Ep. 2 - The Nature of God
Episode Description
What is God actually like? Not what we imagine Him to be, not what culture says He is -- but what does the Word of God declare about His nature? In this episode Pastor Josh Strelecki opens the Scripture to examine the attributes of God, dividing them into two categories: the communicable attributes that God shares with His image-bearers, and the incommunicable attributes that belong to God alone.
Simply beholding God in Christ changes us. That is the promise of 2 Corinthians 3:18 and the driving conviction of this episode. From omniscience to holiness, from the Trinity to God’s preeminence, this teaching surveys the divine nature and shows what it means to serve -- and be transformed by -- a God whose love is boundless and whose justice is sure.
Key Scriptures
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Acts 17:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Psalm 103:19
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Isaiah 6:3
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Psalm 147:5
Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
1 John 3:20
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Jeremiah 32:17
Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Psalm 139:7-10
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Psalm 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.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Episode Outline
Introduction -- Beholding Changes Us
2 Corinthians 3:18 -- simply beholding God in Christ changes us
Acts 17:28 -- in Him we live and move and have our being; man is God’s offspring by creation
The episode aim: behold the nature of God and understand how His attributes shape our view of life
The Two Categories of God’s Attributes
Communicable Attributes
Characteristics or qualities of God that can be found to some degree in man, whom He made in His image
God shares or communicates these to His creation, allowing man to reflect them in a finite way
Examples: love, holiness, wisdom, justice and righteousness, mercy, goodness, patience
True for believers and unbelievers alike -- any human being can mirror these divine qualities
These are redeemed and found glorifying to God in Jesus Christ as we behold His image
Incommunicable Attributes
Characteristics or qualities unique to God alone -- cannot be shared or possessed by humans
Highlight the ways God’s nature is fundamentally different from and above His creation
Examples: omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, eternality, immutability, aseity
Aseity -- His self-existence and independence; He needs nothing outside Himself to exist
The Incommunicable Attributes -- Examined
The Trinity
One being in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- each truly God
Matthew 28:19 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 identify all three persons together
Each person plays a unique role in creation and redemption
The Trinity is a model for relationship and community -- God is relational by nature
Because God is a Trinity, He is love -- and this defines how His creatures are to relate to one another
Preeminence
God possesses ultimate authority and control over all creation
Ephesians 1 -- He works all things according to the good pleasure of His will and His eternal purpose in Christ
Psalm 103:19 -- His kingdom ruleth over all
Romans 8:28 -- all things work together for good because He is preeminent
He is preeminent by virtue of creation and by virtue of Christ being raised from the dead
All authority in heaven and earth is given to Jesus Christ
Holiness
Isaiah 6 and Revelation -- “Holy, holy, holy” -- nowhere else is God described with any other attribute tripled
Holiness communicates purity, perfection, and absolute separation from all else
He is holy in His love, holy in His justice, holy in His truth -- separate and above all
His holiness towards creation is unlike anything else because He is separate in His love
Omniscience
Complete and perfect knowledge of all things -- past, present, and future
Psalm 147:5 -- His understanding is infinite
1 John 3:20 -- God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things
He knows our thoughts and intentions and can search our hearts and minds
Provides believers comfort -- God is never surprised or uninformed about our circumstances
Omnipotence
Unlimited and unmatched power -- He is able to do anything in view of His nature and will
Displayed in creation -- Hebrews 1:3, He upholds all things by the word of His power
Jeremiah 32:17 -- “there is nothing too hard for thee”
Matthew 19:26 -- “with God all things are possible”
Empowers believers to be strong in the Lord, trust His promises, and understand His will
Omnipresence
God is present everywhere at all times, transcending physical limitations
Psalm 139:7-10 -- whether in heaven or hell, God is there
Jeremiah 23:24 -- “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
God’s presence provides comfort and guidance; transcends limitations of space and time
Eternality
He has no beginning and no end
Therefore His purpose, His will, and His promises endure forever
Psalm 90:2 -- from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God
Immutability
Unchanging in His essence and character -- steadfast and faithful
Hebrews 13:8 -- Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever
Because He does not change, what He promises He will always bring to pass
The Communicable Attributes -- Examined
Love
1 John 4:8 -- God is love; not that He generates love but that He is love
Profound, selfless, unconditional; commended in the sacrificial gift of His Son
Descends to man offering grace to save from sin and constrains us to live unto the One who died for us
Justice and Righteousness
God is just and righteous -- all actions align with His perfect morality
His justice means sin is addressed appropriately
His righteousness grants believers right standing through faith
Deuteronomy 32:4 -- “just and right is he”
Conclusion -- What Beholding Produces
Communicable attributes invite us to reflect His character in our daily lives
Incommunicable attributes speak to His unrivaled preeminence and majesty -- inspiring awe and reverence
Together they prompt us to live humbly and thankfully
God is both intimately relatable in His love and infinitely greater than we can comprehend
The goal: behold the image of God in the visible of Jesus Christ -- and be changed
Questions Discussed
Have you ever paused to wonder about the vastness of knowledge, power, and presence that God holds?
How does the eternal and unchanging nature of God influence every moment of your life?
What does it mean to serve a God whose love is boundless and whose justice is sure and unwavering?
What is the difference between the communicable and incommunicable attributes of God?
If God is omniscient and knows our every thought -- how does that change how you approach Him?
How does understanding God’s preeminence give you confidence that Romans 8:28 is actually true?
Are you beholding God in Christ -- and is that beholding changing you?
