The Moral Attributes of God (Part 2)
Brian R. Kenyon

The "attributes" of God refer to the objective qualities that inhere in the essence of God. They denote the characteristics and way in which God exists and operates.1 God's attributes can be analyzed under two categories. First, God consists of non-moral attributes. These are those that do not of themselves involve moral qualities, such as omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. Human beings cannot be like God in these attributes.

Second, God consists of moral attributes. These involve moral qualities, such as holiness, love, justice, and many more. To a limited extent, humans can, and must, become like God in these attributes (cf. Lev. 11:44; Mt. 5:48; 2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Jn. 4:9-17). In last week's article, we examined God's moral attributes of holiness, love, grace, and mercy. Below are more of God's attributes.

Righteous and Just

God is righteous and just (Deut. 32:4; Neh. 9:33). This two-fold attribute is the virtue that gives each one his or her due (Rom. 2:6-9).2 It demands reward, which is sometimes called remunerative justice (Deut. 7:12-13; Ps. 58:11; Mt. 25:21; Rom. 2:7), and it demands punishment, which is sometimes called retributive, or punitive, justice (Gen. 2:17; Ezk. 18:4; Rom. 1:32; 2:8-9). Could God be morally perfect without punishing sin or rewarding righteousness?

Justice demands the punishment of the transgressor, but it may also accept the substitutional (vicarious) sacrifice of another. Christ died as a substitute for mankind's sin to meet the demands of God's justice (Isa. 53:4-6; 2 Cor. 5:21). Without Christ we receive our "due"-spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Eternal reward is impossible without the cleansing blood of Christ. Full justice will be distributed at the Judgment (Mt. 25:33-46; Jn. 5:29). Therefore, vengeance belongs to God (Rom. 12:19; 2 Thes. 1:7-9). God's vengeance is not retaliatory with the desire to "get even," but is to maintain and/or support what is true and to justify and/or defend what is right against what is wrong.2 God's vengeance, or justice, will be executed without partiality. God does not judge on the basis of external appearance (Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11-12). God will judge according to the deeds that each person has done in this life (2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:13).

There is not a contradiction between God's love and mercy and God's justice and wrath (Rom. 11:22). God has provided for both through the blood of Christ (Rom. 3:25-26). The death of Christ met the demands of justice. With the demands of justice met, mercy can be and is offered. Both judgment and mercy are by Christ (Acts 17:31; Jude 21). God is the God of love and wrath (2 Chr. 28:11; Jer. 51:56; Rom. 1:18). The preaching of the gospel, therefore, is urgent (2 Cor. 5:11; Heb. 10:31)!

True

God is true (Jn. 17:3; Rom. 3:4; 1 Thes. 1:9; 1 Jn. 5:20). God's knowledge, declarations, and representations always conform to reality. God is the foundation of all knowledge. He is truth personified (Rev. 3:14; 19:11). His word is truth (Jn. 17:17). He is the truth (Jn. 14:6). The truthfulness of God is based upon His will and His nature. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). All who oppose or differ with God are liars (Rom. 3:4; 1 Jn. 1:8, 10; 2:4, 22; 4:20). Since there is none greater by which to assure truth, God swore by Himself (Gen. 22:15-18 cf. Heb. 6:13-18). God will always fulfill all of His promises (Deut. 7:9).

Conclusion

Given the essence and attributes of the Godhead, none is greater than God (2 Sam. 7:22; Ps. 48:1)! God is supreme above all else (Gen. 14:18; Ex. 8:10; 9:14). Because of this, God has every right to direct our lives. We are His creation and must submit to Him (cf. Rom. 1:25; Acts 17:24-25). Our allegiance must be to God (Ex. 20:3, 5; Mt. 22:37-38), for He will not share first place (Mt. 6:24). God must be the object we seek more than anything in this life (Mt. 6:33).

End Notes

1 Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1889; Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1977) 150.

2 Ralph Gilmore, Theology: The Nature of God (Henderson, TN: Freed-Hardeman University, 1993) 14.