This lesson is about the nature of God, His individuality, personality and moral attributes.

1. BWAC Bible Study Series.
Author: David K. Bernard
Presenter: Bro. Damaine
Franklin
The Nature of God

2. The Nature of God
Objectives Of This Study
• To develop an understanding of God’s essential nature.
• To discuss some of the attributes that make God who He is.
• Identify some of the ways in which God has revealed his
nature to mankind.
• Identify some of the visible manifestation of God in the old
and new testament.

3. The nature of god
God is a Pure Spiritual Being: John 4:24
What is a Spirit
The Hebrew word for spirit is Rûaħ or ruach, when translated in English
means wind, breath. The word spirit is perceived as having no material
substance.
So, when the Bible says that God is a Spirit, it means that He cannot be seen
or touched physically by human beings. As a Spirit, He is an intelligent,
supernatural Being who does not have a physical body.

4. The nature of god
God is a Pure Spiritual Being: John 4:24
Characteristics of the Spirit of God
• Luke 24:39 – “for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”
• John 3:8 - ”The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it”
• Act 2:2 – “a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind”
• Joh 20:22 – “he breathed on them and told them”
• Gen 1:2 – “The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”
• Job 38:1 – “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said”
• Ezekiel 37:9-14 – “the breath of life from the four winds”

5. The nature of god
God is Invisible
The word invisible in its simplest meaning refers to that which cannot be
seen with physical sight. For example, during Paul's encounter with Jesus, his
companions were frightened because they could hear Jesus’s voice but
weren’t able to see Him physically. See Acts 9:7

6. The nature of god
God is Invisible
Scriptures that Supports Gods Invisible Nature
• Joh 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time”
• 1Tim 6:16 “whom no man hath seen, nor can see”
• Col 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God”
• 1Tim 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible”
• Heb 11:27 “he endured, as seeing him who is invisible”

7. The nature of god
God is Omnipresent
Having a physical body allows one to be present at only one place at a time.
Therefore since God is a spirit and does not have a physical body, He is
capable of being omnipresent.
Definition: The word omnipresent means that God is capable of being
everywhere at the same time. Also His divine presence encompasses both
visible and invisible existence. There is no location in time and space where
God is not present.

8. The nature of god
God is Omnipresent – Cont’d
Characteristics of Gods Omnipresent Nature
• 1Kin 8:27 ”behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee”
• Isa 66:1 ”The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool”
• Act 17:27-28 “the Lord is not far from us, we live and move in Him”
• Psalms 139:7-13 “God is everywhere”
• Pro 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing both the evil
and the good”

9. The nature of god
God is Omnipresent - Cont’d
Characteristics of Gods Omnipresent Nature: Anthropomorphisms
In biblical terms the word anthropomorphisms refers to the use of human
bodily features to describe or understand the spiritual God. For example,
• The heart of God, Gen 6:6, 8:21
• Gods right hand, Isa 48:13
• The eyes of the Lord, Pro 15:3
• The finger of God, Luk 11:20
• Gods nostrils, Exo 15:8, 14:21

10. The nature of god
God is Omniscient
Gods omniscient nature refers to His ability to know all things both actual
and secret, seen and unseen. Psalms 139:1-6 explain that God knows
everything, including our movements, thoughts,, paths, ways, and words. Job
42.2 also declare that no thought can be hidden from God. Also in acts 2:23,
God has complete knowledge of everything, including foreknowledge of the
future.

11. The nature of god
God is Omnipotent
The term omnipotence means that God is all-powerful/almighty. Having
author over both the visible and invisible. Gen sis 17:1, and 35:11 declare
God as the almighty. Only God can claim the title of the almighty. See
• Rom 13:1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers”
• Tim 6:15 “who is the blessed and only Potentate”
• Rev 19:6 “for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”

12. The nature of god
God is Eternal
Gods eternal nature refers to His ability to exist outside of time and space
which makes Him an immortal infinite being.
• Gen 1:1 declare that God created the heaven and earth in the beginning.
• Rev 1:8, declares that God is the Alpha and the Omega.
• Daniel declare God to be the ancient of days, Dan 7:9.

13. The nature of god
God is Immutable
Since God is a spirit and He is not confined to time, this therefore means that
time cannot shape His character, will and covenant promises. This is confirmed
in
• Mal 3:6 which states that God does not change His ways.
• James 1:17 which declare that there is no variation in God, neither shadow
of turning.
• Isa 40:8 The grass and flower will fade away but the words of our God shall
stand forever. All these attribute confirm that God is immutable in nature.

14. The nature of god
God Has Individuality, Personality, and
Rationality• Will: The ability to determine either to do or forbear an action (change of
mind), to exercise discretion, decision making, plans. Rom 12:2, 1 Peter
2:15, Hebrews 10:36
• Emotions: Gods expression of love, delight, compassion, hatred and zeal
1. Gods Love – John 3:16
2. Gods Delight - Jer_9:24
3. God’s Compassion - Psa_78:38
4. God’s Hatred - Pro 6:16-19; Amos 5:21-22
5. God’s Zeal - Eze_5:13
6. Gods anger - Exodus 15:7; Job 4:9
7. God’s Grief – Genesis 6:6

15. The nature of god
God’s Moral Attributes
“God is love” (I John 4:8, 16). Love is the essence of God; it is His very nature.
God has many other qualities and attributes, many of which stem from His
love.
• Love (I John 4:8)
• Light (I John 1:5)
• Holiness (I Peter 1:16)
• Mercy (Psalm 103:8)
• Gentleness (Psalm 18:35)
• Righteousness (Psalm 129:4)
• Goodness (Romans 2:4)
• Perfection (Matthew 5:48)
• Justice (Isaiah 45:21)
• Faithfulness (I Cor 10:13)
• Truth (John 17:17)
• Grace (Psalm 103:8)

16. The nature of god
God’s Moral Attributes
These moral attributes of God are not contradictory, but work in harmony.
For example, God’s holiness required an immediate separation between
God
and man when man sinned. Then, God’s righteousness and justice required
death as the penalty for sin, but God’s love and mercy sought pardon. God
satisfied both justice and mercy by the death of Christ at Calvary and the
resulting plan of salvation.

17. The nature of god