The Nature of God

Introduction: The Quest to Know the Unknowable

The journey of faith is, at its heart, a journey to know God. It is the most profound and significant quest a human being can undertake. From the philosopher in his study to the child looking at the stars in wonder, the question "Who is God?" echoes through the corridors of human history. The Bible does not present God as an abstract concept or a distant, impersonal force. Instead, it reveals Him as a personal, relational Being who has actively made Himself known. Yet, He is also infinite, eternal, and far beyond our complete comprehension. To study the nature of God is to stand at the edge of an infinite ocean, to be filled with awe, and to realize that our understanding will always be a thimbleful of a boundless reality.

This exploration is not merely an academic exercise. How we view God—our concept of His character and attributes—profoundly shapes everything else about our lives. It affects how we pray, how we face suffering, how we treat others, and where we find our ultimate hope and security. A small, man-made view of God leads to a small, weak faith. A biblically rich and accurate understanding of God, however, provides a firm foundation for a robust and resilient spiritual life. In this article, we will delve into two of the most fundamental aspects of God's nature revealed in Scripture: the doctrine of the Trinity and His essential, unchanging attributes. Our goal is not to "figure God out" but to worship Him more deeply as we understand more clearly how He has revealed Himself to us.

The Holy Trinity: One God in Three Persons

The doctrine of the Trinity is the unique, non-negotiable heart of the Christian understanding of God. It is the belief that there is one, and only one, God, and that this one God has eternally existed in three distinct, co-equal, and co-eternal Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This is not a contradiction; it is a divinely revealed paradox that transcends our finite human comprehension. It is a truth not arrived at by human reason, but one that God has revealed about Himself in the Scriptures.

Many people find the Trinity confusing. It's not a simple concept, and every analogy we use to try to explain it (like water as liquid, ice, and steam, or the three parts of an egg) ultimately falls short and can even lead to heresy. Yet, far from being an irrelevant or abstract piece of theological trivia, the doctrine of the Trinity is intensely practical. It is the key to understanding the nature of God's love, the logic of the cross, and the reality of our own salvation. It tells us that our God is, in His very essence, a God of relationship, of community, and of self-giving love. This article will explore the biblical foundations for this essential doctrine, clarify what it is (and what it is not), and show why this beautiful mystery is at the very heart of the good news of Jesus Christ. You can explore a deeper dive in our blog post, The Trinity Explained.

The Roles of the Three Persons

While the three Persons of the Trinity are one in essence, they have distinct roles in the work of creation, redemption, and our ongoing spiritual lives.

• God the Father: The Father is often seen as the divine architect, the planner, and the sender. He is the one who initiates the plan of salvation (John 3:16), draws people to the Son (John 6:44), and adopts us as His children (Ephesians 1:5). He is the ultimate source and authority within the Godhead.
• God the Son (Jesus Christ): The Son is the one sent by the Father to be the physical revelation of God to humanity. He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). His role is to accomplish the plan of salvation through His perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross, and victorious resurrection. He is our Redeemer, High Priest, and the only way to the Father (John 14:6). For more, see our topic page on Who Is Jesus Christ?.
• God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son after Jesus' ascension. His role is to apply the work of salvation to believers. He convicts the world of sin (John 16:8), regenerates our hearts (Titus 3:5), indwells every believer as a seal of their salvation (Ephesians 1:13-14), and empowers us for holy living and service. He is our Comforter, Advocate, and Guide.

Understanding the Trinity is crucial because it reveals that, at His core, God is relational. Before creation ever existed, there was perfect love, community, and fellowship within the Godhead. This means love is not something God created; it is an eternal part of who He is. When He created us, He created us for relationship, inviting us into the overflow of the eternal love that has always existed between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Essential Attributes of God: Pillars of His Character

Beyond the mystery of the Trinity, the Bible reveals God's character through His attributes. These are not separate parts of God, but rather descriptions of His single, unified being. Theologians often divide these into two categories: incommunicable attributes (those that God alone possesses) and communicable attributes (those that He shares, to a finite degree, with us as His image-bearers).

Incommunicable Attributes: What Makes God Unique

1. Sovereignty (Omnipotence)

God's sovereignty means He is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is all-powerful (omnipotent) and does whatever He pleases, with His actions always being in perfect alignment with His righteous character. Nothing happens outside of His ultimate control. This doesn't mean He causes evil, but it does mean He can use and overrule the evil choices of humans for His ultimate good purposes.

"Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." - Psalm 115:3

The sovereignty of God is a source of immense comfort for the believer. It means that no matter how chaotic the world seems, our lives are not governed by random chance or blind fate. A wise, good, and powerful God is in control. Even in our suffering and confusion, we can trust that He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). It gives us the confidence to pray, knowing we are speaking to the One who has the power to change circumstances.

2. Omniscience

God is all-knowing. He knows everything—past, present, and future—simultaneously and effortlessly. His knowledge is infinite and complete. He knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30) and our thoughts before we even think them (Psalm 139:4). There are no secrets from God; He sees and understands all things perfectly. This is not just a collection of data; it is a deep, relational knowledge. He knows us intimately. This can be a sobering thought, as it means He is aware of all our sins and failures. But it is also deeply comforting, as it means He knows our every struggle, our every fear, and our every unspoken need. He understands us better than we understand ourselves.

3. Omnipresence

God is present everywhere at all times. He is not confined by space or location. This does not mean that God is *in* everything (pantheism), but rather that His entire being is fully present at every point in space. There is no place we can go to flee from His presence.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." - Psalm 139:7-8

For the believer, this is a promise of constant companionship. In our loneliest moments, God is with us. In our deepest valleys of despair, He is present. In our moments of greatest joy, He is there to share it with us. His omnipresence assures us that we are never, ever truly alone.

4. Immutability

God is unchanging. His character, His purposes, and His promises are eternally consistent. He does not learn or grow, because He is already perfect. He does not change His mind in the way humans do, being swayed by new information or emotional whims. Malachi 3:6 says, "I the LORD do not change." This attribute is the bedrock of our trust in Him. Because God is immutable, His promises are completely reliable. The salvation He offered yesterday is the same salvation He offers today and forever. His love for His children is not fickle; it is steadfast and eternal. In a world of constant change and instability, the unchangeableness of God is our anchor.

Communicable Attributes: Glimpses of God's Character in Us

Love

The Bible declares that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). This is perhaps His most central and celebrated attribute. His love is not a sentimental feeling but a self-giving, sacrificial commitment to the well-being of others. The ultimate demonstration of His love is the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us "while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8). God's love is unconditional (agape love); it is not based on our merit or performance. He loves us because it is His nature to love. As His followers, we are called to reflect this love to God and to others. It is the "greatest commandment" and the primary evidence that we are His disciples (John 13:35).

Justice and Righteousness

God is perfectly just and righteous. He is the ultimate standard of what is right, and He always acts in accordance with that standard. His justice demands that all sin must be punished. The cross of Christ is the perfect intersection of God's justice and His love. On the cross, God's justice was satisfied as the penalty for our sin was paid in full by Jesus. At the same time, His love was displayed as He provided a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. Because God is just, we can have confidence that in the end, all wrongs will be made right. We are called to reflect this attribute by "acting justly" and caring for the oppressed (Micah 6:8).

Holiness

God's holiness is His most unique quality. It means He is utterly "set apart," separate from all sin and corruption. He is morally perfect and pure in every way. The angels in heaven cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty" (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8). His holiness is like a consuming fire; it cannot coexist with sin. This is why sin separates us from God. It is also why we needed a perfect, sinless sacrifice in Jesus to bridge that gap. The call for believers is to "be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). We cannot be perfectly holy in this life, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to grow in holiness, progressively being set apart from the sinful patterns of the world and becoming more like Christ.

Goodness and Grace

God's goodness means He is the source of all that is good, and His actions are always aimed at what is best. His grace is the expression of this goodness toward those who do not deserve it. Grace is getting a gift we haven't earned, while mercy is not getting the punishment we do deserve. We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), we live by grace, and we are sustained by grace. Every breath we take, every good thing we enjoy, is a manifestation of God's common grace to all humanity. The specific grace shown to believers in salvation is a profound treasure that should lead us to a life of gratitude and worship. For a more detailed look, see our article on the attributes of God from a trusted theological source.

Conclusion: Worshipping the God Who Is

We have only scratched the surface of the infinite depths of God's nature. To know God is the work of a lifetime, and indeed, of eternity. What we learn about Him should never lead to intellectual pride, but to humble worship. The more we see of His sovereignty, the more we trust Him. The more we understand His holiness, the more we hate our sin. The more we grasp His love and grace, the more we are compelled to share it with others.

The truth of the Trinity invites us into a divine relationship of love. The truth of His attributes gives us a firm foundation on which to build our lives. May your study of God's nature not end here. May it drive you to the pages of His Word, to your knees in prayer, and to a life lived in awe and adoration of the One who is worthy of all our praise. For He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our Father, our Savior, and our Comforter—one God, blessed forever.