A brief study of the Attributes of God

1. A brief study of the Attributes of God The Holy One

2. Some Definitions . . . “Spirit” = Incorporeal and personal Incommunicable – Those Characteristics of God that are unique to Him. Communicable – Those Characteristics of God that are reflected in his creatures. Transcendence – God is completely separate from all creation Immanence – God is fully present and involved in all creation

4. Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter II • Paragraph 1 • There is but one only living and true God, • who is infinite in being and perfection, • a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his won glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments; hating all sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty.

5. Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter II • Paragraph 2 • God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; he is the alone foundation of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.

6. Larger Catechism #7 God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

7. Holiness ” Holiness, then is the characteristic of God that sets him apart from his creation. In this, holiness has at least four elements: Majesty which links holiness to sovereignty Personal Will - God is not indifferent to how He is regarded – he wills and acts to see his glory is recognized. Wrath– not the human emotional reaction – but the necessary and proper stance of the holy God to all who oppose him. Righteousness. What God wills is right –its ethical sense. The right is what God is and reveals to us.

8. “This may be said to be a transcendental attribute, that, as it were, runs through the rest, and casts luster upon them. It is an attribute of attributes.(J. Howe, 1670) “As it seems to challenge an excellency above all His other perfections, so it is the glory of all the rest: as it is the glory of the Godhead, so it is the glory of every perfection in the Godhead; as His power is the strength of them, so His holiness is the beauty of them . . “ Pink

9. Justice - Righteousness Justice flows out of holiness, refers to the fact that God establishes standards for His moral creatures that are in accord with his intrinsic righteousness and He judges His moral creatures by their conformity to these righteous standards. God conforms in word, in thought, and action to the moral law that makes up his very nature.

10. Justice - Righteousness When God acts, he acts in a right way, righteous way. Righteousness refers to the quality of God in action, as it were, always expressing what is true of His intrinsic moral nature.

12. Goodness “The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people. That God is good is taught or implied on every page of the Bible and must be received as an article of faith as impregnable as the throne of God.”

14. Faithfulness

15. “The greatness of God rouses fear within us, but His goodness encourages us not to be afraid of Him. To fear and not be afraid - that is the paradox of faith.”