What is God like?
"Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." —Romans 1:20 (NLT)
Around the world, different cultures have had different views of God and what He's like. Some envision God as judge over all, with lightning bolts shooting from his scepter—like Zeus in Roman mythology. Some have recognized that God must be powerful, so they worship the most powerful thing they see—the sun. Many agnostics believe that God is unknowable and unconcerned with the daily lives of humans.
While there is a small bit of truth to each of these views, none of them convey the full and true essence of our great and glorious God.
God wants you to know Him (Psalm 46:10). If you've never met God or you don't know Him well yet, we'd like to help you know Him better. Trying to describe God in words is like is like trying to contain fireworks in a jar, but let's give it a try...
Truth #1: The Universe Proves God Exists
"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." —Psalm 90:2
God exists and has always existed (Psalm 90:2). God's existence is a fact, and the proof is all around us. God revealed Himself in creation (Psalm 19:1-6). Look at the beautiful blue skies or watch bees at work. When we ponder the natural world, we can't help but feel sheer wonder at how everything came to be. God's handiwork in creation confirms He is glorious.
Truth #2: God Never Changes
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." —Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)
God never changes. He is fully dependable, righteous, holy, and just. He knows everything, has total control, and is always there (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6; Isaiah 40:8). We can rely on Him—no matter what.
Truth #3: God is Creative
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." —Genesis 1:1
God is the first and only Creator—Creator of the world and everything in it, the stars, the planets, the solar system, and everything beyond (Genesis 1:1-2:3). God created time and space, and therefore He exists outside of time and space (Hebrews 1:2; 11:3). Our minds can't even comprehend existence outside of time!
Truth #4: God Has All Authority
"We can make our plans,but the Lord determines our steps." —Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)
As the Creator of all, God is higher than all of His creation (Psalm 97:9). That means He has ultimate authority and sovereignty over all things (Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10), and is mightier than all (1 Corinthians 8:6; Joel 1:15).
Even though God could control every person if He wanted to, He loves human beings so deeply that He gave humanity free will over their own choices (Deuteronomy 30:19-20; James 1:13-16; Galatians 5:16-17). He doesn't force us to love Him, and that is truly love.
It's a mystery to us how His sovereignty works with our free will. While He may arrange circumstances to help guide you, the decision is always yours (Psalm 51:10; 1 Corinthians 10:13; John 6:44).
Truth #5: God is the Source of Morality
God is a moral being, and this is where humankind's conscience or sense of morality originates. Even those who aren't Christians have a sense of what's right and wrong—regardless of what they believe about God. Even if they differ in what they specifically choose are right or wrong, all human beings have an inexplicable code of positive and negative morality.
This cannot be explained apart from a Creator who imbued His creation with the ability to know right from wrong (Genesis 1:26). While people may not always agree on exactly what they believe is right and wrong, the Bible is extremely clear on almost all moral issues we will have to face (2 Timothy 3:16).
Truth #6: God is Triune
"My Father has given [my sheep] to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." —John 10:29-30
God is a spiritual being (John 4:24) consisting of three separate but equal persons: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We refer to this as the Trinity. God’s physical appearance cannot be described by any created thing, but when people had visions of God, they were filled with awe and terror (Judges 13:22).
Jesus: God in the Flesh
"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God,and the Word was God." —John 1:1
Jesus is God in the flesh and came down from Heaven to walk among us (1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus said that if anybody has seen Him, they have seen our Heavenly Father (John 14:7-9). Thanks to Jesus, we now have even more details about what God is like.
Records of Jesus' life tells us that He is loving, trustworthy, forgiving, merciful, compassionate, and bold about sin (Matthew 23). Jesus showed zealous love for the Father (John 2:13-22). Jesus has offered us the gift of salvation from the punishment of sin. God is compassionate and loving and also righteous and holy (Romans 3).
The Holy Spirit: God Within Us
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own..." —1 Corinthians 6:19
The Holy Spirit knows us thoroughly and knows the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). He is saddened by our sinful actions (Ephesians 4:30) is the guide and comforter Jesus promised (John 14:16, 26, 15:26).
The Spirit lives within those who have accepted Christ as their Savior and convicts us of our sin (John 14:17; John 16:8). Those who reject the free gift of salvation are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Truth #7: God is Love
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love." —1 John 4:8 (NLT)
God has many amazing attributes, but if we had to describe Him in one word, we'd choose "love." God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for the sins of a world that continually rejects Him (Romans 5:8). Jesus' death on the cross to save us from eternal punishment is an expression of God’s great love for us (John 3:16-17). There is no greater love than this (John 15:13).
Despite sin, despite the sacrifice of His Son for a hateful world, God’s love for us hasn't changed (Romans 5:8). He values us deeply and His forgiveness continues to be available to all people today (1 John 1:9). God is a holy and righteous judge (Acts 17:31) but also filled with a grace and mercy we can scarcely understand. God wants all of humanity to be saved from the punishment of sin, because He loves every one of us unconditionally.
"This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." —1 Timothy 2:3-4 (NLT)
ALSO SEE:
- Does God exist?
- Who is God?
- What is God?
- Who created God?
- Why does God love us?
- Does God love me?
- What does it mean that God is omniscient?
- What does it mean that God is omnipresent?
- What does it mean that God is omnipotent?
- What does the Bible say about the Trinity?
- Do Christians believe in three gods?
- What is true worship?
- What does it mean that Jesus saves?
TL;DR
God has many amazing attributes, but if we had to describe Him in one word, we'd choose "love" (1 John 4:8). God is the Creator of everything and the giver of good things. He is faithful, holy, righteous, all knowing, all seeing, omnipresent, powerful, awesome, glorious, mighty, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, dependable, trustworthy, loyal, and loving. God is a holy and righteous judge but also full of love, mercy, and forgiveness. Jesus' death on the cross is an expression of God’s great love for us (John 3:16). There is no greater love.
Writer: Vivian Bricker
Vivian loves learning, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She is dedicated to helping people learn more about Jesus and is ready to help in any way she can. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, cooking, drawing, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, you can find her soaking up the sunshine or going on an adventure.
