THE NATURE OF GOD
In
speaking of the nature of God, we are speaking about His attributes,
or His characteristics. This is a significant subject because, if one
is to rightly relate to God, then he must know what God is like.
Consequently, if an individual holds a view of God that is contrary to
how God has revealed Himself in the Scriptures, then he is not a
Christian, even if he claims to be. For he effectively believes in a
different God .
For my purposes here, I will address the nature of God and His attributes in the following order:
The Triune Nature of God
Central to this topic is the Triune nature of God. It is the traditional, orthodox, conventional, and proper teaching of Christianity that One God exists as Three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Christians do not believe in three gods. For the Bible clearly declares that there is but One God (cf. Deut. 4:35; 6:4; 32:39; II Sam. 7:22; I Chron. 17:20; Isa. 43:10; 44:6; 45:21-22). At the same time, however, there are within the Godhead Three distinct Persons which simultaneously and eternally co-exist and share the glory of the Godhead.
This concept is difficult to understand. In fact, it is impossible for the human mind to wrap itself around the concept and fully comprehend it. As a result, many have denied the Trinity. This kind of rationalism says, "If I can't understand it, then I won't believe it." Consequentially, some have subscribed to the teaching called Modelism,, which says that God manifests Himself in three different "modes" at various times, depending on His purposes. At times, He reveals Himself as the Father, at other times as the Son, and still even at other times as the Holy Spirit.
However, it does not take long to see that such a view is contrary to the Teaching of Scripture. The word "Trinity" may not appear in the Bible, but the concept is most clearly presented therein. For a more complete explanation of the Trinity, click here.
The attributes of God can be divided into three groups: His Incommunicable and the Communicable attributes, as well as His Attributes of Rulership. The incommunicable attributes of God are those attributes which He alone possesses. They are not transferable, or communicable to any created being. No other being ever has, or ever will, possess these attributes. God's communicable attributes can be possessed by God's created beings, namely angels and humans, rather than (or at least more so than) animals. It must be noted that the created beings will never possess these attributes to the same degree as God does. As we shall soon see, God is an infinite God, and He possesses all His attributes in infinite measure. We are finite beings, and there are therefore limitations to the extent to which we may possess these attributes. Even throughout all eternity, as the saints are living in heaven, having received their glorified bodies, and having attained the state of sinlessness, will ever be expanding the comprehension and manifestation of these attributes of God in themselves, but will never comprehend or possess them as God does.
Attributes of Rulership
I will begin my discussion with the attributes of rulership because I believe a proper understanding of these attributes are essential to understanding His other attributes, particularly His communicable attributes and how God works in our lives. The two attributes of God's Rulership are His Omnipotence and His Sovereignty, and I will state from the beginning that the two go hand-in-hand. For if God were not omnipotent, then He may at some time fail to be sovereign.
Omnipotence
To begin our examination of what it means to say that God is omnipotent, let us first consider the definition of the word. The prefix, "omni-," is a Latin term meaning "universal" or "all." The word to which it is attached, "potent," (according to Webster's Dictionary) is synonymous with "powerful," and also "effective." Therefore, God is all-powerful. There is no feat of which He is not capable.
God's omnipotence is eluded to in the account of Creation recorded in Genesis 1. For there we see that God created the universe and all that it contains (save Mankind) merely by speaking it into existence. He did not have to do any physical work, if you will, in order to accomplish this great feat. He did not have tediously manuever all the stars and planets into their proper places. Nor did He have to push the waters back from the dry land, that it may be inhabitable for land-dwelling creatures. He merely spoke the command, and all these things came into being.
The fascinating thing about this is how intricately designed the world we live in is. For example, consider how far away from the sun is the earth. Science tells us that if the earth were but a little closer to the sun, then it would be too hot to sustain life. At the same time, if it were just a little further away, it would be too cold. As it is, the earth is positioned precisely as far away from the sun as is necessary for being able to sustain life. This testifies to the awesome power of God who not only spoke the earth into being, but also commanded that the earth should be precisely as far away from the sun as it is.
This is but one example among literally thousands, from the design of the solar systems, which are too many to count, to the delicate yet intricate design of the smallest molecule. And it speaks of the power of God who had the power to speak it into existence. And the point to be made is this: If God created all that exists merely by speaking it into existence, then how much more could He do if He were ever to exert some actual energy? From a human perspective, opening one's mouth and speaking requires very little energy. Lifting a heavy object, on the other hand, requires quite a bit of strength and energy. Therefore, what power must be possessed by the God who created all that there merely by opening His mouth and speaking.
Having said that, there is one passage of Scripture which seems to speak of an occasion wherein God did exert some energy and force in order to accomplish His purpose. It is the one thing He did not accomplish merely by giving the command that it should be done. Isaiah 53 contains the famous prophecy concerning the suffering Servant of God, whom we know to be Jesus Christ. Many of us are familiar with this chapter, particularly the portion saying that He was a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, despised and rejected, smitten of God, etc. However, one phrase, the significance of which may often be overlooked, is found in verse 1, which says, "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
I've been told that a more literal translation of this verse would be "To whom has the Lord bare His arm?" though I cannot find that wording in any major translations of the Bible. But even the wording that is used conveys the imagery of God rolling up His sleeves and going to work. It is as if God is saying to us, "You think Creation is a beautiful thing? You think Creation is a great display of My awesome power? Ha! You ain't seen nothing yet. You just wait and see what I can do when I actually get to work and truly accomplish something magnificent!"
With that, God rolled up His sleeves and went to work, coming down to earth in the form of a man, taking on the nature of a created being. That alone is a magnificent thought; that He who is uncreated took the form of a created being, while yet not ceasing to be the eternal God of the universe. As a man, He lived a perfectly sinless life and then died on the cross for our sins, making it possible for sinful Man to have a loving relationship with Him. This indeed was something that could only be accomplished by God. In Matthew 19, after Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, someone asked Him, "Who then can be saved?" In response, Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
So it may well be said that the greatest demonstration of God's omnipotence is found not only in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is certainly part of it, but also in the crucifixion itself. And it is truly amazing to see that, even as the events of that day were happening, He Himself was orchestrating them according to His divine plan, and that even as He was dying on the cross, He never ceased to be God and to be sustaining all of creation (cf. Col. 1:17).
Notice my previous statement that there is no feat of which God is not capable. I deliberately did not say that there is nothing God cannot do. For dissenters would point to the claim that God cannot sin and God cannot die. And if there is something God cannot do, then He must not be omnipotent. Such a view considers the omnipotence of God independently of all His other characteristics. Such a mistake must not be made. For to neglect any of God's attributes is to change the nature of God, and He would therefore cease to be God.
In order to avoid confusion in this matter, Dr. Bruce Ware of Fuller Theological Seminary defines omnipotence as "God's ability to perform anything consistent with His nature as God." Thus, pointing out that God cannot sin (since that would be inconsistent with His holiness) does not negate His omnipotence.
Sovereignty
For a definiton of God's sovereignty, I would like to borrow from the first chapter in John Piper's book, Desiring God. For clarification, let me tell you that there are several statements made throughout the chapter, which when compiled together, give us a beautiful description of the Sovereignty of God. Piper writes:
For my purposes here, I will address the nature of God and His attributes in the following order:
| The Triune Nature of God The Attributes of God Attributes of Rulership Omnipotence Sovereignty Incommunicable Attributes Self-Existence Self-Sufficiency Eternality Infinity Omnipresence Immutability Communicable Attributes |
 |
The Triune Nature of God
Central to this topic is the Triune nature of God. It is the traditional, orthodox, conventional, and proper teaching of Christianity that One God exists as Three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Christians do not believe in three gods. For the Bible clearly declares that there is but One God (cf. Deut. 4:35; 6:4; 32:39; II Sam. 7:22; I Chron. 17:20; Isa. 43:10; 44:6; 45:21-22). At the same time, however, there are within the Godhead Three distinct Persons which simultaneously and eternally co-exist and share the glory of the Godhead.
This concept is difficult to understand. In fact, it is impossible for the human mind to wrap itself around the concept and fully comprehend it. As a result, many have denied the Trinity. This kind of rationalism says, "If I can't understand it, then I won't believe it." Consequentially, some have subscribed to the teaching called Modelism,, which says that God manifests Himself in three different "modes" at various times, depending on His purposes. At times, He reveals Himself as the Father, at other times as the Son, and still even at other times as the Holy Spirit.
However, it does not take long to see that such a view is contrary to the Teaching of Scripture. The word "Trinity" may not appear in the Bible, but the concept is most clearly presented therein. For a more complete explanation of the Trinity, click here.
The
Attributes of God
The attributes of God can be divided into three groups: His Incommunicable and the Communicable attributes, as well as His Attributes of Rulership. The incommunicable attributes of God are those attributes which He alone possesses. They are not transferable, or communicable to any created being. No other being ever has, or ever will, possess these attributes. God's communicable attributes can be possessed by God's created beings, namely angels and humans, rather than (or at least more so than) animals. It must be noted that the created beings will never possess these attributes to the same degree as God does. As we shall soon see, God is an infinite God, and He possesses all His attributes in infinite measure. We are finite beings, and there are therefore limitations to the extent to which we may possess these attributes. Even throughout all eternity, as the saints are living in heaven, having received their glorified bodies, and having attained the state of sinlessness, will ever be expanding the comprehension and manifestation of these attributes of God in themselves, but will never comprehend or possess them as God does.
Attributes of Rulership
I will begin my discussion with the attributes of rulership because I believe a proper understanding of these attributes are essential to understanding His other attributes, particularly His communicable attributes and how God works in our lives. The two attributes of God's Rulership are His Omnipotence and His Sovereignty, and I will state from the beginning that the two go hand-in-hand. For if God were not omnipotent, then He may at some time fail to be sovereign.
Omnipotence
To begin our examination of what it means to say that God is omnipotent, let us first consider the definition of the word. The prefix, "omni-," is a Latin term meaning "universal" or "all." The word to which it is attached, "potent," (according to Webster's Dictionary) is synonymous with "powerful," and also "effective." Therefore, God is all-powerful. There is no feat of which He is not capable.
God's omnipotence is eluded to in the account of Creation recorded in Genesis 1. For there we see that God created the universe and all that it contains (save Mankind) merely by speaking it into existence. He did not have to do any physical work, if you will, in order to accomplish this great feat. He did not have tediously manuever all the stars and planets into their proper places. Nor did He have to push the waters back from the dry land, that it may be inhabitable for land-dwelling creatures. He merely spoke the command, and all these things came into being.
The fascinating thing about this is how intricately designed the world we live in is. For example, consider how far away from the sun is the earth. Science tells us that if the earth were but a little closer to the sun, then it would be too hot to sustain life. At the same time, if it were just a little further away, it would be too cold. As it is, the earth is positioned precisely as far away from the sun as is necessary for being able to sustain life. This testifies to the awesome power of God who not only spoke the earth into being, but also commanded that the earth should be precisely as far away from the sun as it is.
This is but one example among literally thousands, from the design of the solar systems, which are too many to count, to the delicate yet intricate design of the smallest molecule. And it speaks of the power of God who had the power to speak it into existence. And the point to be made is this: If God created all that exists merely by speaking it into existence, then how much more could He do if He were ever to exert some actual energy? From a human perspective, opening one's mouth and speaking requires very little energy. Lifting a heavy object, on the other hand, requires quite a bit of strength and energy. Therefore, what power must be possessed by the God who created all that there merely by opening His mouth and speaking.
Having said that, there is one passage of Scripture which seems to speak of an occasion wherein God did exert some energy and force in order to accomplish His purpose. It is the one thing He did not accomplish merely by giving the command that it should be done. Isaiah 53 contains the famous prophecy concerning the suffering Servant of God, whom we know to be Jesus Christ. Many of us are familiar with this chapter, particularly the portion saying that He was a Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, despised and rejected, smitten of God, etc. However, one phrase, the significance of which may often be overlooked, is found in verse 1, which says, "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
I've been told that a more literal translation of this verse would be "To whom has the Lord bare His arm?" though I cannot find that wording in any major translations of the Bible. But even the wording that is used conveys the imagery of God rolling up His sleeves and going to work. It is as if God is saying to us, "You think Creation is a beautiful thing? You think Creation is a great display of My awesome power? Ha! You ain't seen nothing yet. You just wait and see what I can do when I actually get to work and truly accomplish something magnificent!"
With that, God rolled up His sleeves and went to work, coming down to earth in the form of a man, taking on the nature of a created being. That alone is a magnificent thought; that He who is uncreated took the form of a created being, while yet not ceasing to be the eternal God of the universe. As a man, He lived a perfectly sinless life and then died on the cross for our sins, making it possible for sinful Man to have a loving relationship with Him. This indeed was something that could only be accomplished by God. In Matthew 19, after Jesus said that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, someone asked Him, "Who then can be saved?" In response, Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
So it may well be said that the greatest demonstration of God's omnipotence is found not only in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is certainly part of it, but also in the crucifixion itself. And it is truly amazing to see that, even as the events of that day were happening, He Himself was orchestrating them according to His divine plan, and that even as He was dying on the cross, He never ceased to be God and to be sustaining all of creation (cf. Col. 1:17).
Notice my previous statement that there is no feat of which God is not capable. I deliberately did not say that there is nothing God cannot do. For dissenters would point to the claim that God cannot sin and God cannot die. And if there is something God cannot do, then He must not be omnipotent. Such a view considers the omnipotence of God independently of all His other characteristics. Such a mistake must not be made. For to neglect any of God's attributes is to change the nature of God, and He would therefore cease to be God.
In order to avoid confusion in this matter, Dr. Bruce Ware of Fuller Theological Seminary defines omnipotence as "God's ability to perform anything consistent with His nature as God." Thus, pointing out that God cannot sin (since that would be inconsistent with His holiness) does not negate His omnipotence.
Sovereignty
For a definiton of God's sovereignty, I would like to borrow from the first chapter in John Piper's book, Desiring God. For clarification, let me tell you that there are several statements made throughout the chapter, which when compiled together, give us a beautiful description of the Sovereignty of God. Piper writes:
|
“God
has the right and power to do whatever makes Him happy. This is what it
means
to say God is sovereign. If God is sovereign and can do anything He
pleases,
then none of His purposes can be frustrated. And if none of His
purposes can be
frustrated, then He must be the happiest of all beings...the foundation
of
the happiness of God is the sovereignty of God. The sheer fact that God
is God
implies that His purposes cannot be thwarted. The purposes of God
cannot be
frustrated. If a purpose of God came to naught it would imply that
there is a
power greater than God’s. It would imply that someone could stay His
hand when
He designs to do a thing. But none can stay His hand." |
This concept, along with the holiness of
God, is one of the most significant in all of Scripture, and yet it is
the attribute that humans most often deny God of. One reason they deny
the sovereignty of God is that they do not see how a sovereign God, who
is also loving and kind,, can allow some of the catastrophic events
that happen in people's lives. In May of 2005, I was dismayed to hear a
prominent Christian leader deny the sovereignty of God outright. He
spoke of several tragic circumstances such as a child being killd by a
drunk driver, a young girl being raped, and a marriage ending in
divorce. After naming each situation, he asked the question, "How can
God be in control of that?"
With all due respect to this man, which may not be much considering his teaching, his viewpoint is wrong. For it stands in stark contrast to the clear teaching of Scripture. Consider the following verses;
So we must now consider how it is that unfortunate circumstances, even the tragic ones cited above, can be allowed by a sovereign, loving God. The typical argument is that all the negative or calamitous events that happen in life are the result of the Fall. Even such tragedies as hurricanes and earthquakes are consequences of the Fall. For when Man fell, God cursed the earth as well as Man. As for the offences of one individual against another, the Scripture teaches that, as a result of the Fall, all humans after Adam and Eve, have been born with the sin nature, which guarantees that we will choose to sin at some point in our lives. In fact, sinful Man, apart from Christ cannot help but sin. He is bound to the sin nature. When God created Man, He did it with the intention that Man would love Him of his own free wll. God did not create a robot, and God does not force us to obey Him. While it sounds cliché, it is true that some people do terrible things to other people because they are sinful and because they choose to do those things.
Enter the Arminian into the argument, who says, "God is not sovereign because Man has a free will." In response, the Calvinist says, "No. Man does not have free will because God is sovereign." And the battle rages on as it has for several centuries. And both the Arminian and the Calvinist will present many Bible verses to support their respective claims as they seek to answer the question "Is God sovereign or does Man have free will?"
I believe the proper answer is "Yes." God is sovereign AND Man has free will. Now some readers, upon reading that statement, will think I have lost my mind, saying that iit is not possible for God to be sovereign and, at the same time, for Man to have free will. But this is because the two are perceived as mutually exclusive concepts.
On the surface, the sovereignty of God and the free will of Man do seem to be diametrically opposed to each other. However, I have a hard time rejecting either one of the two. Because for as many verses as you can provide supporting the sovereignty of God, I can provide just as many verses speaking of Man's free wiil. And for as many verses that can be used to support Man's free will, there are as many verses proclaiming that God is sovereign. Therefore, the only logical conclusion I can come to is that God is sovereign and that Man has free will.
Because these two concepts appear to contradict each other, it is admittedly hard to explain how both can be true at the same time, just as it is difficult to explain how One God can exist as Three Persons. To the human mind, it just doesn't make sense. But perhaps the following statement will help. In discussing this issue, I like to say that in His sovereignty, God has given free will to Man. And yet, God has determined that certain consequences should follow every decision made by Msn, some positive and others negative. In addition, God knows about every decision a man will make, and the consequences that will follow, even before he makes the decision.
So what we find is that God exerts His sovereignty by working in, through, and sometimes in spite of Man's exercise of his free will. And this He does to accomplish His glorious divine purposes. This statement is significant because it reveals that God is not some cruel tyrant sitting in heaven and playing games with the lives of men for His own amusement. John Piper's concluding comments in the first chapter of Desiring God beautifully explain why. He says that everything God does is for the purpose of preserving and diplaying His own glory, which can be defined as "the beauty of His manifold perfections." Piper then goes on to say that "it can refer to the infinite moral excellence of His character." Another way to state it is by saying that God's glory is the sum total of all His attributes.
Once again, we see that it would be a tragic mistake to treat one aspect of God's nature independently of all the others. If God were sovereign but not holy, then the sovereignty of God would be a fearsome reality indeed. If God possessed omnipotence but was lacking in love, then men would most certainly be faced daily with the fear of what God might do next in their lives. However, given the nature of His glory, we can trust that the exercise of His sovereignty is for a purpose of wisdom and greatness beyond our comprehension, and that His purpose is consistent with His holiness, love, grace, and all His other moral attributes.
Now, what you've just read is probably no different than what you would read in a Systematic Theology textbook. However, you might not find what I am going to say next. Although my reading has been limited, most of the theologies I have seen limit their comments to the truths I have just stated. But there is another meaning to the word "sovereign" which must be mentioned. For it has immediate practical implications in our lives.
The word "sovereignty" speaks of the right to rule. I've already mentioned the fact that God has the right and the power to do whatever He chooses. But even, more than that, He has the right to rule over the hearts and the affairs of men. He has the right to expect them to obey His commands and to punish them when they do not. The king of a country has the right to expect the citizens of his country to obey his laws. As long as he is king, he has the right to pass whatever laws he sees fit, and he has the right to punish law-breakers.
Revelation 19 refers to Jesus Christ (who is God) as the King of kings. This is not merely saying that He is the greatest of all kings, even though that is true. John is telling us that God is King over all other kings. Whether they acknowledge it or not, they fall under His jurisdiction. There is none over whom He does not have the right to rule and reign. Even within the Old Testament, which focused on God's relationship with Israel, we find prophetic passages wherein God has words of sharp criticism and severe judgment for the pagan nations surrounding Israel.
Incommunicable Attributes
Self-Existence
To say that God is self-existent means that He exisits in and of Himself. He was not created by some god that came before Him. He had no mother and no father. He simply Is. Remember when God spoke to Moses, commanding him to tell Pharoah to "Let My people go." Moses asked who he should say had sent him. God responded by saying, "I AM WHO I AM....Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (v. 14). Here, we are given the Name of God, YHWH, which simply means, "I AM." It speaks to the fact that God simply exists. He was not created. He was not born. He just Is.
Self-Sufficiency
Following on the heels of God's self-existence is His self-sufficiency, which means that He needs nothing beyond Himself to sustain His existence.
With all due respect to this man, which may not be much considering his teaching, his viewpoint is wrong. For it stands in stark contrast to the clear teaching of Scripture. Consider the following verses;
|
“Our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” --Psalm 115:3 “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to naught; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.” --Psalm 33:10-11 “I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose.” --Isaiah 46:9-10 “Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.” --Psalm 135:6 |
So we must now consider how it is that unfortunate circumstances, even the tragic ones cited above, can be allowed by a sovereign, loving God. The typical argument is that all the negative or calamitous events that happen in life are the result of the Fall. Even such tragedies as hurricanes and earthquakes are consequences of the Fall. For when Man fell, God cursed the earth as well as Man. As for the offences of one individual against another, the Scripture teaches that, as a result of the Fall, all humans after Adam and Eve, have been born with the sin nature, which guarantees that we will choose to sin at some point in our lives. In fact, sinful Man, apart from Christ cannot help but sin. He is bound to the sin nature. When God created Man, He did it with the intention that Man would love Him of his own free wll. God did not create a robot, and God does not force us to obey Him. While it sounds cliché, it is true that some people do terrible things to other people because they are sinful and because they choose to do those things.
Enter the Arminian into the argument, who says, "God is not sovereign because Man has a free will." In response, the Calvinist says, "No. Man does not have free will because God is sovereign." And the battle rages on as it has for several centuries. And both the Arminian and the Calvinist will present many Bible verses to support their respective claims as they seek to answer the question "Is God sovereign or does Man have free will?"
I believe the proper answer is "Yes." God is sovereign AND Man has free will. Now some readers, upon reading that statement, will think I have lost my mind, saying that iit is not possible for God to be sovereign and, at the same time, for Man to have free will. But this is because the two are perceived as mutually exclusive concepts.
On the surface, the sovereignty of God and the free will of Man do seem to be diametrically opposed to each other. However, I have a hard time rejecting either one of the two. Because for as many verses as you can provide supporting the sovereignty of God, I can provide just as many verses speaking of Man's free wiil. And for as many verses that can be used to support Man's free will, there are as many verses proclaiming that God is sovereign. Therefore, the only logical conclusion I can come to is that God is sovereign and that Man has free will.
Because these two concepts appear to contradict each other, it is admittedly hard to explain how both can be true at the same time, just as it is difficult to explain how One God can exist as Three Persons. To the human mind, it just doesn't make sense. But perhaps the following statement will help. In discussing this issue, I like to say that in His sovereignty, God has given free will to Man. And yet, God has determined that certain consequences should follow every decision made by Msn, some positive and others negative. In addition, God knows about every decision a man will make, and the consequences that will follow, even before he makes the decision.
So what we find is that God exerts His sovereignty by working in, through, and sometimes in spite of Man's exercise of his free will. And this He does to accomplish His glorious divine purposes. This statement is significant because it reveals that God is not some cruel tyrant sitting in heaven and playing games with the lives of men for His own amusement. John Piper's concluding comments in the first chapter of Desiring God beautifully explain why. He says that everything God does is for the purpose of preserving and diplaying His own glory, which can be defined as "the beauty of His manifold perfections." Piper then goes on to say that "it can refer to the infinite moral excellence of His character." Another way to state it is by saying that God's glory is the sum total of all His attributes.
Once again, we see that it would be a tragic mistake to treat one aspect of God's nature independently of all the others. If God were sovereign but not holy, then the sovereignty of God would be a fearsome reality indeed. If God possessed omnipotence but was lacking in love, then men would most certainly be faced daily with the fear of what God might do next in their lives. However, given the nature of His glory, we can trust that the exercise of His sovereignty is for a purpose of wisdom and greatness beyond our comprehension, and that His purpose is consistent with His holiness, love, grace, and all His other moral attributes.
Now, what you've just read is probably no different than what you would read in a Systematic Theology textbook. However, you might not find what I am going to say next. Although my reading has been limited, most of the theologies I have seen limit their comments to the truths I have just stated. But there is another meaning to the word "sovereign" which must be mentioned. For it has immediate practical implications in our lives.
The word "sovereignty" speaks of the right to rule. I've already mentioned the fact that God has the right and the power to do whatever He chooses. But even, more than that, He has the right to rule over the hearts and the affairs of men. He has the right to expect them to obey His commands and to punish them when they do not. The king of a country has the right to expect the citizens of his country to obey his laws. As long as he is king, he has the right to pass whatever laws he sees fit, and he has the right to punish law-breakers.
Revelation 19 refers to Jesus Christ (who is God) as the King of kings. This is not merely saying that He is the greatest of all kings, even though that is true. John is telling us that God is King over all other kings. Whether they acknowledge it or not, they fall under His jurisdiction. There is none over whom He does not have the right to rule and reign. Even within the Old Testament, which focused on God's relationship with Israel, we find prophetic passages wherein God has words of sharp criticism and severe judgment for the pagan nations surrounding Israel.
Incommunicable Attributes
Self-Existence
To say that God is self-existent means that He exisits in and of Himself. He was not created by some god that came before Him. He had no mother and no father. He simply Is. Remember when God spoke to Moses, commanding him to tell Pharoah to "Let My people go." Moses asked who he should say had sent him. God responded by saying, "I AM WHO I AM....Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (v. 14). Here, we are given the Name of God, YHWH, which simply means, "I AM." It speaks to the fact that God simply exists. He was not created. He was not born. He just Is.
Self-Sufficiency
Following on the heels of God's self-existence is His self-sufficiency, which means that He needs nothing beyond Himself to sustain His existence.