The human experience has included God since the beginning in the garden of Eden. His love and compassion for His creation and humanity have been revealed continually until this very day. All we need do is walk around in nature, hold a baby in our arms, experience life on or beneath the sea, or float above the mountains in a powered wing machine, and it’s easy to contemplate and experience God.

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Sadly, however most people still know very little about Him. If a person has repented, placed their faith in and trusted Christ as Savior and Lord of their life, they have already experienced God in a miraculous way. They see God’s hand everywhere, they hear God’s voice deep within, they are led by God’s Spirit on a daily basis. But for those who are atheists or agnostics or openly reject God’s love and God’s provision for salvation, it’s a very different story. They both fail to see or understand anything about God, for they are spiritually blind and deaf, as Jesus clearly explained.

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In other words, we can choose to believe and experience God, or we can choose to reject and not experience God. This has been termed “free-will,” and every human being has it. As such, every human being is given the opportunity whether to believe or not to believe.

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So, what is God really like? This question is as old as Garden of Eden, and perhaps even time itself. For any human to attempt to explain the character of God, would be akin to a wild and terrified beast of the field trying to explain the character of a benign human.

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How can a creature, having been created, explain the character of Him Who is its (their) Creator?

We live in this broken and sin-filled world, which means that we see life and all that it includes through a distorted and damaged lens. The only way we can see clearly for the time being, is to view life through the lens of the Holy Spirit of God.

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For those who have turned to Jesus Christ in faith and experienced the “new birth” described by Jesus in John chapter three; the Scriptures say their eyes have been opened, and they can see: God is no longer a mystery to them. God has revealed Himself to them. With the help of the Spirit who lives within them, they can learn about God’s dealings with His creation, God’s plan for their lives and their future, and God’s love for all of His creation. In doing so, they can begin to understand God, and His qualities and true character.

So, what exactly is His true character? What is He really like?

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The character of God is revealed throughout the Bible in a multitude of ways. From His holiness and justice to His mercy and love, the Bible paints a rich, multifaceted picture of who God is. Below is a detailed overview of the character of God, broken down into eight sections, as follows:

1. God is Holy

Key Themes: Purity, Separateness, Reverence, Glory
• Holiness refers to God’s absolute purity and moral perfection. He is set apart from all creation, entirely distinct and without

sin. His holiness demands reverence and awe.
o Isaiah 6:3: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the

whole earth is full of his glory!”

This vision of God in the temple shows the threefold repetition of “holy,” emphasizing His complete and perfect holiness.

o Revelation 4:8: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

o Leviticus19:2:“Youshallbeholy,forItheLordyourGod am holy.”

God’s holiness is a foundational part of His character, and it becomes the standard for His people.

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2. God is Love

Key Themes: Compassion, Grace, Sacrifice, Relationship
• God’s love is unconditional, sacrificial, and expansive. He loves His people with an everlasting love and desires a deep,

personal relationship with them.
o 1 John 4:8: “Anyone who does not love does not know

God, because God is love.”

This verse encapsulates the essence of God’s character: His very nature is love.

o John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The supreme expression of God’s love is seen in the sending of His Son for the salvation of the world.

o Romans 5:8: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s love is not dependent on our merit, but is shown through the sacrifice of Jesus.

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3. God is Just

Key Themes: Righteous Judgment, Fairness, Accountability
• God’s justice means that He always acts in accordance with what is right. He rewards righteousness and punishes sin, ensuring that all people are held accountable for their actions. o Psalm 89:14: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness

go before you.”

God’s throne is established on justice and righteousness, making these qualities integral to His rule.

o 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.”

God is completely just and righteous, without any partiality or injustice.

o Romans 2:6: “He will render to each one according to his works.”

In the end, God’s justice will prevail, and everyone will receive what they deserve.

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4. God is Merciful

Key Themes: Compassion, Forgiveness, Unmerited Favor, Patience • God’s mercy is His compassion toward those in need or distress, especially in their sin. His grace refers to His unmerited favor, giving good gifts to those who do not deserve

them.
o 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.’”

This self-revelation of God emphasizes His mercy, grace, and patience.

o Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

o Ephesians 2:4-5: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”

Even when we were spiritually dead, God showed mercy and grace, offering salvation through Jesus.

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5. God is Sovereign

Key Themes: Rule, Control, Authority, Providence
• Sovereignty means that God is in absolute control of

everything in the universe. He rules over all creation and His plans cannot be thwarted. His providence ensures that His will is accomplished.
o Psalm 103:19: “The Lord has established his throne in the

heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

God is the ruler of the entire universe, and His reign is supreme.

o Daniel 4:35: “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’”

God’s sovereignty is absolute and unquestionable.

o Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God works all things together for good for those who are His, demonstrating His sovereign control over all circumstances.

 

6. God is Immutable (Unchanging)

Key Themes: Consistency, Faithfulness, Stability, Trustworthiness • Immutability means that God does not change in His nature, will, or promises. He is always the same, making Him

completely reliable and trustworthy.
o Malachi 3:6: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore

you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

God’s unchanging nature assures His people of His continual faithfulness, and His promises to keep His covenants.

o James1:17:“Everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftisfrom above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

God’s goodness and generosity are constant; He is unwavering in His goodness.

o Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

The unchanging nature of God is most clearly revealed in Jesus Christ, who remains the same throughout history.

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7. God is Omniscient (All-Knowing)

Key Themes: Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding, Omnipresence • Omniscience means that God knows everything—past, present, and future. There is no limit to His knowledge or

wisdom.
o Psalm 147:5: “Great is our Lord and abundant in power;

his understanding is beyond measure.”

God’s understanding is so vast that it cannot be fully comprehended by humans.

o 1 John 3:20: “For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”

God’s knowledge extends beyond our personal understanding or conscience.

o Romans 11:33: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”

God’s wisdom and knowledge are unfathomable.

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8. God is Good; God is Great

Key Themes: Benevolence, Generosity, Righteousness, Provision
• Goodness refers to God’s inherent nature of doing what is right and best for His creation. His goodness is evident in His

provision, care, and righteousness.
o Psalm 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

God invites us to experience His goodness firsthand, leading to blessings for those who trust Him.

o Psalm 100:5: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

God’s goodness is eternal and is expressed through His steadfast love and faithfulness.

o Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God’s goodness is reflected in His ultimate purpose for His people, working all things together for their good.

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Summary

In these eight sections (the chapters of this book), we see the multifaceted nature of God’s character:

1. God is Holy – Pure, set apart, and worthy of reverence.

2. God is Love – Unconditional, sacrificial, and relational.

3. God is Just – Righteous, fair, and the ultimate judge.

4. God is Merciful – Compassionate, forgiving, and generous.

5. God is Sovereign – Supreme in control over all things.

6. God is Immutable – Unchanging in His nature, promises, and faithfulness.

7. God is Omniscient – All-knowing, with perfect wisdom and understanding.

8. God is Good; God is Great – Benevolent, righteous, and a provider for His creation.

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The Bible reveals that God’s character is rich, complex, and perfectly balanced, and these aspects are foundational to understanding His relationship with His creation and His purposes for the world. The goal of this book is to reveal the Character of God to those who want to know and understand Him better.

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In Matthew 22:36 the Bible tells us Jesus was asked: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”

As believers and followers of Jesus, it should be our goal as well as our desire every day to better know and understand the One who we are to love above all else. I pray this book will help you do that.

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May our Lord Jesus Christ be praised and honored and glorified by all that we say, all that we think, and all that we do.