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God’s Character

By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
27 June 2015   |   11:42 pm
WE need to know God and understand how He works, what He does and how He does it. It is necessary to know about His character in order to live a life pleasing unto Him, worship Him acceptably, relate with Him, pray to Him and expect an answer. To represent God as preachers and witnesses,…
Pastor Kumuyi

Pastor Kumuyi

WE need to know God and understand how He works, what He does and how He does it. It is necessary to know about His character in order to live a life pleasing unto Him, worship Him acceptably, relate with Him, pray to Him and expect an answer. To represent God as preachers and witnesses, live to the glory of His name here on earth and live with Him eternally, we need to know Him. To relate properly with anyone, you must understand the desires and aspirations of that person, his likes and dislikes. As we cannot serve a person acceptably if we do not know him, we cannot serve God acceptably if we do not know Him. Who is God? What does He do? What does He love? What does He hate? What does He accept and expect from anyone who comes to Him? Knowing the nature and attributes of God is very important, if we are to serve Him acceptably.

The Bible reveals God as the Almighty, the Builder and Maker of all things. It also reveals Him as divine, supernatural (no limitation in time and space), eternal and Father of all believers. God is great, good, gracious, glorious, holy and high above all; He is invisible, incorruptible, immutable and incomprehensible. He is just, the Judge of all, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is love, the living God, the Most High God and the One Who is mighty. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, perfect, pure and powerful. He is the quickening Spirit, Whose voice will raise the dead on the final day. He is righteous and the source of all life. He is the searcher of all hearts, sustainer of creation, upholder of saints, the universe and all things. There is no variableness or shadow of turning in His character; He will take vengeance on all unrepentant and evildoers; His wrath will burn like eternal fire. He is a wonder to all. As we understand who God is and become conscious that He measures, evaluates and weighs every action and inaction, we will be able to please and serve Him more acceptably.

“For I am the LORD, I change not.” The word ‘immutable’ means that God cannot change. God’s attributes and character are always the same. His holy and righteous nature does not change with time. He hates evil but loves and appreciates holiness. Because of His unchanging nature, we can approach Him with confidence. Both the Old and New Testaments reveal that God’s nature and attributes are constant. He is still the same God of grace and judgment. While He is merciful to those that fear Him and delight in keeping His word, His wrath and judgment is sure for those who dishonour Him, make light of His word and revel in sin. “I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed”. That God cannot change does not mean that He will not forgive the sinner or backslider, who genuinely repents of his sin and returns to Him; neither does it mean that He will continue to be merciful and gracious to those who flout His commandments. He is the God of mercy and justice. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

God is so impartial that He cannot punish the father for the sin of the son; neither will he punish the son because of the sin of the father. Those who have given their lives to the Lord and resolve to faithfully serve Him have nothing to worry about, not even the curse from any man. But many so-called believers, who are ignorant of the Scripture, lay much emphasis on generational curse, forgetting that “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Every individual is responsible for his sin. God has not predestined the salvation or condemnation of anyone, and those who teach such do err. Salvation is personal, and God will judge every man according to his work. “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear”. Sinners and backsliders can come to the Lord today and receive pardon because He is impartial and merciful.

“The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God’s love for man is so great. By offering His only begotten Son, He proved His immense love for humanity. “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The love of God, forgiveness, salvation and eternal life are available for anyone that believes and accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour. His grace is also available to enable us live the victorious Christian life. This is the day of His mercy and love. Turn away from evil and turn to the Lord so that you will enjoy His abundant blessings.

Further Reading (King James Version): Genesis 18:23,25; Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:1-3; Habakkuk 1:13; John 17:11,25; 1 Peter 1:15,16; Revelation 4:8; Malachi 3:5,6; 1 Samuel 15:28,29; Psalm 33:11; Isaiah 31:2; Hebrews 1:10-12; 6:17,18; James 1:17; 1 Samuel 2:30; Jonah 3:4-10; Deuteronomy 30:15-18; Psalm 119:89; Deuteronomy 24:16; Jeremiah 17:9,10; 31:29,30; Ezekiel 18:1-4,20,30-32; Romans 2:6; Galatians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11; 1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 20:11-15; 22:11,12,17; John 3:16-18,36; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Romans 5:6-10; 2 Peter 3:9.

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