THE TRUTH OF WHO GOD REALLY IS

The undeniable attributes & characteristics of God with accompanying Scripture

ROMÂNĂ

One religion after another portrays God according to man. In reality, there is only “one real God” and while He is “God,” He is still very much a person. And as with any person, there are sometimes preconceived ideas about their nature, false impressions, misconceptions and never-ending supply of what people have to say about someone. But who is God, really?

The real God, “I am” – the God of Moses; Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; Jesus Christ, who became God with us and the Holy Spirit, sent to us at Pentecost that we might become true temples of God: These are all one and the same God. To many of us, He is the God of the Jews and Christians. As Christians, having Him live in our hearts and growing in His Word, the Bible, we come to “know Him as He is.” This article is about the true and undeniable “characteristics of God” and as Paul wrote about “the fruit of the Spirit,” His personality is clearly seen.

God is triune, a holy trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three unique persons and yet each are God, the same God; the three are one and always in complete unison.

• John 10:30 “I and My Father are one."

 

• John 14:9 “He who has seen Me has seen the Father”

As Paul wrote in Romans, he was keenly aware of the Holy Spirit as being God and Jesus Christ. He used the terms, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of God interchangeably.

• Romans 8:8-14 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

The Holy Spirit and Jesus are the same, as well as God the Father. Just as Jesus said, when we would see Him, we would see the Father. The three are each one but their character is 100% in unison!

Lets take a look at the real character of God. Not how “man imagines”; but as God is, as He shows Himself.

All the “fruit” of “the Spirit,” are the “fruit” of "His character." Some are listed here:

• Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (by saying "no law" - Paul means “no limit”)

 

• Ephesians 5:8-10 Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Another great description of Jesus, is found in Isaiah.

• Isaiah 11:1-5 “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.”

This article shows some of the following attributes of the Lord; He is: triune as in Father, Son and Holy Spirit; love, perfect, unchangeable, immutable, not human or carnal, just, fair, impartial, holy, compassionate, humble, kind, gentle, patient/long suffering, gracious, merciful, good, righteous, truthful, omniscient and all-knowing, joyful, delightful, blessedness, righteously jealous, peace, omnipotent and sovereign, independent and free, creative, wisdom and understanding, faithful, beautiful, omnipresent and eternal, glorious, has self control, is hard working; prudent, never wasteful; punctual and timely, has real feelings, hates evil, is a God of detail and who has a sense of humor. He is so much more than we can list here...

God is love. So what is the biblical description of love?

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

The word “charity” here, in the original is the Greek word, “agape.” Agape love is the highest form of love. Love that loves, whether the love is reciprocal or not. Agape love is godly love, pure love. In the following selection of Scripture, every time you read the word "love," the original word for this kind of love was "agape."

• 1 John 4:7-11 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

We know that God is holy, He is perfect and He cannot err. We know He is loving, kind and compassionate. We know He is the greatest of all there is and yet humble. He never makes a person feel stupid or worthless. He is always with us building us up. Anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time, comes to realize quickly, that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and when He does, we want to do better. And how opposite it is, when condemnation comes, it is so easy to see it is of the devil. One only feels worse when it is received.

The Lord is perfect. God is infinitely perfect in all his attributes and is not lacking in any way (Psalms 18:30,19:7-9; Matthew 5:48).

• Psalms 18:30-31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord?

 

• Psalms 19:7-9 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
  

The Lord is unchanging, His character is immutable. God’s character and nature is utterly constant and trustworthy. God will not be one way today and then another way tomorrow and His purposes and plans are constant and sure (Numbers 23:19; Psalms 33:11,102:25-28; Malachi 3:6-7; James 1:17).

• Malachi 3:5-7 “And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien-- because they do not fear Me," says the Lord of hosts. "For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,"
  

Yes, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are still against evil. He does not change.

Listen to Jesus speaking to the Seven Churches in Revelation,

• Revelation 2:1-7 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

Our lampstands can and will be removed in our place with Christ if we do not keep right with Him. He is not harsh that we cannot make it, but He is serious with us.

God is not a “softie only” or a “new age god”-- “like hey man, its all good, my grace covers you... just sin all you want, hell is only for the really bad guys”...

On the contrary, as it is shown in Hebrews:

• Hebrews 10:26-29  For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

Willful sin after becoming saved is a dangerous thing. If we know better and continue to sin, how can we be truly repentant?

God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all the same. There are standards that have changed since Jesus came, but sin still separates us from God. The “priestly sacrifices” of the Old Testament were like a “temporary hold” until Jesus came. They were a type and shadow, of the forthcoming real solution found in the blood of Jesus Christ. We can be “born again” and “temples” of holy God, the Holy Spirit in us. Before Christ this was not possible.

The Lord is not human with a carnal nature, He is God.

• Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?"

The Lord is just, fair and impartial.

• Deuteronomy 10:17-18 “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing.”

 

• Ephesians 6:9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

 

• James 1:17-18 ​Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

The Lord is holy. He is wholly (completely) holy. He is completely separate from sin and evil (1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 99:3-9; Isaiah 6:1-5,5:16-25,57:15, Revelation 4:8,15:4).

• Isaiah 6:1-5 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
  

God's holiness has this effect on us. In His holiness, we realize our sinful humanity.

This next section of scripture, shows a lot about God and what is not godly also.

• Isaiah 5:16-25 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness. Then the lambs shall feed in their pasture, and in the waste places of the fat ones strangers shall eat. Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as if with a cart rope; that say, "Let Him make speed and hasten His work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, that we may know it." Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink, who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them and stricken them, and the hills trembled.
  

God is still the same. Jesus is still the same. His mercy is for those who repent and seek the Lord and His ways. He is not playing church or games. He looks for those who are sincere. Broad is the gate to destruction and narrow is the gate to life, as there are few who find it.

The Lord is compassionate. Many, many times Jesus was interrupted and took time for the desperate ones who interrupted Him. He took time for the woman with the issue of blood. He would be on His way to take care of one issue and another issue would come up. He would always take care of both. He never left one to miss out on the answer to their prayer or need while He tended to another. All received help.

Consider how in this next verse how the Lord handled the interruption.

• Matthew 9:18-22 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well."

In Luke 5:18-26, Jesus was teaching a group of people and when some friends of a paralyzed man, could not get their friend close enough to Jesus for healing, they broke in through the roof and lowered their friend down. Jesus saw their faith, was touched; forgave the man of his sins and healed the paralyzed man. He always took time for peoples' needs.

“Feeding the multitudes” - how many preachers could and would provide food on the spur of the moment, to large crowds of people? Jesus did (Matthew 14:13-21, 15:32-39).

In Luke 12, the Lord was addressing a large crowd and a man interrupted Him to settle an inheritance dispute...and He answered the man with a Word and a parable; then He continued on from where He got interrupted. Amazing.

• Matthew 9:35-36 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

He made it clear so many times, that He came to do the will of the Father. This should be our goal every day also.

The Lord is humble. The Lord humbled Himself to become one of us. He left the splendor of heaven to come to earth to suffer and die, taking the penalty for each of us. He lived a life of humility and showed that if you want to be great, you have to be a servant.

• Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

 

• Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

 

• Matthew 23:11-12 “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

• John 13:12-17 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

The Lord is kind and gentle. God is kind and gracious to all that He has made (Romans 2:4,11:22, Ephesians 2:3-9, Titus 3:4-7).

• Ephesians 2:3-9 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
  

 

• Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

All one needs to do, to see kindness and tenderheartedness, is look at Jesus. Look how blind Bartimaeus could not fight the crowds to get to Jesus, but Jesus heard him anyhow (Mark 10:46-52). Look how He helped the woman caught in adultery, “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more” (John 8:10-11)... Even though He was about to raise Lazarus, He still took time to cry with Mary and Martha... (John 11). Over and over Jesus showed compassion...

The Lord is patient and long-suffering.

• Joel 2:13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.

 

• 2 Peter 3:8-9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord is gracious and merciful. Grace is God’s positive and unmerited favor towards undeserving and guilty sinners who deserve judgment and wrath. It is an expression of His love towards those who are undeserving (Exodus 34:6, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; Psalms 103:7-8, Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 2:11-14).

• Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

 

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

 

• Psalms 103:7-8 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

The Lord is good. God is the source of goodness and all that is good is a derivative from his nature and creation (Psalms 34:6-8,100:5, Luke 18:19, Titus 3:4).

• Psalms 34:6-8 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
  

The Lord is righteous and just. God is the righteous judge of His creatures and will always do what is right. His justice is ultimate and pure (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 19:8;).

• Deuteronomy 32:3-4 For I proclaim the name of the Lord: Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.
  

The Lord is truth; the Lord is truthful. The God of the Bible is the one true God and is truthful in all his dealings. He speaks and acts truthfully in all circumstances and is utterly trustworthy in his nature (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; John 14:6; 1 John 5:20, 5:6).

• 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

 

• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

• 1 John 1:5-6 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

The Lord is all-knowing, omniscient. God knows all things exhaustively and presently. His knowledge has no limit as He sees all and understands completely anything that can be known (Job 37:1-24, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Psalms 147:4-5,139:16, John 1:1-3).

• Ecclesiastes 3:11 No one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

 

• John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

 

• Psalms 147:4-5 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
  

He knows the stars He made by name. Think about it. We can't even see them all and He knows how many, their very places and their names...

• Psalms 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

In the Lord is complete joy and blessedness. The Lord is the fullness of joy and the fullness of blessing (Psalms 16:11; Nehemiah 8: 9-12; Zephaniah 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:11; Hebrews 1:8-9).

• Psalms 16:1 You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

• 1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
  

 

• Hebrews 1:8-9 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

 

• Nehemiah 8:9-12 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
  

God is a jealous God. God’s jealousy is not “irrational human jealously.” It is a rational and righteous jealousy that God has the right to have. He does not want “anything” to come between us and Him (Exodus 20:5,34:14, Deuteronomy 5:9).

• Exodus 34:14 “... for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”

The Lord is our peace. And He loves peace and would that we all be in peace (James 3:17-18, Isaiah 9:6,53:4-5,66:12-13, John 14:27,15-26).

• James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

• Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

 

• John 14:27​ “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

 

• Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

 

• John 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (KJV says “Comforter.” The original Greek word used is paraclete, meaning comforter, encourager or counselor.)

The Lord is omnipotent. He is sovereign. God is all-powerful and can do anything that can logically be done. His rule over history is final and He accomplishes anything and all He ever purposes to do (Genesis 17:1; Psalms 24:8; Jeremiah 32:27; Daniel 4:32; Ephesians 3:20-21).

Omnipotent is from the Latin omni, "all" and potent, "power" and when the word is applied to God, it means He is "all-powerful."

The Bible refers to God as "Almighty" 66 times, and the term is used exclusively of God, never of another person or thing. God revealed Himself as almighty to Abraham (Genesis 17:1), Moses (Exodus 6:3), John (Revelation 1:8; 19:6), and all believers (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Many others places in the Bible speak of God's ultimate, all-powerful nature. Job noted,

• Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

God's omnipotence can be clearly seen in “all three persons” of the “Trinity.” God the Father can do all things (Job 42:2). God the Son holds power over all nature and was involved in its creation (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus' earthly life was marked by numerous miracles that further revealed His power over nature, illness, and demons. God the Spirit was involved in creation (Genesis 1:2) and empowers believers to share the gospel (Acts 2:41) and perform miracles (Acts 3:6-10).

The Lord's omnipotence naturally extends over Satan and demons. Satan had to ask permission to harm Job (Job 1:9-12). Demons fear God (James 2:19).

• Job 12:13-16 With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding. If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release. If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth. With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
  

The Lord is independent and free, He is not bound or confined by any other. God’s being and existence is not dependent on anyone or anything else. God was not created and has existence in and of Himself. God acts according to his own wisdom and good pleasure (Job 34:13,41:11, Psalms 50:10-12, Acts 17:24–25, Romans 11:35-36, Psalms 115:2-3,135:6).

• Psalms 135:5-6 For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.

 

• Psalms 115:2-3 Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?" But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.

 

• Job 34:12-15 “Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice. Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.”

 

• Job 41:11 “Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.”

The Lord is creative. He created all the heavens and the earth and all that are in them. Is there anything He made that is not incredible? And the heavens are still expanding!

• Psalms 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

The Lord reigns with wisdom and understanding. He is the source! The Lord is wisdom.

• Job 12:13-16 With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding. If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; if He imprisons a man, there can be no release. If He withholds the waters, they dry up; if He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth. With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
  

The Lord is faithful and dependable. He keeps His word. God is utterly faithful to all His promises and keeps His word fully (Numbers 23:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Timothy 2:13; 1 Peter 4:19).

• 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

 

• Revelation 3:14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God”

 

• Revelation 19:11-12 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.

The Lord is beautiful. God is the most beautiful and desirable being there is – all that is beautiful in the world derives its beauty from the great artist who designed and made all things (Psalms 19:7-11,27:4,42:1,63:2-5).

• Psalms 27:4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.

 

• Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.

 

• Psalms 63:2-5 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

The Lord is eternal and omnipresent. God is, God has been, God will always be. He created space and time, relates to beings in time and will inhabit the infinite future (Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 57:15; Psalms 90:2; Romans 16:25-27; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 1:8,4:8).

• Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

God is spirit and is present at all places in all times. He is not limited in space and time to one location or epoch of history (Psalms 139:1-7, Jeremiah 23:23- 24).

The Lord is everywhere and at all times.

• Jeremiah 23:23-24 "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.”

 

• Psalms 139:1-8 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
  

The Lord is glorious. God is so glorious and indescribable that all our talk of Him falls short of how wonderful and glorious He actually is. When God reveals Himself to us, His presence brings holy awe and reverent fear. (1 Kings 8:10-11; John 17, Revelation 4:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, Isaiah 6:1-5; Job 34:21-29,42:1-6).

• Isaiah 6:1-5 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King.”

 

• Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

 

• 1 Kings 8:10-11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.

 

• Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
  

The Lord has self-control. We know He can be angry, we see how angry Jesus was when He cleansed the temple. But even in His anger, He was calm. He did not “lose his temper.” Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to come prior to the Cross, but He did not (Matthew 26:53). He came to fulfill the Father's plan and He did it. All that He endured at the hands of the High Priest and his minions prior to the Cross, showed incredible fortitude, holiness and self-control (Philippians 2:8). A blasphemous human, the High Priest called the Son of God “blasphemous” and Jesus, who was both God and man, maintained complete self-control (Hebrews 5:8).

The Lord is hard-working. The Lord is not lazy. As the Shepherd of Psalms 23, He takes complete care of His sheep. If a sheep gets in trouble, He is on the job to deal with it. He sees that the sheep's needs are completely met. He is the Lord of the whole earth. Not a drop of rain falls, that is not provided by Him. Our Father in heaven knows the needs of every being He has created and is on the job. Not even a sparrow falls without Him knowing it (Job 37, 38, 39; Matthew 6:25-34).

• Psalms 121:4-5 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper...

The Lord is prudent as in not wasteful. In wisdom, nothing is wasted. As a redeemer, God takes anything that can be turned for good and does it. We live in a free will (to an extent) situation, but He is still Lord and the developer of all natural systems. Trees purify our air, the oceans purify the waters that run into them. Manure has made great fertilizer for thousands of years. Clouds bring rain and shade. To say that the Lord made this earth and all its systems that work together including by natural recycling, is almost an understatement. Also, over and over in the Bible God does not let good opportunity go to waste. Even in people's actions, God is seen turning what the devil and others meant for harm into good.

Joseph's brothers sold him off into slavery and later God used Joseph to not only save them but many others Genesis 50:20.

Both times that the Lord fed the multitudes, He had the disciples gather up the fragments... John records He said it like this:

• John 6:12 "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost." (also found in Matthew 15:37)

The Lord even makes use of the bad things in life. For His children He even gives this promise:

• Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

The Lord is punctual, timely. Always on time, never early or late. Its an age old event, but still true today. Mary and Martha thought Jesus was too late to save Lazarus... after they had requested His help days earlier. By man's standards, the Lord was four days late, but God's agenda is the one that matters!

• John 11:4 “When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, the Lord met their needs daily and in every way. Clothes lasted, no sickness and the Lord daily, right on time sent them food for provision.

• Exodus 16:13-15 So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground. So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.”

And when the Lord said, He would provide daily He meant it. All extra manna would ruin and had to be gathered fresh the next morning. Except as the Lord had said, collect double on the sixth day to have it on the seventh day (Sabbath) without having to collect it, and no manna spoiled but remained good for the day (Exodus 16:22-31)!

One final example of the perfection of His timeliness, can be seen in Creation. It really was six literal days of Creation. We know this because the Lord said, “it was a night and a day,” therefore the first day, second day etc. But also there is proof in that there is only “one order of events with the perfect timing” that Creation could have been made in. For example, the sun had to be for there for the earth to rotate around. And on the earth, plants could not exist without water, nutrition and light. And man could not exist without all of the above. Only “a few specifics” were just referenced, but go to Genesis chapter 1 and see the beauty and divine order! How long could different aspects of life and creation exist without each other? God's planning and timing are perfect!

God has emotions and feelings. Many people imagine God as a “heartless being” on a throne somewhere “way up there” and nothing could be further from who He really is. He is happy and sad. He laughs. He gets heart-broken. He feels and understands all we each go through which is something in itself. He works and enjoys the results of His work. He also enjoys the beauty and precision of how things work (Genesis 1:31). God rules His emotions, unlike many humans whose emotions rule them.

Is love an emotion? Of course it is! The Lord said through Jeremiah,

• Jeremiah 31:3 "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

In the following selection, the word “pities” is also translated, “is compassionate toward”... including tender and merciful: “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him” (Psalms 103:13). The Lord is compassionate toward His children, He is tenderhearted and merciful.

Does the Lord take joy and delight in what is good? “Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.” - Jeremiah 32:41 How about this! With all His heart and soul, He rejoices to bless His people!

The way “a good parent loves their child” is reflective of “how God loves his children,” Solomon recorded:

• Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

As Jesus, was (and is) an expression of the Father's heart toward us, look how Jesus' heart broke at various times; including as he approached Jerusalem in the following verse:

• Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it...

You would be here a very long time if every verse showing the heart of God was put here. Look in the Book of Jeremiah how the Lord's heart was broken over His backslidden people. Jeremiah felt the heart of God in His prophecies and at times, found it difficult to bear, except that the Lord helps anyone of us to do what He has called us to do. Jeremiah showed the “broken heart of God over His people” over and over.

God hates evil. “God’s wrath” is His opposition and displeasure towards sin and those who choose it. It is His utter abhorrence of evil and an expression of His holiness and justice (Deuteronomy 9:7-8; John 3:36; Romans 1:18-21,2:5,6:23, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:4-6).

• 2 Peter 2:4-6 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly...

 

• Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

• Romans 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

God is a God of detail! Can you or anyone find anything that God made that is not well thought out, perfect in its order within Creation and perfect in every detail? Even the bad things that came with the fall, the Lord makes them have purpose. For further reading it is suggested to read Isaiah 40:12-31 and Job 38:1-41.

The Lord has a sense of humor. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is the personality of the Spirit and He is God! Joy and humor go hand in hand.

• Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

We are told in Ecclesiastes 3:4, that there is a time to cry and a time to laugh. The Lord promises in Luke 6:21 that those who weep, will laugh again. We are told repeatedly to rejoice in Philippians 4:4.

• Matthew 25:21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'"

Notice that the Lord says: “Enter into the joy of your lord.”

The Lord made the penguin, the dolphin and otter, just to name a few of the beautiful and playful ones of His creation. All throughout creation we find the incredible detail and handiwork of the Lord, and also beauty and joy.

In trying to surmise some of the many characteristics of the Lord covered in this article, here is a list. The Lord is:

All-knowing, all-powerful, balanced character in perfection, beautiful, compassionate, creative, diligent and never lazy, fair, faithful, free, gentle, good, glorious, gracious, has a sense of humor, has feelings, hates evil, holy, humble, jealous in the good way and never in the bad way, just, kind, immutable, impartial, independent, longsuffering, He is love, as well as loving, merciful, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, patient, perfect, prudent, punctual, righteous, sovereign, timely, true joy, true peace, triune, truth, truthful, unchanging, He is wisdom and He is wise.

Nothing is impossible to Him, He is not a man that he should ever lie, He is Father, He is Son, He is Holy Spirit, He is Three in One and Each One in Three, He is GOD. He is a God of detail, integrity, honor, He rules impeccably, He is without flaw or blemish, He is totally holy, unstoppable, eternal and everlasting!

In conclusion, how powerful, good and marvelous is our God!

He is infinite in all His goodness. Who could ever find the beginning or end of Him? Who could ever begin to measure Him or His attributes? Can anything compare to His love for us? Can anything compare to His grace? How great is our God! Praise Him, praise Him, Hallelujah our God totally rocks!



Here are a few pictures of just a tiny, tiny bit of the beauty and joy of the Lord's creation! 

 Laughing Bumble Bee Orchid

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 Sometimes called the Ballerina Flower.

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 Sometimes called Kissing Lips Flower

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 Dancing Girl Impatiens

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 Sometimes called Alien People Flowers

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 Monkey flowers

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Click here to hear a song called "I AM" by Eddie James

Click here to here a song, called "HE IS" by Aaron Jeffery

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​
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Copyright © 2015 E. Cockrell. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.