Bulletin Insert (1/10/21): "God is GOOD... ALL the Time"

 

Attributes of God Series: “GOD IS GOOD”

Pastor Terry Reese, Valley GBC of Armagh, 1/10/2021

 

Intro: Classifying the Attributes of God.

Recall our classification scheme: God is Great & Good.

 

I. God is GREAT.

This refers to God’s incommunicable attributes (i.e., they cannot be shared with any creature, and are unique unto God).

 

Also, they generally deal with the basic concept of Being (as opposed to morals & ethics).

 

In terms of His Greatness, God is…

1. Self-Existent          6. Omnipotent

2. Eternal                   7. Perfect

3. Unchangeable       8. Infinite

4. Omnipresent         9. Incomprehensible

5. Omniscient

 

II. God is GOOD.

This pertains to the moral & ethical aspects of God’s nature.

These qualities are Communicable (i.e., they can be imparted unto creatures, who can reflect God’s moral nature; 1Jn 4:7-11).

 

A. In regard to His Goodness, God is, in and of Himself…

1. Holy     2. True    3. Love

These are called Absolute, or Immanent attributes (i.e., they represent the essential nature of God’s character).

 

B. In His Goodness, God is, in relation to other beings…  

 4. Righteous    5. Faithful    6. Merciful

These are called Relative attributes (involving the outward expression of God’s character).

 

CHART: RELATING GOD’S ABSOLUTE & RELATIVE MORAL ATTRIBUTES.

ABSOLUTE ATTRIBUTES	RELATIVE ATTRIBUTES
In Himself, God is HOLY… ð	…and is thus RIGHTEOUS in His dealings with others.
In Himself, God is TRUE… ð	…and is thus FAITHFUL in His dealings with others
In Himself, God is LOVE… ð	…and is thus MERCIFUL in His dealings with others.