Last week, we allowed Scripture to speak in response to the following question: who is God? We have discussed how God describes Himself in Exodus 34:6-7. We explored God’s omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and omnipresence. While far from being an exhaustive list, let’s consider seven more descriptions of God from the Bible. If we are going to truly believe God and place our faith in Him, we need to understand how He has revealed Himself to the best of our ability.
First, God is holy. According to Isaiah 6:3, God is “holy, holy, holy.” This refers to the fact that God is infinitely holy. God is completely set apart from His creation. He is in a completely different league from His creation. Because God is holy, we are to be holy in all of our conduct (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Second, God is perfect. God’s way is perfect (Psalm 18:30; 2 Samuel 22:31). God’s will is perfect (Romans 12:2). God’s law is perfect (Psalm 19:7). God’s work is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4). Our heavenly Father is perfect; therefore, our goal every day should be to become more like Him (Matthew 5:48).
Third, God is jealous. The reason the Israelites were not to have any gods before the Lord or make images to bow down and serve is given in Exodus 20:5: “for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.” God’s character demands complete allegiance from His people. God’s nature demands that we not live our lives with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom of heaven; instead, we live our lives with both feet firmly planted in Jesus.
Fourth, God is good (1 Chronicles 16:34; Ezra 3:11). God is good to all (Psalm 145:9). God is and does good (Psalm 119:68). God gives good gifts (James 1:17; Matthew 7:11). God’s goodness follows us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6). Jesus taught us in Mark 10:18 that no one is good except God alone. We should respond to God’s goodness by giving thanks to His name (1 Chronicles 16:34).
Fifth, God is glorious. In Psalm 24:8, God is described as the “King of glory.” When we look at Jesus, we see one who radiates the glory of God (Hebrews 1:3). The whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3). We serve a God of excellence, splendor, and majesty. As we behold His glory, we are being transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18). God’s glory changes us so that in whatever we do, we “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). We declare (1 Chronicles 16:24) and praise (Ephesians 1:12) His glory.
Sixth, God is spirit. In John 4:24, Jesus teaches us that “God is spirit.” Being spirit, He does not have flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). The contrast in Isaiah 31:3 establishes this aspect of God’s nature: “The Egyptians are man, and not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.” We should be thankful that God is spirit. He is not subject to the frailties, weaknesses, and imperfections of human flesh. God’s presence is not limited to one physical location. As Creator, His distinction from creation will forever be maintained.
Seventh, God is light. In 1 John 1:5, the apostle John makes the following statement about our God’s nature: “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” In the Scriptures, light is used to refer to everything that is good. In contrast, darkness is used to refer to everything that is bad. If God is light, that means that God is everything that is good. He is the standard for and definition of goodness. There is not even an ounce of darkness in God. This idea goes hand in hand with discussing God’s perfection. Evil, sin, and wickedness cannot be found in the character of our God.
As we have spent the last couple of weeks emphasizing who God is, my prayer is that the Scriptures helped us know God better, appreciate God more, and love God more deeply. In step with our theme, I hope that we have been encouraged to believe Him. “Who is God?” is not just a theological question. It is not just a question to be pondered. How we answer that question has a direct impact on how we choose to live our lives. Only when we see God for who He is can we be who He created us to be. Who is God to you? Is your answer informed by what the Bible says? Is your answer changing your life so that you can be more like Him?
-Tyler Alverson
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