attributes of God

Attributes of God: Will, Wisdom, Wrath

Posted on October 23, 2022October 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship. We have been taking a look at God’s attributes each Sunday. Links to previous weeks are below. Most definitions are taken from Tim Challies’ visual theology chart of the attributes of God.

Remember, God’s attributes are not parts that make up a whole. Everything good that there is, is 100% contained in God. He is 100% beauty, 100% aseity, 100% omniscient, etc. He is complete in Himself.

Tim Challies explained: “To study God’s attributes is to study his character, to answer questions like, Who is God? and What is God like? A typical classification of God’s attributes divides them into those that are incommunicable (those that he does not share or “communicate” to anyone or anything else) and communicable (those that he shares with other beings). Like most theological classifications, this one is imperfect but still helpful as we seek to understand what is so far beyond ourselves. God’s communicable attributes can be further categorized into: attributes of God’s being, mental attributes, moral attributes, attributes of purpose, and “summary” attributes (attributes that, in a more particular way, modify each of the others).”

This is the final week in the series.

WILL: Attribute of purpose. God approves and determines to bring about every action necessary for the existence and activity of all that exists.

WISDOM: Mental Attribute. God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals.

WRATH. Moral Attribute. God intensely hates all sin.

Free ebook, Stephen Charnock’s The Existence and Attributes of God. THE standard bearer for discussion on God’s attributes. The hard copy of the book is big, over 1600 pages. It’s heavy. It’s expensive. It’s 2 volumes. FYI, Reformation Heritage Books is having a huge sale now. Charnock’s book in hard cover leather is only $70 down from $120.

2-volume set of Charnock’s book, The Existence and Attributes of God, on sale here. Beautiful volumes that would enhance any library’s aesthetic and best of all, your mind!

Monergism, where you can read Charnock’s work on the Attributes of God online for free, or download a free ebook, said,

“The Existence and Attributes of God has become a classic text on the doctrine of God, and examines in meticulous detail God’s foreknowledge and sovereignty, and discusses the possibility of free will and natural law. No Reformed theologian prior to Charnock treated God’s existence and attributes with such clarity and depth—in fact, his was one of the first works solely devoted to the subject to appear in the Reformed theological tradition, and has become a standard work on the subject. His positions have been echoed and refined by generations of theologians, and most recently have contributed to contemporary debates over free will, foreknowledge, and the openness of God.”

“No doubt the sheer size of the volume has caused not a few persons to direct their reading efforts elsewhere. This is regrettable for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Charnock’s ability to combine rigorous theological discourse on the doctrine of God with the typical Puritan emphasis on “uses” of the doctrine (relating doctrine and life). His work has much value on a practical level, which should be the goal of all theology.”

The 2-volume set at Reformation Heritage Books includes:

Modernized Language: Archaic punctuation, words, and phrases have been updated for the modern reader
Updated Bibliographic Information: In the footnotes, Charnock’s sources have been located and updated with fuller bibliographic information, showing how widely read he was
Chapter Summaries: Each discourse begins with a summary of the chapter to follow
Extensive: Covers Charnock’s defense of God’s existence and 11 attributes of God
Includes In-Depth Chapter on the Life of Stephen Charnock by William Symington

Listen to an 8-minute podcast with Stephen Nichols of Ligonier (or read the transcript) discuss Charnock’s book with John MacArthur and how the Puritan volume was crucial for MacArthur in his twenties, how “it just totally altered how I viewed God, with a kind of vastness that put me in awe of Him.”

Learning about God through His attributes is worship. We can’t properly love and obey that which we do not know. I hope this series has been beneficial to you. All glory to God!

Previous weeks-

1. Aseity, Beauty, Blessedness
2. Eternity, Freedom, Glory
3. Goodness, Holiness, Immutability
4. Invisibility, Jealousy, Knowledge
5. Love
6. Mercy, Omnipotence, Omnipresence
7. Peace, Righteousness, Perfection
8. Will, Wisdom, Wrath

theology

Attributes of God: Spirituality, Truthfulness, Unity

Posted on October 16, 2022October 16, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship. We have been taking a look at God’s attributes each Sunday. Links to previous weeks are below. Most definitions are taken from Tim Challies’ visual theology chart of the attributes of God.

Tim Challies explained: “To study God’s attributes is to study his character, to answer questions like, Who is God? and What is God like? A typical classification of God’s attributes divides them into those that are incommunicable (those that he does not share or “communicate” to anyone or anything else) and communicable (those that he shares with other beings). Like most theological classifications, this one is imperfect but still helpful as we seek to understand what is so far beyond ourselves. God’s communicable attributes can be further categorized into: attributes of God’s being, mental attributes, moral attributes, attributes of purpose, and “summary” attributes (attributes that, in a more particular way, modify each of the others).”

SPIRITUALITY: Attributes describing God’s Being. God is a being who is not made up of matter and who cannot be perceived by our bodily senses.

TRUTHFULNESS: Mental Attributes: God is the true God whose knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth.

UNITY: God’s whole being includes all of his attributes at all times. These attributes are never in opposition.

Next week, the series concludes.

Previous weeks

theology

Attributes of God: Righteousness, Spirituality, Truth

Posted on October 2, 2022October 2, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship. We have been taking a look at God’s attributes each Sunday. Links to previous weeks are below. Most definitions are taken from Tim Challies’ visual theology chart of the attributes of God.

Tim Challies explained: “To study God’s attributes is to study his character, to answer questions like, Who is God? and What is God like? A typical classification of God’s attributes divides them into those that are incommunicable (those that he does not share or “communicate” to anyone or anything else) and communicable (those that he shares with other beings). Like most theological classifications, this one is imperfect but still helpful as we seek to understand what is so far beyond ourselves. God’s communicable attributes can be further categorized into: attributes of God’s being, mental attributes, moral attributes, attributes of purpose, and “summary” attributes (attributes that, in a more particular way, modify each of the others).”

RIGHTEOUSNESS (Moral Attributes) “God is the final standard of what is right and he always acts in accordance with what is right. (This is also known as God’s justice).”

God does not intend good towards wicked men, but only the glory of his justice. ~Thomas Valentine, The Church’s Need of Jesus Christ

SPIRITUALITY (Attributes describing God’s Being) “God is a being who is not made up of matter and who cannot be perceived by our bodily senses.”

(This is extremely important in light of worship). “God being a Spirit declares what he is; his other perfections declare what “kind” of Spirit he is.” ~Stephen Charnock, A Christian’s True Spiritual Worship to Jesus Christ.

TRUTHFULNESS (Mental Attributes) “God is the true God whose knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth.”

Truth came out of God’s heart, and is the manifestation of his life and glory, and it will turn the heart suitable to that life. ~Cuthbert Sydenham (1622–1654) The Greatness of the Mystery of Godliness

Previous entries of the Attributes of God-

1. Attributes of God: Aseity, Beauty, Blessedness
2. Eternity, Freedom, Glory
3. Goodness, Holiness, Immutability
4. Invisibility, Jealousy, Knowledge
5. Love
6. Mercy, Omnipotence, Omnipresence
7. Peace, Righteousness, Perfection

theology

The Attributes of God: Peace, Righteousness, Perfection

Posted on September 25, 2022October 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship. We have been taking a look at God’s attributes each Sunday. Links to previous weeks are below. Most definitions are taken from Tim Challies’ visual theology chart of the attributes of God.

Tim Challies explained: “To study God’s attributes is to study his character, to answer questions like, Who is God? and What is God like? A typical classification of God’s attributes divides them into those that are incommunicable (those that he does not share or “communicate” to anyone or anything else) and communicable (those that he shares with other beings). Like most theological classifications, this one is imperfect but still helpful as we seek to understand what is so far beyond ourselves. God’s communicable attributes can be further categorized into: attributes of God’s being, mental attributes, moral attributes, attributes of purpose, and “summary” attributes (attributes that, in a more particular way, modify each of the others).”

PEACE
Moral attribute. God, in his being and actions, is separate from all confusion and disorder.

Jonathan Edwards on peace: “My peace I give unto you.” Christ by calling it his peace signifies two things,

1. That it was his own, that which he had to give. It was the peculiar benefit that he had to bestow on his children, now he was about to leave the world as to his human presence.
2. It was his peace that he gave them, as it was the same kind of peace which he himself enjoyed. The same excellent and divine peace which he ever had in God, and which he was about to receive in his exalted state in a vastly greater perfection and fullness.

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.”

RIGHTEOUSNESS
Moral Attribute
God is the final standard of what is right and he always acts in accordance with what is right. (This is also known as God’s justice).

RC Sproul on God’s righteousness: “His righteousness is of two sorts. We distinguish God’s internal righteousness from His external righteousness. What God does is always consistent with who God is. He always acts according to His holy character. God’s “internal righteousness” is the moral excellence of His character. It is rooted in his absolute purity. There is no shadow of turning in Him. As a holy God, He is utterly incapable of an unholy act. Only unholy beings commit unjust and unrighteous acts.“

Psalm 11:7, “For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will see His face.“

PERFECTION
Summary Attribute
God fully possesses all excellent qualities and lacks no qualities that would be desirable for him.

Charles Spurgeon on God’s perfection: “Perfection, indeed, seems to be the sole prerogative of God. He is perfect in everything. In all his attributes there is no lack; from whatever point of view we regard him, he is without blot or blemish; and no man, speaking truthfully of God, can say that there is aught of imperfection in him.”

Matthew 5:48, “Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Previous entries of the Attributes of God-

Previous weeks-1. Aseity, Beauty, Blessedness
2. Eternity, Freedom, Glory
3. Goodness, Holiness, Immutability
4. Invisibility, Jealousy, Knowledge
5. Love
6. Mercy, Omnipotence, Omnipresence
7. Peace, Righteousness, Perfection
8. Will, Wisdom, Wrath

theology

Attributes of God: Invisibility, Jealousy, Knowledge

Posted on September 4, 2022October 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship.

Tim Challies has created a visual theology of God’s attributes. Remember, God’s attributes are not parts that make up a whole. Everything good that there is, is 100% contained in God. He is 100% beauty, 100% aseity, 100% omniscient, etc. He is complete in Himself.

A typical classification of God’s attributes divides them into those that are incommunicable (those that he does not share or “communicate” to anyone or anything else) and communicable (those that he shares with other beings). Blue text attributes are incommunicable. For example, humans can seek to be good, but we can never be immutable. We can be wise, but we can never be omniscient.

INVISIBILITY: Attributes describing God’s being: God’s total essence, all of his being, will never be visible to us.

JEALOUSY: Moral attributes- God always seeks to protect his own honor.

KNOWLEDGE/Omniscience: Mental attributes- God fully knows himself and all actual and possible things. (This is also known as God’s omniscience).

Source: Tim Challies, Visual Theology, The Attributes of God

Previous weeks-

theology

Attributes of God: Goodness, Holiness, Immutability

Posted on August 28, 2022October 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship.

GOODNESS: Moral attributes: God is the final standard of all good, and all he is and does is worthy of approval.

HOLINESS: Moral attributes: God is separated from sin and he is committed to seeking his own honor.

IMMUTABILITY: Incommunicable attribute: God cannot change in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises.

Previous weeks-

1. Attributes of God: Aseity, Beauty, Blessedness
2. Eternity, Freedom, Glory

Attributes of God: Eternity, Freedom, Glory

Posted on August 21, 2022October 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship.

The paragraph on the left side in the visual illustration below explains how to view these attributes, explains what summary attributes are, and why some are in blue and others are in red. Right-click to open the illustration larger in new tab.

“To study God’s attributes is to study his character, to answer questions like, Who is God? and What is God like? A typical classification of God’s attributes divides them into those that are incommunicable (those that he does not share or “communicate” to anyone or anything else) and communicable (those that he shares with other beings).” Source, Tim Challies.

“Like most theological classifications, this one is imperfect but still helpful as we seek to understand what is so far beyond ourselves. God’s communicable attributes can be further categorized into: attributes of God’s being, mental attributes, moral attributes, attributes of purpose and “summary” attributes (attributes that, in a more particular way, modify each of the others). It is important to consider that God is not simply the sum of his attributes. His attributes are not separate from one another, but each one modifies or qualifies each of the others.” Source, Tim Challies.

ETERNITY: God has always existed, having no beginning and no end, and experiencing no succession of moments.

FREEDOM: (Attributes of Purpose) God does whatever he pleases.

GLORY: (Summary Attributes) The created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself.

Previous week: Attributes of God: Aseity, Beauty, Blessedness

Further Reading: Ligonier: The Primacy of God’s Glory

theology

Attributes of God: Aseity, Beauty, Blessedness

Posted on August 14, 2022October 23, 2022 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sundays are a good time to ponder who God is. He is worthy of service and worship.

Tim Challies has written a visual theology of God’s attributes. Remember, God’s attributes are not parts that make up a whole. Everything good that there is, is 100% contained in God. He is 100% beauty, 100% aseity, 100% omniscient, etc. He is complete in Himself.

The paragraph on the left side explains how to view these attributes, explains what summary attributes are, and why some are in blue and others are in red. Right-click to open larger in new tab.

The first three are:

ASEITY: God is self-existent and self-sufficient and has no need of human beings or the rest of creation.

BEAUTY: Summary Attributes. God is the possessor and the sum of all desirable qualities.

BLESSEDNESS: Summary Attributes. God delights fully in himself and in all that reflects his character.

We worship a holy God who is Good, Perfect, True, and Beautiful! Praise Him today.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

Previous weeks-