GOD attributes (3)

Perfect Righteousness

• God is perfectly righteous, meaning His judgements and actions are always just and aligned with His holy nature.
• His righteousness is synonymous with His holiness; He hates sin because it contradicts His just nature.
• His holiness requires holding sinners accountable, as He cannot condone evil.

Biblical Evidence:

• Genesis 18:25 (NIV): "Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked and treat the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
• This emphasises God as a just judge who does not oppress anyone.
• Psalm 19:7-9 (NIV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 
• This psalm highlights the perfection and justice of God’s judgements.
• Psalm 145:17 (NIV): "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all he does."
• This links God’s righteousness and mercy.
• Jeremiah 9:24 (NIV): "But let all who take pride boast in this: that they know and understand me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for this is what I delight in,’ declares the Lord."
• This emphasises God’s delight in justice and righteousness as part of His nature.

Significance:

• God’s righteousness ensures all His actions and judgements are just and consistent with His holiness.
• This makes God a just judge who judges sin but offers mercy through redemption.
• His righteousness provides confidence that He will judge justly while offering salvation through His grace.

Perfect Love, Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness

• God loves His creation with great, infinite, and unconditional love.
• He demonstrated His love through the life and sacrifice of His Son on the cross to redeem mankind.
• His love is an act of His will to give Himself to His creation, showing His generosity and devotion.
• His love is manifested in creation and redemption, as He lovingly created the world and offers salvation to sinners.
• His holiness condemns sin, but His love offers salvation to sinners through grace.
• His patience and mercy are undeserved, granting mercy to those who do not deserve it.
• He pities the sinner and seeks their eternal salvation, showing His deep mercy.
• His sorrow for the suffering of His creatures prompts Him to act with mercy and compassion.
• God is trustworthy, faithful, and true to His word; He never breaks His promises.

Biblical Evidence:

• Deuteronomy 7:7-8 (NIV): "The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations... but because the Lord loved you."
• This shows God’s love as the motive for choosing His people.
• John 14:31 (NIV): "But so that the world may know that I love the Father and do exactly what the Father has given me to do." Stuart Christ’s love and obedience to the Father.
• Romans 5:5, 8 (NIV): "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us... But God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
• This emphasises God’s love manifested in Christ’s sacrifice.
• Romans 8:35, 39 (NIV): "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ... neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus."
• This shows God’s infinite and inseparable love for believers.
• 1 John 4:8, 16 (NIV): "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love."
• This emphasises love as the essence of God’s nature.
• Psalm 145:17 (NIV): "The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all he does."
• This links God’s righteousness and mercy.
• Romans 5:1 (NIV): "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
• This shows God’s grace as the basis for salvation.
• Romans 3:24 (NIV): "All are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
• This emphasises grace as the basis of salvation.
• Romans 5:15, 20 (NIV): "But the gift is not like the trespass... The law was given so that the trespasses of all might be credited to them as righteousness. Where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
• This highlights the superiority of God’s grace over sin.
• Ephesians 4:7 (NIV): "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."
• This shows grace given to every believer according to God’s will.
• Hebrews 4:16 (NIV): "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
• This emphasises God’s throne as the source of grace and mercy.
• Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV): "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.’"

• This characterises God as merciful and faithful.

• Psalm 25:8 (NIV): "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way."

• This emphasises God’s goodness and mercy toward sinners.

• James 1:17 (NIV): "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights."

• This emphasises that all good things come from God.

• Psalm 6:4 (NIV): "Return, Lord, and rescue me. Deliver me because of your unfailing love."

• This shows God’s mercy as the basis of salvation.

• Romans 9:23-24 (NIV): "And to make known what are the riches of his glory on the objects of his mercy, which he has prepared in advance for glory."
• This emphasises God’s mercy, revealing His glory.
• Ephesians 2:4 (NIV): "But because of his great love, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression."
• This shows God’s mercy in making us alive with Christ despite our sinfulness.

Significance:

• God’s perfect love is the foundation of His relationship with creation, loving unconditionally and with infinite depth.
• This love is shown in creating the world and offering salvation to sinners through Christ’s sacrifice.
• His grace and mercy are undeserved, granting salvation to the unworthy.
• His faithfulness ensures believers can trust His unchanging promises.
• These attributes make God the source of hope and salvation for all who turn to Him.