| God’s Non-Transmittable Attributes (Part One) Omnipotence by Martin G. Collins (Charlotte, North Carolina) |
|---|
 There is a critical distinction between God’s transmittable attributes, which He shares with us, and His non-transmittable attributes, which He does not share with us. For example, when we attempt to describe God, we must consider that He is self-existent, self-sufficient, and eternal. These three qualities denote that God has existed and always will exist. He has no origin, needs, or changes, and He answers to no one (Colossians 1:17; Isaiah 40:13; Job 33:13; 41:11; Malachi 3:6). These attributes set God wholly apart from every living being. All physical life has an origin. In addition, living beings have many needs like food, water, rest, and oxygen, and they are constantly changing—diminishing with time (Job 14:12; Psalm 102:26; Romans 8:20). Furthermore, all humans are accountable to someone, like parents or employers (or institutions like the government), and ultimately, to God. To these initial attributes, without which God would not be God, we can add three more: omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience, which express His majesty and His holiness in its fullest sense. These attributes are also non-transmittable. In other words, God alone possesses them; He does not share them with His creation. For comparison, transmittable qualities are those that God has offered to share with us, such as the ability to love, acquire knowledge, and show kindness. Is God truly and fully omnipotent? Genesis 17:1; Revelation 1:8; 19:6. Comment: In many instances in the Old Testament, especially in the book of Job, God refers to Himself by the Hebrew word Shaddai (Exodus 6:3; Job 40:2; Joel 1:15), which means “the Almighty.” In the New Testament, He describes Himself with the Greek word Pantokrator (II Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 4:8), which means “fully and universally sovereign, almighty, and omnipotent.” God ultimately reigns in the universe and beyond, and all power and authority originate from Him (Daniel 4:35). He is Sovereign. He is the Supreme Being. He has the power to do all His pleasure, and He sees to the fulfillment of His plans without fail (Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 55:11). Can God do anything? Matthew 19:26; Luke 18:27; Psalm 135:6. Comment: Jesus confirms that “with God all things are possible.” Job declares to God, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job 42:2). Describing God as “the Almighty” or “Omnipotent One” is, therefore, interpreted by some Bible students to mean that He has the power to do anything and everything without any bounds. However, while no creature possesses the capability to challenge God’s limitless capacity, the Bible clearly shows that God cannot act contrary to His nature. For example, God cannot lie or deny Himself (Titus 1:2; II Timothy 2:13; Hebrews 6:18). God’s omnipotence, therefore, is not the power of doing anything and everything. Instead, it is the power to carry out the will of His own perfect, divine nature, which He does without any constraints (Proverbs 21:30). Is anything too difficult for God to accomplish? Amos 4:13; Isaiah 40:25-28; Luke 1:37. Comment: The prophet Jeremiah proclaims that God is the all-powerful Creator: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jeremiah 32:17). The Almighty Himself rhetorically queries Abraham’s wife, Sarah, in Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” David asks in Psalm 106:2, “Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise?” The prophet Isaiah states, “Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing” (Isaiah 40:15). He is referred to as “Almighty” 48 times in the Old Testament and nine times in the New Testament. Though He never acts contrary to His will—His only restraints are self-imposed—He has infinite power to accomplish whatever He pleases. In Part Two of our study, we will consider and examine God’s omnipresence. |
| God’s Non-Transmittable Attributes (Part Two) Omnipresence by Martin G. Collins (Charlotte, North Carolina) |
|---|
 Source: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team Since God is spiritual, He is not restricted to any spatial dimension in the physical realm. He is always present everywhere and at any time with His whole Being. Jeremiah 23:23-24 reads: “‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the LORD, ‘and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the LORD; ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the LORD.” This scripture helps to introduce another of God’s non-transmittable attributes, omnipresence, which is the quality of being present in all places at all times. As long as we remain human, we will never possess this ability. This attribute does not define God as an indescribable, vapor-like entity. Spiritual substance exists in a similar fashion to natural matter, except that it is a much higher form, governed by higher laws. In addition, God’s Word and His creation provide abundant evidence that neither He nor His angels are floating around the universe without bodies. The Bible describes God with body parts—the same body parts as humans—confirming that He has shape and form, which manifests in a specific location (Genesis 1:26-27; Daniel 7:9-10; Isaiah 66:1; Revelation 4). Both the Father and the Son—while being united in mind and purpose—have autonomous bodies (Revelation 5). Is God actually omnipresent? Isaiah 57:15; Proverbs 15:3. Comment: Even though God is said to rule the universe from His throne in the third heaven, Isaiah describes Him as “inhabiting eternity,” and Solomon declares that “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” In Psalm 90:2, Moses writes, “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” While the noun “omnipresence” never occurs in Scripture, the fact that God is everywhere is presupposed throughout the Bible and sometimes explicitly expressed. By what power is God omnipresent”? Psalm 139:1-7. Comment: Omnipresence is an eternal attribute of God. He is omnipresent through His Holy Spirit, the same boundless power that provides for His omnipotence (Jeremiah 32:17; Zechariah 4:6). David understood and made the connection between God’s presence and His Holy Spirit. “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). Because God is everywhere, He sees and hears us—just as He saw and heard David—personally (John 2:24-25). He is always present in all places through His Spirit. God is never confined but is present in all His power at every point in space and time. David addressed this attribute directly when he asked: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). Is God’s omnipresence ever limited? Job 42:2; Matthew 19:26. Comment: No external force can place any limitation on God (Micah 2:7; Psalm 135:6). He perceives all things in all places and at all times (Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 5:21; Jeremiah 16:17). No secrets are ever withheld from the all-seeing eyes of the Lord, whether in the highest heights of the heavens, the deepest caves of the earth, or the depths of the sea. David continues: If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell [the grave], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You. (Psalm 139:8-12) There is no place in this universe where we can hide or that anyone is obscured from the presence of God (Romans 8:39; Psalm 23:4). The prophet Jonah confirms that it is useless and even unwise to try (Jonah 1:17—2:10)! Through His Spirit, our heavenly Father fills the entirety of our vast universe. He has absolute sovereignty to do anything He wills and to see and hear everything. Nothing is hidden! Because of God’s omnipresence, we can seek Him anywhere. Therefore, regardless of our location, we can be strengthened and encouraged by His presence while facing any circumstance. In Part Three of our study, we will consider and examine God’s omniscience. |
| God’s Non-Transmittable Attributes (Part Three) Omniscience by Martin G. Collins (Charlotte, North Carolina) |
|---|
 God fully knows Himself and all things—seen and unseen, physical and spiritual—past, present, and future. I John 3:20 confirms this by declaring that God “knows all things.” All God’s thoughts and actions are wholly informed by His perfect knowledge and character, making Him unconditionally and eternally trustworthy (Psalm 147:5; Proverbs 8:14; Isaiah 46:10). This fact brings us to a third non-transmittable attribute: God’s omniscience. To be omniscient means to know all things—to possess infinite knowledge. Despite all its expertise, intelligence, and achievement, humanity will never know all things, even as God’s people anticipate spending all eternity learning. Does God actually perceive all things? Psalm 139:1-12; Acts 15:18; II Chronicles 16:9. Comment: The Bible employs numerous idioms, metaphors, and literal descriptions to declare and confirm that God indeed perceives everything. He is thoroughly and intimately acquainted with His entire creation, including all of the innumerable stars and each of us (Psalm 147:4). No place exists where we can hide ourselves, our thoughts, or anything from God. He knew every move David made. Anticipating our sins, He prepared a plan of salvation for us from before the foundation of the earth (Matthew 25:34; Revelation 13:8; Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:20). He understands our desires, intentions, and motivations—our nature—and why we make our decisions. Can anything escape God’s senses? Jeremiah 32:19; Hebrews 4:12-13. Comment: We humans discover and perceive the physical world through the five physical senses, but God designed limitations to what our senses allow us to see, grasp, discern, or understand. On the other hand, God’s senses are not limited. Since He designed and created everything, He observes the entire spectrum of light and energy, and He hears the whole range of sound. Nothing escapes His understanding. Even though some humans have a weak intuitive sense through which some can instinctively predict the actions of others, it is only marginally accurate, especially outside a person’s limited sphere of influence. God, however, has no such constraints. His Spirit searches all things, including our most secretive thoughts (Psalm 69:5; 90:8; I Corinthians 2:10). He knows us more thoroughly and intimately than we know ourselves (Psalm 139:13-16), so predicting our future actions is but child’s play to His immeasurable intellect. This divine ability explains His confidence in men like Noah, Abraham, and Moses, and even more significantly, His willingness to lay the responsibility of His entire creation plan—including our salvation—on the shoulders of Jesus Christ (John 1:29). Does God’s omniscience limit our free-will choices? Isaiah 46:9-11; Genesis 22:1-18. Comment: Our omniscient God is sovereign over all His creation, “declaring the end from the beginning.” When we use the term “omniscient” to describe God, it does not mean that He always knows our every decision and action before we make them. Consider the account of Abraham and God’s command for him to sacrifice Isaac. God arranged this test to confirm His trust in Abraham as the father of the faithful and to show the rest of us the level of faith He desires. While He possesses the power and authority to force any person’s hand in any matter, His greater priority is the development of righteous character in His children. Because He is preparing us for eternity in His Family, He has given us a vital role in our development. To that end, God prepares scenarios in our lives to facilitate and measure our growth (II Corinthians 4:17; James 1:2-4). So, He requires us to exercise our faith and use our free will—just like Abraham—to make choices that are, by His flawless design, unpredictable. However, just as God chooses to act and intervene in history to accomplish His ends (Psalm 135:6; Proverbs 16:9; Isaiah 46:11), He always retains the right to restrain Himself from controlling our free will. Indeed, our great omnipotent and omnipresent God is also omniscient. “The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:28). |
| God’s Non-Transmittable Attributes (Part Four) Immutability by Martin G. Collins (Charlotte, North Carolina) |
|---|
 Much of the essence of Christian hope is based on faith in something or someone guaranteeing a hopeful outcome. The author of Hebrews declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith is founded on the trustworthiness of God to keep His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9; Hebrews 10:23). Such trustworthiness implies that God’s nature and character are unchanging or immutable. In all situations, God is constant and consistent. Unlike humans, He can always be trusted because He always keeps His word, never succumbing to emotional, impulsive, or temperamental actions. In tandem with His supreme intelligence and foreknowledge, His immutability extends to never changing His mind about His plan or His requirements for salvation. He may occasionally use a new or different approach to account for human variability, but He never changes His standards or His goals. We can rest assured that the God we worship is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Can God break a promise? Numbers 23:19; Psalm 89:34. Comment: God never makes a promise or a declaration that He fails to stand by for all eternity (Isaiah 40:8; Titus 1:2). If He says He will do something, He does it (I Samuel 15:29; I Thessalonians 5:24). He confirms by an oath to His followers that His will is immutable (Hebrews 6:17-18). He cannot lie. The mind and the intentions of God never change, and all the hope that we have of our salvation and eternal life is founded on the fact that He and His purpose are fixed (Isaiah 14:24; 46:10-11). He cannot and will not ever break a promise (II Timothy 2:13). Does God ever change anything? Isaiah 14:24; 46:9-11; Proverbs 19:21. Comment: Solomon declares in Ecclesiastes 3:14, “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it.” His father, David, proclaims in Psalm 33:11, “The counsel of the lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” Compare the chaos and confusion of humanity’s ever-changing world (Isaiah 24:5-8; Judges 17:6) with the absolute perfection and unadulterated truth of the coming Kingdom, designed by a God who has permanently established and fixed all principles of eternal existence (Revelation 21:3-5). He leaves nothing to chance! We can find comfort in our confidence that He and all He has promised and declared are unchanging (Job 23:13). Isaiah records God’s guarantee, “Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it” (Isaiah 46:11). Do some biblical passages represent God as changeable? Genesis 6:6; Exodus 32:8-14. Why would a perfect God change? Psalm 102:25-27. Comment: The Bible often portrays God as a Teacher (Exodus 4:15; Psalm 32:8), Parent (Exodus 20:12), or Judge (Leviticus 26). All three portrayals allow for disappointment, aggravation, frustration (Psalm 78:40)—and mercy and forgiveness. As our Judge, God maintains the right and the power to bless or curse, to extend mercy, and to reverse His judgment in accordance with our response to Him (Exodus 34:6-7). After all, He has called us to change. If we do so in accordance with His will—or if we fail to—He must, by His design and unchanging purpose, update His disposition toward us (II Timothy 2:12). This does not imply a change in His law or the doctrines of His church or an alteration of His promises. It signifies, instead, that we have changed (Exodus 32:10-14; Jonah 3:10). Ultimately, God’s immutability grants us the assurance that “He who has begun a good work in [us] will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). In a world suffering from the constant and unpredictable changes of humankind, we find stability and peace in a God who does not change (Hebrews 6:19). We know that His truth and His values are grounded in His nature: the divine essence that defines the character of our immutable God (Psalm 119:89-90; James 1:17; Malachi 3:6; Romans 11:29). |
Views: 0
Sign up to Receive [The "New" Church of God Messenger] weekly newsletter: