three, righteousness, justice and love are aspects of God’s character and in God are absolute or complete.  Though mankind has been made in God’s image, it is in image only and in man these characteristics are only partial.  They can be expressed in a limited way however when we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds and souls and love our neighbour as ourselves.  If men obey these laws their society will have freedom and peace, therefore it is important to know the character of God, for our very existence and the quality of that existence is totally dependant on knowledge of him and obedience to the way he thinks. 

In the Scriptures, God’s character is seen to include the attributes of: - Sovereignty, Veracity, Immutability, Love, Justice, Righteousness, Eternal Life, Omniscience, Omnipotence and Omnipresence.  The easiest way to explain God’s character is to allow scripture to do it for you.

Sovereignty (dominion, control or rule) is seen in such passages as: - “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1; “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” Deuteronomy 10:14; “I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm…” Jeremiah 27:5

Veracity (truth) in: - “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.” Deuteronomy 32:4; “All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.”  Psalm 25:10; “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” Psalm 31:5

Immutability (unchanging) is exemplified in Psalm 102:25-27, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”  See also Numbers 23:9; Malachi 3:6; Romans 11:9; James 1:17.

Love in John 3:16 is an amazing love, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  This is possible “…for God is love.” 1 John 4:8

Justice is spoken of in Job 37:23; Isaiah 45:21; Psalm 36:6, and is revealed wherever God’s wrath or vengeance is declared, as in Psalm 94:1-2 “O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself.  Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud” and in Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Righteousness is comprehensively revealed in Deuteronomy 32:4, “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.” and in Psalm 97:2 “Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.” see also Hebrews 1:8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”

Eternal Life is found in Psalm 90:1-2, “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” and in Isaiah 57:15b “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,” see also Romans 1:20; 1 Timothy1:17.

Omniscience (absolute knowledge) is attributed to God in Job 37:16. “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?” and on into chapters 38 - 41 to Job’s answer in 42:2, “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” verified by the psalmist in Psalms 104:24, 147:5.

Omnipotence (absolute power) is an integral part of Genesis 1:1; it is seen in Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”  and it is proven in Ephesians 1:19-20.

Omnipresence (universal presence) is found in 2 Chronicles 2:6b “But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him?” in Isaiah 66:1b “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:” and intimated in Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”