What does it mean that God is eternal?
What Does It Mean That God Is Eternal?
The eternity of God is one of His most profound attributes, demonstrating that He is not bound by time or space and exists independently of the created order. The term "eternal" signifies that God has no beginning or end, existing from everlasting to everlasting. This attribute underscores His infinite nature, self-existence, and unchanging character. From a Baptist theological perspective, God's eternality inspires awe and trust, as He remains constant and sovereign throughout all ages.
Biblical Basis for God’s Eternity
Scripture frequently affirms God’s eternal nature, emphasizing His existence beyond the limits of time:
Psalm 90:2 declares, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (NKJV). This verse describes God as existing before creation and continuing eternally beyond it.
Genesis 1:1 begins with the statement, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (NKJV), which implies that God already existed when time began. He is not a being within time but the Creator of time itself.
The Bible does not attempt to prove God's existence or eternality but assumes it as foundational truth. His eternal nature is self-evident and necessary for His identity as God.
God’s Self-Existence and Eternal Nature
God’s self-existence (aseity) is closely tied to His eternity. He is the uncaused Cause, the One who exists independently and sustains all things.
Exodus 3:14 reveals God’s name to Moses: “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”’” (NKJV). The name “I AM” signifies God’s self-existence and immutability, encapsulating His eternal being. God is not dependent on anything outside Himself for His existence.
Revelation 1:8 reinforces this truth: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (NKJV). This verse highlights God’s existence across all time and His sovereignty over history.
God’s self-existence means that He is unchanging and unaffected by the passage of time. What He has been, He will always be, and His purposes remain steadfast.
The Eternity of Jesus Christ
The New Testament affirms the eternality of Jesus Christ, demonstrating His unity with the Father and His divine nature.
John 1:1–2 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (NKJV). These verses identify Jesus (the Word) as eternal, existing with the Father before creation.
John 8:58 records Jesus saying, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (NKJV). By using the divine name “I AM,” Jesus claimed equality with God, affirming His eternal existence.
The Jews understood the gravity of this claim, which is why they attempted to stone Him (John 8:59). Jesus’ eternality is also evident in His role as Creator: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16, NKJV).
God’s Eternal Power and Nature in Creation
God’s creation bears witness to His eternal power and divine nature.
Romans 1:20 declares, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (NKJV). The order and consistency of creation point to an eternal Creator who sustains all things.
Psalm 93:2 proclaims, “Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting” (NKJV). God’s eternal rule is evident in the unchanging laws of nature and the continuous function of the universe.
The regularity of natural processes—such as the cycles of seasons, the orbits of planets, and the flow of time—reflect God’s unchanging and eternal nature. These patterns inspire confidence in His faithfulness and sovereignty.
Eternity and God’s Plan of Redemption
God’s eternal nature is crucial to His redemptive plan, which was established before time began.
Ephesians 1:4 teaches, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (NKJV). God’s plan for salvation is rooted in eternity, not as a reaction to human sin but as a predetermined purpose.
2 Timothy 1:9 says, “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (NKJV).
God’s eternal purpose assures believers of the security and fulfillment of His promises. His unchanging nature guarantees that what He decrees will come to pass.
Eternity and the New Creation
God’s eternity extends to His promise of a new heaven and new earth, where His people will dwell with Him forever.
Revelation 21:1–4 describes this eternal state: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’” (NKJV).
This eternal hope assures believers that they will share in God’s eternity, free from the limitations of time and the effects of sin.
Practical Implications of God’s Eternity
Trust in God’s Sovereignty
God’s eternal nature ensures that He is in control of all time and history. Believers can trust Him even when circumstances seem uncertain.Confidence in God’s Promises
Because God is eternal and unchanging, His promises are reliable. As Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (NKJV).Hope for Eternal Life
God’s eternity guarantees the believer’s eternal life. John 10:28 assures, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (NKJV).Worship of God’s Majesty
The eternity of God inspires reverence and awe. As Revelation 4:8 proclaims, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (NKJV).
Conclusion
God’s eternal nature sets Him apart as the infinite, unchanging Creator and Sustainer of all things. His self-existence, sovereignty, and faithfulness are rooted in His eternal being. While the concept of eternity may challenge finite human understanding, Scripture reveals enough to assure us of God’s greatness and inspire trust in His eternal purposes. As Isaiah 40:28 declares, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” (NKJV).
God’s Eternity and His Immutability
God’s eternity is inseparably linked to His immutability, or unchanging nature. Because God is eternal, He is not subject to the decay, growth, or fluctuations inherent in finite beings.
Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (NKJV). Christ’s unchanging nature is rooted in His eternity, offering assurance that He remains consistent across all ages.
James 1:17 affirms, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (NKJV). God’s eternal constancy ensures the reliability of His character and promises.
This immutability means that God's eternal purposes are not altered by external circumstances or human actions. His eternal nature undergirds His faithfulness and trustworthiness.
God’s Eternity and His Relationship with Creation
Though God exists outside time, He engages with creation within the framework of time to accomplish His purposes. His eternal nature does not distance Him from creation but allows Him to sustain and interact with it meaningfully.
Colossians 1:17 teaches, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (NKJV). God’s eternal being sustains the universe moment by moment.
Acts 17:28 declares, “For in Him we live and move and have our being” (NKJV). God’s eternal existence forms the foundation for all life and activity in the created order.
God’s eternity assures us that He is not limited by time or constrained by finite resources, allowing Him to govern creation perfectly.
God’s Eternity and the Doctrine of Providence
God’s eternal nature is central to the doctrine of providence, which teaches that He upholds and governs all things according to His sovereign will. His eternal perspective ensures that His providential actions are always aligned with His divine purposes.
Isaiah 46:10 states, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure’” (NKJV). God’s eternal knowledge guarantees the fulfillment of His will.
Romans 8:28 assures believers, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (NKJV).
Because God is eternal, His providence encompasses every moment of history, weaving together events in a way that accomplishes His eternal plan.
God’s Eternity and Worship
Understanding God’s eternity profoundly impacts the way we worship. His timeless nature invites us to worship Him as the ultimate and unchanging source of life, holiness, and truth.
Revelation 15:3 records the song of the redeemed: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” (NKJV). Worshiping an eternal God involves celebrating His majesty and unchanging nature.
Psalm 145:13 proclaims, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations” (NKJV). The eternal reign of God inspires both awe and joy in His sovereignty.
Worshiping God in light of His eternity moves us beyond temporal concerns, aligning our hearts with His eternal purposes and promises.
God’s Eternity and the Problem of Evil
The eternity of God provides a framework for understanding the existence of evil and suffering. While these realities may seem overwhelming in the present, God’s eternal perspective assures us that evil is temporary and will ultimately be judged and eradicated.
2 Peter 3:8–9 teaches, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (NKJV). God’s patience is rooted in His eternal nature, allowing time for repentance while ensuring that justice will ultimately prevail.
Revelation 21:4 promises, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (NKJV).
God’s eternity assures us that He has already determined the end of evil and suffering, providing hope for the future and strength for the present.
Eternal Life and God’s Eternity
God’s eternity forms the basis for the promise of eternal life. Believers are invited to share in His eternal nature through union with Christ, entering into a relationship that transcends time.
John 17:3 defines eternal life: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (NKJV). Eternal life is not merely endless existence but a relationship with the eternal God.
1 John 5:11–12 declares, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (NKJV).
The promise of eternal life gives believers hope and purpose, as they are called to live in light of God’s eternal kingdom.
Practical Implications of God’s Eternity
Eternal Perspective: Understanding God’s eternity challenges believers to adopt an eternal perspective, valuing what is lasting over what is temporary (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Faith in God’s Timing: Trusting in God’s eternal nature encourages patience and faith, knowing that He operates beyond human timelines.
Hope in Trials: God’s eternal plan offers hope during suffering, reminding believers that present trials are momentary compared to the eternal glory that awaits (Romans 8:18).
Pursuit of Holiness: Reflecting on God’s eternal nature inspires a deeper commitment to holiness, as believers recognize their accountability to an eternal, holy God (1 Peter 1:15–16).
Conclusion
God’s eternity is a foundational attribute that sets Him apart as the infinite Creator and Sustainer of all things. His timeless nature assures believers of His sovereignty, faithfulness, and unchanging purposes. While human understanding of eternity is limited, Scripture provides a clear revelation of God’s eternal being and His invitation to share in His eternal life. As 1 Timothy 1:17 proclaims, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (NKJV).
