This session, "The Attributes of God Part 2," is the eighth installment in a series exploring Christian doctrine guided by the congregation's statement of faith, with an anchor text from 1 Timothy 4:16. It continues the discussion on the attributes of God, emphasizing that doctrine is a "warm and living and vital and absolutely necessary" part of the Christian walk. The study of God's attributes precedes discussions of the individual persons of the Trinity to underscore that each attribute applies equally to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with no one member possessing them in greater or lesser measure.
Following a review of God as living, personal, spirit, eternal, immutable, and unified, this session delves into God's perfections, defined as those attributes by which God is completely self-sufficient, lacking nothing needed for His will or character. These perfections include:
1. Omnipresence:
◦ Immensity: God is not limited or confined by the universe; rather, the universe exists within Him. Solomon's prayer noted that "the heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain thee".
◦ Constant Presence: God transcends all spatial limitations and is present at every point in space with His whole being, all the time. All things are "naked and open to the eyes of him" (Hebrews 4:13). This means God observes every thought and action, even in the most private moments.
◦ Implications: This truth should inspire "desperate holy terror" and fundamentally transform our conduct, thoughts, and relationships. God's presence in hell is not an absence of being, but an absence of blessing and communication, sustaining existence in punishment.
2. Omniscience: God knows all things—actual, past, present, future, and possible—in one simple, eternal act.
◦ Inherent Knowledge: God's knowledge is immediate, simultaneous, distinct, true, and eternal. He does not learn or acquire knowledge through reasoning, thought, or experience. He is "perfect in knowledge" (Job 37:16).
◦ Fornowledge: He "declares the end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10). All future events are as vivid to Him as the present.
◦ Knowledge of Possibles: God knows what could have happened but didn't (e.g., David escaping Keilah, Sodom's repentance).
◦ Understanding and Wisdom: Omniscience encompasses not only factual knowledge but also infinite understanding of the underlying processes, causes, and effects, and perfect wisdom to always choose the best means to achieve His purposes.
3. Omnipotence: The extent of God's power.
◦ Inexhaustible Power: God is mighty in creation, providence, redemption, the life of the believer, and the future. His power is comprehensively and exhaustively eternal, never diminishing or needing replenishment.
◦ Not Limited by Actions: God is not limited to only what He has already done.
◦ Derived Power: All power in the universe, including man's free will, is ultimately derived from God.
◦ Character-Bound Power: God's power is not whimsical or arbitrary like pagan deities; it is inextricably linked to His holy, truthful, and loving nature. This means there are things God cannot do (e.g., lie, sin, change, deny Himself), but these are logical contradictions, not limitations of His power. He can nullify the effects of past events and choose to disregard the memory of sin.
4. Sovereignty: God's complete lordship, ownership, and power over all things.
◦ He is the possessor of heaven and earth, rules over all kingdoms (even godless ones), and does whatever He pleases.
◦ His kingdom is everlasting.
◦ His providence encompasses all things, and He foreordains His purposes.
Understanding these attributes profoundly impacts a believer's life:
• Behavior: The omnipresence of God means no part of our life is truly private from Him, demanding holiness in all aspects, even our thoughts.
• Faith: God's power and knowledge mean true faith rests in His will and ability, not in "magic formulas" to achieve personal desires.
• Submission: God's sovereignty means our lives are not our own; we are stewards of the power given to us. This understanding should bring peace amidst troubles (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 54:17) and lead to unreserved righteousness.
• Folly of Opposition: To oppose God in any way—through selfishness, self-seeking, or masked rebellion—is "utter folly" and "complete madness," leading to disastrous judgment, as there is "no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord" (Proverbs 21:30).
Our response to such a God should be to pursue righteousness, knowing it "tends to life".