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Part 3: Knowing God Through His Word - God's Acts and Attributes

Writer's picture: Knowing GodKnowing God

Updated: Nov 12, 2024



We have seen in Part 2: Knowing God Through His Word - Specific Revelation that while Natural revelation gives us some details of who God is based on the things created, Specific Revelation, The Bible gives us the specifics about Him, it defines God to the extent He revealed Himself on it.


The bible contains the various characteristics and descriptions of God: His attributes, His names, His actions, His will, and etc., and the sum of all them leads us to know Him, to have the correct view of God based on what He revealed about Himself, and not based on what we want or think He is. Thus, The bible is a vehicle designed to conduct us to the knowledge of God, and not just have a mental knowledge of the bible itself. In this article, we will expand on what the bible has to reveal to us about God, and specifically learn about His acts and His attributes.


The Acts of God

Our God acts, He is constantly involved in the world, and the bible is full of the acts of God. By studying them, we can know God. we have already learned in Part 1: Knowing about God Through Creation that the very first act of God was to created the world, the heavens and the earth in the beginning as recorded in Genesis 1:1-2, it says, "'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.'" Then, He continued acting by giving form or beautifying the earth.


Afterwards, He created a garden where He placed the first man and woman, and continued acting by visiting them, instructing them, and etc. Adam and Even then sinned against God, and He acted by punishing them and letting them face the consequences of their actions, since God had warned them of it. It’s written, " 'Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”' Genesis 2:15-17


The first man and woman sinned, and God acted by sending them away from the garden of Eden, and the purpose was actually to protect them. The bible says, "'Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.'" Genesis 3:22-24.


As you can see from the passage above, the goal of taking them out of the garden was so that they would not eat also of the tree of life and live forever, but with a fallen nature, meaning man would be irredeemable, unable to be saved or reconciled to God. This would be the total ruin of the human race, However, God acted to protect them by sending them away. Prior from doing so, God had already revealed His plan of redeeming them in Christ when in Genesis 3:15 He said, "'And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”'" Genesis 3:15.


Jesus is the seed of the women that bruised the head of satan, the serpent, on the cross when He died but rose again on the third day for our justification. By sending Christ, God acted providing the perfect sacrifice for the salvation of every and any person who believes. It's written, "'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.'" John 3:16-17. God is love, and love does not seek His own interests but the good of others, hence, He gave us Jesus when we were dead in our sins and trespasses, meaning when we were at our worst, when we most needed.


However, it didn't finish there because God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ continued to act on earth. God did so many might works through the hands of Jesus: Raised the dead, fed thousands of people, delivered the oppressed, healed the sick, preached the gospel to the poor and etc., God's included the greatest miracle of all which is raising Christ from the dead, He did it (Romans 10:9). Peter resumed it all by saying, "'“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— '" Acts 2:22


The bible is full of the mighty acts of God and all was written so we can know God and take comfort on them because our God reigns supreme and is present in our lives as seen through His acts. The bible is a record of the works of God, whether done directly or through agents like human beings. Our God is almighty, there is none like Him. In several occasions the bible even shows the mighty works God did to show His superiority against other gods. For instance, when Moses was sent to deliver the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, he performed the initial sign of turning the rod of Aaron into a serpent, "But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments." (Exodus 7:11).


These worshippers of false gods were able to replicate that sign and the next two with their evil practices of enchantment, but when it came to the forth sign, they could not keep up and recognized that the God of Heaven and Earth (Joshua 2:11) was involved. It's written, "Now the magicians so worked with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not. So there were lice on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said." (Exodus 8:18-19). Through what God did by the hand of Moses in the forth sign, the magicians came to know that the Hand of the One and True God was on the situation.


Another episode when God was distinguished from other gods happened when Elijah called fire down from heaven. It's written, "And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord ; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. [...] Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord ; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.” I Kings 18:21-22,24.


The story ends with the prophets of Baal ashamed and killed because Baal did not bring fire down only the One and True God, possessor of Heaven and Earth (Genesis 14:19). These acts of God and many more are recorded in the bible, so we can know Him. ​​The acts of God are not limited to the old testament, in the new testament God is closer to His people and acts through them by His Spirit because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God acts by comforting His people, delivering them, answering their prayers, doing miracles, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed and etc.


For instance, Acts 12:5-11 describes an episode in which God acted to delivered Peter from prison in response to the prayers of His people. It says, "'Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. [...] And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”' 


These are just few of the many mighty acts of God recorded in the bible, both in the old as well the new testament, and by knowing them we get to know more about God. Our God acts, He rules the world, in spite of the fall of man, He is sovereign. God did not abandon the world, He rules over everything, including satan by limiting his influence in the world. God rules in the affairs of man, He acts mightily. It's written, "'But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Why should the Gentiles say, “So where is their God?”' Psalms 115:2-3. Moreover, It's also written in Daniel 4:17, "'‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’'". God acts and through His mighty acts we can know Him, the bible is archive containing them.


"God shows Himself in what He does. In creating the world, God showed His power, wisdom, beauty, goodness, and creativity. After creating the first men and women, God spoke and walked with them and even searched for them right after they sinned against Him, which shows that God is relational, personal, trustworthy and attentive. God demonstrated His holiness, wrath, and justice when He cursed the human rebellion in the garden and when he judged the sinners through a flood in the days of Noah. God also shows His grace and mercy when established a covenant with Noah and Abraham. In sending His Son to live and die for humanity, God showed incredible love and compassion. Whenever God acts we always see a demonstration of His character." (1).


The attributes of God (2)

According to dictionary.com, the word attribute means "quality or characteristic of the person, thing, group, etc.," Thus, when we refer to the attributes of God we mean the qualities or characteristics of Him, and by knowing them, we get to know more about God. The bible mentions many attributes of God and the sum of them is who God is, not just one or two. Many of these attributes are exclusive to God, and others are shared with humans since they have been made in God's image. Knowing the attributes of God is regarded as one of the fundamental ways of knowing God, since through them we understand His actions of God, His will, names, and etc. Let's examine these two groups of attributes more specifically:


Exclusive Attributes of God

  • God is Omnipresent: He is present in all places at the same time. God sees all that we do and all that happens (Psalms 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Act 17:27-28).

  • God is Omniscient: He knows all things. He knows not only our actions but also our very thoughts (Psalms 139:1-4, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Kings 8:39, Psalm 44:21, Jeremiah 17:9-10).

  • God is Omnipotent: He is all powerful and has all authority over all things and creatures (Jeremiah 32:17, Psalm 147:13-18, Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37)

  • God is Transcendent: He is different and independent of His creation (Exodus 24:9, 1 Kings 8:27, Isaiah 6:1-3, 40:12-26, Acts 17:24-25)

  • God is Eternal: He is from eternity to eternity (Psalm 90:1-2, 102:12, Isaiah 57:12)

  • God is Immutable: He is constant, His being, attributes, perfection, and eternal plans do not change (Numbers 23:19, Psalm 102:26-28, Isaiah 41:4, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 1:11-12); although His temporary plans for human race might change depending upon their behavior (Numbers 14:1-20, 2 Kings 20:2-6, Luke 18:1-8)

  • God is Perfect and Holy: He is absolutely separated, hollowed, in a class all by Himself, exempt from sin and perfectly just (Leviticus 11:44-45, Psalm 85:13, Matthew 5:48, 1 Peter 1:15-16).

  • God is Triune or Trinity: He is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 45:21, 1 Cor 8:5-6, Ephesians 4:6, 1 Timothy 2:5) manifested in three persons, : Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19, 2 Cor 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2).


Shared or Moral Attributes of God

When God created men in His image He communicated these attributes to them. They exist in them in a degree much lower than God's, although they can grow as one sanctifies himself after the new birth. However, these attributes are the very essence of God hence exist in Him in a far superior degree compared to men.


  • God is Good: He takes care of His creation, specially those who seek Him (Psalm 25:8, 106:1, Mark 10:18).

  • God is Love: He cares for the whole world, made of sinners and believers, unconditionally (1 John 4:8, John 3:16, Roman 5:8, Matthew 5:43-48)

  • God is Merciful: He does not treat us as we deserve due to our sins, but He is ready to forgive us in Christ if we repent (Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 4:31, 2 Chronicles 30:9, Psalm 103:8)

  • God is Compassionate: He feels and understands our suffering and is ever ready to help us (2 Kings 13:23, Psalm 86:15, 111:4).

  • God is Patient and Slow to anger: He gives us time to repent and relents before He expresses His wrath or judgment (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Romans 2:4, 1 Timothy 1:16, Genesis 2:16-17, 2 Peter 3:9).

  • God is The Truth: He is absolutely authentic, trustworthy, reliable and truthful in all He says and does, hence His worthy is calledthe truth also (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 31:5, Isaiah 65:16, John 3:33, John 14:17, 1 John 5:6, John 14:6, John 17:17).

  • God is Faithful: He will always carry out what He says or promises, including His judgments (Exodus 34:6, Deuteronomy 7:9, Isaiah 49:7, Lamentations 3:23, Hebrews 6:4-8, 10:23).

  • God is Just: He is the moral standard of the universe, is righteous, without sin in all His doings (Nehemiah 9:33, Deuteronomy 9:14, Romans 3:5-6, 21-22, Ezra 9:15, Psalm 145:17).


These are just some of the attributes of God, and as we read the bible we have the chance to encounter them all. God is all of them. These attributes are not simply qualities God displays neither things He does, though His acts are always consistent with His attributes, God is these attributes. However, to define God solely based on one of these attributes or to overemphasize one of them is to hold a wrong view of God. He is equally all of them, and they do not conflict with each other. God is just and love. He is merciful and Holy, and etc.


Though God may act in a way that one of these attributes will be in more evidence for a time, yet His action will not negate the others. For instance, The act of Christ dying on the cross was both a demonstration of God's judgement on sin, love and mercy on us, so we could be reconciled to Him, and etc. God is all of these attributes. The correct view of God is achieved when we equally hold each one of them and see God as such. He said to Moses, "[...], “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’'"' Exodus 3:14. Praise God. He IS WHO HE IS.


The Implications of Knowing

Having learned about the Acts and the Attributes of God, you should know Him better, but it does not end there. By knowing God better, you should likewise be able to relate to Him better. Again, Knowing God is far beyond simply mental awareness but it is intimately knowing, passionately relating, spiritually and truthfully worshipping, and loving Him with all your heart, soul, and strength (Mt 22:37-40). It's learning to interact with Him on the basis of the knowledge we acquire of Him. The end goal of the knowledge of God is relationship and love, and by knowing His acts and attributes you can relate with Him better. For instance, let's examine one implication of knowing the acts of God and how it better our relationship with Him.


Knowing that God acts in our affairs, gives us great confidence in God, in prayer, in life and leads us to worship Him for His mighty works. If we read something God did in the bible we can trust Him for similar thing, or even for things we never seen in the bible but as long it is consistent with His attributes. You see? The more you learn and meditate on the acts of God, the more you know and trust Him, the more confidently you pray and live. And seeing the interventions of God in your life naturally brings praise out of your lips. David said, "'Praise the Lord ! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!'" Psalms 150:1-2


Concerning the attributes of God same thing. The more you learn about them, the more you know God, the more confident you can be in Him, and the more you begin to worship Him for Who He is. For instance, you know that God is love and that love cares, hence, when it comes to your needs He will always provide because He cares for you, and not only you but even those who do not live for Him. On the other hand, since love is a shared attribute of God, the more we learn about it, the more we are compelled to act as God thus.


Jesus said, "'“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.'" Matthew 5:43-45. Can you see it. Moreover, if we take the fact that God is perfect, we can have confidence that if God does something is always perfect, lacking imperfection even if we don't understand it. In addition, if we take His faithfulness into account, we can rest assured that if God promises something, He will always do it, He is can be trusted, He is faithful.


it's written, "'Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”' Hebrews 13:5-6. God will never leave, forsaken, or abandon us. We can only rest in this promise if we know He is faithful. Of course His faithfulness is not seen only in the "good" promises He makes to us, but also when the promises to judge evil and evil doers, we know He will do it. Ultimately evil does not win because God has promised to eliminate all evil and all evil doers if they don't repent.


It's written, "'Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.'" Revelation 20:11-15


Lastly, let us consider the implications of knowing that God is Holy. As we have seen earlier, it means that God is separated, exclusive, exempted from sin and perfectly just. Hence, we cannot approach or walk before God anyhow, but on His terms. For instance, The book of Leviticus was written to to instruct the Israelites and their priestly mediators about their access to God through atoning blood and the divine patterns of holy living that they had to have as God's chosen people. However, in Leviticus 10 the bible shows that one day the sons of Aaron the High priest did not follow the patterns of God and the Lord judged them.


It's written, "'Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord , which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord . And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace.'" Leviticus 10:1-3. God is Holy and we need to regard Him as such, and therefore, approach Him on His terms, not ours, otherwise we will face the consequences.


This leads us to fear God, and indeed He must be feared. This is a healthy fear, It's the beginning of wisdom, compels us to worship God, and leads us life eternal. "'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.'" Proverbs 1:7. David said, "'Give unto the Lord , O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.'" Psalms 29:1-2 God is to be feared. With all you know now about God, you can see that the last thing you want is upset Him!


Psalm 2:11-12 says, "'Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.'". The holiness of God has many practical implications on how we approach God and how we conduct ourselves. 1 Peter 1:15-19 says, "'but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.'" I Peter 1:15-19


In short, these are just few of the implications of knowing the acts and attributes of God, and the list is almost endless. Hope you got the message! This is our God. While natural revelation does it job by pointing us to Him, specific revelation helps us to know Him for who He is. Through HIs Word, The Bible, we can learn about God's mighty acts and attributes and consequently relate to Him. May you search the scriptures diligently and obtain the knowledge of God, "'And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.'" Philippians 1:9-11


God bless you. Grace and peace.


References:

(1) SBB (Ed.). (2018). The Character of God. In NAA Study Bible (3rd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 2407–2408). Brazilian Bible Society.

(2) CPAD (Ed.). (1195). The Attributes of God. In Pentecostal Study Bible, aka Fire Bible, Brazilian Edition (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 915-917). Donald C. Stamps, J. Wesley Adams.

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All scriptures taken from the NKJV unless otherwise state. 

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