Quotations
It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself. —John Calvin
This is eternal life, that we may know the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, in the power and by the grace of the Holy Spirit. In his presence is life and joy forevermore, not simply for us, but for others beyond, for those yet to believe and for those not yet born, for generations to come and beyond that for eternity.
—Robert Letham
Lecture Outline
I. The Importance of a Right Understanding of God
A. It has been said that what comes into a person’s mind when he or she thinks about
God is the most important thing about him or her.
i. High views of God lead to high and holy living, worship, evangelism, and
service.
ii. Low views of God lead to a low and base way of interacting with God, self,
and others.
B. This teaching series will seek to promote a high view of God by examining fifteen
of God’s attributes.
i. By gaining an accurate understanding of who God is, Christians become
better equipped to understand themselves and the world around them.
ii. Because every area of one’s life and worldview is influenced by one’s
understanding of God, it is essential to understand His defining attributes.
C. An attribute refers to a quality or characteristic that belongs to a person.
i. God’s attributes define and describe who God is.
ii. Although we cannot understand the full depth of God’s character, this
teaching series will explore some of the main characteristics of God that
are mentioned in Scripture.
II. God’s Distinct Attributes: An Overview
a. God is self-existent (a se): He has life in Himself and depends on no one.
b. God is spiritual: He does not have a material body and is transcendent.
c. God is sovereign: He rules over all things with absolute control.
d. God is holy: He is pure, blameless, and flawless in all of His being.
e. God is omnipresent: He is boundless, present in all places at once.
f. God is omniscient: He knows all things.
g. God is omnipotent: He is all-powerful.
h. God is immutable: He never changes.
i. God is truthful: He speaks accurately and authoritatively.
j. God is wise: He enacts His perfect will by the highest ends and means.
k. God is good: He deals bounteously with His creatures.
l. God is gracious: He freely bestows salvation on undeserving sinners.
m. God is loving: He demonstrates selfless love for His children.
n. God is foreknowing: He has known and loved His people from eternity.
o. God is righteous in wrath: He loves purity and punishes impurity.
III. Divine Attributes in Proper Perspective
a. Some of God’s attributes are called “incommunicable attributes,” and others are
called “communicable attributes.”
i. God’s incommunicable attributes, such as immutability and omniscience,
belong to Him alone.
ii. God’s communicable attributes, such as love and wisdom, find their fullest
expression in Him but can also be displayed on a smaller scale by His
human image-bearers.
b. God’s attributes are not independent of one another but are interconnected.
i. These divine attributes are present in the entire Godhead; they are possessed
by all three persons of the Trinity.
ii. Each of these attributes has always belonged to God and will always
belong to Him.
1. God neither gains nor loses attributes.
2. Those who claim that God is different in the Old and New Testaments
misunderstand the nature of divine attributes.
iii. Each attribute characterizes every other attribute.
1. Complex beings have separate, identifiable parts, but simple beings do
not.
2. Because God is a simple being, it is impossible to divide Him into parts,
so as to separate His goodness from His wisdom or His wrath.
3. Instead, each attribute describes the others; for example, God’s holiness
is immutable, omnipotent, and eternal.
c. God’s attributes have crucial implications for our day-to-day lives.
i. This is not a purely academic or intellectual subject.
ii. Rather, an accurate understanding of God is foundational if we desire to
know Him, serve Him, and become like Him.
iii. Only when we know God can we truly worship Him.
iv. Knowledge of God keeps us anchored as we minister in His name and
proclaim His truth to others.
It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself. —John Calvin
This is eternal life, that we may know the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, in the power and by the grace of the Holy Spirit. In his presence is life and joy forevermore, not simply for us, but for others beyond, for those yet to believe and for those not yet born, for generations to come and beyond that for eternity.
—Robert Letham
Lecture Outline
I. The Importance of a Right Understanding of God
A. It has been said that what comes into a person’s mind when he or she thinks about
God is the most important thing about him or her.
i. High views of God lead to high and holy living, worship, evangelism, and
service.
ii. Low views of God lead to a low and base way of interacting with God, self,
and others.
B. This teaching series will seek to promote a high view of God by examining fifteen
of God’s attributes.
i. By gaining an accurate understanding of who God is, Christians become
better equipped to understand themselves and the world around them.
ii. Because every area of one’s life and worldview is influenced by one’s
understanding of God, it is essential to understand His defining attributes.
C. An attribute refers to a quality or characteristic that belongs to a person.
i. God’s attributes define and describe who God is.
ii. Although we cannot understand the full depth of God’s character, this
teaching series will explore some of the main characteristics of God that
are mentioned in Scripture.
II. God’s Distinct Attributes: An Overview
a. God is self-existent (a se): He has life in Himself and depends on no one.
b. God is spiritual: He does not have a material body and is transcendent.
c. God is sovereign: He rules over all things with absolute control.
d. God is holy: He is pure, blameless, and flawless in all of His being.
e. God is omnipresent: He is boundless, present in all places at once.
f. God is omniscient: He knows all things.
g. God is omnipotent: He is all-powerful.
h. God is immutable: He never changes.
i. God is truthful: He speaks accurately and authoritatively.
j. God is wise: He enacts His perfect will by the highest ends and means.
k. God is good: He deals bounteously with His creatures.
l. God is gracious: He freely bestows salvation on undeserving sinners.
m. God is loving: He demonstrates selfless love for His children.
n. God is foreknowing: He has known and loved His people from eternity.
o. God is righteous in wrath: He loves purity and punishes impurity.
III. Divine Attributes in Proper Perspective
a. Some of God’s attributes are called “incommunicable attributes,” and others are
called “communicable attributes.”
i. God’s incommunicable attributes, such as immutability and omniscience,
belong to Him alone.
ii. God’s communicable attributes, such as love and wisdom, find their fullest
expression in Him but can also be displayed on a smaller scale by His
human image-bearers.
b. God’s attributes are not independent of one another but are interconnected.
i. These divine attributes are present in the entire Godhead; they are possessed
by all three persons of the Trinity.
ii. Each of these attributes has always belonged to God and will always
belong to Him.
1. God neither gains nor loses attributes.
2. Those who claim that God is different in the Old and New Testaments
misunderstand the nature of divine attributes.
iii. Each attribute characterizes every other attribute.
1. Complex beings have separate, identifiable parts, but simple beings do
not.
2. Because God is a simple being, it is impossible to divide Him into parts,
so as to separate His goodness from His wisdom or His wrath.
3. Instead, each attribute describes the others; for example, God’s holiness
is immutable, omnipotent, and eternal.
c. God’s attributes have crucial implications for our day-to-day lives.
i. This is not a purely academic or intellectual subject.
ii. Rather, an accurate understanding of God is foundational if we desire to
know Him, serve Him, and become like Him.
iii. Only when we know God can we truly worship Him.
iv. Knowledge of God keeps us anchored as we minister in His name and
proclaim His truth to others.