The Bible is the primary source through which God reveals Himself to humanity, providing a clear picture of His identity, attributes, and the proper response He expects from His creation. As beings made in His image, our worship and devotion must align with His revealed character and instructions. To worship God truly, we must know Him as He is—not as we imagine or prefer Him to be—and follow Him according to His prescribed ways. This article explores who God says He is, His attributes as described in Scripture, and the right and proper response He calls us to as His uniquely created beings, supported by abundant biblical evidence.
Who Does God Say He Is?
God’s identity is foundational to understanding His nature and our relationship with Him. In Scripture, God reveals Himself through His names, declarations, and actions, each unveiling aspects of His character.
1. The Self-Existent, Eternal One: “I AM WHO I AM” God’s most profound self-identification comes in Exodus 3:14, when He speaks to Moses from the burning bush: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to you.”’” The name “I AM” (Hebrew: Yahweh) signifies God’s self-existence, eternality, and unchangeable nature. He is not dependent on anything or anyone; He is the source of all existence. This name emphasizes that God is the unchanging, eternal reality who exists outside of time and creation (Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God”).
2. The Creator and Sovereign Lord God declares Himself as the Creator of all things in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” This establishes His authority and power over all creation. Isaiah 40:28 further describes Him: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” As Creator, God holds sovereign dominion over the universe, and everything exists to serve His purposes (Colossians 1:16: “For by him all things were created… all things were created through him and for him”).
3. The One True God God repeatedly emphasizes His exclusivity as the only true God. In Isaiah 45:5, He declares, “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God.” This monotheistic assertion sets Him apart from all false gods and idols, demanding exclusive worship (Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one”). Jesus reaffirms this in John 17:3, stating, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
4. The Triune God While God is one in essence, Scripture reveals Him as triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” indicating the unity and distinction within the Godhead. The Trinity is evident in passages like John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”) and 2 Corinthians 13:14, which speaks of “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” This mystery underscores God’s relational nature, existing eternally in perfect unity and love within Himself.
God’s Attributes as Described in Scripture
God’s attributes reveal His character and provide the basis for how we approach Him. The Bible describes God as possessing both communicable attributes (those humans can reflect, like love and justice) and incommunicable attributes (unique to Him, like omnipotence and eternality). Below are key attributes with scriptural support:
1. Holiness God’s holiness is His absolute purity and separation from sin. Isaiah 6:3 records the seraphim crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” His holiness demands that we approach Him with reverence and purity (Hebrews 12:14: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord”). God’s holiness also means He cannot tolerate sin (Habakkuk 1:13: “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong”).
2. Love God’s love is central to His character. 1 John 4:8 declares, “God is love.” This love is demonstrated in His care for creation and His redemptive plan for humanity (John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”). His love is unconditional, steadfast, and eternal (Jeremiah 31:3: “I have loved you with an everlasting love”).
3. Justice and Righteousness God is perfectly just and righteous. Deuteronomy 32:4 states, “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” His justice ensures that sin is punished, but His righteousness also provides salvation through Christ (Romans 3:26: “It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus”).
4. Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence God is all-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you”). He is all-knowing (Psalm 139:1-4: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me… even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether”). He is everywhere present (Psalm 139:7-8: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?”). These attributes affirm God’s absolute authority and intimate involvement with His creation.
5. Mercy and Grace God’s mercy withholds the punishment we deserve, and His grace gives us what we do not deserve. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” His mercy is evident in His patience with sinners (2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise… but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish”).
6. Immutability God does not change. Malachi 3:6 states, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” His unchanging nature ensures His promises are trustworthy and His character is constant (Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”).
Our Right and Proper Response to God
As beings created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”), we are uniquely designed to reflect His character and live in relationship with Him. However, sin has marred this image, separating us from God (Romans 3:23). God’s revelation of Himself and His attributes guides us in how we must respond to Him. The Bible emphasizes that true worship and devotion must align with God’s character and His prescribed ways, not our own preferences or cultural constructs.
1. Worship God in Spirit and Truth Jesus teaches in John 4:23-24, “The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Worshipping “in truth” means worshipping God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture, not according to human imagination or tradition. Worshipping “in spirit” involves a heartfelt, Spirit-led devotion, free from hypocrisy. This requires humility, sincerity, and alignment with God’s Word.
For example, God rejected the worship of the Israelites when it was mere ritual without heart (Isaiah 1:11-15: “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord… I do not delight in the blood of bulls”). True worship involves obedience and reverence, as seen in Hebrews 12:28: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”
2. Love God with All Our Being God commands us to love Him fully, as stated in Deuteronomy 6:5: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jesus echoes this as the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38). Loving God “His way” means prioritizing Him above all else, including our desires or idols. It involves trusting His character, obeying His commands, and seeking His glory. 1 John 5:3 clarifies, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
3. Repent and Believe in Christ Humanity’s sinfulness separates us from God’s holiness, but He has provided the way of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. Acts 17:30-31 commands, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed.” Faith in Christ is the only way to approach God (John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”). Repentance and faith are not optional; they are God’s prescribed means of restoring our relationship with Him.
4. Obey His Commands God calls us to live in obedience to His Word as an expression of our love and worship. Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Obedience is not legalism but a response to God’s grace, reflecting our trust in His wisdom and goodness. 1 Samuel 15:22 emphasizes, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”
5. Live to Reflect His Image As image-bearers, we are called to reflect God’s character in our lives. Ephesians 4:24 instructs believers to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This involves pursuing holiness, love, justice, and mercy in our actions, relationships, and attitudes. Colossians 3:10 further states that we are “being renewed in knowledge after the image of [our] creator.” Our lives should testify to God’s glory, drawing others to Him.
6. Fear and Trust Him The fear of the Lord—reverential awe and respect—is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This fear is not terror but a recognition of God’s majesty and authority, leading to trust and submission. Psalm 33:8-9 says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be.” Trusting God involves relying on His promises and sovereignty, even in trials (Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding”).
Worshipping and Loving God His Way
The Bible makes it clear that we cannot worship or love God on our own terms. God is not a deity we can mold to fit our preferences; He is the sovereign Creator who defines how we must approach Him. Leviticus 10:1-3 illustrates the danger of offering “unauthorized fire” before God, as Nadab and Abihu did, resulting in their judgment. God declared, “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.” Approaching God flippantly or contrary to His instructions dishonors Him.
Jesus reinforces this in Matthew 7:21-23, warning that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. True worship and love for God are rooted in submission to His revealed will, as found in Scripture. For example, God’s command to worship Him alone (Exodus 20:3) prohibits idolatry, whether in the form of physical idols or modern substitutes like wealth, power, or self. His call to holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16: “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct”) requires us to align our lives with His standards, not the world’s.
Moreover, God’s love for us, demonstrated through Christ’s sacrifice, compels us to respond with gratitude and devotion. Romans 12:1 urges, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Our entire lives—thoughts, actions, and desires—should be an offering to God, shaped by His character and commands.
Conclusion
God reveals Himself in Scripture as the self-existent, eternal, holy, loving, just, and sovereign Creator, existing as one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His attributes, including holiness, love, justice, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, mercy, and immutability, demand that we approach Him with reverence, faith, and obedience. As beings made in His image, our right and proper response is to worship Him in spirit and truth, love Him with all our being, repent and believe in Christ, obey His commands, reflect His character, and trust Him fully.
To worship and follow God, we must do so according to who He is and how He has instructed us. Any deviation—whether through idolatry, disobedience, or self-styled worship—falls short of His glory. By aligning our lives with His revealed truth, we honor Him as the God He declares Himself to be, fulfilling our purpose as His image-bearers. As Psalm 29:2 exhorts, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Let us worship and love God His way, for He alone is worthy.
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