Who God Is

(Brief Bible study on some of the attributes of God)

On May 6, 2023, the world viewed the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camille at Westminster Abbey in London. The Archbishop of Canterbury crowned both of them as the crowds watched and then shouted, “God Save the King.” Then, the royal couple rode the one-mile trip back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach pulled by the Windsor Gray horses and escorted by a large contingent of Armed Forces. Enthusiastic crowds cheered as they watched on this rainy day. This was the coronation day for their King and Queen. King Charles replaced Queen Elizabeth, who had ruled the United Kingdom for over 70 years, from 1952 to 2022.

King of Kings

But the pomp, circumstance, and pageantry of the British Coronation fade compared to the crowning and recognition of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11). “Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15-16).   “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19:6).

He is Eternal

In Isaiah 57:15, He is the “One that inhabiteth eternity.”  In heaven, they worship Him as “Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8). Jesus is the One who said, “Before Abraham was, I am.”  (John 8:58). He has no beginning or end. He is outside of time. He can see the past, present, and future all at the same time. A thousand years in our time is like a day in His view. He can look at ages past as though it were today and at the last event in Revelation as if it were today. He is infinite. Our human minds think of everything as having a beginning and an ending. Our soul is everlasting. We had a beginning and will last forever, either in heaven or hell. But God is eternal, without beginning or ending.

He is Holy.

In the vision of the Lord on his throne, Isaiah hears the angels praise Him, saying, ” Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah 57:15 calls him the one “whose name is holy.”  In heaven, John sees Jesus worshiped with the words, “Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8). “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy” (Revelation 15:4). God is separated from all moral defilement and is hostile and angry at sin. “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render every man according to his deeds:” (Romans 2:5-6).

Because He is perfect holiness and we are not and cannot be, He sent His Son to die for us and pay for our sins. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

He is Sovereign.

He is supreme. He is the ultimate authority over everything throughout all time and eternity. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9,10). “Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”  (Psalm 135:6) Because He is omnipotent and supreme, what He says and does is final and authoritative.

He is High and Lofty.

For a man to say he is lofty would be the utmost in pride, arrogance, and self-centeredness. But we can rightly call God high and lofty because He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything that exists.

“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy.” (Isaiah 57:15). “The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”  (Psalm 113:4-6). Even though God is worthy and deserving of all honor and is the Supreme Potentate over everything that exists, He humbles himself to look at the things in the immense universe and the earth. Furthermore, Philippians 2:7-9 declares that Jesus ”made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”

This God, who is the Creator, Sustainer, King of Kings, Sovereign Potentate over all, humbled himself to the place of crucifixion so He could pay for our sins. He is holy and cannot tolerate sin, so he sentenced the sinner to eternal punishment for sin. But because He loved us, He, by grace,  provided the eternal remedy for sin for everyone who would receive it.

Jesus is the Judge.

The One who died for us is also the one who will be the judge. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:22-24) In this proclamation of Jesus as judge, God offers forgiveness and no condemnation to the believer who believes NOW. The believer can be free from condemnation and stand confidently before the presence of the Lord.

When you come into the presence of the Lord today, in worship, do you realize whom you are worshiping? As He is undoubtedly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, he is worthy of much more respect and honor than any earthly king. Since He is eternal, recognize how short your life span is compared to His eternity. God is holy, and he hates sin. Do you hate sin in your own life? He is sovereign. Do you allow him to rule and reign in your life? He is high and lofty, yet He humbled himself even to the death of the cross to pay for your sin. Jesus is more powerful, knowledgeable, and alert to everything going on in the world than any human could be. If  He could humble himself, can you also humble yourself in worship, love, and service to Him?

If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, you have a choice today. You can meet Jesus as your Savior or wait and meet him as your judge. What will you do?