108 – The Attributes of God Examined

SEMESTER 1

108 – The Attributes of God Examined

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: THEOLOGY I LESSON # 8
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD EXAMINED

INTRODUCTION:

1. There is considerable discussion as to what belongs to the attributes of God and what rightly belongs to His acts.

i. i.e., is love an attribute or an act of God?

2. It soon becomes obvious that some things are one of the two, while others are both. We will thus follow with a series of lessons of extensive study of particular doctrines.
3. In this lesson we shall discuss those things most commonly consid­ered to be seen properly as attributes.
4. I will also categorize them in two manners:

i. Absolute or relative.
ii. Communicable or noncommunicable.

5. Let it be also noted that many attributes are overlapping yet not identical. For instance, infinity, eternity and omnipresence are certainly inter­related, but definitely not the same thing.

I. SELF-EXISTENCE: ABSOLUTE AND NONCOMMUNICABLE

1. God exists necessarily and without cause.
2. He exists without outside consent or sustenance.
3. He exists without possible cessation.
4. The name Jehovah and description “I am” both support this. (Ex. 3:14)

II. IMMUTABILITY: ABSOLUTE AND NONCOMMUNICABLE

1. This means that God cannot change.
2. Boyce says, “He cannot change in self-duration, nature, charac­ter, will or happiness.” (Ps. 102:27, Mal. 3:6, Jam. 1:17)
3. What then of passages that imply change (repentance)? (Ex. 32:14)
4. The same is true of Scriptures that indicate a progression of emotions, i.e., as in giving or withholding as we pray. (A later lecture on this subject.)

III. HOLINESS: ABSOLUTE, COMMUNICABLE

1. This word has a very broad usage.
2. When reference is made to God’s, it is different from when made to us.
3. As to God, it means perfect moral and spiritual excellence.
4. Holiness is the ground of all other attributes. (A later lecture on this subject.)

IV. ETERNITY: RELATIVE, NONCOMMUNICABLE?

1. It is timelessness, thus is relative (negatively) to time.
2. It cannot be totally, but can be partially communicated.

i. i.e., is as in eternal life, yet all creation had beginning.

V. OMNIPRESENCE: RELATIVE, NONCOMMUNICABLE

1. This simply means to be everywhere, all the time.
2. It is relative to both time and locale.
3. It is impossible of either finitude or material. Scripture refer­ence: Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24.

VI. OMNISCIENCE: RELATIVE, NONCOMMUNICABLE

1. God knows all things at and of all times.
2. It is inseparable from omnipotence, omnipresence, and self- exis­tence. (Lecture to follow on this subject.)

VII. OMNIPOTENCE: RELATIVE, NONCOMMUNICABLE

1. It means God can do anything independently.
2. It is relative to opposing and resisting forces.
3. It is noncommunicable, because of finitude. (Lecture to follow on this subject.)

VIII. VERACITY: RELATIVE, COMMUNICABLE

1. Truthfulness in revelation to His creatures.
2. Communicable in measure, according to our growth. Scriptures: Jn. 9:33, Rom. 1:25, I Cor. 1:9, Titus 1:2.

IX. LOVE: RELATIVE, COMMUNICABLE

1. A broadly used word, most frequently perverted.
2. God’s love is focused upon Himself and subsequently on His creatures. (A later lecture on this subject.)

X. JUSTICE: RELATIVE, COMMUNICABLE

1. The righteousness of God in vindicating His law.
2. The fairness of God in dealing with His creatures. (A lecture to follow on this subject.)