What is the character of God?

Answer

The pages of the Bible reveal a detailed portrait of the character of God. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of God’s character is that He is a loving Father to all believers (Ephesians 1:2; Galatians 1:1; Colossians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:3).

God, by His nature, is wholly good (Mark 10:18; 1 Timothy 4:4). His goodness is unmatched, and because of it, we can trust in Him: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7; see also Exodus 33:19; Psalm 25:8; Psalm 34:8; Matthew 19:17; 2 Peter 1:3). In His goodness, God always has our best interests at heart: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28; CSB; see also Genesis 50:20; Jeremiah 29:11; Lamentations 3:25). Everything God does is an expression of His goodness and designed to benefit His people.

God’s holiness is unequaled: “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2; see also Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Isaiah 6:3; Isaiah 43:15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8). There is no stain of evil or impurity in God: “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”All” (1 John 1:5; see also Psalm 12:6; see also Psalm 19:8).

Another defining characteristic of God is His righteousness, meaning He exists in a state of moral perfection: “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-26; see also 2 Chronicles 12:6; Psalm 33:5; Isaiah 45:21).

God is also just; He is perfectly upright and fair in how he treats His creation: “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:18; see also Deuteronomy 32:4; Zephaniah 3:5; Acts 17:31; Revelation 16:5-6).

Loving, compassionate, gracious, kind, and merciful are all central descriptions of the character of God «Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. », (Nehemiah 9:31). So kindhearted and caring is He that Scripture says, “God is love” «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. », (1 John 4:8,16) «And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:8,16). The psalmist describes God as “compassionate and gracious” and “abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15). So great is God’s love for us “that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16;see also 1 John 4:9-10). Because of His great love, Christ died for us, even while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8;see also Titus 3:4-5). God’s mercy and compassion never fail; they are renewed continuously toward us day in and day out. (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Part of God’s character is faithfulness: “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9;see also Isaiah 49:7 1 Thessalonians 5:24). In our struggles and failures, God is faithful to forgive us when we confess our sin and return to Him: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). In times when we stumble and fall, it is immensely encouraging to know that God will never abandon us.Pardon us. Even when we are completely unfaithful, God remains faithful and true because that is who He is; it is God’s nature to be faithful (2 Timothy 2:13;see also Revelation 19:11).

God is truthful, and His Word is true: “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20;see also John 17:17). God and His Word establish a reliable foundation for life (Psalm 12:6;Psalm 26:3;Psalm 33:4;43:3;86:11). In Him, there is no falsehood, lies, or deception (Numbers 23:19;Isaiah 45:19;Romans 1:25;Hebrews 6:18). What God says is completely reliable «But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. », (Jeremiah 10:10). His Word is in harmony with His character and His revelation of Himself (John 7:28;John 8:26). Due to God’s nature, we can rely on Him to fulfill His promises «Into thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. », (Psalm 31:5).

Patience and longsuffering are characteristics of God’s nature. He is “slow to anger,” dealing patiently with rebellious sinners (Exodus 34:6;Numbers 14:18;Psalm 86:15;). God demonstrated patience by delaying the flood during Noah’s time while the ark was being built, allowing sinners ample time to repent «who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. », (1 Peter 3:20). Similarly, the delay of Christ’s return does not signify slowness or indecision on God’s part, but rather His patience, desiring that none should perish without the chance to repent, be saved, and become part of His family (2 Peter 3:9-10). At the core of God’s essence lies His wish to be a Father to all who approach Him (Psalm 68:5;Psalm 103:13;Isaiah 63:16;Isaiah 64:8;Ephesians 4:6;1 John 3:1).

The more we delve into the Scriptures, the more we will uncover fresh and exquisite aspects of God’s character. The longer we spend time with Him and His Word, the better we will comprehend and know His nature. We will realize that God is immutable (Malachi 3:6;James 1:17), that He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10;Hebrews 4:13). He is flawless «Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.», (Matthew 5:48), and He is three in one. We can spend a lifetime seeking.

Following after Him, we can still only scratch the surface of comprehending the depth of our heavenly Father’s character.