What is God Like?

How can we describe God? What can we compare Him to?

Writers throughout the ages have tried to describe God. Artists have tried to portray God in paintings, sculptures and even architecture. Even biblical writers such as the prophet Isaiah struggled to find words that would communicate the unique and incomprehensible nature of God. “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One (Isaiah 40:25).

Unless God revealed Himself to us, it would really be impossible to know anything about God. We can be thankful that God has not left us ignorant of his existence or his nature. The Bible and nature itself reveal much about the God who has created us.

The ‘"attributes"’ of God are those qualities revealed in the Bible that describe Him. From Scripture, we learn that God is a Triune being, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the Bible does not elaborate on the Trinity, it is clear that there is one God, that this God is three persons and each person is fully God (Matthew 28:18-20; John 10:30; John 1:1-2; Genesis 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:1-2; II Corinthians 13:14).

English churchmen wrote one of the most famous “descriptions” of God in 1647. In their attempt to design a teaching tool for the Christian faith, (now known as the Westminster Catechism), they penned these classic words about the Triune God. As you read them, look up the Bible passages to get the most out of their spiritual and theological insights.

There is but one only,(a) living, and true God,(b) who is infinite in being and perfection,(c) a most pure spirit,(d) invisible,(e) without body, parts,(f) or passions;(g) immutable,(h) immense,(i) eternal,(j) incomprehensible,(k) almighty,(l) most wise,(m) most holy,(n) most free,(o) most absolute;(p) working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,(q) for His own glory;(r) most loving,(s) gracious, merciful, long–suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;(t) the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him;(u) and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments,(v) hating all sin,(w) and who will by no means clear the guilty.(x)

a. Deuteronomy. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6.

b. 1 Thessalonians. 1:9; Jer. 10:10.

c. Job 11:7–9; 26:14.

d. John 4:24

e. 1 Timothy. 1:17.

f. Deuteronomy. 4:15; John 4:24; Luke 24:39.

g. Acts 14:11, 15.

h. James 1:17; Malachi. 3:6.

i. 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah. 23:23–24.

j. Psalm. 90:2; 1 Timothy. 1:17.

k. Psalm. 145:3.

l. Genesis. 17:1; Revelation. 4:8.

m. Romans. 16:27.

n. Isaiah. 6:3; Revelation. 4:8.

o. Psalm. 115:3

p. Exodus. 3:14.

q. Ephesians. 1:11.

r. Proverbs. 16:4; Romans. 11:36.

s. 1 John 4:8, 16.

t. Exodus. 34:6–7.

u. Hebrews. 11:6.

v. Nehemiah. 9:32–33.

w. Psalm. 5:5–6.

x. Nahum. 1:2, 3; Exodus. 34:7.

These men clearly understood what the Bible teaches about God. They summarized the full biblical portrait of God in a manner so as to prevent our concept of God from descending into an uneven caricature, unworthy of our worship.