Post on 04-Apr-2018
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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.
7/30/2019 00 Acknowledgment and Preface
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).