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The Nature of God the Father

Introduction
The name God (god) is used different ways in the Bible. It is used:

  • to describe Satan as "the god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:4).
  • to chastise the unjust judges in Israel (Psalm 82:6).
  • to refer to false gods (1 Corinthians 8:5; Galatians 4:8).

The true and living God of the Old Testament is referred to as the God of our fathers (Exodus 3:13, 15, 16; Deuteronomy 1:11,21; Joshua 18:3. He is also referred to as the God of Israel (1 Kings 8:20). In the New Testament, He is God the Father (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 1). The following is a biblical overview of the nature and character of our "great and awesome God" (Deuteronomy 7:21).

God the Father is Eternal
Eternal is defined in the Bible: "the things that are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). The Bible tells us repeatedly that God the Father is eternal. The psalmist says that the Father existed before the world was formed:

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God...They throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting" (Psalm 90:2; 93:2).

According to the prophet Isaiah, God "inhabiteth eternity" (Isaiah 57:15).

God the Father is Immutable
The immutability or unchanging nature of the Father is a key factor in His nature. After all, it would be most difficult to place your faith in a God that would change His mind.

"Of old hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end" (Psalm 102:25-27).

Notice how there is a contrast made here. The world will change, but God is the same. The apostle James said that in the God there "is not variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). Believers take confidence in God, knowing that their faith is in the unchangeable Father of eternity.

God the Father is Self-Existent
When we say that God the Father is self-existent, we mean that He is uncaused. Which is to say that He is the First Cause. He is dependant on nothing to sustain His existence.

The self-existence of God is the first precept taught in the Bible. Genesis 1:1 declares "In the beginning God..." No matter how far back you go to get to "the beginning," God is already there.

Through the prophet Isaiah God said, "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any" (Isaiah 44:6,8).

Since there is no God besides the God of the Bible, we can know for sure that He has never been dependant on anything to exist.

God the Father is Transcendent
In other words, God the Father is not confined by the limits of the physical universe. "God is distinct from His creation and the universe. When discussing the transcendence of God, we need to consider a number of aspects. Not only is the "person" of God unlike human beings, but His moral character is also unique. He is infinitely exalted above all that He has ever created" (Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson, Mormonism 101, p.32).

Paul, speaking of unrighteous men, rebukes those who would liken God to man.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man" (Romans 1:22-23).

God Himself states that He is utterly Unique from His creation:

"...thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes" (Psalm 50:21).

God the Father is Omnipotent
How Powerful is God the Father? He is all-powerful (omnipotent). Nothing is beyond His control. Jesus stated that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

The Psalmist declares that "our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" (Psalm 115:3).

God the Father is Omnipresent
The Father is everywhere. There is no spot in the universe that He is not located at. He is fully present everywhere. King Solomon, the wisest man ever (with the obvious exception of Jesus), described the omnipresence of God this way.

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth [in the temple]? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house I have builded?" (1 Kings 8:27, insert added)

Solomon underscores the fact that while God's glory dwelt in the temple, it was in no way confining God to that temple. God the Father is God both near and far (Jeremiah 23:23).

God the Father is Omniscient
Omniscient means "all knowing," and this is another attribute of the Father's nature.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul describes God's omniscient:

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?" (Romans 11:33-34)

Paul's question is rhetorical. No man can know the mind of God or needs to instruct Him, for He knows all things. So perfect is the knowledge of God that He knows all the days of out lives before any of them come to pass.

"Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are they thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand" (Psalm 139: 16-18).

God the Father is Holy
When we speak about the holiness of God, we are referring to His absolute perfection and righteous nature. God is 100% perfect in every away. This is what is meant by God's holiness.

"For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44).

"Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill: for the LORD our God is holy" (Psalm 99:9).

"And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8).

For more information on what the bible has to say about the Godhead please read the following pages:

The Nature of Jesus Christ
The Nature of the Holy Ghost
The Trinity

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