5 Amazing Attributes of God
It’s impossible for us to fully grasp and understand who and what God is. But with some help from Bible study tools online I’d like to pick out 5 amazing attributes of God, what they mean, and why they matter. But please remember that this list does not cover all the astonishing attributes of our loving father!
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Attribute #1: God is Infinite; God is Without Origin and is Self-Existent
In my opinion, one of the hardest attributes of God to comprehend is that He came from nothing and has existed forever. This fact is absolutely mind blowing, and trying to understand it is like an infant trying to build a spaceship to fly to Jupiter. Impossible.
Exodus 3:15 - 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord,[a] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’“This is my name forever,the name you shall call mefrom generation to generation." (NIV) John 5:26 - 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. (NIV)
Attribute #2: God is Self-Sufficient; God Has No Needs
Since God is self-sufficient, we can always go to Him for our needs. We never have to worry about His peace, mercy, grace, love, goodness, patience, etc… “drying up.” On the contrary, we as humans have incredible needs which, if left unfulfilled, would lead to death. Thankfully, we can trust God’s Self-Sufficient attribute to provide everything for us.
Ephesians 3:20 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, (NIV)
Attribute # 3: God is Omnipotent; He is All Powerful
If we break down the word Omnipotent, Omni means all and potent means powerful. Scripture is very clear that God is mighty and strong, and nothing is too much for Him. But we have to remember that God can’t do anything that is contrary to His very nature. A great example of that is found in Hebrews 6:18;
Hebrews 6:18 - 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. (NIV) Jeremiah 32:17 - 17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. (NIV)
Attribute #4: God is Omniscient; He is All Knowing
It’s comforting to know that God is all-knowing because we can trust that God has our best interest in mind. He can see the whole picture. A.W. Tozer sums up God’s Omniscient nicely in the below quote;
“God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that He knows all that can be known. And this He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn.” Isaiah 46:9-109 Remember the former things, those of long ago;I am God, and there is no other;I am God, and there is none like me.10 I make known the end from the beginning,from ancient times, what is still to come.I say, ‘My purpose will stand,and I will do all that I please.’ (NIV)
Attribute #5: God is Omnipresent; He is Everywhere, Always
The fullness of God’s presence is all around us (Psalm 137). What’s even harder to fathom is that right now God is in the past and in the future. This should bring comfort to Christians who struggle with loneliness and sorrow. God is always near us in a very real way at all times.
Jeremiah 23:23-24 23 “Am I only a God nearby,”declares the Lord,“and not a God far away?24 Who can hide in secret placesso that I cannot see them?”declares the Lord.“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”declares the Lord. (NIV)
Obviously, there are a vast number of attributes that God possesses (i.e. God is Wise, Faithful, Good, Just, Merciful, Gracious, Loving, Holy, Glorious, Immutable, etc.), but unfortunately, we can’t cover them all here. Which attribute of God’s is your favorite? Is there one you hadn’t thought of before this post? Comment below and let us know how this post spoke to you today.