Posted on by drthomasclothier

Deconstructing Christianity Revisited: What Kind of God?

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16–20 (ESV)

“I mean what kind of God requires that we actually go out and tell people about Jesus so that they are rescued from Hell? They should just all go to heaven without repentance that would create such a perfect place.”

The previous quote concerns two biblical doctrines: the nature of God and the nature of humankind. Why does God command His disciples to go and tell people about their need for salvation? Why are people needing to hear from God’s disciples about their need of salvation? The questions, and their respective answers, are intertwined.

What kind of God commands His disciples to tell people about their need of salvation? What has the One, True God of heaven and dearth revealed about Himself? Scripture provides the answer. There may be more attributes God has not revealed to us, but there many He has chosen to reveal. They are as follows.

  • God is self-existent. God is not dependent upon anything or anyone but Himself (Psalm 33:10-11; Ex. 3:13-14; Rom. 9:19; 11:32-36; Eph. 1:5).
  • God is self-sufficient.  God lacks nothing (Psalm 50:10-12).
  • God is eternal. God is absolutely free from any tyranny of time. He exists in a perpetual present (Deut. 33:27; Psalm 90:1-2; 102:11-12; John 8:56-58).
  • God is infinite. God has no limitations beyond His own nature and will (I Kings 8:22-27; Jeremiah 23:24).
  • God is omnipresent. God is present everywhere; not only in His transcendence but also in His immanence (Psalm 139:7-12; Matthew 18:20; 28:19-20).
  • God is omnipotent. God is all powerful. This power and authority extends over nature, humankind, angels, Satan and death (Genesis 1-2; Isaiah 40; Daniel 4:30-32; Psalm 103:20; Job 1-2; Hebrews 2:14-15).
  • God is omniscient. God is all knowing. His knowledge is infinite (Psalm 44:21; 139:4; 147:1-5; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 6:32; Hebrews 4:13).
  • God is Wise. God applies His knowledge in the best possible way (Psalm 136:1-5; Proverbs 3:19; I Corinthians 2:7; I Timothy 1:17; Jude 1:25).
  • God is immutable. God never changes (Acts 1:11; Hebrews 1:10-12; 13:8; James 1:17).
  • God is sovereign. God is in complete control of the universe. He is absolute ruler (Psalm 115:1-3; 135:1-6; Isaiah 46:1-11; Daniel 4:35).
  • God is incomprehensible. God alone can completely comprehend God (Job 5:1-7; 11:1-9; Psalm 36:1-6; Romans 11:33-36).
  • God is holy. Holiness is God’s most prominent attribute. God is set-apart. He is uniquely different (Leviticus 19:1-2; Psalm 99:1-9; Isaiah 6:1-7; I Peter 1:13-15).
  • God is wrathful. God is set against and judges sin (Psalm 2:1-12; 7:1-9; 45:7; 67:1-7; 75:1-8; 76:6-7; 78:49-51; 90:7-9; 96:10; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15-16; John 3:36; Romans 1:18-21; (:22;Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:5–6). 
  • God is righteous. God righteousness is His love for holiness (Exodus 9:27; Ezra 9:15; Nehemiah 9:8; Daniel 9:14).
  • God is true. Truth is what is real. God’s being and His knowledge conforms to each other (John 14:1-6; 17:1-3; Romans 3:1-4; I Thessalonians 1:1-9; Titus 1:1-2; Hebrews 6:18).
  • God is faithful. God is trustworthy, dependable, reliable and worthy or worship (Deuteronomy 7:1-9; Psalm 36:5; 89:1-2; Lamentations 3:22-23; I Corinthians 10:13).
  • God is light. God is the source of moral, mental and spiritual source of illumination and understanding (2 Corinthians 4:1-6; I Timothy 6:16; James 1:17; I Peter 2:9; I John 1:5-7).
  • God is merciful. God often does not give sinners what they deserve; judgment (Psalm 61; 103:8-17; Jonah 4:1-2; I Timothy 1:13-16; Hebrews 8-12).
  • God is gracious. God often gives sinners what they do not deserve; salvation (Psalm 111:1-4; 116:1-5; John 1:14-17; Romans 1:1-7; 3:24; 5:20; I Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:1-9;  Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 2:9; 4:14-16; I Peter 2:1-3; 5:1-10).
  • God is love. Biblical love is an unselfish care and concern for another individual’s welfare. It is a self-sacrificial love of the will. God loves Israel, the sinful world, the church, and individual sinner and the individual believer in Christ (Deuteronomy 7:1-8; Isaiah 49:15; Jeremiah 31:1-3; Hosea 11:1; John 3:1-6; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:25-32; I Timothy 3:1-4; 2 Peter 3:1-9).

This is the God who commands His disciples to tell people about their need of salvation. He is the One, True God who we are to obey. May God find us so.

Soli deo Gloria!

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