The Doctrine of God

Definition: God is the infinite and perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support, and end.

I believe there is only one true and living God, who eternally exists in three uncreated, self-existing persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe that God disclosed Himself to man.

  1. I believe that the one true and living God eternally exists (Jer 10:10; 1 Thess 1:9). The central affirmation in Scripture is that God has spoken and if God has spoken then He exists (Gen 1:1; Exod 3:14).
  2. I believe in the tri-unity of God i.e. that the divine essence subsists wholly, indivisibly, simultaneously, and eternally in each member of the God head.
    1. I believe each person of the God head to be distinct, yet of the same divine essence i.e. they share the same perfection’s [God the Father (Jn 6:27), God the Son (Heb 1:8), and God the Holy Spirit (2 Sam 23:2-3; Acts 5:3,4) Note Ps 110:1; Is 48:16].
    2. I believe there to be a priority of function among them, an economical order whereby they exercise their divine perfection’s in their distinct offices (1 Cor 12:4-6; Eph 2:18; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 Co 8:6 Cf. Ge 1:2).
      1. The Father has primacy over the Son (Jn 14:28) and the Spirit (Jn 14:26).
      2. The Son has primacy over the Spirit (Jn 15:26).
  3. I believe that God disclosed Himself to man without which it would be impossible for God to be known. God has revealed Himself through various channels:
    1. General revelation (Ps 19:1-4,7-14; Ac 14:7; Rom 1:19-20)
    2. The constitution of man (Gen 1:26-27; Rom 2:15)
    3. Direct revelation (Gen 6:13; 17:15; Is 6; Acts 9:3-6)
    4. His miraculous and providential acts (Ex 5:1-2; Is 45:1-6)
    5. The lives of His people (2 Cor 3:2-3; 1 Pet 2:9)
    6. The Bible (Jn 5:39)
    7. Jesus Christ (Jn 1:18; 14:8,9)

I believe that God is an infinite and perfect Spirit, the source, support, and end of all things. This is reflected in His personality and excellencies which are inseparable from the idea of God. God’s divine perfections are inherent within Himself and manifest His essence. God is what His excellencies are.

  1. I believe that God is a person.
    1. He is Intelligent (1 Sa 2:3; Ro 11:33)
    2. He is Emotional [love, (Jer 31:3); compassion, (Ps 145:8); hate, (Ps 5:5)]
    3. He is Volitional (Da 4:35; Eph 1:1)
    4. He is Self-conscious (Ex 3:14)
  2. I believe that God’s essence i.e. divine nature, is manifested through His excellencies. These essential, inherent qualities of God (they are His being) are classified into two categories: (1) Those divine perfections associated with God’s greatness, (2) Those divine perfections associated with God’s goodness.
    1. The divine perfections of God’s greatness. God is:
      1. Self-existing–The source of God’s existence is wholly in Himself, He is uncaused, and independent of all things external to Himself (Ex 3:14; Jn 5:26)
      2. Infinite–God has no limits or bounds other than those which are self imposed (1 Ki 8:27; Ps 40:5)
      3. Perfect–God is complete in Himself and lacks nothing (Ps 18:30; Matt 5:48)
      4. Eternal–God is without beginning or end (Deut 33:27; Ps 90:1-2)
      5. Omnipotent–God can do all things consistent with His nature and purpose (Gen 18:14; Job 42:2)
      6. Omniscient–God knows all things past, present, and future. God knows all things intuitively, simultaneously, and eternally whether actual or possible (Is 46:9-11; 1 Jn 3:20)
      7. Omnipresent–God is in the universe, everywhere present at the same time, filling every part of it with His whole being (Ps 139: 7-10; Jer 23:23-24)
      8. Immutable–God does not change in any capacity [person, (Mal 3:6); plans, (Ps 33:11); purpose, (Ez 24:14); promises, (Nu 23:19)]
      9. Incomprehensible–Because of God’s eternality and infinity He cannot be completely known or understood by finite man (Job 11:7-9; Ps 145:3)
    2. The divine perfections of God’s goodness. God is:
      1. What God is in Himself
        1. Holy–This is God’s majestic transcendence and His self-affirming purity. Holiness is God’s fundamental attribute (Ex 15:11; Ps 89:35) i.e. it is the attribute He seems to associate with most.
        2. True–God actually is what He claims to be. He is consistent with Himself (Jer 10:10; Jn 3:33)
        3. Loving–God’s settled purpose of will (1 Jn 4:8) to give Himself and His gifts spontaneously, voluntarily (Hos 14:4), righteously (Ps 11:7), and eternally (1 Cor 13:8), for the good of personal beings, regardless of their merit or response.
      2. What God is to others
        1. Righteous–That divine perfection whereby God’s actions and attitudes are always in conformity to His perfect being and which demands absolute conformity by others (Ps 11:7; 145:17; Matt 5:48)
        2. Faithful–This is God’s trustworthiness to act or perform in accordance with His word (1 Cor 10:13; Heb 10:23)
        3. Mercy–That eternal principle of God’s nature which leads Him to seek the temporal good and eternal salvation of those who oppose Him (Deut 4:3; Neh 9:17-21; Eph 2:4-8)
        4. Gracious–God’s condescending judicial benevolence toward the deserved guilt of sinners (Eph 1:7; 2:8-9)

I believe in the eternal decrees of God i.e. that God willed (Ps 135:6; Eph 1:11) and rendered certain (Is 14:27; 46:9-10) an absolute [(includes means and results, 2 Thess 2:13), eternal (Is 22:11;37:26), immutable (Ps 33:11; Is 46:9-10)], universal plan (Eph 1:1; Col 1:16) for the purpose of glorifying Himself (Is 48:11; Rev 4:11).