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The One We Worship
(taken from the teaching given by Warren Van Kampen at the Tehillum School of Worship in Karachi, Pakistan; November 2017)
One of our primary emphases in worship is to reflect upon the character and personality of God. Let’s look at some of His best-known attributes together.
1. God is holy
When we look at the heavenly worship service described in Revelation, we find living creatures praising God in these words, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8b)
When Isaiah is given a vision of God and angels, he hears them calling, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. . . ”. The triple emphasis means total, complete holiness.
The word holy in Scripture can mean perfect or sinless as we often understand it. It can also mean separateness, sacredness, being set apart. God is like that. He is incomparable, completely “other” from anything we know on earth.
j2. God is one.
God, though three persons, is only one God. And
He is the only God. There is no other God but Him.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
3. God doesn’t change.
Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change.” His character does not change, nor do His ways, His truth, or His purposes.
4. He is majestic.
The term majesty usually refers to royalty. “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty” (Psalm 93:1a). The psalm is telling us God is King of the universe. Every knee should bow before Him.
5. He is limitless.
Psalm 139 describe God in heaven, in the uttermost parts of the sea, in the light and the dark, in history, and in the future. There are no fences around Him, no boundaries, no end to what He do, or be, or know.
6. He is incomparable.
Isaiah 40 speaks of God sitting above the circle of the earth, bringing princes to nothing; He’s greater than the stars (v.26) everlasting, untirable, and uns
earchable (v. 28). The sum of and degree of God’s character cannot be compared to anything we know in this world.
7. God is all-wise.
And, thankfully, He is willing to share His wisdom with us. James tells we just have to ask!
“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His.” Job 12:13
“Omniscience governing omnipotence, infinite power ruled by infinite wisdom is a basic biblical description of the divine character.” J.I.Packer,
8. Christ is the true and living Word.
Logos, the Greek term translated word in John 1 as the word, is interpreted by Jewish
scholars as the divine mind. Jesus came to show us the mind of God and is, Himself, truth. He said it plainly,
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6)
9. God is love.
“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16b). His love brought Him to earth (John 3:16) and the ultimate evidence of that love is His voluntary death on the cross so we could be redeemed.
”Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
10. God is light.
We live in a very dark world – darkened by human decisions, sinful choices, and Satan’s efforts. When God shows up, there is light!
“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
11. God is righteous in His judgment.
He came to this world not to condemn it, but to redeem it. When Jesus comes again, He will judge individuals based on their decisions concerning Him. We can trust Him to be fair and right in His judgment.
“Will not the judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25b)
Conclusion: We cannot list all the characteristics of God. But when we read Scripture, we can constantly be aware of what each passage, each verse, is telling us about God – who He is, what He is like, and what He wants for us and from us. As we do, we will know Him better and worship Him more!
“Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” – Francis Chan
