Who God Is

Introduction

As the world’s cultures become more and more pluralistic, many different and contradictory views of God abound. By ourselves, we can never bridge the unknown to discover what God is really like. We can never know God unless He takes the initiative to reveal Himself. The Bible contains God’s written revelation of His true nature, heart, purposes, and relationship with His creation. From cover to cover, the Scriptures are full of insights that unpack the very nature of the one and only, true, and triune God, who said,

21 Speak up and present your case —
yes, let them consult each other.
Who predicted this long ago?
Who announced it from ancient times?
Was it not I, the LORD?
There is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior;
there is no one except me.
22 Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth.
For I am God,
and there is no other. Isaiah 45:21-22 CSB

Some of the Characteristics of God

A Few of God’s Names

The names of God recorded in Scripture tell us something about Him. God has communicated so many different aspects of who He is. We can live fearlessly in Christ because God is who He says He is, and His actions have proven His words. Just a few of the many names of God found in the Bible are listed below. God Almighty.

1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in my presence and be blameless. Genesis 17:1 CSB

Jealous.

14 Because the LORD is jealous for his reputation, you are never to bow down to another god. He is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14 CSB

God loves us jealously. How does it make you feel to know that God is jealous for you (not jealous of you)?

Holy jealously is at the very core of who God is. Within the depths of His being burns an inextinguishable fire of love called jealousy. His jealousy is a blazing passion to protect a love relationship that is eternally precious to Him and to defend it when it is broken. Divine jealousy is that unbridled energy in God which stirs Him to take aggressive action against whomever or whatever stands in the way of His enjoyment of those He loves and desires. This has always been the real motivation behind His judgments. S. J. Hill, The Burning Desire

Our Maker.

6 Come, let’s worship and bow down;
let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker. Psalm 95:6 CSB

Our Father. Holy.

2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Luke 11:2 NKJV

The blessed and only Sovereign. The King of kings and Lord of lords.

15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, … 1 Timothy 6:15 LSB

God is the source of love because God is love.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8 LSB

Several truths about God can be discovered in Isaiah 40 and Isaiah 45.

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He never becomes faint or weary;
there is no limit to his understanding. Isaiah 40:28 CSB

18 For this is what the LORD says —
the Creator of the heavens,
the God who formed the earth and made it,
the one who established it
(he did not create it to be a wasteland,
but formed it to be inhabited) —
he says, “I am the LORD,
and there is no other.
19 I have not spoken in secret,
somewhere in a land of darkness.
I did not say to the descendants of Jacob:
Seek me in a wasteland.
I am the LORD, who speaks righteously,
who declares what is right.
20 “Come, gather together,
and approach, you fugitives of the nations.
Those who carry their wooden idols
and pray to a god who cannot save
have no knowledge.
21 Speak up and present your case —
yes, let them consult each other.
Who predicted this long ago?
Who announced it from ancient times?
Was it not I, the LORD?
There is no other God but me,
a righteous God and Savior;
there is no one except me.
22 Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth.
For I am God,
and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
truth has gone from my mouth,
a word that will not be revoked:
Every knee will bow to me,
every tongue will swear allegiance.
24 It will be said about me, ‘Righteousness and strength
are found only in the LORD.’ ”
All who are enraged against him
will come to him and be put to shame. Isaiah 45:18-24 CSB

A Few of God’s Attributes

The Bible also tells us about God’s attributes. These attributes can only be with God, because there is no other god.

God is eternal.

2 Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from eternity to eternity, you are God. Psalm 90:2 CSB

God is immutable (He never changes). It is impossible for God to require any change. It is also impossible for God to change.

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV

God has emotions.

9 In all their distress He was distressed,
And the angel of His presence saved them;
In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them,
And He lifted them and carried them all the ancient days.
10 But they rebelled
And grieved His Holy Spirit;
Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy;
He fought against them. Isaiah 63:9-10 LSB

God is spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.

24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 NASB95

God is omnipresent (He is everywhere).

24 Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:24 NIV

Because God is omnipresent, nothing has been hidden from Him, and nothing can be hidden from Him. He has seen everything.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 NIV

God is omnipotent (He is all-powerful).

17 “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)

God is omniscient (He is all-knowing).

21 Declare what is to be, present it—
let them take counsel together.
Who foretold this long ago,
who declared it from the dista nt past?
Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none but me. Isaiah 45:21 NIV

Because He is all-knowing, consider these verses:

30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel
will prevail against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30 CSB

20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 1 John 3:20 NKJV

There is only one God.

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other;
7 I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the LORD, do all these things.’ Isaiah 45:5-7 NKJV

Several things about God caused David to worship Him.

10 Then David blessed the LORD in the sight of all the assembly. David said, May you be blessed, LORD God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. 11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. >12 Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your own hand. 1 Chronicles 29:10-14 (CSB)

6 Come, let’s worship and bow down;
let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
the sheep under his care. Psalm 95:6-7 CSB

The Nature of God

Our character should reflect the truth that we were created in the image of God. Some of the verses that reveal God’s nature are listed below. As you receive these truths, consider how His nature can be reflected in how you live.

God is faithful to His covenant.

9 Know that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9 CSB

God is righteous and His judgments are just.

137 You are righteous, LORD,
and your judgments are just. Psalm 119:137 CSB

God is forgiving.

3 LORD, if you kept an account of iniquities,
Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that you may be revered. Psalms 130:3-4 CSB

God is holy.

15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 CSB

It is in God’s holiness that we find the reason for the death of Christ. His holiness demanded the most exacting penalty for sin, and his love provided Jesus Christ to pay this penalty and provide man with salvation. Billy Graham, Peace with God

God is love.

16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 1 John 4:16 CSB

The Sovereignty of God

One of the most comforting truths in Scripture is the sovereignty of God, who is good. He works out everything according to His will. His works are good. The verses below affirm the sovereignty of God.

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1 NKJV

27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed,
And who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out,
And who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27 NKJV

26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Acts 4:26-28 NKJV

Do not underestimate the importance of your beliefs about God. Your beliefs about God must be anchored in what God has revealed about Himself. Life problems can usually be traced back to a wrong concept of God. Failure to accept and respond to what God is like leads to conflicts. For example, if you don’t rely on God’s forgiveness, you may be continually weighed down with guilt and shame.

Consider what problems might result if you are unaware of—or just don’t believe—something God has revealed about Himself in the Bible.

What attributes of God most impact your heart? Which are most unfamiliar to you or have been least influential in regard to how you live your daily life?

It is particularly important to be honest with God. Do you like God? Do you love God? In the face of human suffering, do you struggle with God? If so, which attributes of God do you struggle with? Take time to talk to God about your struggles with Him. Get into God’s Word to learn more about Him.

The journey of deep intimacy with the triune God and of worshipping Him is a lifetime journey. As you continue your journey with Him, you’ll begin to notice a deepening experience of understanding each of His attributes. Ask God to reveal His heart to you. His answers will come day by day, month by month, and year by year!

God Has Revealed Himself in Many Ways

God has revealed Himself to mankind in different ways.

In the prophets.

1 God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, … Hebrews 1:1 LSB

In Christ.

2 in these last days spoke to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, … Hebrews 1:2 LSB

In creation.

… 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Romans 1:19-20 LSB

In man’s conscience.

15 … in that they demonstrate the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, … Romans 2:15 LSB

In the Bible.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me. Psalm 40:7 LSB

Which of these methods of revealing Himself have you experienced?

Because of the Lord’s jealous love for His people, He is going to free us from the bondage of trying to serve Him out of cringing fear. He is going to reveal Himself as the beautiful Bridegroom and win our hearts with His love. S. J. Hill, The Burning Desire

The verses below teach us something about God’s love. His love is everlasting.

3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

He gave and sent His only begotten Son.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17 NKJV

We are now His children.

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1 NKJV

How have you experienced God’s love?

What God Expects From You

Psalm 51:16-17 tells us what heart attitude God longs to see in each one of us.

16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 NKJV

Why do you think this is so important?

12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you except to fear the LORD your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the LORD your God with all your heart and all your soul? Deuteronomy 10:12 CSB

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 CSB

10 Who among you fears the LORD
and listens to his servant?
Who among you walks in darkness,
and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD;
let him lean on his God. Isaiah 50:10 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:2 AMPC

6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Hebrews 11:6 AMPC

In all His dealings with us God is at work for our good: in prosperity, He reveals and develops our gratitude; in mediocrity, our contentment; in misfortune, our submission; in darkness, and at all times, our trust and obedience in Him.

Without doubt the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God. A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

Memory Verse

3 “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent — Jesus Christ.” John 17:3 CSB

So many things can take the place of God in our lives. These alternatives can deaden us. Becoming more alive to live for and totally worship God is a significant journey. After considering the following quote, write a letter to God sharing with Him anything you are seeking that may be deadening your soul. Express how you would like to seek Him more fully, then ask Him to help you do it.

The deadened soul requires a greater and greater level of stimulation to arouse it. This is, of course, the downward spiral of any addiction…. This is why holiness is not numbness; it is sensitivity. It is being more attuned to our desires, to what we were truly made for and therefore what we truly want. Our problem is that we’ve grown quite used to seeking life in all kinds of things other than God. John Eldredge

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:2-3 LSB