What is God?

< Jan 17 · Jan 18 · Jan 19 >

Shorter Catechism

Q 4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit,¹ infinite,² eternal,³ and unchangeable,⁴ in his being,⁵ wisdom,⁶ power,⁷ holiness,⁸ justice,⁹ goodness,¹⁰ and truth.¹¹

Larger Catechism

Q 7. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit,¹² in and of himself infinite in being,¹³ glory,¹⁴ blessedness,¹⁵ and perfection;¹⁶ all-sufficient,¹⁷ eternal,¹⁸ unchangeable,¹⁹ incomprehensible,²⁰ every where present,²¹ almighty,²² knowing all things,²³ most wise,²⁴ most holy,²⁵ most just,²⁶ most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.²⁷

Deuteronomy 4:15-19

“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

Luke 24:39

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 4:24

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Acts 17:29

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. (ESV)

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1 Kings 8:27

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

Psalm 139:7-10

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.

Jeremiah 23:24

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (ESV)

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Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, Destroy.

Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Psalm 102:12

But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations.

Psalm 102:24-27

“O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

Revelation 1:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (ESV)

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Psalm 33:11

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.

Malachi 3:6

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Hebrews 1:12

like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”

Hebrews 6:17-18

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (ESV)

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Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Psalm 115:2-3

Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens;
he does all that he pleases.

1 Timothy 1:17

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:15-16

which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (ESV)

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Psalm 104:24

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

Romans 11:33-34

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”

Hebrews 4:13

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

1 John 3:20

for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (ESV)

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Genesis 17:1

17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

Psalm 62:11

Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,

Jeremiah 32:17

‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.

Matthew 19:26

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Revelation 1:8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (ESV)

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Habakkuk 1:13

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
the man more righteous than he?

1 Peter 1:15-16

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 John 3:3

And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

1 John 3:5

You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

Revelation 15:4

Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (ESV)

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Genesis 18:25

Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”

Exodus 34:6-7

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Deuteronomy 32:4

“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.

Psalm 96:13

before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Romans 3:5

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Romans 3:26

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

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Psalm 103:5

who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 107:8

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Matthew 19:17

And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

Romans 2:4

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (ESV)

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Exodus 34:6

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Deuteronomy 32:4

“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.

Psalm 86:15

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 117:2

For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Hebrews 6:18

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. (ESV)

↩︎
John 4:24

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (ESV)

↩︎
Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Job 11:7-9

“Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth
and broader than the sea.

Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure. (ESV)

↩︎
Acts 7:2

And Stephen said:

“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, (ESV)

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1 Timothy 6:15

which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (ESV)

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Matthew 5:48

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (ESV)

↩︎
Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Genesis 17:1

17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

Romans 11:35-36

“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (ESV)

↩︎
Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, Destroy. (ESV)

↩︎
Malachi 3:6

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (ESV)

↩︎
1 Kings 8:27

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

Romans 11:34

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?” (ESV)

↩︎
Psalm 139:1-13

139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (ESV)

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Revelation 4:8

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”

Genesis 17:1

17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

Matthew 19:26

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (ESV)

↩︎
Hebrews 4:13

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure. (ESV)

↩︎
Romans 11:33-34

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”

Romans 16:27

to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. (ESV)

↩︎
1 Peter 1:15-16

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Revelation 15:4

Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Isaiah 6:3

And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!” (ESV)

↩︎
Deuteronomy 32:4

“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.

Romans 3:5

But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)

Romans 3:26

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)

↩︎
Exodus 34:6

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Psalm 117:2

For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

Deuteronomy 32:4

“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he. (ESV)

↩︎

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Copyright © Tim Hopper. Based on Calendar of Readings in the Westminster Standards by Dr. Joey Pipa. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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