God’s Moral Attributes

*We believe in the existence of a divine moral law, or code

*God is the source of it, and acts according to it

*This morality is powerful evidence for a divine being

*No accountability to a moral lawreduces all acts to either ‘helpful’, or ‘unhelpful’ to the

evolving human race.

*To adopt this position is ludicrous, and harmful to society.

*With no real determined ‘right and wrong’, we are left only with the option of calling rape ‘unhelpful’ or child abuse ‘not beneficial’. We know this to be wrong, so

how could we hold this position and be taken seriously?

All of us have ignored this divine internal compass and ‘gone off the grid’ of God’s moral

code. Jesus came to show us the way back.

‘For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with

undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when

he freed us from the penalty for our sins.’ Romans 3:23-24

Goodness

The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval.

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! Gen 1.31

You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. Psalm 119.68

Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12.2

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1.17

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are

called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8.28

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly

Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matt 7.11

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is

always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. Hebrews 12.10

Mercy / Grace / Patience

God’s mercy means God’s goodness towards those in misery and distress

God’s grace means God’s goodness towards those who deserve only punishment

God’s patience means God’s goodness in withholding punishment from those who sin over a period of time.

“The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and

faithfulness, Ex 34.6

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to

help in time of need. Heb 4.16

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the

redemption that is in Christ Jesus… Romans 3.23-24

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who

were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1.16

But the fruit of the Spirit is…patienceGal 5.22

Holiness

God is separated from Sin. Holiness is to be perfect in goodness, absolutely pure. By this we know that God is not capable of evil.

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? Psalm 24.3

The LORD sits in majesty in Jerusalem exalted above all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Your name is holy! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established fairness. You have acted with

justice and righteousness throughout Israel. Exalt the LORD our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is

holy! Psalm 99:2-5

You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. Lev 19.2

Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am.

And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. John 12.25-26

Peace

God’s peace means that in God’s being, and in His actions he is separate from all confusion and disorder, yet he is continually active in innumerable, well ordered, fully controlled, simultaneous actions’.

Wayne Grudem

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 1 Cor 14.33

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Romans 16.20

But there is no peace for the wicked, says the LORD. Isaiah 48.22

Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Psalm 121.4

Justice

This means God always acts in accordance with what is right, and is himself the final standard of right.

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.

A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Deuteronomy 32.4

1: Hell wasn’t created for mankind, but for Satan and his demons.

2: We are judged correctly by our immoral behaviour and cannot blame God.

3: In his justice he rightly declares us guilty, but in his grace and love he sent Jesus to take the punishment we deserved so that we could go free.

4: This free gift is available to all. But God will not force it on anyone. Therefore, he does not send people to hell, if we get there its because we choose it over him.

Wrath

God’s wrath means he intensely hates all sin and evil. It’s not just that he doesn’t have it, he hates it. This is because he is morally perfect.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by

their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1.18

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world,

following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among

whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,

and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Eph 2.1-3

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned

to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the

wrath to come.

1 Thess 1.9-10

In summary;

God is good, merciful, gracious, and patient. He is Holy, a God of peace, just and hates evil of any kind.

His goodness is most powerfully revealed in Jesus Christ who bore our sins and took our deserved punishment.

‘By His grace we have been saved’.