We have defined what an attribute is. We have also stated that the attributes of God are equally owned by Father, Son and Holy Spirit—the Trinity. This week, we will look at two additional aspects that are important to understand and be aware of, before we move on to the specific attributes of God.
First, God is incomprehensible. We could easily have spoken about this one before we looked at the Trinity last week; it is a truly incomprehensible subject that we attempt to understand, but eventually must accept simply on faith. The sum total of God is far outside of our earthly, human ability to fully understand. Even when enlightened by the Holy Spirit, in His Sovereignty, God has chosen to not reveal all that He is. God’s Word helps us accept this with verses like Deuteronomy 29:29, which says that the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things are for us, and 1 Corinthians 13:12, which says that now we see dimly and know in part, but then, when with God in eternity, we shall see face to face and shall fully know. With as much as we can learn and know, we cannot learn and know everything.
Second, the attributes God possesses are not intermittent; they are constant. God is always both who and what He says He is. In Malachi 3:6 the Lord says, “I do not change.” Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.“ And, James 1:17 says that there is “no variation or shadow due to change” with our God. Unlike us, God is always wholly both who and what He says He is. For example, God is love (1 John 4:16); therefore God is always love. His love does not come and go, nor does it burn hot one day and grow cold the next one. God is love. Another example: God is good (Psalm 100:5); He is not only good when I see Him as good. He is not sometimes good and sometimes not. God is good. We will discuss this more with the attribute of immutability—God does not change.
Go Deeper:
Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand God’s revealed things.
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)