Attributes of God The Meaning

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. So says A.W. Tozer in
his classic book on the attributes of God, The Knowledge of the Holy. Why would he make such an extreme
pronouncement? Tozer goes on to say, Mans spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever
been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God.
In our hearts we know the above is true. It is not enough to follow god. That word has come to mean so many
different things today that it actually means very little. If we just make up our own minds concerning what He is
like, then we are just creating an idol in our heads.
Attributes of God The Basis
Jesus came to reveal the God of the Bible. And God has revealed Himself in His book. Any deviation from that
insight from Him is a made-up god. Tozer in Knowledge of the Holy finds 18 characteristics of God in the Bible.
They are repeated here, although not in the same order. Tozers definitions, when used, will appear in quotes.
The Bible says to praise God for who He is, especially in prayer. Much of Psalms is a good example of this. Most
people concentrate their praise in just a few areas, such as Gods love, and then spend the rest of their prayers asking
Him for things. (So that you can remember all of the attributes of God they are presented in the order of this
acronym: WISH TO FLOSS JIM EGGO.)
Attributes of God The Characteristics
Wisdom: Wisdom is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve these ends by the most perfect means. In
other words, God makes no mistakes. He is the Father who truly knows best, as Paul explains in Romans 11:33:
Oh, how great are Gods riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His
decisions and His ways!
Infinitude: God knows no boundaries. He is without measure. This attribute by definition impacts all of the others.
Since God is infinite, everything else about Him must also be infinite.
Sovereignty: This is the attribute by which He rules His entire creation. It is the application of His other attributes
of being all-knowing and all-powerful. It makes Him absolutely free to do what He knows to be best. God is in
control of everything that happens. Man still has a free will, and is responsible for his choices in life.
Holiness: This is the attribute that sets God apart from all created beings. It refers to His majesty and His perfect
moral purity. There is absolutely no sin or evil thought in God at all. His holiness is the definition of that which is
pure and righteous in all the universe. Wherever God has appeared, such as to Moses at the burning bush, that place
becomes holy just for God having been there.
Trinity: Though the actual word is not used in the Bible, the truth of God revealing Himself in three persons is
included. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all called God, given worship as God, exist eternally, and are
involved in doing things only God could do. Although, God reveals Himself in three persons, God is One and cannot
be divided. All are involved completely whenever One of the Three is active.
Omniscience: God possesses perfect knowledge and therefore has no need to learn. God has never learned and
cannot learn. Omniscience means all-knowing. God knows everything, and His knowledge is infinite. It is
impossible to hide anything from God.
Faithfulness: Everything that God has promised will come to pass. His faithfulness guarantees this fact. He does not
lie. What He has said in the Bible about Himself is true. Jesus even said that He is the Truth. This is extremely
important for the followers of Jesus because it is on His faithfulness that our hope of eternal life rests. He will honor
His promise that our sins will be forgiven and that we will live forever with Him.
Attributes of God A Continuing Study
Love: Love is such an important part of Gods character that the apostle John wrote, God is love. This means that
God holds the well-being of others as His primary concern. For a full definition of love, read 1 Corinthians 13. To

see love in action, study the life of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of others is the ultimate act of love.
Gods love is not a love of emotion but of action. His love gives freely to the object of its affection, those who
choose to follow His son Jesus.
Omnipotence: Literally this word means all-powerful. Since God is infinite and since He possesses power, He
possesses infinite power. He does allow His creatures to have some power, but this in no way diminishes His own.
He expends no energy that must be replenished. When the Bible says God rested on the seventh day, it was to set
an example for us and our need for rest, not because He was tired.
Self-existence: When Moses asked who he was talking to in the burning bush, God said, I AM THE ONE WHO
ALWAYS IS. God has no beginning or end. He just exists. Nothing else in all the universe is self-caused. Only
God. In fact, if anything else had created Him, that thing would be God. This is a difficult concept for our minds
since everything else we will ever encounter comes from something other than itself. The Bible says, In the
beginning, God. He was already there.
Self-sufficiency: The Bible says that God has life in Himself (see John 5:26). All other life in the universe is a gift
from God. He has no needs and there is no way He can improve. To God, nothing else is necessary. He does not
need our help with anything, but because of His grace and love, He allows us to be a part of advancing His plan on
earth and being a blessing to others. We are the ones who change, but never God. He is self-sufficient.
Justice: The Bible says that God is just, but it is His character that defines what being just really is. He does not
conform to some outside criteria. Being just brings moral equity to everyone. When there are evil acts, justice
demands there be a penalty. Since God is perfect and has never done evil, no penalty would ever be necessary;
however, because of His love, God paid the penalty for our evil deeds by going to the cross Himself. His justice
needed to be satisfied, but He took care of it for all who will believe in Jesus.
Immutability: This simply means that God never changes. It is why the Bible says, Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
Mercy: Mercy is the attribute of God which disposes Him to be actively compassionate. Since Gods justice is
satisfied in Jesus, He is free to show mercy to all those who have chosen to follow Him. It will never end since it is a
part of Gods nature. Mercy is the way He desires to relate to mankind, and He does so unless the person chooses to
despise or ignore God at which time His justice becomes the prominent attribute.
Eternal: In some ways, this fact about God is similar to His self-existence. God always has been and will forever
be, because God dwells in eternity. Time is His creation. It is why God can see the end from the beginning, and why
He is never surprised by anything. If He were not eternal, Gods promise of eternal life for those who follow Jesus
would have little value.
Goodness: The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will
toward men. This attribute of God is why He bestows all the blessing He does on His followers. Gods actions
define what goodness is, and we can easily see it in the way Jesus related to the people around Him.
Gracious: God enjoys giving great gifts to those who love Him, even when they do not deserve it. Grace is the way
we describe that inclination. Jesus Christ is the channel through which His grace moves. The Bible says, The law
was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Omnipresence: This theological term means always present. Since God is infinite, His being knows no
boundaries. So, clearly He is everywhere. This truth is taught throughout the Bible as the phrase I am with you
always is repeated 22 times in both the Old and New Testaments. These were even Jesus words of assurance just
after giving the challenge to His disciples to take His message to the entire world. This is certainly a comforting
truth for all who follow Jesus.
Attributes of God The Conclusion
This is the description of the God of the Bible. All other ideas about God are, according to the Bible, false gods.

They are from the imagination of mankind. By learning the attributes of God, you may praise God for who He really
is and for how each of His attributes impacts your life in a positive way.

Section Six: The Attributes of God

Key/Memory Verse: Jeremiah 32:17 NAS
"'Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou has made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by
Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee!'"

Introduction
"What we believe about God", said the late A.W. Tozer, "is the most important thing about us."
Our belief or lack of it inevitably translates itself into our actions and attitudes.
The Word "God" is one of the most widely used - but vague and undefined - terms in our
language. Some people, such as Einstein, think of God as "a pure mathematical mind." Others
see Him as a shadowy superhuman person or force. Still others see God as a ball of fire to which
we, as sparks of life, will ultimately be reunited - or as a celestial policeman. A few think of Him
as a sentimental grandfather of the sky. (Paul Little, Know What You Believe, Victor Books, p.
25, 26)
This study sheet will present a Biblical answer to the questions, "What is God like?"
We will be looking at God's attributes. An attribute is "an essential characteristic of a person or
thing", thus we will look at some of the essential characteristics of God.
I.

Attributes Unique To God Alone (sometimes referred to as "incommunicable" or

"non-moral" attributes) no other created being or Spirit has these characteristics!
A. God Is Eternal - (Read Psalm 90:2; 102:12)
There has never been a time when God did not exist. He never had a beginning
and will never have an end.
Being eternal, God is not bound by time. Having always existed, He sees the past
and the future as clearly as the present. With this perspective, He has a better
understanding as to what is best for our lives. Knowing this, we should be willing
to trust Him with our lives. (Proverbs 3:5; 6)
B. God Is Everywhere - (sometimes referred to as "omnipresent")
Read Psalm 139:7, 8; Jeremiah 23:23, 24
It is impossible to hide from Him or to escape from Him - God is personally
present everywhere through all time and space. He is not like a substance spread

out in a thin layer all over the earth - all of Him is in Sierra Madre, in Calcutta,
Rome, Buenos Aires, and Tokyo at one and the same time.
If God is everywhere, it is foolish to think we can hide from Him. In the Old
Testament, Jonah tried to run from God, but he ended up as fish bait. On the other
hand, it also means that today a believer may experience the presence of God at
all times and know the blessings of walking with Him in a most vivid way.
C. God Knows All - (sometimes referred to as "omniscience"). Read 1 Chronicles
28:9; Psalm 139:2
There is nothing that God does not know. This includes not only all raw facts, but
also opinions and thoughts. He knows the future, as well as the past and present.
"How unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us
completely. No tale bearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation
stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash
us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our character can come to
light to turn God away from us, since He know us utterly before we knew Him
and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us."
Isn't it incredible that God loves us even though He knows us ... really knows us!
Knowing all about us He still forgave all our sins and accept us into His family
forever!
D. God Is Powerful - (sometimes referred to as "omnipotence") Read Isaiah 42:5
God's power is unlimited. He can do any thing He pleases, but what He pleases
will always be in perfect harmony with His character.
Because God is all powerful the believer is kept secure and assured of God's
ability to fulfill His promises.
Read John 10:28, 29. Can anyone overcome God's ability to keep you in His
flock?
"...no one shall snatch them out of My hand... the Father's hand. (John 10:28-29)
E. God Is Unchanging (immutable) - Read Psalm 33:11; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8
God never changes!
As time passes, everything seems to change, mountains, deserts, people ... you!
Your likes, dislikes, views, thinking, perhaps even your personality; however,
God NEVER changes. NEVER!
What peace it brings to the Christian's heart to realize that our Heavenly Father
never differs from Himself. In coming to Him at any time, we need not wonder
whether we shall find Him in a receptive mood. He is always receptive to misery

and need, as well as to love and: faith. He does not keep office hours nor set aside
periods when He will see no one. Neither does He change His mind about
anything. Today, this moment, He feels toward His creature, toward babies,
toward the sick, the fallen, the sinful, exactly as He did when He sent His onlybegotten Son into the world to die for mankind.
God never changes moods or cools off in His affections or loses enthusiasm. His
attitude toward sin is now the same as it was when He drove out the sinful man
from the eastward garden, and His attitude toward the sinner the same as when He
stretched forth His hands and cried, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavyladen, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
God will not compromise and He need not be coaxed. He cannot be persuaded to
alter His Word nor talked into answering selfish prayer. In all our efforts to find
God, to please Him, to commune with him, we could remember that all change
must be on our part. "For I, the LORD, do not change" (Malachi 3:6). We have
but to meet His clearly stated terms, bring our lives into accord with His revealed
will, and His infinite power will become instantly operative toward us in the
manner set forth through the Gospel in the Scriptures of truth. (Taken from A.W.
Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy)
What would your life be like if God did occasionally change?
F. God Is Sovereign - Read Job 42:2; Ecclesiastes 7:13-14; Romans 8:28; Psalm
104)
The word sovereign means chief or highest, supreme in power, superior in
position to all others. When we say that God is sovereign, we are saying that He
has absolute authority and is the one ruler in the universe, in control of all things
If you continually remembered this truth that God is in control of all things, how
might it affect your life?
G. God Is Triune The word "trinity" is used to describe the biblically revealed truth that the one true
God is three eternal and coequal persons the same in substance.
This essential characteristic of God is understood from Scriptures' testimony that:
1. 1. God is one. There is but one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4);
2. yet at the same time Jesus, the Messiah, is presented as coequal with God
and eternal (see notes on Jesus);
3. and the Holy Spirit too is God, coequal and eternal with the Father and the
Son.
4. We may not fully understand the great truth of the Trinity. However, we
can see the rays of light which emanate from God's Word and which teach
us that, in a mysterious sense beyond the comprehension of man's finite
mind, God is one in nature but three in person and manifestation. Even as

water, which may be converted into ice or steam, is one in nature though
three in form, so also God is capable of being and doing what the mind of
man cannot fathom. But in reverence man is still privileged to adore. It
should be mentioned in passing that in the world of chemistry it is
perfectly possible for a substance to exist simultaneously in three separate
and distinct forms yet remain basically one in structure or nature.
Water, for example, under pressure and in a vacuum at a given
temperature below freezing exists simultaneously as both liquid, gas, and
ice, yet it is identifiable always as water (H2O), its basic nature. This is
called chemistry "the triple point of water."
Those who cry "impossible" where the trinity of God or a similar event of
the supernatural is concerned must compare its chemical counterpart in the
natural world. Why can they not conceive of the Author of "the triple
point" being supernaturally triune in his nature. If something is true of
God's creation, can it not also be true of the Creator? If our Creator can
design a "triple point of water" He can surely be a triune God Himself, and
He can surely live within us and care about us.
(see supplemental materials on "The Trinity" at the end of this Section for
more information)
II.

Attributes Of God Which Can Be Seen In A Lesser & Limited Way In His Created
Beings & Spirits (Sometimes referred of as "communicable" or "moral" attributes)
A.
A. God Is Holy - (1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 99; Exodus 15:11ff)
The Bible refers to the holiness of God more than to any other attribute.
When holy is used in reference to God, it refers to His total separation from evil.
Not even a hint of a blemish could be found in our God; He is completely pure.

B.

What an encouragement to us who trust in His name to realize that not the
slightest evil blemish or flaw could ever be found in His love' sovereignty, power,
wisdom, faithfulness, goodness, etc., because He is holy.
God Is Love - (1 Corinthians 13:4-8; I John 4:7-21; Psalm 106:1; Hebrews 12: 513)
God is perfect, infinite love. His love is given freely and without any
consideration to the loveliness or merit of the object.
What would it be like to be loved by someone whose love for you is not
influenced by anything you ever did, are now doing, or will do; whose love could
never weaken or fluctuate? You can know what-it would be like! For God's love
for you is not influenced by anything you ever did or will do!

C.

God Is Just - Read Psalm 89:14

It is impossible for Him to do anything that is unfair, either to Himself or to man.

D.

God's justice is more often applicable in the area of judgment. When men stand
before God to be judged, they will receive full justice. His is both a comfort (for
those who have been wronged in life) and a warning (for those who think they
have been getting away with evil). (Romans 1:18)
Many Other Attributes Of God Could Be Listed

God Is Gracious
God Is Self-Sufficient
God Is Wise
God Is Incomprehensible
God Is Self-Existent
God Is Faithful
God Is Merciful
God Is Good
God Is Longsuffering
God Is Free

he Attributes of God: What Are the

Attributes of God?
DA275
1.
SELF-EXISTENT: God has no cause; He does not depend on anything for
his continued existence.
a.
I AM WHO I AM (Ex. 3:14; see John 8:58)
b.
Life in Himself (John 5:26)
c.
First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End; as the Beginning,
God has no cause (Isa. 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; Rev. 1:8, 17; 2:8; 3:14; 21:6; 22:13)
d.
No God before or after Yahweh (Isa. 43:10)
2.
TRANSCENDENT: God is entirely distinct from the universe, as the
carpenter is distinct from the bench; excluding pantheism (God in all) and
animism (everything is a god).
a.
Separate from the world (Isa. 66:1-2; Acts 17:24)
b.
Contrasted with the world (Psa. 102:25-27; I John 2:15-17)
c.
Implied by doctrine of creation (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 42:5)
3.
IMMANENT: Though transcendent, God is present with and in the world;
excluding deism (God is out there but not here).
a.
God is near, so He can be known (Deut. 4:7; Jer. 23:23; Acts 17:27)
b.
Bound up with God's omnipresence (Psa. 139:7-10; Jer. 23:24; Acts
17:28)

4.
IMMUTABLE: God is perfect in that He never changes nor can He change
with respect to His being, attributes, purpose, or promises; excluding process
theology, Mormon doctrine of eternal progression.
a.
Unchangeable (Psa. 102:26-27; Isa. 51:6; Mal. 3:6; Rom. 1:23; Heb.
1:11-12; James 1:17; Heb. 13:8)
b.
God's relations with changing men spoken of as God changing (Ex. 32:914; Psa. 18:25-27)
5.
ETERNAL: God is perfect in that He transcends all time and temporal
limitations, and is thus infinite with respect to time.
a.
Duration through endless ages (Ps. 90:2; 93:2; 102:12; Eph. 3:21)
b.
Unlimited by time (Psa. 90:4; 2 Pet. 3:8)
c.
Creator of the ages ( i.e., of time itself; Heb. 1:2; 11:3)
d.
Implied by doctrines of transcendence, self-existence, and immutability
6.
OMNIPRESENT: God is perfect in that He transcends all space and spatial
limitations, and is thus infinite with respect to space, with His whole Being
filling every part of the universe and being present everywhere (not diffused
through the universe, but present at each point in His fullness).
a.
The universe cannot contain God (1 Kings 8:27; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:48-49)
b.
Present everywhere (Psa. 139:7-10; Acts 17:28; of Christ, Matt. 18:20;
28:20)
c.
Fills all things (Jer. 23:23-24; of Christ, Eph. 1:23; 4:10; Col. 3:11)
d.
Implied by doctrine of transcendence
7.
OMNIPOTENT: God is perfect in that He can do all things consistent with
the perfection of His being. God cannot do the self-contradictory (e.g., make a
rock He cannot lift), nor can He do that which is contrary to His perfect nature
(e.g., He cannot change, He cannot lie, etc.).
a.
Nothing too difficult (Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17, 27; Zech. 8:6; Matt. 3:9)
b.
All things possible (Job 42:2; Psa. 115:3; Matt. 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke
1:37; 18:27; Eph. 1:11)
c.
God cannot lie, be tempted, deny Himself, etc. (2 Tim. 2:13; Titus 1:2;
Heb. 6:18; James 1:13)
8.
OMNISCIENT: God is perfect in that He knows all things, including events
before they happen.
a.
Perfect in knowledge, Job 37:16
b.
Knows the heart (1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chr. 28:9, 17; Psa. 139:1-4; Jer.
17:10a)
c.
Knows all events to come (Isa. 41:22-23; 42:9; 44:7)
9.
INCORPOREAL: God has no body or parts, and is immaterial, being a
simple and infinite being of spirit; excluding the Mormon doctrine of God as an
exalted man.

a.
God is spirit (John 4:24)
b.
God is not a man (Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29)
c.
Implied by doctrines of self-existence, transcendence, omnipresence,
and creation.
10.
ONE: God is a perfectly unique and simple being, existing as one infinite
Being called God. There is therefore only one God, who is called Yahweh in
the Old Testament, and who reveals Himself in the persons of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit in the New Testament; thus excluding polytheism, tritheism
(belief in three gods), and subordinationism (in which Christ is a lesser god
subordinate to the Almighty God).
a.
Only one God (Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5-7, 21-22; Zech. 14:9;
1 Cor. 8:4-6; Gal. 3:20; Eph. 4:5-6; 1 Tim. 2:5; James 2:19)
b.
All other "gods" are only "so-called," (1 Cor. 8:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:4)
c.
Moses was "as God," not God or divine (Ex. 4:16; 7:1)
d.
Satan, idols, and the belly are all false gods (Psa. 96:4-5; 1 Cor. 10:20; 2
Cor. 4:4; Phil. 3:19)
e.
Wicked judges called "gods" in irony, not to describe nature (Psa. 82:1,
6; John 10:34-36)
f.
Yahweh is Elohim (Gen. 2:4; Deut. 4:35, 39; Psa. 100:3 [thus excluding
the view of Mormonism that Jehovah and Elohim are distinct beings])
g.
Implied by the doctrines of self-existence, transcendence, and
omnipotence
11.
CREATOR: God is the One through whom all things have come into
existence; by His unbounded power and knowledge He created finite existence
ex nihilo and formed the universe as it now is.
a.
Created all things (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 33:6; 102:25; John 1:3; Rom. 11:36;
Heb. 1:2; 11:3)
b.
Made all things by Himself (Isa. 44:24)
c.
Implied by doctrine of self-existence
12.
PERSONAL: God, as the author of personhood in the created universe,
cannot be less than personal Himself; thus He experiences relationships with
other persons, or self-conscious beings. Note that God may be more than
personal, indeed, His infinite nature suggests that He must be.
a.
Scripture everywhere assumes the personhood of God in the use of
personal pronouns, in recording Him
speaking and acting willfully, etc. (e.g., Gen. 1:3, 26;
Heb. 1:1-2; etc.)
b.
God gives Himself a name (Yahweh), and says "I am" (Exod. 3:14)
c.
Implied by doctrine of creation
13.
INCOMPREHENSIBLE: God is incomprehensible, not in the sense that the
concept of God is unintelligible, but in the sense that God cannot be fully and

directly known by finite creatures, because of His uniqueness and His

infinitude.
a.
None like God (Ex. 8:10; 9:14; 15:11; 2 Sam. 7:22; 1 Chr. 17:20; Psa.
86:8; 1 Kgs. 8:23; Isa. 40:18, 25; 44:7;
56:5, 9; Jer. 10:6-7; Micah 7:18)
b.
Analogical language necessary to describe God (Ezek. 1:26-28; Rev.
1:13-16)
c.
God cannot be comprehended as He really is (1 Cor. 8:2-3)
d.
God can only be known as the Son reveals Him (John 1:18; Matt. 11:2527)
14.
MORALLY PERFECT: The following are the moral attributes of God; they
are listed here together because God's moral nature is perfectly unified, with
no tension between His wrath and His love, for example.
a.
GOOD: God is morally excellent, and does only good (Gen. 1:31; Deut.
8:16; Psa. 107:8; 118:1; Nahum 1:7; Mark 10:18; Rom. 8:28)
b.
HOLY: God is morally transcendent, utterly separated from all evil, and
perfectly pure (Ex. 3:5; Lev. 19:2; Psa. 5:4-6; 99:5; Isa. 6:3; 8:13; Hab. 1:1213; 1 Pet. 1:14-19)
c.
RIGHTEOUS: God is perfectly moral in all that He does, doing everything
right ( Isa. 45:21; Zeph. 3:5; Rom. 3:26)
d.
TRUE: God is perfectly truthful, and cannot lie (John 17:17; Titus 1:2;
Heb. 6:18)
e.
LOVING: God's moral character is pure love, sacrificial giving for the
true benefit of another (Deut. 7:7-8; Jer. 31:3; John 3:16; Heb. 12:6)
f.
WRATHFUL: God's moral perfection requires Him to show displeasure
against anything which seeks to act contrary to its moral purpose, to judge that
which rebels against His authority as Creator and Lord (Psa. 103:8-9; Rom. 2:5;
11:22; Heb. 10:31)