Skip to main content

The Nature and Work of God



A. Existence of God
            “Ultimately, this Most High God is mystery. Some aspects of the divine nature may not be revealed nor could they be comprehended by finite beings. Rather our understanding of God is based upon revelation given in a finite situation and in conditions that have meaning for us as finite beings. It is through God’s grace in self-revelation (especially through Jesus Christ and the Bible) that he can be known. Yet what God has revealed of himself is true to what he is and fully sufficient to know and to love him. We conclude that God, before any and all creation, existed as all-inclusive, self-sufficient and tri-personal as Holy Trinity” (Horrell). Although God is in fact mysterious, He allows us to see parts of Him that we can handle: “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light” (NASB Mat. 17:2). Take a look especially at Exodus 33: “Then the Lord said [to Moses], “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen” (NIV Exo. 33:21-23; emphasis mine). Also, we see that God, in His existence, is above us in thought, possibly because we simply can’t handle the truth about Him. “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (NASB Isa. 55:8-9). In any event, by no means a last resort, we see through nature that there is a creator. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (NIV Romans 1:20). We can see through nature that there is clearly design (which requires a designer). After seeing this logic, one may question things, such as their own existence or even be curious to know more about their creator, and conclude that it is time to seek (see Matthew 7:7).
B. Names and Attributes of God
            “Divine attributes are modes either of the relation or of the operation of divine essence. They are, consequently, an analytical and closer description of the essence” (Greenough, Shedd and Gomes 274). In other words, Divine attributes are a more clearly focused definition of the essence of God. In the two classes of divine attributes of God (passive relation of the essence or an active operation of it), there are sub-points such as omniscience, omnipotence, infinity, and several of these can be categorized under the same head of understanding, such as wisdom and omniscience (Ibid.). There are two degrees of divine attributes as well, Incommunicable and communicable.  Incommunicable attributes are those that belong to God exclusively, so that there is nothing resembling them in a created spirit. They admit no degrees, but are divine by their very nature. Such are self-existence, simplicity, infinity, eternity, immutability. The communicable attributes are those which are possessed in a finite degree, more or less, by men and angels” (Ibid. 275). Put in simpler terms, Incommunicable attributes are attributes only God can have, because he IS God.
            Let’s take a look at the divine incommunicable attribute “Infinity” just to get an idea of how to understand things, and set an example. In the book of Job, chapter eleven, there is a clear explanation to the infinity of God. “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea” (NIV Job 11:7-9). All of these rhetorical questions point to an unending quest for one to completely know the mysteries of God. He only allows us to know what we do until He stops us from knowing. He volunteers only so much information, and even with that, it is basically unfathomable.
C. Triunity of God
            “The members of the Holy Trinity can be known and worshiped together as God, or known and worshiped individually as God” (Horrell). The Trinity; God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit, are all one. I think the best example on Earth of the Trinity can be seen in marriage. “The two shall cleave together and become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Not that the trinity was ever separated before, but we, as humans, are limited in our earthly understanding and examples. So then, a man and a woman are two separate beings at first. They live separate, have different responsibilities, are surrounded by different things, they have different goals, different expectations for their futures, and they are ultimately pointed in two different directions.
            When these two hypothetical people marry however, things begin to change. To start, they are now living together, which takes getting used to because they are used to being independent, more concerned with themselves. They are starting to be surrounded by the same things because of the fact that they are living together. They are gaining responsibilities towards each other now. Their futures not only have the significant other in them, but their expectations are starting to become similar as well. Most of all, they aren’t pointing in such different directions anymore. The arrows of their lives are facing in the same general direction. Keep in mind that this isn’t a perfect example because humans aren’t perfect, and or are marriages.
            In any event, like the marriage example, the Trinity is united. We can see in the citation above, each member of the Trinity, AND the Trinity itself, is worthy of worship because in a way, they are both definitions of “God.” All three members of the trinity are called “God” in the Bible (see John 20:28; Acts 5:3-4; and obviously, Genesis 1:1. If you don’t like that one for some reason, see John 1:1). Unlike humans, or their imperfect examples of marriage, the members of the Trinity are never in disagreement in the entire context of the Bible or history.
D. The Decrees of God
            The decrees of God are created things that have an eternal purpose, and have always been in His plan. “He knows everything from everlasting to everlasting and at each instant, and there is no more than everything. He knew before it came to pass that Christ would be crucified upon Calvary. When that event occurred, it made no change in his knowledge. He was no better informed than he was before. He was no more certain of the crucifixion after the event than he was before it, because he had decreed that it should take place. He could not have foreknown that it would take place, unless he had predetermined that it should” (Greenough, Shedd and Gomes 285; emphasis mine). This citation allows us to see more clearly the definition of God’s decrees. The fact that Jesus DID, in fact, die on the cross, was allowed by God long before it happened. The decrees of God are predetermined events that may seem either positive or negative in nature. “God can will a change in the affairs of men—such as the abrogation of the levitical (sic) priesthood and ceremonial—and yet his own will remain immutable, because he had from eternity willed and decreed the change” (Greenough, Shedd and Gomes 285).
E. God’s Creation
            The creation of God is one of His decrees. “God creates all things from eternity by one act of power, as he knows all things from eternity by one act of knowledge and as he decrees all things from eternity by one act of will” (Greenough, Shedd and Gomes 281). Because we know that the creation is one of God’s decrees, that allows us to understand that the creation was always meant to be. Therefore there has always been a purpose to every reaction caused by the action. “God’s energy as the cause of the creation is one and succession less, like his decree; the creation itself, as the effect of this eternal cause, is a successive series. The cause is one; the effect is many. The cause is eternal; the effect is temporal” (Ibid.).
F. God’s Providence
            “The manifestations of divine power are seen in providence, by which what has been created is preserved, and controlled: “Upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3). [See also; Colossians 1:17: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (NIV).] The omnipotence of God exerted in the act of creation is denominated potentia absoluta.  In this instance, there is no use made of anything that is in existence. It is the operation of the first cause alone. Divine omnipotence exerted in providence is called potentia ordinata. In this instance, there is use made of existing things. God in providence employs the constitution and laws of nature which he created for this very purpose. The first cause uses second causes previously originated ex nihilo. God causes the warmth of the atmosphere by the rays of the sun, and not by an exertion of absolute omnipotence” Greenough, Shedd and Gomes 290; emphasis mine). In other words, Providence is how God cares for His creation. A clock must be built, hung, and wound before someone can use it for practical purposes. Providence is the hypothetical winding of the creation. Providence is the never-ending winding, so to speak.
In Conclusion
            Studying the revelation, nature and work of God are most assuredly ways to better understand one’s relationship with Him, and understand how He operated in the past, operates in the present and  how He will operate in the future of not only the world, but also in one’s life, which to Him, is bigger than the world.

Written by Nace Howell through the grace of the Lord Jesus
© Nace Howell, 2022
Works Cited
            New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995).
            William Greenough Thayer Shedd and Alan W. Gomes, Dogmatic Theology, 3rd ed. (Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub., 2003).
            The Holy Bible: New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984).
            Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, Ill.: Moody Press, 1997, c1989).
            J. Scott Horrell: In The Name Of The Father, Son And Holy Spirit: Constructing A Trinitarian Worldview (http://bible.org/article/name-father-son-and-holy-spirit-constructing-trinitarian-worldview)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to Show a Mormon the Difference Between the Mormon Jesus and the Biblical Jesus

I find that Mormons frequently claim they are Christians, and that they want to be referred to as Christians, and they have even recently sought to distance themselves from the word “Mormon.” The problem is, they worship another Jesus, and here is how to show them the difference between the Mormon Jesus and the Biblical Jesus. Before we get to that, some clarifications are necessary.   The Mormon President Russell Nelson said,    “What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.” [1]   So, according to Nelson, to call Mormons,  Mormons , is a victory for Satan. So, this also means that to call

Joseph Smith had the same Demon that influenced Muhammad

What does Islam have in common with Mormonism? Seriously, the similarities are uncanny. Like human beings, demons are creatures of habit . The Bible does not tell us much about them, but from what it does tell us, we can learn a lot. Jesus reveals to us some things about their behavior: When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first… [1]   Jesus clearly knows that demons have typical behaviors. He has seen it many times before. He lets us know that a typical behavior for a demon is that home is where the heart is . When your house crumbles to the ground, you move to a new one. Likewise, when a person dies, the demon is f

The Two Systems: A Confused Definition of Love

A couple years ago I wrote an article called  the Jehovah’s Witness training videos . The article was meant to be humorous in a sense, because there are likely not any actual training videos, but it seems that they have all watched them. We can suspect this because they all often have the same points of conversation. When you talk about the Trinity, they will use the Bible like a machine gun and shoot you with verses. The verses are always the same: Colossians 1:15, Mark 10:18… So, there is an implication that they all have the same information. There is one source from where they gather their patterns and behaviors. Similarly, I think we can see the power behind the system of the world as well. We can see what this power is like by the tracks he leaves behind. The contrast of the two systems is really seen in Revelation 14:8. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” John is using the word  Babylon  here for

How and Where to Make Divisions

Sometimes, I get asked “Why do you get so up at arms about other religions?” or, “Why do you pick on other religions so much?” I think the following will help you see where I’m coming from, before I spill the beans on such.   We have difficulty sometimes in discovering where to make divisions when considering where to spend our money, and who to support, where to make purchases, and where not to do such. We also often have difficulty on how to know if a church or a congregation is a place where someone can actually become saved. Like, how can we know that a Mormon is likely not saved but we can know that a regular church attender at a gospel sound church is likely saved? What is it that would make my church attendance at a specific body no longer appropriate? Both answers to these questions deal with doctrine. If a company is pushing false doctrine using their influence and power to push a heretical doctrine or teaching, this is often when the red flags fly. “Non-essentials” aside for

Defending Christianity against Mormonism

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ” (NIV 1 Peter 3:15). In other words, LOVE THEM . Mormons                                                             Biblical Truths Mormons are monolaters, meaning, they believe in many gods, yet worship only one. LDS believe that “As man is, God once was; and as God is, man may become.” LDS do not believe in Hell. LDS believe God is flesh and bones. LDS believe in baptism for the dead. LDS believe Jesus and Satan are created brothers. LDS do not believe in the Trinity. LDS believe that “it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do” (Nephi 25:23). Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (See also Isaiah 43:11; Acts 5:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; Exodus 20:3; et. al.). God kn

Argument from Beauty: Evangelical Christians have Neglected a Favorable Catalyst for the Gospel

It seems to me that some Evangelical Christians have taken a biblical passage in the wrong direction. Perhaps I, considering myself to be an Evangelical Christian, am guilty of such as well. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Verse 2 is where we get the phrase,  be in the world, but don’t be of the world . What this means is that we should know our place. Our place is in heaven. The Bible says that we are citizens of heaven, and that we should think and act as if we are. Philippians 3:20-21 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the po

The Highest Virtue

A virtue is a trait of excellence. What is the highest virtue? It seems that based on the nature of truth, that truth itself is perhaps the highest virtue. For instance, I could say that love is the highest virtue, but then I could ask the question of whether that is true or not. If it is or isn’t true, this places truth virtuously higher than love, at least in some sense. The fact that I can question love through the lens of truth seems to place truth above love in height of virtue. On the other hand, if I said that truth is the highest virtue, then it seems that it would be loving to tell others the truth! Perhaps truth and love go hand in hand, but this also concerns the nature of what truth is.  Truth is a requirement for love, which I argue here , but is love a requirement for truth? Love must contain truth in order to be  true  love. But truth does not have to contain love in order to be true truth. Take for instance, mathematics, or numbers in general… Sometimes, the truth hurts

Does Baptism Save People from Sin?

There is a lot of confusion, and I would go as far to say that there is a perversion, of baptism in the world today. Some people, such as those in the Church of Christ, teach that baptism is a requirement for salvation. Others say that baptism is something we can do for the dead . But what does the Bible teach about baptism?   Those who say that baptism is a requirement for salvation use verses like 1 Peter 3:21 which says,  baptism which corresponds to this now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Christ Jesus…  This is not talking about soul salvation but being saved from one’s own bad conscience. In other words, by obeying Jesus in getting baptized, we have a good conscience in doing so. Other times some  people  may use Acts 2:37-38 to show that baptism is a requirement for salvation.  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers,

Objectivity is the Language of Heaven

NDErs (i. e. people who have claimed to have had a   Near Death Experience ) often report that when they go to Heaven, they frequently see and recognize people such as friends and family members. It is often also reported that when they were communicating with friends and relatives, they realized that they weren’t speaking English, but that they were telepathically speaking to one another.   It seems it would be impossible to have communication with others without learning every language that has ever existed under the sun, but since heaven is a perfect place, [1]  then communication should be perfect as well. In other words, it seems unlikely that there are barriers to communication. So, I should be able to communicate with the Apostles, upon my arrival for instance, but how? I personally only really know how to speak English fluently. My Spanish, Japanese, German, Russian, Chinese, and Latin is like that of a child, and my Greek is only in reading and writing.  If communication is me

The Jehovah's Witness Training Videos

How your conversation will likely go with a Jehovah's Witness. The Videos… they have all seen them. The videos that they have seen are like when you start a new job and watch these old, poor quality, cheesy DVDs (or VHS) about how your job is performed safely. You’re sitting in the room alone for three hours and fifteen minutes, watching everyone in their PPE do the wrong things and then the right things, so you can know the difference between them. Anyone who has worked at Wal-Mart, or a factory, or is a heavy equipment operator knows exactly what “the videos” look and sound like.  Jehovah’s Witnesses (Hereafter, JWs) must go through a similar situation because their responses to my questions and challenges is exactly the same, often verbatim, every time. I have to assume that they have all seen the same video. I have not seen the videos myself, but I definitely seem to have a cumulative case for believing that they exist. Granted, this group of JWs I'm referring to are the m