What is God like?
What Is God Like?
The question of what God is like is foundational to theology, philosophy, and human understanding of existence. Across history and cultures, countless conceptions of God have emerged. Some cultures viewed God as controlling natural forces like storms (e.g., Baal worship in Canaan). Others worshiped the sun, assuming it to be the most powerful being (e.g., Ra worship in Egypt). Pantheistic systems like Stoicism deified everything, equating God with the universe. Still others embraced agnosticism, worshiping “An Unknown God” as described in Acts 17:23.
Each of these perspectives captures a fragment of truth but falls short of revealing the full nature of God. Yes, God controls the weather (Psalm 135:7), is omnipotent (Psalm 24:8), and is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7–10). Yet, He transcends these attributes, and He has made Himself known through His creation, His Word, and ultimately, His Son. As Psalm 46:10 proclaims, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
This study seeks to explore the biblical answer to the question of what God is like, grounding its claims in the revelation of Scripture and the insights of sound theology.
God Exists
The Bible begins with the assumption of God’s existence. Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (NKJV). The universe—comprising time, space, matter, and energy—came into being through God’s decree. This foundational truth is supported by the witness of creation itself. Psalm 19:1–2 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.”
Philosophically, the law of causality—every effect must have a cause—supports the necessity of a Creator. Albert Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity demonstrates that time, space, and matter had a definite beginning. This aligns with the biblical assertion of a transcendent, eternal God who caused all things to exist. As Psalm 90:2 proclaims, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
God Is the Creator and Sustainer
God is not only the Creator of all things but also their Sustainer. Isaiah 44:24 affirms, “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.’”
As Creator, God possesses ultimate authority over His creation. His sovereignty is evident in Isaiah 46:10: “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.’” He not only made the universe but continues to govern it according to His purposes (Colossians 1:16–17).
God Is Spirit and Transcendent
John 4:24 teaches, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (NKJV). God is not a physical being and cannot be confined to any created form. Attempting to depict Him in physical terms is idolatry, as Exodus 20:4–6 warns. Instead, God is transcendent, existing beyond the limitations of time and space. Psalm 97:9 declares, “For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.”
God Is Holy, Immutable, and Omniscient
God’s holiness sets Him apart as utterly pure and perfect. Isaiah 6:3 records the seraphim proclaiming, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
God is also immutable—unchanging in His nature and purposes. Malachi 3:6 affirms, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
Additionally, God is omniscient, knowing all things perfectly. 1 John 3:20 declares, “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”
God Is Just and Merciful
Deuteronomy 32:4 describes God’s justice: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.”
While God’s justice demands that sin be punished (Romans 6:23), His mercy provides a way for sinners to be reconciled to Him. Psalm 86:15 reveals, “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”
God Is Love
The ultimate revelation of God’s character is His love. 1 John 4:8 states, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” This love is most clearly demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, reveals the fullness of God’s nature. Through His life, death, and resurrection, we see that God is compassionate (Matthew 14:14), forgiving (Matthew 9:6), and patient (2 Peter 3:9). Yet, He is also holy and just, judging unrepentant sin (Luke 13:5).
God’s Moral Nature
God’s moral nature is reflected in the human conscience. Genesis 1:26 teaches that humanity is made in God’s image, which includes an innate sense of morality. C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, argues that this universal moral law points to the existence of a moral Lawgiver. Ecclesiastes 3:11 affirms that God has “put eternity in their hearts.”
Knowing God
Through Jesus Christ, we can know God personally. John 14:7–9 records Jesus saying, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. . . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
God’s desire is for humanity to know Him and live in a relationship with Him. Jeremiah 9:24 says, “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
Conclusion
God’s nature is revealed through His creation, His Word, and His Son. He is holy, just, merciful, omniscient, omnipotent, and loving. The more we study His character as revealed in Scripture, the more we are drawn to worship and trust Him. He is not distant or unknowable; He invites us to know Him personally and to find our purpose and fulfillment in Him. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we come to understand the fullness of who God is and experience the joy of eternal life in His presence.
