Who or what is God?

TL;DR:

While no one can fully understand who or what God is, God’s character and attributes are revealed to us through the Word of God (the Bible), creation, and the incarnation of God (Jesus). This revelation is sufficient and should lead us to seek a loving personal relationship with God.

what does the bible say?

The Bible begins with the acknowledgement of the triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) as the Creator of all things in heaven and on earth. God created human beings to have fellowship with Him. The Bible describes God in amazing ways using descriptive words like eternal, holy, all-powerful, self-sufficient, all-knowing, personal, loving, righteous, unchangeable, good, faithful, gracious and merciful. God is truly awesome and incredible in every way. This same God wants to have a personal relationship with you. In fact, He knows your name and even the number of hairs on your head!

from the old testament

God is the Creator of everything (Genesis 1).
God is personal – He is involved in His creation (Genesis 6:17; 22:17; Exodus 3:19-20).
God is One Being expressed in three Persons (Genesis 1:26, Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
God is omnipotent – He is all powerful (Job 42:2; Isaiah 43:13).
God is omniscient – He is all-knowing, perfect in wisdom and understanding (Isaiah 46:9-10, 55:8-9, Psalm 147:5).
God is omnipresent – He always exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10, Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:23-24).
God is the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25).
God is infinite and eternal (Exodus 3:14-15, Isaiah 26:4).
God is immutable – He never changes (Malachi 3:6).
God is righteous and just (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 89:14).
God is compassionate, gracious and merciful (Exodus 34:6, Psalm 111:4, 145:8).

from the new testament

God is perfectly wise (Romans 11:33).
God is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Corinthians 1:9).
God is good and kind (Romans 2:4, James 1:17).
God is the sustainer of life (Colossians 1:16-17).
God is love and without Him there is no love (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13).
God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16, Revelation 4:8).
God is full of light (1 John 1:5).

implications for today

God is personal and wants to have a personal relationship with you. However, because God is holy and because we are sinful, we are spiritually dead and unable to have a relationship with Him (Ephesians 2:1-3). The good news, as revealed in the Bible, is that God, in His love, sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the Savior of the world and make a way for humanity to have a personal relationship with Him again (Ephesians 2:4-5). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus paid the price of our sin and offers the gift of eternal life to all who believe in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16). Only Jesus can bring us into a personal relationship with God (1 Peter 3:18). While no human mind can fully comprehend who or what God is, the revelation we do have of God revealed in the Bible, the creation and in Jesus is sufficient and should lead us to love, seek, serve and worship the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

understand

God is the triune creator of all things, eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere.
God desires a relationship with us.
God's nature and will are revealed in the Bible, the world around us, and through Jesus, who died in our place for the forgiveness of sins and who calls us to follow Him.

reflect

How does understanding that God knows you personally and desires a relationship with you impact your daily life and decisions?
Which attribute of God do you find most comforting or challenging, and why?
How can you seek a deeper relationship with God through His revelation in the Bible, creation, and Jesus?

engage

How can we point to creation, God’s Word, and Jesus’ sacrifice when talking about God those who question the existence of God?
How can recognizing God’s personal involvement in creation and with humanity help us respond to difficulties we face today?
What are some practical ways we can recognize and respond to God's attributes, such as His wisdom, justice, and mercy, in our interactions with others?