Spring Warrior Church of Christ

7432 S. Red Padgett Road

Perry, FL 32348
584-5176

Prove All Things Vol. 1 No. 2

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The Nature of God By Jeff Himmel, jshimmel@perry.gulfnet.com

1[2/14/2001]

If the statistics are right, most people in America believe in God. Chances are
that you do. But if you believe the God of the Bible exists, have you thought about what
that means?

God is eternal — without beginning and without end. He is “from everlasting to

everlasting” (Psalm 90:2), the One “who is, and who was, and who is to come”
(Revelation 1:8). As an eternal being, God isn’t bound by time as we are (see 2 Peter
3:8). We humans can measure the passage of time, but we can’t move within it at will or
free ourselves from its effects. Yet for God, time presents no constraints.

God is all-seeing, or omnipresent. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
watching the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). David asked, “Where can I go from
Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). God is
everywhere, sees everything. If you find that thought a little disturbing, you should! We
may be able to hide some things from one another, but “there is no creature hidden
from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we
have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

God is all-knowing, or omniscient. “There is no wisdom and no understanding

And no counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30). “God is greater than our heart,
and knows all things” (1 John 3:20). With every advance in science, technology,
medicine, and learning, we become more aware of how much we still don’t know. Yet
God is able to know any and all things.

God is all-powerful, or omnipotent. Job proclaimed, “I know that you can do all
things; no plan of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). We can’t create matter out of
nothing, but God can (Exodus 20:11). We can’t undo death, but God can (Acts 17:31).

Bibleweb.com, Copyright © 2001 Jeff Himmel All Rights Reserved

Page 1 of 2
 God is our Creator; we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). That means He
has authority to define how we should live — what’s right and what’s wrong. He has
authority to judge our obedience to that standard and to punish us if we don’t follow it
(2 Corinthians 5:10). So when we violate His law, it involves real guilt; it is sin (1 John
3:4). And all of us are guilty, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23).

God is a Person, not some unfeeling force. He created us with a purpose: to have
fellowship with Him. Sin destroys that relationship. But God’s authority means He can
forgive our disobedience. And because God loves us, He has provided a way to do that
— in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 8:1). Since it’s our sin that destroys the
relationship, it follows that only God can set the terms of pardon. We can’t save
ourselves; we have to submit to His requirements. Only through Christ can people be
forgiven and escape the eternal consequences of sin. There’s no pursuit more
worthwhile than being a child of God — a Christian.

God has revealed Himself. God is infinitely far above us. “For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than
your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). We can’t know God’s mind unless He reveals it to us (1
Corinthians 2:9-13). And if the eternal, all-powerful, all-wise, all-seeing God has
spoken, then we need to hear Him. If our creator, lawgiver, and judge says anything
about our purpose, acceptable conduct, and how we can have fellowship with Him, then
we must listen.

The Bible is God’s revelation to us. Specifically, He speaks to us today in the

gospel of Christ — the New Testament (Hebrews 1:1-2). Its message is “the power of
God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). It is complete; God has
revealed everything we need to know (2 Peter 1:3). The Scriptures describe mankind’s
purpose, God’s standard of right and wrong conduct, and how we can have a
relationship with Him. The consequences of ignoring that revelation are grave
(Hebrews 2:1-4).

God created us. He has a will for us. And He has revealed it to us in Scripture.
It’s the worst kind of foolishness, then, not to devote ourselves to knowing Him and
living in harmony with His word. In fact, that’s our whole purpose in life (Ecclesiastes
12:13).

Do you believe in God? If so, what have you done about it?

Bibleweb.com, Copyright © 2001 Jeff Himmel All Rights Reserved

Page 2 of 2