The Attributes of God

Worthwhile relationships are based on knowledge. When we meet someone for the first time, we do not consider that we really know that person until we have the opportunity to learn more about that person, such as his or her history, personality, likes, dislikes, and desires. As we come to know more about a new acquaintance, we better understand how to carry on a relationship with that person. In the same way, a vibrant relationship with the triune God must be rooted in a firm understanding of who He reveals Himself to be in His Word. In this message, Dr. Steven J. Lawson presents an overview of God's defining attributes and invites us to pursue a more intimate and worshipful relationship with Him.

Of God's many distinct attributes, one of the most difficult for finite human beings to come to terms with is His aseity, or self-existence. Unlike us, God has neither beginning nor end, and He is not dependent upon anyone or anything. In this message, as we consider God's limitless abundance and our own neediness, Dr. Lawson invites us to seek full satisfaction and delight in the one who is the limitless source of all things.

The concept of spirituality is used to communicate a variety of different ideas. For some, this word indicates a conscious commitment to the things of God. To others, to say that someone is spiritual is to suggest that he or she has a generic interest in religious or supernatural matters. However, to speak of God's spirituality is actually to identify Him as a spirit—an immaterial, invisible, and infinite being that is fundamentally distinct from material, visible, and finite creatures. In this message, Dr. Lawson investigates what it means to affirm that God is a spiritual being and why this aspect of His character is crucial to our understanding of who He is.

Resounding throughout the pages of Scripture is the proclamation that God is King. And the concept most closely associated with His kingship is His sovereignty. To say that God is sovereign is not to say merely that He is stronger than everyone else, although this is true. Rather, to call Him sovereign is to ascribe to Him a rule and authority that transcends space and time, leaving nothing outside its scope. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson examines the nature and extent of God's sovereign rule, showing how a biblical understanding of this topic can change the way we view the progress of history, the events of the present world, and the circumstances of our own lives.

To many people today, holiness is a foreign concept. For the authors of Scripture, however, holiness is one of God's most prominent attributes. It denotes both His separation from creation as the infinitely superior One and His absolute moral purity. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson explains what it means to affirm that God is holy, and how an understanding of this truth affects how we approach the living God and live before Him in humble reverence.

As embodied beings, we are limited by space and time. When confronted with competing demands on our time, we often excuse ourselves by stating that we can't be in two places at once. God, however, can be in two places at once. In fact, He is everywhere at once. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson unfolds the biblical teaching of God's omnipresence, demonstrating that there is no place in heaven or hell, nor the entire universe, where God is not present in the fullness of His being.

When reflecting on the limited capacity of the human mind, it is difficult to fathom a being who knows everything perfectly. There are some today who would limit God's knowledge, arguing that it interferes with the free choices of individuals, but this runs counter to the clear and consistent teaching of Scripture. In this message, Dr. Lawson considers what it means to affirm that God is omniscient and why this aspect of His character is essential to our understanding of who He is.

Like all of His attributes, God's omnipotence is co-extensive with His being. There is no area of the universe where He is not exerting His power. From a blade of grass to the stars of the sky, everything and everyone is dependent upon His immeasurable power for its existence. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson explores the nature and extent of this incomprehensible power.

It is hard for anyone to go a day, even an hour, without changing in some way. Our thoughts and emotions are in a constant state of flux. Even our greatest desires and plans change over time. God, however, never changes His mind or His course of action in the world. He is an immovable rock, a mighty fortress, and the only sure anchor in an ever-changing world. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson explores the biblical view of God's immutability, showing how His character, Word, plan, and salvation never change.

In an age when truth is often seen as entirely subjective, the Bible's presentation of a God whose truthfulness is absolute and objective stands in stark contrast. Moreover, the claim that this God has spoken truth in sacred Scripture stands the wisdom of this world on its head. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson examines several aspects of the truthfulness of God, showing why it is such a radical and countercultural view to hold in today's world.

The thought that the brutal execution of a Jewish man in first-century Palestine could be the means by which God brings salvation to mankind is considered foolishness by the world. But it was in this very event that God demonstrated His infinite and unsearchable wisdom. In this message, Dr. Lawson provides a biblical definition of wisdom and examines God's wisdom in creation, providence, and salvation.

It is not uncommon for those who face pain and hardship in this life to doubt the goodness of God. But the clear message of Scripture is that God is uniquely good, and that He is the measure for everything we call good. Considered together with His wisdom and power, Christians can be assured that God not only desires to reveal His goodness, but is able to accomplish His good plan in the best possible way. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson explores what it means to say that God is good, and how His goodness is operative in the world.

When asked to summarize the law, Jesus responded that one must love God and neighbor. Considering the grace of God ought to help believers fulfill both commandments. God's grace should both flood one's heart with thankfulness and love for Him, and also provide the model for how we should treat our neighbor. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson uncovers the extent of God's grace, which is seen most clearly in the salvation accomplished in His Son.

Love is a word that is frequently thrown around without consideration of what it truly means. It is often thought of as feeling or attraction, but Scripture provides a much more profound understanding of what love is. Furthermore, it is God's love that provides the exemplar for all derivative forms of love. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson explores the depths of God's love, which is an infinite and eternally self-giving love.

Foreknowledge is an often misunderstood and maligned concept. But many assumptions about its meaning are unbiblical. In this lesson, Dr. Lawson disabuses false notions of foreknowledge and examines what the text of Scripture actually teaches.

While many people prefer not to think about the wrath of God, the Bible does not hesitate to speak of it. In Scripture, God's wrath serves as a warning to unbelievers and a reason for holy living for His people. In this message, Dr. Lawson looks at the nature and necessity of God's wrath, and the many different ways that it is shown in Scripture.