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Learn About The Attributes Of The Godhead

Introduction

Deity Requires Certain Attributes

When we speak of the attributes of God, we speak of those we share in common with God—Love, forgiving, humility, etc, and those that only God has—referred to as the “non-communicable” attributes of God that are unlimited in nature, such as everlasting to everlasting duration, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience and immutability. These attributes must be present for an entity to be God.

Discovering God's Attributes Is Somewhat Complicated

The discussion is complicated because the Old Testament rarely distinguishes between the Father and Christ. However, Christ said in “John 14:9 “Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” Therefore we can learn much about the Father’s attributes by studying Christ. We can also look at the attributes of God listed in the Old Testament to know God’s attributes even if they are not distinguished from Christ. Learning about Christ's attributes are far easier, since there are many Scriptures to be found on them. There are fewer for the Holy Spirit, but they are still present.

God's Attributes Are Unlimited in Nature

Regarding these attributes, they are considered to be unlimited in nature: 

“If God has done for us the utmost that Deity could do; if all the divine attributes, unlimited as they are, have combined and even exhausted themselves in the great plan of redemption, then every child and youth should make the Scriptures their study, that they may not be ignorant of this wonderful scheme.” The Youth’s Instructor, August 31, 1887, par. 1.

 

The Non-Communicable Attributes of God

Eternal

“God always has been. He is the great I AM. The psalmist declares, ‘Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God.’ [Psalm 90:2.] He is the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity. ‘I am the Lord, I change not,’ He declares. [Isaiah 57:15; Malachi 3:6.] With Him there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. He is ‘the same yesterday, today, and forever.’ [James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8.] He is infinite and omnipresent. No words of ours can describe His greatness and majesty.”

Manuscript 132, 1903.35

Genesis 21:33 “And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.”

Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

“I AM means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike with God. He sees the most remote events of past history, and the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things which are transpiring daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute to our eternal welfare.”

Letter 119, 1895

*Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

*Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

Psalms 93:2 “Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.”

*Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy.”

Self Existence 

*John 5:26 “The Father hath life in himself.”

Psalms 36:9 ”For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”

1 Timothy 6:16 “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 honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

Unchanging (Immutable)

*Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I change not.”

*James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Present Everywhere (Omnipresent)

* Psalms 11:4 “The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.”

*Psalms 139:7-10 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

All Powerful (Omnipotent)

*Daniel 2:21 "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:"

*Daniel 4:17,25,35 “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. … 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. … 35 ‘And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?’”

*Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

All Knowing (Omniscient)

Scriptures On God's Omniscience

*Job 37:16 “Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?”

*Psalms 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”

*Isaiah 46:9-10 “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 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.”

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Omniscience Key Article 

"Victory at Last," Signs of the Times, July 14, 1881