Isaiah 46:9 shows us that God is unique. “Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past; For I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me.
He is and always has been and will always exist. In other words, there was never a time when He did not exist. Likewise, He makes Himself known in many ways. And the Lord is unlike anyone we will ever know. He is One-of-a-kind and has no equal. Nobody compares to Him. No one can measure up to Him.
Likewise, the Bible opens our eyes and hearts to who God is and what He is like. It grants us access to start a journey with the most mesmerizing creator we will ever encounter. Any attempt by any source other than through His Word, creation, and Jesus Christ, His Son, to explain His attributes would be mere speculation, an interpretation, or an opinion. What we learn of Him through these valuable and reliable sources; we not only experience Him for ourselves, but we get to build an incredible relationship with Him as well. Then, share Him with the world. There is a term on social media we use when somebody does or posts something so profound it goes viral. Beloved, our relationship with God should be so potent and effective that it goes viral.
Ice Breaker: If there was one word to describe yourself, what would it be? And explain why. Resilient: A resilient person can cope and recover from setbacks quickly. They adapt and grow from challenging circumstances, manage their emotions, and seek support. They are adaptable to change and value relationships.
The word attribute means a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something: (Bing) (1)
Regarding God, it is qualities of Him that constitute what He is, the characteristics of His nature.
Likewise, there are communicable and incommunicable attributes of God. These refer to those characteristics that can and cannot be shared. Communicable attributes are those qualities of God and humans have as well. Still, incommunicable attributes are unique to God only.
Some of God’s incommunicable attributes are He is omnipresent, eternal, and unchangeable.
Communicable attributes reveal His personality, such as patience, love, kindness, goodness, mercy, wisdom, and holiness, to name a few. (2)
When we speak of God, it means the inherent characteristics of God. Here are four essential principles about the attributes of God.
1. The attributes of God describe His total being. It answers the question, who is God?
2. His attributes help us understand more about God. It answers the question, what is God like?
3. His attributes are classified under two categories—His infinite powers and personality attributes such as holiness, love, and righteousness. It answers the question, what kind of God is He?
4. An attribute of God is something true about Him. And the question you may want to ask yourself is, when I tell others about God, am I revealing who He really is?
There are many profound attributes of God and only God Himself can reveal to us who He is. Think about that! I can share the experiences I have had with God with you. But until you encounter Him, you will never know who He is. And it is good to share our testimonies with others, but nothing compares to having their experience with the Lord. That said, the only means to discover Him is through creation, the Bible, and the Word made flesh through Jesus Christ. Jesus even said in John 10:30; I and my Father are one. These sources show us who He is, what He is like, and the kind of God He is.
Think of your best friend. You trust this person; you share more with them than you do with your parents. It is probably the first person you go to for advice, or to share good news. Or to pray for you. I have specific prayer warriors I ask to pray for me. Who knows this person the best? Their parents, friends, including you, and most importantly, God.
Many people serve their idea of who God is, which is known as an idol. God. Even In Genesis, God commanded the Israelites in Exodus 20:1-6, ESV:
And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
There are not enough words to describe who He is, what He is like, and the kind of God He is. Still, we must understand who He is to have a genuine relationship with Him. Because if you do not comprehend who God is, how can you effectively draw others to Him? If you do not know who the Lord is, how can you represent Him in a world filled with social unrest, violence, and darkness?
So here are some unique attributes of God.
1. God is Infinite and Immortal He is the self-existing one. Before the earth was, He has and will always exist. (Psalms 90:2).
Now to the King of the ages [eternal], immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).
In Exodus 3:13-15, He tells Moses to tell Pharoah to let His people go. Moses asks, who shall I say sent me? He tells him to say I Am sent me.
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Can you imagine going to somebody and telling them the self-existing God, who Is known as I Am Who I Am sent me to you?
2. God is Immutable - He never changes. He is the same yesterday, tomorrow, and forever more. 6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change [but remain faithful to My covenant with you]; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, have not come to an end. (Malachi 3:6). His mind never changes. His promises never change. Some of His promises are conditional, but He keeps every promise He makes. (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 it? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?
His plans never change. And His plans for your and my life are never early or late. He executes them at His precise time and season. And He makes no mistakes. He does not wear out over time as our appliances do. A car wears out, our clothes wear out, and we even change our minds. Still, God is unchangeable, which means He is always reliable and dependable. He is trustworthy and will never fail us. I Am that I Am. I will not change! (Psalms 102:26-27).
Even they will perish, but You endure; Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. Like clothing, You will change them and they shall be changed.27 “But You remain the same, And Your years will never end.
Somebody may say He does change, such as when He added 15 years to King Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:1-6). Likewise, when the Lord spared the city of Nineveh from impending doom. (Jonah 3:4, 10). These incidents show how God’s heart responded to the present incident. The situation and circumstances changed, so God’s attitude or intentions changed. For example, His declaration to the Assyrians was conditional. When they repented, God relented because He warned them to provoke repentance. (Jeremiah 8:11-17).
God is always consistent, and there is nothing unsteady about Him. In response to the choices we make, God does change His judgment. He loves mercy and will go to great lengths to save and rescue us. When your heart posture changes God grants His amazing grace.
3. God Is Eternal – He had no beginning. Before the world was, I am He that made the world exist. He is timeless and sees the past, present, and future at the same time. Before the mountains were born Or before You had given birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are [the eternal] God. (Psalms 90:2).
If only we could see our future while living in our present. Can you imagine knowing what will happen in your life before tomorrow gets here? Or even five years from now? Better yet, would you want to know that far in advance? Still, only God knows that information, and He tells us in Matthew 6:34, NLT: “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
We can look at this another way because God is eternal, which means He is with us now and already in our tomorrow and sees far into our future. So, it should be enough for you to know that you have a God who is eternal. And no matter what happens now, tomorrow, or in your future, God has already provided everything you need, and it is a done deal. That should give all of us a living hope.
Question 1: Regarding your personality, name one thing you like best about yourself and any characteristic you would change. And tell us why.
I see things from a different perspective. When God puts a word in my heart for someone, sometimes, it takes me some time before I tell them what God said. It is not because I am afraid, it is all about the time or the season. Still, I must do what God tells me to do when He tells me to do it!
4. God is Self-Sufficient – He is independent and does not need anything or anybody for anything. “The God who created the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things.” (Acts 17:24-25).
Likewise, He has no needs but can supply us with all our needs. (John 5:26). He possesses infinite wisdom, His being, and goodness that never fades, over time. Because He is self-sufficient, we have unlimited access because He satisfies all our needs. (Ephesians 3:20-21, AMP). Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
I think about those who have millions and billions, and yet, none of them are self-sufficient. No matter how wealthy or powerful somebody is, you will never be self-sufficient because you will always need something. That said, you may disagree that they do not need anything. But do they have the peace of God that makes no sense? Do they have faith in God? Do they even believe in God? Do they even feel they need God for anything because these people think they have everything?
So, isn’t it great to know that God is Self-sufficient? And we do not have to worry about tomorrow because God has provided everything. Everything you need for tomorrow is already there. Thank You, my Self-sufficient, all-abundant, never needing anything God, because everything belongs to You. We can face tomorrow because our Self-sufficient God is with us today, tomorrow, and forever.
5. God is Incomparable – Nobody is like Him. He is unequal and absolutely perfect. He is flawless and cannot make mistakes.
Therefore You are great, O Lord God; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (2 Samuel 7:22).
“To whom then will you compare Me That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25).
You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48).
6. God Is Faithful – His faithfulness corresponds with His immutability. The fact that He never changes proves that He is always faithful. We can always count on the Lord to do what He says He will do. (Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Timothy 2:13).
Therefore know [without any doubt] and understand that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who is keeping His covenant and His [steadfast] lovingkindness to a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (Deuteronomy 7:9).
If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy2:13).
Likewise, His faithfulness is not dependent upon a lack of trust in Him. Whether we believe Him or not, He remains faithful. The Lord never breaks His promises. Still, some of His promises are conditional, yet He remains faithful. When you trust Him, it will not be for naught because God will come through. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. The Lord will split your Red Sea and turn it into a highway. If He does not move the unmovable mountain, He will make a way out of no way.
Question 2: It is easy to say that God does exist. Still, in a world that needs proof of His existence, what would you say to somebody who challenges you to prove the existence of God?
Neat: The existence of trees. One spring morning, I looked at a tree in the front yard and how it went from a barren winter with no leaves to a spring blooming full of leaves. I watched every day as tiny buds began to sprout. Each day, more leaves grew until, within a week, God filled that tree with sparkling green leaves. That was mesmerizing!
Next week, we will share Part 2 of this series.
In the meantime, I pray the song, "You're Still God" by Phillips, Craig, and Dean will remind you that He is God even if you cannot understand what He's doing. Just recall these unique attributes of His.
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