Behold your God
Motives for this study
There is no higher or more worthwhile knowledge.
It guards against error since all aspects of the gospel are based on God's character.
We need to know what pleases Him and what incurs His wrath.
Knowing God enables us to meet life's situations.
It improves the mind more than any other study.
God reveals Himself through the gospel, and all aspects of the gospel are based upon His character.
Introduction
The Bible describes Him as most holy, just, spirit, love, light, eternal, almighty, all knowing, present everywhere, sovereign, awesome in goodness and severity.
- God hates all sin and all forms of idolatry.
- He delights to show mercy and grace.
- It is His will that all men should be saved, but He will not clear the guilty unless the penalty of their sin has been paid.
- He loves righteousness and rewards those who obey Him.
- There is joy in heaven over the sinner who repents, and faith pleases God.
- He rewards those who seek Him diligently.
God is most holy
Holiness crowns and embraces all His other divine perfections. By this, we understand His supreme moral and ethical perfection. He is also absolutely distinct but not remote from all His creatures and transcends them in every way, thus calling for our reverence, awe and worship.
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. Psalm 99:9
Isaiah 6:3 Rev 4:8
He is the first cause of all things
You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there as no God formed, neither shall there be after me. Isaiah 43:10
Rom 11:36 Rev 4:11
and has the property of self-existence
For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself. John 5:26
Creator
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Gen 1:1
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Rom 11:36
Romans 1:20
God is a living Person
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 1 Tim 4:10
1 Thes 1:9
Eternal
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: Deut 33:27
Immortal
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Tim 1:17
1 Tim 6:16
The True God
But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Jer 10:10
For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 1 Thes 1:9
Awesome in goodness and severity
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also will be cut off. Rom 11:22
Acts 2:20
The first and the last
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6
Rev 22:13
No other before Him
You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me Isaiah 43:10
Isaiah 45:5-6
No other beside Him
To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. Deut 4:35
1 Cor 8:4
No other like Him
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:5
A Jealous God
You shall not make any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: You shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God. Exodus 20:5
Invisible
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him John 1:18
Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8
1 Tim 1:17
Omnipotent - almighty (Gen 17:1 EL SHADDAI)
Ah Lord GOD! behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for you: Jer 32:17
Mark 10:26-27
Omnipresent - present everywhere
Am I a God at hand, says the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? says the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. Jer 23:23-24
Psalm 139:1-18
Omniscient - all knowing
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:13
Acts 15:18
Most wise
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen 1 Tim 1:17
1 Cor 1:18-25
Unsearchable
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Rom 11:33
Righteous
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Psalm 145:17
Most just
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face. Ps 89:14
Deut 32:4 Isaiah 45:21
Perfect
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matt 5:48
God is spirit
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24
God is love
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love 1 John 4:8
1 John 4:8-10 1 John 1:16
God is light
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5
1 John 1:5-7 1 Tim 6:16
Sovereign
Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure. Isaiah 46:10
Ephesians 1:11
Unchangeable
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James1:17
Heb 6:17-18
Faithful
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19
1 Cor 10:13 1 Thes 5:24
Abundant in mercy, love, goodness, faithfulness, and who will by no means clear the guilty. Exod 34:6,7
Psalm 103:8-14 Psalm 103:17 Micah 7:18
Glorious
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. Psalm 145:5
God of glory... Acts 7:2
Good
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8
God of all grace
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
God of patience
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, Rom 15:5
God of hope
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13
God of peace
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Rom 15:33
Father of mercies and God of all comfort
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Cor 1:3
God loves righteousness and rewards obedience to His commandments.
Psalm 11:7 John 14:21
"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers." 1 Peter 3:10-12
He hates and punishes all forms of idolatry
Exod 20:5 Rom 1:22-32
He hates and punishes sin
Rom 6:23 Psalm 5:5,6 Psalm 7:11 John 3:36
He delights in showing mercy
Micah 7:18
He is the rewarder of those who seek Him diligently
Heb 11:6 Psalm 25:8
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.