00 Acknowledgment and Preface

7/30/2019 00 Acknowledgment and Preface

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WHO IS THE LORD?

EXODUS 5:2

ASTUDYOF

THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD

By

BarryE.Horner


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TextandOutlineCopyright2009

byBarryE.Horner

Sahuarita,ArizonaAllrightsreservedPrintedintheUSA


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD i

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

HENastudentoftheWordofGodisguidedalongapathwaythatleadstohismoresolid

establishment in themost basic of revealed truths, and even further to the spiritual

enrichment of his soul, then it frequentlyweighs upon him that grateful acknowledgment

oughttobegiventohisguides.

WhileattendingWesternConservativeBaptistSeminaryinPortland,Oregon,during197073,Ireceivedencouragementfromthefacultytoseriouslyconsiderthenatureandattributesofthe

God of the Bible.The emphasiswas not simply one of attaining awell honed and precise

conceptofChristian theism, that is thebuildingof a tidy theological edifice.Rather, avital

foundationwas laidwhichwas seen to establish the root andbase forbiblical preaching,

prayer,evangelism,music,churchandpersonalspiritualmaturity.

Subsequentyearsofpastoralministry,aswellasobservationofthedriftofcontemporary

evangelicalChristianity, have only confirmed the opinion that theremustbe a return to adefinitiveappreciationof the revealed characterof theonly trueand livingGod.This is the

bottom line inherent in,Youshall love theLORDyourGodwithallyourheartandwithall

yoursoulandwithallyourmight,(Deut6:5,cf.Matt.22:3440).Inthisregard,contemporary

liberal,existentialistandsubjectiveinfluencesofthetimeshavereapedhavocincountlesslocal

churchesresultinginmancenteredidolatry.

Christiansoughttobecomereverentlyexcited,thatisexultantlyoverawedandenthused

in their souls concerning the full orbed character of the God of the Patriarchs, Prophets,

Apostles,andsupremelytheLordJesusChrist.Iamdeeplygratefulforthegodlymembersof

thefaculty

at

Western

who

encouraged

me

to

pursue

the

most

important

of

all

spheres

of

knowledge,namelytheknowledgeoftheHolyOneofIsrael.

Anotherdebthas recently come to the forewith regard to aprofessor atWesternwho

recommended the reading ofWhittaker Chambersmonumental autobiography Witness. A

more recent editionhas come tohandwithaprefacebyRobertNovakwhopointsout that

Chambersforcesus tofacethemostrevolutionaryquestion inhistory:Godorman? inthe

context of choosing between freedom represented by Western society or Communism.1

Howeversubsequenteventsinthe21stcenturyhavenowledustoconcludethatatbestNovakscalldealswiththepenultimateissuewhiletheultimatematterisconcernedwiththequestionas towhichGod is tobeyielded to, thedefinitiveJehovahofJudeoChristianityorAllahof

Mohammedanism,orGod in theabstractofmoderndeism.Thisbiblical study is concerned

withthisultimatequestionintermsoftheincomparablecharacterofthedefinitive,uniqueGod

ofAbrahamasrevealedintheOldTestamentandtheNewTestamentoftheBible.

BarryE.Horner

1WhittakerChambers,Witness,pp.viii,4.

W


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GODii


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE vii

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION TO THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD 1

GodcannotbeknownapartfromHisselfrevelation 1

GodcannotbeknownapartfromHisattributes 5

WhatexactlydowemeanbytheattributesofGod? 13

WhatwedonotmeanbytheattributesofGod 18WhyshouldwestudytheattributesofGod? 22

HowaretheattributesofGodtobeclassified? 31

II. THE HOLINESS OF GOD 35

WhatessentiallyistheholinessofGod? 38

TheholinessofGodevidentinHimself 44

Theholiness

of

God

evident

in

the

believer

60

III. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD 69

GodsrighteousnessHismoralbeingorpositiveholiness 72

GodsjusticeHismoralequityoffairness 75

GodsveracityHismoralintegrityortruthfulness 85

GodsfaithfulnessHismoralconsistencyordependability 87

IV. THE GOODNESS OF GOD 93

ThegoodnessofGoddefined 93

ThegoodnessofGodaccordingtoJesusChristMark10:1718 97

Thegoodness

of

God

to

the

believer

Isaiah

63:7

9

98

ThegoodnessofGodinthebelieverIIThessalonians1:1112 99

V. THE BENEVOLENCE OF GOD 103

ThebenevolenceofGodtowardHiscreatures 104

ThebenevolenceofGodevidentinHishumancreatures 106

VI. THE GRACE OF GOD 113

ThedistinctivenatureofGodsgraciouscharacter 115

ThegraceofGodasanaspectofHislove 115

ThemajorcategoriesofGodsgrace 119

Commongrace

120

Precedinggrace 123

Savinggrace 126

ThegraceofGodevidentinthebeliever 140

VII. THE LONGSUFFERING OF GOD 143

ThenatureofGodslongsuffering 146

ThelongsufferingofGodtowardHispeople 150

ThelongsufferingofGodevidentinthebeliever 153


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GODiv

VIII. THE MERCY OF GOD 161

ThemercyofGoddirectedtowardmanindistress 162

ThepsalmistsdelightinthemercyofGod 164

ThemercyofGodevidentinthelifeofthebeliever 168

IX. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD 171

Godissovereignoverallthatcomestopass(ordination) 180Godissovereignovercreation(origination) 186

Godissovereignoverprovidence(preservation) 187

Godissovereignoverredemption(salvation) 192

GodcommunicatesHissovereignty(dominion) 213

X. THE INFINITY OF GOD 217

Godisperfectinfiniteinmorality 221

Godisomnipotentinfiniteinpower 223

Godiseternalinfiniteintime 231

Godisomniscientinfiniteinknowledge 237

Godisomnisapientinfiniteinwisdom 250Godisomnipresentinfinitewithinspace 257

Godisimmenseinfinitybeyondspace 266

Godisimmanentinfinitewithincreation 268

Godistranscendentinfinitebeyondcreation 270

XI. THE PERSONAL BEING OF GOD 273

Godisselfexistent 274

Godisspiritual 277

Godisliving 285

Godisimmutable 291

GodisunitaryinHisessence 305

Godisatriunityofpersons 316

XII. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD 339

ThepersonalityofGodcommunicated 342

TheimageofGodintheconstitutionofman 342

TheemotionsofGoddirectedtowardsman 351

ThepersonalityofGoddesignated 362

TheprimarynamesofGodintheOldTestament 364

TheprimarynamesofGodintheNewTestament 370

ThepracticalsignificanceofthenamesofGod 379

ThepersonalityofGodradiated 382

TheessentialgloryofGod 384

ThereflectedgloryofGod 388

ThecommunicatedgloryofGod 392

TheattributedgloryofGod 396


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD v

XIII. CONCLUSION 409

Introduction 409

TheattributesofGodandbiblicalpreaching 421

TheattributesofGodandprayer 429

TheattributesofGodandauthenticevangelism 457

TheattributesofGodandjustificationbyfaith 469

TheattributesofGodandChristianmusic 477TheattributesofGodandlocalchurchmaturity 490

TheattributesofGodandindividualChristianmaturity 497

BIBLIOGRAPHY 503

ISNOT

IS

IS IS

ISNOT

IS NOT

FATHER

SON SPIRIT

GOD


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GODvi

Immortal,invisible,Godonlywise,Inlightinaccessiblehidfromoureyes,

Mostblessed,mostglorious,theAncientofDays,

Almighty,victorious,Thygreatnamewepraise.

Unresting,unhasting,

and

silent

as

light,

Norwanting,norwasting,Thourulestinmight;

Thyjusticelikemountainshighsoaringabove,

Thycloudswhicharefountainsofgoodnessandlove.

ToalllifeThougivesttobothgreatandsmall;

InalllifeThoulivest,thetruelifeofall;

Weblossomandflourishasleavesonthetree,

AndwitherandperishbutnoughtchangethThee.

GreatFatherofGlory,pureFatherofLight,ThineangelsadoreThee,allveilingtheirsight;

Alllaudwewouldrender;Ohelpustosee:

TisonlythesplendoroflighthidethThee.

Immortal,invisible,Godonlywise,

Inlightinaccessiblehidfromoureyes,

Mostblessed,mostglorious,theAncientofDays,

Almighty,victorious,Thygreatnamewepraise.

WalterChalmersSmith


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD vii

PREFACE

IfGodbe theGodof theBible,then there

is absolutely nothing more important than

His person being confessed objectively,

subjectively,satisfactorily

and

reverently.

First,Godmustbe confessed, objectively,

propositionally, that is as real, and there,

outside of ourselves. In other words, He

existswhether I existand contemplateHim

or not;He exists apart from my denial of

Him;Heexistsasa concrete rather thanan

abstract reality. This is the vital starting

point, believing that as the I AM God

(Exod.3:1315;cf.John8:24,28,58),therefore

faithcommenceswiththetruththatHeis.WithoutfaithitisimpossibletopleaseHim,

forhewhocomes toGodmustbelieve that

HeisandthatHeisarewarderofthosewho

seekHim(Heb.11:6).

Second,Godmustbe known subjectively,

thatisaccordingtomyconsciousnessofHis

concrete reality; He exists personally,

through inward encounter and spiritual

conviction;

He

exists

according

to

individual,

spiritual,sensualcomprehension.

Third,Godmustbe known satisfactorily,

acceptably, according to His established

grounds of acceptance through Self

revelation. Imay know that God exists as

objectivelyrighteous;Imayalsobesensitive

subjectively to His righteousness, albeit

unhappily so due to conviction of my

unrighteousness.Hence,my comprehension

ofGodmustalso incorporatebeing rightly,satisfactorily,acceptablyrelatedtoHim.

When Pharaoh addressed Moses and

Aaron:WhoistheLORDthatIshouldobey

Hisvoiceto letIsraelgo?Idonotknowthe

LORD(Ex.5:3),hesoonlearnedofthisLORD

both objectively (Ex. 8:8) and subjectively

(Ex. 9:27; 10:1617),but not satisfactorily as

did Moses and Aaron. It is this complete

knowledge of God that we are concerned

about, which the Psalmist describes: The

fearoftheLORDisthebeginningofwisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is

understanding(Ps.

9:10).

However,

many

contemporaryproblems faceus that restrict

suchablessedcomprehension.

Fourth, God must be known reverently,

thatiswithacknowledgmentthatissuitable

toHis holy character. Objective, subjective

andsatisfactorycomprehensionofGodmust

result in that response of venerationwhich

Hedeclarestobeappropriate.

THE PRESENT PROBLEM OF PRESUMPTION

The greatest presumption today in the

Christianchurch,and theWesternworld in

general aswell,must surelybe concerning

thenatureand characterofGod.According

to Gallup, in 2007 86% of Americans

believedinGod,asdistinctfromauniversal

spirit,whilein2001itwas90%.2Howeverif

youwere to ask the survey respondents to

expound with more specificity upon theattributes of the deity they acknowledge,

then the conflicting subjective opinions

wouldundoubtedlybe legion.Manywould

undoubtedlyconfessthattheybelieveinthe

God of JudaeoChristian revelation, the

Bible. But upon asking for a description of

the character of thisGod of Scripture, in a

more definitive sense, surely a variety of

abstract, obscure and even weird opinions

would come forth. Sad to say, evenwithinconservativeevangelicalism,asurveyof the

qualities of God would more often prove

sentimentalratherthantruetotheBible.

2 http://www.gallup.com/poll/1690/

Religion.aspx#1(sourced,December,2007).


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GODviii

TheremaybemuchGodtalkintheUnited

States by professing multitudes, especially

on Sundays, that is yet starved of a vital

knowledge of the gracious holiness and

transcendent sovereign glory ofGod. They

manifestavariety

of

religious

lifestyles

that

are manifestly impoverished and even un

godly.Buthowcouldtheyknowaboutgod

liness,thatisGodlikeness,excepttheself

revelation of the only true and livingGod

shouldbecomeknowntothem?Atbest,they

hold toa formofgodliness,although they

have denied its power (II Tim. 3:5). At

worst, they have defiled and dishonored

Godbymeans of their vain religion (Ezek.

43:8;Mal.

1:6

8).

Nevertheless, such commonly glib, even

blasphemous Godtalk is usually void of

biblical substance and specificity.Let usbe

bold then to assert that a reverent, humble

and truthfounded appreciation of the

attributesofthelivingGodoftheBibleisthe

needofthehour.Thepresentcommonvoid

in the hearts of contemporaryChristians is

likethatofashallowwellthatofferslittleto

draw upon at a timewhendemanding lifeexperiences reveal that such souls are in

reality parched. Arthur Pink describes the

priorityofnecessaryrecovereddepth,inthe

knowledgeofGod,asfollows:

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at

peace:therebygoodshallcomeuntothee(Job

22:21)....Aspiritualandsavingknowledgeof

God is the greatest need of every human

creature.Thefoundationofalltrueknowledge

ofGodmustbeaclearmentalapprehensionof

Hisperfectionsas revealed inHolyScripture.

An unknown God can neither be trusted,

served,norworshiped.3

3 Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God, p. 7.Drawing upon Charnock, Gurnall, Haldane,

Manton, Spurgeon, etc., this insightful author

givesanexaltedviewofthecharacterofGodthat

THE PRESENT PROBLEM OF IGNORANCE

The prevalence today of diminished

appreciation concerning theprofoundglory

oftheonlyalmightyJehovahcannotbeover

exaggerated,nor can thedebilitating effects

of such a fundamental doctrinal weakness

within evangelical Christendom be too

strongly lamented.Weakness inourunder

standingofGod is invariably related toour

lack of spiritual nourishment through

ingestionofrightspiritualnutrientsthatare

necessary for growth in the knowledge of

God. Perhapsworse than this condition of

spiritualdebilitation is the conclusion,born

ofignorance,

that

our

understanding

of

the

natureofGod is, for allpracticalpurposes,

satisfactory or at least adequate. But how

tragic is this delusion! Not only do

multitudes of Christians embrace shriveled

views of God, but also they blindly

pontificate according to such sparse know

ledge. When visiting a large Christian

hospital in Kentucky several years ago, a

poster was noticed in a recreational room

thatread:

God

is

like

Winnie

the

Pooh.

Hesbig and cuddly! This is nothing less

than tragic sentimental nonsense, indeed

blasphemy!Evenworseisthefactthatthose

sodeluded,whopromotethisdemeaningof

God,are in factguiltyofgrossslander,and

thatthroughignorance.

Onseveraloccasionsthiswriterhasheard

professingChristiansexpresstheirbeliefthat

the reason why God created man was

becauseHewaslonely!ImplicitwastheideathatGod lackedfulfillment!However,when

itwassuggestedtooneofthesepersonsthat

the glory ofGodmightbe a higher and

lesssubjectivegoal,therewastriteandunen

ought to humbly drive us to our knees in

confessionandadoration.


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD ix

thusiastic agreement. Then, having quickly

brushedasidethisloftiestofallpurposes,we

were yet returned to a more animated

crusade for the thought thatGoddoesneed

man. Yet nowhere in the Bible is God

declaredto

be

incomplete

without

man.

A

study of Gods attributes in Scripture,

particularlyHis selfexistence, aswell as a

consideration of the eternal blessedness of

themembersof theTriunityofGod,makes

thisabundantlyclear.

Herethenwehaveaclearindicationofthe

factthatthedetailsofourfaithandperspec

tiveon life are conditionedbyour compre

hension of God. Concerning the instances

just related, an inadequate appreciation ofGod results in a subtly dangerous, inflated

distortion ofmans sense of importance in

whichhesatisfiesGod,whileat thesame

time God is deflated to sentimental,

utilitarianproportions.Godisdeclaredtobe

ameanstoanend,namelyhumanenhance

ment,ratherthanagloriousendinHimself.

Fromanotheraspectofthisenlargedview

of man and corresponding diminished

appreciation ofGod, there is the prevalent

contemporary opinion that God can be

known through subjective comprehension

ratherthanthedisclosureofobjectivespecial

revelation.Inotherwords,witheffortthatis

a given characteristic of human autonomy,

Godcanbefound. It iscommonplace today

forpeople todeclare,I thinkGod is . . .,

rather than,God isrevealed in theBible to

be

.

.

.

.

However,

when

man

so

contem

plates by means of a mind warped with

corruption (Jer. 17:9), it shouldnot surprise

us that heboth concocts a dependentGod

whoisbeholdentomananddistortstheonly

trueand livingGod(Rom.1:2223).Inother

words, what man declares he has found

turns out to be not in fact God, but an

idolatrous entity shaped according to his

desiresandexpectations,evenareflectionof

himself.

Hence,it isofthehighest importancethat

boththebelieverandunbelieverhavearight

understanding of the God of the Bible. If

evangelismis

ever

to

regain

its

proper

scriptural role in our society, it will start

with declaring to sinfulmankind the truth

concerningGodsperfections.Thenmenwill

begin tobe disturbed in their souls rather

than continue to amble along nonchalantly

in life.Similarly for theChristian,Scripture

emphatically teaches that according to a

mans right understanding of God, so in

direct proportion will genuine Christian

characterbe evidenced in his life. We canonlybeconformedtotheimageofGod,that

isbegodlyorGodlike, through spiritual

osmosis, when we progress in our vital

knowledgeofandunionwithGod.

When Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1,

Thereforebe imitators ofGod, asbeloved

children,heassumes two things.First, that

those who he is addressing are authentic,

regenerate children of God. Second, that

thesebelievers have a true and substantial

knowledgeof theGodof theBible,theonly

GodofIsrael,evenas theprecedingcontext

has taught.We canbest imitate thatwhich

weknowwell.InIPeter1:16,Christiansare

exhorted:Youshallbeholy,forI[theHoly

One, theFather]amholy.Buthowcanwe

attaintothatwhichweknowlittleabout?

Yet todaywe cannot so easilymake such

anassumption

regarding

an

accurate

know

ledge of God as do Paul and Peter. The

subjective, secular and utilitarian age in

whichwelivehasledunsuspectingbelievers

to conceive of alien characteristics which

theyappend toGod;othersvirtuallydevise

theirownGod,and respond inaccordwith

that which has become a mental idol.


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GODx

However, in this studyweareendeavoring

to impart truthandunderstandingconcern

ing theonly trueGod, theGodof theBible,

theGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist.

Itishopedthatresultantchange,throughthe

authenticperception

of

the

glory

of

God

in

the soul,willalso result in the reflectionof

that change, that is the glorification of that

sameGodoftheBibleinthelivesofradiant

Christians.

THE PRESENT PROBLEM OF KNOWABILITY

Some would certainly agree that our

understanding ofGod is sadly lacking, yet

remainresigned

to

the

despairing

view

that

sinceGodisspirit,infinite,andtranscendent,

andman is carnal, finite, and earthbound,

therefore He is not satisfactorily compre

hensible, as great and sincere as our

aspirations might be. So why should we

attempttoknowtheunknowable?Thereisa

hintofphilosophicarrogancelurkingbehind

this question. In responsewewould point

outthattheinfiniteGodhasinfactrevealed

Himselfto

finite

humanity,

especially

in

creation and Scripture; in so doing He is

declaring thatHe isknowable, that is to the

extentthatHedetermines.

Further,Goddeclares that finiteman can

satisfactorily know Him since in making

Himself known, at the same time He has

appended the guarantee that such under

standingissupremelysoulsatisfying,being

knowledgeofthetrueGodandeternallife

(IJohn5:20).Theproblemarisesherewhenmanassertively thinks in termsofdiscover

ingGod,thatisofthefinitecreaturebeingin

pursuitoftheinfiniteGod.Ofcoursesucha

quest is futile since theworld through its

wisdomdidnotcometoknowGod(ICor.

1:21).Howeverwhen God revealsHimself

and the Infinite reaches down with self

revelation, then God is satisfactorily

knowable. Such knowledge does not result

in frustrationwhen accompaniedwith sub

missionandhumility,butabidingjoy,peace,

and fulfillment. Peter considers the know

ledgeof

God

to

be

productive

of

grace

and

peace (IIPet. 1:2). Pauldelights to know

the love of Christ which surpasses

knowledge(Eph.3:19),thatistoknowwith

delight that which transcends full human

knowledge. Of course, if man insists on

invading heaven, so to speak, desiring to

knowGod on a parwith hisMaker, if he

arrogantly desires to know asGod knows,

morethanhedesirestoknowaboutGodasa

creature,then

he

shall

be

forever

frustrated

and condemned throughhisyielding to the

original temptation, to be likeGod (Gen.

3:15;Is.14:1314).

THE PRESENT PROBLEM OF PRACTICALITY

Quiteapartfrom theforegoingdifficulties

concerning the knowledge of God, both

human and philosophic, we move to that

tragicattitude

on

the

part

of

many

Christians

whoprofesstoknowGodwiththeirlips,yet

consider a study ofHis attributes tobe of

minimalworth.How reminiscent this is of

theindictmentoftheSonofGodtowardthe

Jewish leaders of His day, This people

honorsMewith their lips,but theirheart is

farawayfromMe(Matt.15:8).Theanomaly

ofthissituationisheightenedwhenwehear

the cry for practical Christian teaching,

and yet discover that the very peoplewhomake suchaplea show little interest in the

gloryanddelightsofGodsperson.

Concerning the man influenced by the

pragmatic ways of this world, a study of

Godsattributesmayconjureupinhismind

a fear that its content will be strictly

academic, essentially philosophic, and as a


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD xi

consequence as dry as proverbial dust.

Perhaps hewill feel that, apart from some

basic affirmations about God, this subject

should be left undisturbed with other

speculative doctrinal discussions of a past

erasince

it

is

of

little

relevance

to

practical

living for today. Possibly hewill evenjoin

company with the objection of the nature

lover and environmentalistwho claim that

theyhave learnedmoreaboutGod through

thecontemplationofcreationonabeautiful

day,orastarrynight,oreveninthemidstof

a terrifying storm, than in a host of such

scholarlyandabstractdiscussions.Probably

theywilljoinhands inechoingthatpopular

twentiethcentury

composition:

Oh the place where I worship is the wideopen spaces,

Filled by the hand of the Lord,Where the trees of the forest are like pipes

of an organAnd the breeze plays an amen choir.

All the stars are the candles and they lightup the mountains,

Mountains are altars of God,

Oh the place where I worship is the wideopen spacesWhere the sun warms the peaceful sod.4

Ofcourseweshouldhastentoexplainthat

a study suchas thisought innoway tobe

presented inacoldly intellectualandsterile

form. But neither ought it tobe devoid of

solid doctrinal content and propositional

4

These

lyrics

were

composed

by

American

countrymusic singerRed Foley, andwere first

publishedin1952.Psalm19:16isalsofrequently

quoted to support this naturalistic contention

that general revelation is what matters most.

However, sucha scantyopinionusually ignores

the surpassing importance of special revelation,

specifically the soulrestoring Word of God,

variously described in vs. 714 of this same

Psalm.

statements,suchas thoseofamoreexisten

tial mindset might demand. Rather, we

would propose that transforming know

ledge of God which Daniel speaks about:

[B]ut thepeoplewhoknow theirGodwill

displaystrength

and

take

action

(Dan.

11:32). A. W. Tozer perceptively writes at

thisjuncture:

Ibelieve there is scarcelyanerror indoctrine

or a failure in applying Christian ethics that

cannot be traced finally to imperfect and

ignoble thoughtsaboutGod. It ismyopinion

thattheChristianconceptionofGodcurrentin

thesemiddleyearsof the twentiethcentury is

sodecadentastobeutterlybeneaththedignity

of

the

Most

High

God

and

actually

to

constitute for professed believers something

amountingtoacalamity.5

Especially note the emphasis here on

Christianethics,thatisthatpracticalelement

concerning godlybehavior forwhichmany

superficially cry out.YetTozer is adamant;

right holy behavior only comes from the

rightbeholdingofaholyGod.Thereforethe

apathetic times inwhichwe liveshouldnot

be allowed to corruptprofound andprofitablethinkingaboutGod.Thereshouldbeno

heeding of the deceptive, sirenlike call to

primarily yield to God in simplistic and

sentimental terms asdistinct fromknowing

Himinanydeep,intimatesense.

The true knowledge ofGod is of funda

mentalimportanceforthebiblicalChristian,

and the sooner he learnsmore aboutHim,

thenthesoonerwillbehisspiritualgrowth.

Hence the contemporary problem requires,

5 A.W.Tozer,TheKnowledgeoftheHoly,p.10.Thisisanexcellentintroductoryvolumetoastudyof

theattributesofGod.Tozerbemoanstheshallow

conceptofGodthatiscurrentwithinchurchlife.

ItisforthisreasonthatChristianethicsarefaulty

andthegospelisweakened.


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THEATTRIBUTES OF GOD xiii

is slowly being understood that an im

balanceinourunderstandingofGodleadsto

animbalanceinourdailyliving.

Furthermore,itisalsobeingrealizedthata

neglect of our understanding ofGod leads

notonly

to

impotent

living,

but

also

to

a

proportionate tendency to become man

centered. This latter point is especially

important these days, witness the over

whelming stress onGod as useful, a relig

iousutilitywhoisbesideusforthepurpose

of enabling personal selffulfillment, self

gratification,selfaggrandizement,etc.He is

notworshippedasGodbeingsovereignover

all,asthegloriousObjectbeforeWhomallof

creationmust ultimatelybowwith unqualifiedsubmission.

Even so it it is not an overstatement to

claim that this topic is themostbasic that

anyChristianwilleverconsider.J.I.Packer

putsitthisway:

Whatwerewemadefor?ToknowGod.What

aim shouldwe setourselves in life?Toknow

God. What is the eternal life that Jesus

gives?

Knowledge

of

God.

This

is

eternal

life,

that theymayknow thee, theonly trueGod,

andJesusChrist,whom thouhastsent (John

17:3).What is thebest thing in life,bringing

more joy, delight, and contentment, than

anythingelse?KnowledgeofGod.Thussaith

the LORD, Let not thewiseman glory in his

might,letnottherichmangloryinhisriches;

but lethim thatgloriethglory in this, thathe

understandeth and knoweth me (Jer. 9:23f).

What,ofallstatesGodeverseesmanin,gives

Himmost

pleasure?

Knowledge

of

Himself.

I

desire . . . the knowledge ofGodmore than

burntofferings,saysGod(Hos.6:6).8

8 J. I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 29. This is a soulthrillingandbyfarthemoststimulatingofmore

recent writings on this subject, at least at a

popular level. Themajor attributes of God are

expounded in such away that it is exceedingly

Hear also of the priority which Stephen

Charnock, that profoundly insightful Puri

tan,placesonatrueknowledgeofGod.

Whowouldwillingly live in a stormyworld

voidofGod?Ifwewaiverinthisprinciple,to

whomshouldwemakeourcomplaints inourafflictions? Where should we meet with

supports? How could we satisfy ourselves

withthehopesofafuturehappiness?Thereis

asweetness inthemeditationofhisexistence,

and thathe isacreator (Ps.104:24).Thoughts

of other things have abitternessmixedwith

them:houses,lands,childrennoware,shortly

they will notbe;but God is, that made the

world;his faithfulness ashe is a creator, is a

ground to deposit our souls and concerns in

our innocent sufferings (IPet.4:19).So faraswe areweak in theacknowledgmentofGod,

we deprive ourselves of our content in the

viewofhisinfiniteperfections.9

Thisstudyisbasedwhollyontheprinciple

that God is to be preeminently known

through His revelation of Himself in His

Spirit inspired, truthful, inerrant, inscript

uratedWord,andthisincludestheincarnate

revelation ofHimself throughHis Son, the

LordJesusChrist.Therefore,Godiswhothe

difficult for the reader to avoid their intensely

practicalimportance.

9 StephenCharnock,TheExistenceandAttributesofGod,I,p.180.Thispuritanclassicprovideswhat

is still the most searching study of Gods

attributes.HermanBavinkmayexcelinthefield

ofhistorical theology inhisTheDoctrine ofGod,but

Charnock

is

supreme

in

his

penetration

of

biblicaltruth.Fewmodernwriterscomecloseto

his ability to apply Scripture concerningGods

being tothesoulofman.Thisworkmayat first

seem heavy going on account of its antiquated

seventeenth century style, but persistence that

endeavorstoovercomeourpresentdayspiritual

illiteracy,aswellasgrowingfamiliaritywiththe

outlinedstructure,willresultinthediscoveryof

incomparablespiritualtreasure.


17/17

THEATTRIBUTES OF GODxiv

BibleinitstotalityrevealsHimselftobe.No

consideration will be given to liberal and

neoorthodoxspeculationsthatdonotaccept

thisstandardofjudgment.10

Occasional reference will be made to

evangelicalworkssuchashavealreadybeenmentioned, as well as two more recent,

comprehensivevolumes,TheDoctrineofGodbyJohnFrameandNoOneLikeHimbyJohnFeinberg. Even so these latter mentioned

writings are considerably apologetic and

philosophic rather than primarily being

exegetical.Asanexample,Framedealswith

TheEuthyphroProblem,which titleoriginatesfrom Plato. It concerns the difficulty of

alleged necessary circular reasoning arising

fromGodbeingtheultimatemoralstandard

who therefore cannotbe subject toahigher

standard.11However, inallofFrames reas

10 Thebarrennessofthesedeviantconsiderationsof

revealed truth is well illustrated by a recent

Systematic Theology project being published byOxford University Press, with Volume I being

titled The Triune God. The author, Robert W.Jensen,

readily

admits

that

this

is

an

ecumenical

projectdesignedtoprovideasynthesisofRoman

Catholic and Protestant theology. The present

workisdeliberatelydoneinsuchanticipationof

the one church, p. vii. The liberal/existential/

neoorthodox bias is overwhelming and one

findsiteasytoconcludethatforthisauthor,the

opinions of avantgarde theologians and

philosophersarethepointoffinalauthority;they

certainly dominate over Scripture references.

Jensontypicallycomments,Thereisanomission

tobenoted.Readerswill find in this systemno

separatedoctrineofGodsattributes.Thisisnot

accidental. Fundamentally, the predicates we

rightlyattributetoGodaresimplyall those that

speaking the gospel may from time to time

require,p.223.Ofcoursethissimplyavoidsthe

truththatthegospelisGodsgospel(Rom.1:1;

15:16); sowe enquire as to the character of this

Godwhooriginatesthegospel.11

John Frame, The Doctrine of God, pp. 405-409.

onings,alongwithreferencestoanumberof

moralphilosophers, there isnotsomuchas

reference to one passage of Scripture. In

particular there is no mention of the vital

passage in Hebrews where the author

declaresthat,

when

God

made

the

[covenant] promise to Abraham, since He

couldswearbynoonegreater,Hesworeby

Himself(Heb.6:13).

Ofcoursethisisnottosaythatreferenceto

uninspiredhuman thought in thesematters

is tobewholly excluded.Howeverwe are

affirming that,concerning theknowledgeof

God,Hisselfrevelation is theoneandonly

source for such knowledge. Thisbeing the

case, such revelationwillbe our chief and

thereforedominantconsideration.Scholastic

detouring from this priority, in which the

finiteendeavors toplumb thedepthsof the

infinite,isnotdifficulttofind.

Wewouldalsoaddthat,aswithScripture,

wewill avoid cool dispassionate responses

tothelightthatshineswhennewglimpsesof

the glory ofGodbreak through. Scholasti

cismwill not restrain us at this point. It ishopedthen,thatthereaderofthisstudywill

be led to more enthusiastically, yes even

passionatelycryout inhisheartwithpraise

for Gods attributes as did Moses: For I

proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe

greatnesstoourGod!TheRock!Hisworkis

perfect, for allHisways arejust; aGod of

faithfulnessandwithout injustice, righteous

anduprightisHe(Deut.32:34).

Documents

00 Acknowledgment and Preface