Systematic TheologySample

Ever stopped to wonder what God is really like? How do we even begin to wrap our heads around the character of an infinite, all-powerful Being? While we’ll never fully grasp Him, He’s given us glimpses—attributes we can actually reflect in our own lives.

For starters, God knows everything—past, present, future. He’s not out here guessing. Job 37:16 says He’s “perfect in knowledge”—down to the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 6:8). But He’s not just a cosmic know-it-all; He’s also wise. He doesn’t just know the best way—He chooses it. The whole arc of salvation history? Yeah, that’s His wisdom at work.

And it’s not just wisdom—God is the very standard of truth and goodness. He can’t lie. Ever. Jesus lays it out: “No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19). So even when life feels like a bad plot twist, we can trust His plans are actually good.

Then there’s love. Not the soft, fluffy rom-com kind—the real deal. God is love. Before creation, love existed within the Trinity. That love spills over into mercy (compassion), grace (unearned favor), and patience (putting up with us). Exodus 34:6 puts it perfectly: “Merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” That’s our God.

Now, holiness—this one’s huge. God isn’t just better than us; He’s in a completely different category. The angels in Isaiah’s vision aren’t singing “nice, nice, nice”—they’re singing “Holy, holy, holy.” And His holiness comes with righteousness—He never makes a wrong judgment. Sin has to be dealt with, which is exactly why Jesus went to the cross.

And yeah, God’s wrath is a thing. He’s not indifferent to sin—He hates it. Jesus straight up says, “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). But here’s the kicker—His will is that none should perish. He’s working all things toward His ultimate good, and spoiler alert: His plans don’t fail.

So what do we do with this? We reflect Him. We chase wisdom, walk in truth, love people sacrificially, pursue holiness, hate sin (but love sinners), and trust His plan over our own. Easier said than done, right? It’s a daily grind of dying to self and leaning on the Holy Spirit.

Want to see God’s attributes in action? Look at Jesus. Colossians 1:15 calls Him “the image of the invisible God.” In Christ, love walks, holiness breathes, wisdom speaks, and justice bleeds grace.

And the cross? That’s where it all collides—holiness, wrath, love, and mercy. Jesus took our punishment so we could stand in the presence of a holy God.

So—what part of God’s nature wrecks you the most? Where do you need His transforming work? Let’s not just know about God. Let’s actually know Him. Because in knowing Him, we find who we were made to be.