What is the Christian description of God?
God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being, the Creator of all things.
Judaism, Christianity and Islam see God as a being that created the world and rules over the universe. He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omni-benevolent (all-loving), omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time), and immortal (self-existing and everlasting). He is also transcendent, meaning that He is outside space and outside time, and therefore eternal and unable to be changed by earthly forces or anything else within His creation.
God can best be described by his four attributes: justice, power, wisdom and love. Psalm 89:14 tells us that justice and righteousness are the foundation of God’s throne while love and faithfulness represent the very essence of his character. The Apostle tells us “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
We learn of God’s supreme wisdom and power in Isaiah 55:8-11. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts, . . . so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
In addition to being characterized as the Creator, God is also recognized as the “Heavenly Father.” His first creation was his Son, the Logos, or Word, by which and through which all things were made (John 1:1-3).
Together God and his Son created the perfect man (Adam) in their own likeness (meaning the ability to think, reason, and make choices) (Genesis 1:26). After Adam’s sin, God, in His infinite wisdom and love, had a plan for redemption. His Son, the Logos, came to earth as the perfect man Jesus Christ in order to fulfill this plan to redeem Adam and the entire human race through his death on the cross.
“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” Romans 5:18
As Christians we perceive the essence of God’s character, his holiness, justice, love and mercy through our understanding of His all-encompassing plan to once again restore all that was lost by Adam in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, with great rejoicing we proclaim,
“Your righteousness reaches the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?” Psalm 71:19-21
To learn more about God listen to, “Who is God?”
