The Work of God

God’s providential work among creation ensures that His benevolent identity guides His sovereign activity. To know the heart of God is to trust the hand of God. 

The Consistency of God

The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

  • Since God is perfect, there has never been a need for Him to change throughout eternity.
  • Through Scripture, we read who God is and what He has done, and therefore, we can anticipate who He will continue to be and what He will continue to do.
  • If God is not turning out to be who you thought He should be, that should be a welcomed discovery in your life.

In a definitive study of God, we find the perfect One who needs no alterations.

The Activity of God

For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

  • God’s identity determines His activity.
  • A focus on one attribute to the exclusion of another will create in us a heretical, unbalanced view of God.
  • No matter how inconsistent we might be, God continues His plan from the beginning and will see it through eternity.

The Attributes of God (continued)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).

  • Sovereignty – The sovereignty of God means that He has the sole authority to have complete control over the universe.
    • Verse: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
    • Implication: We never have to fear that any situation is out of control because God is ultimately sovereign.
  • Faithfulness – The faithfulness of God means that whatever God says is entirely true, and it will truly come to pass.
    • Verse: If we are faithless, He remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim. 2:13).
    • Implication: Due to God’s unwavering faithfulness, we can completely trust Him no matter what comes our way.
  • Holy – The holiness of God means that He is entirely distinct from everything else in creation.
    • Verse: There is none holy like the LORD; there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God (1 Sam. 2:2).
    • Implication: God’s holiness should rescue us from a mediocre devotion.
  • Righteousness – The righteousness of God means that He always does what is right according to His standard.
    • Verse: For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold His face (Ps. 11:7).
    • Implication: I never have to fear if God will handle a situation rightly or not.
  • Justice – The justice of God means that He has unique and incontestable rights to determine the rewards and consequences for every person.
    • Verse: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you (Psalm 89:14).
    • Implication: God will resolve every situation with justice by the time of eternity.
  • Mercy – The mercy of God means that He does not give His children what they deserve.
    • Verse: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lam. 3:22-23).
    • Implication: In Christ, God is unwilling to give you what you deserve.
  • Goodness – The goodness of God means that He alone is the filter by which goodness is gauged.
    • Verse: You are good and do good; teach me your statutes (Ps. 119:68).
    • Implication: Our perception of God would change the moment we acknowledge Him as the source for all the good in our lives.
  • Love – The love of God means that He has an unconditional and undeserving affection for us.
    • Verse: But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).
    • Implication: God’s love for me is not contingent upon my performance for Him.
  • Grace – The grace of God means is the unmerited, unwarranted, and undeserved favor of God towards unrighteous sinners.
    • Verse: But if it is by grace, it is no longer based on works; otherwise, grace would no longer be grace (Rom. 11:6).
    • Implication: God’s grace is even greater than my sin.