The Nature of God

The Nature of God

The Omniscient God

  • God is described as omniscient, meaning all-knowing. He knows all things, past, present and future, and nothing is hidden from Him.
  • Christians believe that God’s omniscience also means He understands all things, especially the thoughts, feelings and motivations of every human being.
  • The belief in God’s omniscience provides comfort to Christians, as they believe that even when they are alone, God understands their struggles and worries.

The Benevolent God

  • God is also described as benevolent, which means all-loving. He loves all of His creation unconditionally.
  • Christian teachings often illustrate this characteristic of God with parables like the Prodigal Son, where a loving father forgives his wayward son.
  • God’s benevolence is also emphasised in the life and ministry of Jesus, who Christians believe is God in human form, demonstrating self-sacrificing love.

God The Creator

  • Christians believe that God is the Creator of all things. It’s told in the Book of Genesis that God created the world and everything in it.
  • Christians also believe that as the Creator, God is intimately involved with His creation. For example, they believe God is responsible for miracles.
  • This belief in God as the Creator leads many Christians to respect the physical world, as they view it as God’s creation.

The Omnipotent God

  • God is believed to be omnipotent, or all-powerful. This means He can do anything that is logically possible.
  • The miracles recorded in the Bible are often cited to illustrate God’s omnipotence. For example, when Jesus performed miracles such as raising Lazarus from the dead.
  • The belief in God’s omnipotence gives many Christians the faith that God is in control of the world, and that He can step in to intervene if necessary.

God The Judge

  • Christians believe God is a fair and just Judge. They believe that after death, each person will be judged by God on how they have lived their lives.
  • The final judgement is described in the Book of Revelation, which anticipates a time when all will be judged.
  • This belief influences behaviour, encouraging Christians to live good lives in anticipation of the eventual judgement.

Remember, all these characteristics attributed to God act as guiding principles in the lives of Christian believers, influencing their actions and decision making.