Hello Beloved,

As we continue to approach the subject of Theology Proper or the Doctrine of God, we have already discussed the essence of God and the meaning of the Trinity. In this article, we will begin the first of three sections that deal with God’s attributes. An attribute could be defined as a quality, character, characteristic, or property that describes the essence of who God is. Defining God’s attributes helps us to understand the particular ways in which He exists and operates.

The first point to recognize when discussing God’s attributes is that no single attribute would be considered that which is most basic to God. Doctrinal errors have arisen when teachers emphasize one of God’s attributes at the expense of another. For example, if one focuses on God’s love to the detriment of God’s justice, then it becomes easy to deny God’s judgment and eternal punishment. On the other hand, if one focuses on God’s justice to the detriment of His love, then it can lead to a harsh view of God’s character and often a legalistic lifestyle. The idea behind this truth is simple: God’s attributes must be kept in perfect balance. All of God’s attributes equally describe the quality of His perfect being; they exist within His divine nature equally; and they are in harmony with each other. God does not have more of one attribute than He does another, and God does not belittle one attribute in order to emphasize another. Further, God is infinite, and all His attributes are infinite in relation to His perfect being. These attributes are real, based on Biblical precepts, and not associated with philosophical conjecture.

There have been many ways that theologians have tried to categorize and organize the attributes of God. The most common is to separate them into communicable (those that relate to attributes humans can possess in some finite form, such as love) and incommunicable (those that only God can possess, such as omnipotence or being all-powerful). Others have divided God’s attributes into those which are absolute (truth) verses those which are relative (mercy), those which are positive (holiness) verses those which are negative (changelessness or immutability), and those of God’s greatness (infinity) verses those of God’s goodness (righteousness). For the purpose of these articles, we will describe God’s attributes in relation to his intellect, sensibility, and will.

The current article will focus on the attributes that relate to God’s intellect. The first attribute in this category is that of omniscience. Omniscience means that God has infinite and absolute knowledge, awareness, perception, and comprehension of all things. God knows all things that are actual or possible. God knows all events, persons, places, ideas, and objects. He knows all things visible and invisible, whether in heaven on earth or under the earth, and God knows all things past, present, and future. The scope of God’s knowledge allows Him to comprehend all things immediately, simultaneously, exhaustively, and truly. God does not have to discover facts and He does not have to learn. God knows men and their works (Psalm 33:13-15). God knows men’s thoughts and their hearts (Psalm 139:1-4). He knows men’s burden’s and wants (Exodus 3:7). And God knows the future (Isaiah 46:9-10).

The attribute of God’s omniscience relates directly to His attribute of wisdom. The wisdom of God relates to his skillful use of knowledge to attain a purpose that is in harmony with His glory, and it includes the correct manner in which He accomplishes His goals. God used wisdom in creation (Psalm 19:1-7), preservation (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 36:6), providence (Psalm 33:10; Romans 8:28), and redemption (Ephesians 3:10). Of course, we cannot be omniscient, but we can grow in wisdom. Let us remember the proverb of the wise old owl:

A wise old owl sat in an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard;
Let's try to imitate that bird.

Next month we will discuss the sensibility or moral attributes of God. Until then, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

*Notes taken from Jim Smith’s unpublished notes: God, Bible, Holy Spirit – Brookes Bible Institute