Baptist Doctrine in One Year
#7
What Baptists Believe About the True God and His Attributes
Memory Verse: Matthew 22:37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Prayer: That each one of us may come to know more about the True God.

**Scriptures**: Psalm 83:18; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; John 11:26; John 15:26; 1 Peter 1:2; Isaiah 45:7-12; Jeremiah 9:23-24.

God revealed Himself by name to distinguish Himself from other gods, saying, “I am Jehovah, that is My name” (Isaiah 42:8).

God’s name is personal, descriptive, and sacred. Dr. Strong defined God as “the infinite and perfect Spirit, in whom all
things have their source, support, and end.” The Bible teaches that God is Spirit (John 4:24), meaning He is not a superman
with a body of flesh but a living, spiritual being. As the living God, He not only has life in Himself but is also the source
of all life. As Spirit, God is personal, self-conscious, self-determining, and moral.

Memory Verse: Matthew 22:37

Prayer: That each of us may come to know more about the true God.
Key Verses: Psalm 83:18; Ecclesiastes 11:11; Revelation 4:11; John 11:26; 1 Peter 1:2; Isaiah 45:7-12; Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“For I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22). Belief in the existence of a divine being is nearly universal. Few people
profess to believe that there is no God, and the Bible characterizes such people as fools (Psalm 14:1). “The heavens declare the
glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). While most people acknowledge God’s existence, they differ
widely in their conceptions of Him. Man’s false imaginations have led to various misconceptions, including deism, atheism,
skepticism, infidelity, agnosticism, pantheism, and polytheism.

Theism, however, is the belief in the existence of a personal God—Creator, Preserver, and Ruler of all things. Monotheism teaches
that there is only one God, and it is central to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Today, we have the Bible to reveal God and His
attributes, but for thousands of years, this was not the case. God personally revealed Himself through dreams, visions, angelic
visitations, and theophanies (visible manifestations of God in human form) to Adam, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, prophets, priests,
and kings in the Old Testament. Those who have received knowledge of God from their parents are truly blessed, as this is a vital
source of understanding that is often overlooked.

Scripture does not attempt to prove God’s existence (Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:19-21,28,32; Job 21:12; 22:15). Apart from His revelation,
God’s existence is incapable of direct proof, but there are five classical arguments for divine existence:

The Cosmological Argument – The argument from the existence of change in nature.

The Teleological Argument – The argument from the order and useful arrangement in nature.

The Anthropological Argument – The argument from man’s mental and moral nature.

The Christological Argument – From the Greek word Christos, meaning the Anointed One or Messiah.

The Argument from Congruity – Congruity refers to logical or practical harmony and agreement.

Man does not rely on a single method to obtain knowledge. He arrives at truth through sensation, experience, testimony, and
consciousness. Some truths are self-evident upon intelligent reflection. This leads to our innate knowledge of biblical truth.
While we cannot fully comprehend God, we can know certain things about Him. Through bits and pieces, we come to a greater
understanding of who He is.

When we use the word “God,” there is no question about its meaning—we refer to the one Supreme Being, the Creator, and Sovereign
of all things. However, in ancient times, many gods were worshipped (1 Corinthians 8:5-6). God set Himself apart by revealing His
name and His true nature to His people.

Attributes of God

Understanding God’s Nature

**God’s Revelation Through the Scriptures**

God, in His infinite wisdom, chose to reveal Himself progressively through the Scriptures. The Bible serves as the ultimate source of knowledge
about God, detailing His nature, attributes, and His relationship with humanity. Through various literary forms—history, poetry, prophecy, and
teachings—the Scriptures provide a comprehensive understanding of who God is.

1. **Attributes of God**: The Bible describes several key attributes of God, including:
– **Omnipotence**: God is all-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17).
– **Omniscience**: God is all-knowing (Psalm 139:1-4).
– **Omnipresence**: God is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10).
– **Immutability**: God does not change (Malachi 3:6).
– **Love**: God is love (1 John 4:8).
– **Holiness**: God is completely pure and separate from sin (Isaiah 6:3).

God is light (1 John 1:5). Light symbolizes wisdom and purity, representing God as an all-wise and perfect being. God is love
(1 John 4:16). The great and holy God is a God of love, and knowing this kindles hope in the sinner’s heart. The supreme
manifestation of His love was in the gift of His Son (1 John 4:9). God is also a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). He is not
only a God of love but also a God of righteousness. Men cannot trifle with God and escape His righteous judgments (Isaiah 10:8-9).

The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of His perfections as revealed in Holy Scripture.
An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshipped. God is truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to Him,
submit to His authority, and regulate all the details of our lives by His holy precepts and commandments (Hosea 6:1; John 7:17).
The attributes of God are those peculiarities that define His mode of existence or constitute His character. We call them attributes
because they are fundamental qualities or powers of His being that explain His self-revelations. Holy acts and words originate from
holiness; truthful acts and words from truth; benevolent acts and words from a benevolent disposition.

Absolute and Relative Attributes of God

Absolute (Immanent) Attributes:

Spirituality – God is a Spirit (John 4:24).

Personality – God is self-conscious and self-determining.

Infinity – Includes self-existence, immutability, and unity.

Perfection – Includes truth, love, and holiness.

Relative (Transitive) Attributes:

Related to Time and Space – Eternity and immensity.

Related to Creation – Omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence.

Related to Moral Beings – Veracity, faithfulness, mercy, goodness, justice, and righteousness.

Dr. Augustus Strong identifies these attributes as essential to understanding God’s nature. To fully explain them would
require extensive study, but here are a few fundamental aspects of God’s attributes:

The Solitariness of God – “In the beginning, God” (Genesis 1:1). There was a time when God existed alone, before creation.
He was self-contained, self-sufficient, self-satisfied, and in need of nothing.

The Knowledge of God – God is omniscient. He knows everything about the past, present, and future. His knowledge is perfect
(Hebrews 4:13).

The Supremacy of God – The absolute and universal supremacy of God is affirmed in many Scriptures (1 Chronicles 29:11-12;
Job 23:13; Psalm 115:7). He is sovereign over nature, men, and our final destiny.

The Holiness of God – God alone is independently, infinitely, and immutably holy (Revelation 15:4). Holiness is singled out
as God’s defining perfection (Isaiah 8:13) because it expresses His nature more fully than anything else (Psalm 30:4).

2. **The Nature of God**: The Scriptures emphasize that God is a personal being who desires a relationship with humanity. This relationship is
characterized by love, grace, and forgiveness. God invites individuals to know Him through prayer, worship, and obedience to His Word.

3. **The Role of Jesus Christ**: In Christianity, Jesus Christ is central to understanding God. He is seen as the incarnation of God, revealing
God’s nature in a tangible way. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus provides a pathway to reconciliation with God, emphasizing the
importance of faith and grace.

4. **The Holy Spirit**: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the believer’s life, guiding, teaching, and empowering individuals to live
according to God’s will. The Spirit helps believers to grow in their understanding of God and to live out their faith in practical ways.

5. **The Importance of Faith**: Belief in God involves trust and faith. Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him.”
Faith is not merely intellectual assent but involves a deep, personal commitment to God and His promises.

**Conclusion**

In conclusion, understanding the true nature of God is essential for a meaningful relationship with Him. Through the Scriptures, we gain insight
into His character, attributes, and His desires for humanity. While God’s existence can be argued through various philosophical means, it is
ultimately revealed through the living Word—the Bible—and through the experiences of those who seek Him.

As we continue to explore the depths of God’s nature and His relationship with us, may we be open to His revelations and committed to growing
in our faith. Let us approach the study of God with humility, recognizing that while we may know many things about Him, the fullness of His
being is beyond our complete understanding.

Discussion Questions:

How do we know there is a God?

Why are the greatest scientists believers in God?

How can we know about the power of God?

How can we know about the character of God?

How can a man find out whether there is a God?

Is Jesus God? Is the Father God? Is the Holy Spirit God?