The Character of God

Incommunicable Attributes
January 9, 2010
Outline

1. The Existence of God

Our inner sense of Him
Evidence from scripture and nature
2. Knowability of God
We can't fully understand Him.
We can know true things about Him.
3. God's Attributes
4. The Incommunicable Attributes
Independence
Unchangeableness
Eternal
Omnipresence
Unity
How do we know that God Exists?

We have an inner sense of Him from Rom 1:

Even the wicked "knew God"

they "exchanged the truth about God for a lie"

- implies active rejection

"what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has
made it plain to them."
Those who do not Believe

The fool says in his heart,

[a]

"There is no God." (Ps 14)

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In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God. (Ps 10)
Inner awareness of God

We know God as our father with the help of the HS:

you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,
[g] [h]

Father." ... The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's
children. (Rom 8)

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Eph 3)

and the result is:

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you
do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1)
Scripture and Nature Show us God

clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (Rom 1)

Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness
by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he
provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. (Acts
14)

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The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Ps 1)

The Bible of course attests to God

2. Can we Truly Know God?
No - He is Incomprehensible

Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,

And His greatness is unsearchable. (Ps 145)

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Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit. (Ps 147)

no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 2)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
[i]

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11)

His greatness, understanding, knowledge, riches, wisdom and

judgements are beyond understanding!
But we can Know Truth About God?

Yes
1. God is love (1 John 4)
2. God is light (1 John 1)
3. God is spirit (John 4)
4. God is righteous (Rom 3)

We can know so of His thoughts:

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! (Ps 139)
17 [b]

But does this mean we really know Him?

We know facts about the president of the USA but do we know him?

Can we know God?

We can Know God

This is what the LORD says:

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
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but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
(Jer 9)

What is this telling us?

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17)

In the new covenant "they will all know me" (Heb 11)
Knowing God

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us
understanding, so that we may know him who is true. (1 John 5)

8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those
who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather
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are known by God (Gal 4)

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing

greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have
lost all things. (Phil 3)
How is it possible that we can "know" him:

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My

Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him. (John 14)
3. God's Attributes (Some Examples)

Incommunicable
1. Eternity
2. Omnipresence (God is everywhere)
3. Unchangeableness

Communicable
1. Love
2. Knowledge
3. Mercy
4. Justice

Not a perfect classification. We share elements of both.

4. Incommunicable Attributes of God

Independence (self-existance)

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"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of
heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he
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is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he

himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17)

the world is mine, and all that is in it. (Ps 50, job 41)

But what about within the Trinity?

Independence Cont.

Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you
before the world began...you loved me before the creation of the
world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I
know you
(John 17)

What about us!! Why are we here? - Why do we have childen?

everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made." (Isa 43:7)

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to

11 [e]

the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the
purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in
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Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (Eph 1)

He Glories over us

He will take great delight in you (Zeph 3:17)

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons
who do not need to repent. (Luke 15)
Unchanging

Definition: God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and

promises, yet God dos act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels
differently in response to different situations.

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In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
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They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.
27
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end. (Ps 102)
Unchangeableness Cont.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Ps 33)

God is not a man, that he should lie,

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? (Num 23)

He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he
is not a man, that he should change his mind." (1 Sam 15)
Does God Change his Mind?

God was going to destroy Nineveh but then didn't. There are lots of
other examples too.

He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

...

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil
ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction
he had threatened. (Jon 3)

God is responsive, but this doesn't mean he has changed, only that he
is just and kind.
Why is Unchangableness Important?

That which is perfect, in will and goodness can not change or it would
not be perfect to begin with.

How could we trust him for eternal life if he changes?

How could we hope that Jesus would return?

Eternity

God is timeless in his being:

2
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Ps 90)

8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and
who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev 1)

Before God created the universe there was no time:

... to the only God, our Savior through jesus Christ our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for
ever. Amen (Jude 25)
How does God see Time?

4
For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night. (ps 90)
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is
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like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (2 Peter 3)

9
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please. (Isa 46)
Omnipresence

23
"Am I only a God nearby,"
declares the LORD,
"and not a God far away?
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Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?"
declares the LORD.
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
declares the LORD. (Jer 23)
Omnipresence Cont.

7
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
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If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
[a]

9
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast. (Ps 139)
God is present everywhere!

27
"But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest
heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
(1 Kings 8)

1
This is what the LORD says:
"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool... (Isa 66)

God is like water in a sponge!

God is present to punish, sustain or bless

1
I saw the Lord standing by the altar, and he said:
"Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake.
Bring them down on the heads of all the people;
those who are left I will kill with the sword.
Not one will get away, none will escape.
2
Though they dig down to the depths of the grave, [a]
from there my hand will take them. Though they climb up to the heavens,
from there I will bring them down.
3
Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel,
there I will hunt them down and seize them.
Though they hide from me at the bottom of the sea,
there I will command the serpent to bite them.
4
Though they are driven into exile by their enemies,
there I will command the sword to slay them.
I will fix my eyes upon them
for evil and not for good." (Amos 9)
 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is
17 18

the head of the body, the church (Col 1)

3
The Son is ... sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Heb 1)

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You have made known to me the path of life;
[e]

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Ps 16)