Lesson
10
Theology
Proper - Who is God?
5. Figurative Names
1.
Father > most common, 15x in OT, 245x in the NT
As Father He gives His children grace
and peace, Eph 1:2-3; 1 Ths 1:1
Jas. 1:17
2 Jn 4
2.
King > Ps
3.
Lawgiver > Isa 33:22; Jas.
4.
Judge > Gen. 18:25; Ps 50:6; (Isa 33:22)
5.
Rock > Ps
6.
Fortress > 2 Sam
7.
Deliverer > Ps 18:2
8.
Savior > Isa 43: 3;11
9.
Husband > Jer 31:32; Isa
54:5
10.
Vine dresser, vine grower, husbandmen > Jn
15:1
E. THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
1.
Definition: The perfections, the
characteristics of God as stated in Scripture.
- All that makes God, God,
that He has revealed to us.
2. Importance > Why should we study them.
- we are to proclaim them, God's excellencies, His essence; 1 Pet 2:9
AXIOM: Our view of God always
determines our conduct.
- If God does not exist:
- If one has a distorted view of who God is:
3.
Classification of Attributes
a.
Absolute: Those characteristics that belong to God alone.
- There is no illustration to be found
in man.
b.
Analogous: These are characteristics
that can be illustrated in man; they find an analogy in man. i.e. love.
Love, for example, is not a part of
God's nature; God in His total being is
love.
God is more than the sum total of the
perfections or attributes that we will study for when we have listed all of the
attributes we can glean from His revelation, we have not fully described God.
This takes us back to His incomprehensibility.
God's
perfections are known to us then only through .
Man does not attribute them to God;
God reveals them to man.
All of these perfections of God
describe equally God/Father; God
the Son and God the Holy Spirit. They
describe the nature of the Triune God and therefore each person of the
Trinity.
C. Definition: From Dictionary
An attribute is "Something attributed as
belonging; a quality, character, characteristic, or property" of someone
or something (American College Dictionary).
In theology, however, God's attributes are
His perfections.
d. Explanation:
1. The works of God are
manifestations of His attributes.
2. The harmony among the attributes, or
their mutual dependence.
Though the characteristics in the attributes of God
are very distinct in some contexts, they are never to be isolated, nor
dissociated from one another.
3. God's attributes were never acquired
because they are essential to what He is.
His attributes represent what He is,
what He has always been, and what He will always be forever.
4. Examine the Absolute
Attributes of God
a.
God is Self-existent > I am hy;h' (hajah)
Definition:
God is in no way on anything or anyone outside of for his existence.
- If we were to ask who made God? Answer
is NO One!
- He does not need or is not dependent on
me or you for His existence.
What this says about God is that He is:
uncaused, had no beginning, no one made Him, He doesn't lean on
anybody, He doesn't need anyone, He's independent, He can operate perfectly well without any of
His creation, without any of us, He
doesn't even need angels.
God is self-existent. He is the God who
is!!
Scripture: All passages that give His exclusive
name YHWH could be cited. LORD
Main one is Ex 3:13-15 "I am who I am" This asserts His independence and
self-existence.
b. God is Infinite
Definition: All of God's
attributes/characteristics are unlimited,
they are without boundaries.
- Probably the key word here is
unlimited.
This applies to all of His attributes so as we consider each one we
need to consider that it is unlimited, infinite in degree.
Scripture: 1 Kg 8:27