Theo 201 notes

Attributes of God

• Goodness of God:

  • God is benevolent and seeks to bless those in a relationship with Him.

  • Moral attribute of God is His goodness.

• Greatness of God:

  • God's essence is captured by the term Holiness.

  • Holiness defines God as separate and other than humanity.

Related Attributes

• Righteousness:

  • Who God is; He always does what is right.

• Justice:

  • What God does; all His ways are just due to His righteousness.

God’s Response to Humanity

• Mercy:

  • God does not punish us as we deserve.

• Grace:

  • God gives us what we do not deserve.

God's Nature

• Communicable Attributes:

  • Goodness that can be emulated (e.g. mercy, kindness).

• Incommunicable Attributes:

  • God's greatness, righteousness, and justice that cannot be fully emulated.

Key Concepts

• Sovereign God:

  • God is self-existing, inscrutable, and sovereign over creation.

• Theodicy:

  • The justification of God in the presence of evil and suffering in the world.

  • Options regarding suffering:

  • God created it.

  • God allowed it.

  • God controls it.

Understanding Evil

• Distinction between natural causes and moral causes of evil.

• Free will:

  • We are free to choose but not free from the consequences of choices.

God's Will

• Perfect Will: Immutable and will be fulfilled.

• Prescriptive Will: Outlines what is just and right (e.g. commandments).

• Pleasing Will: Actions that bring joy to God, embodying love and relationship.

Conclusion

• Emphasizes gratitude and humility in the relationship with God due to His grace and mercy.

• Acknowledgment that understanding the complexity of God's attributes aids in grappling with theological questions about suffering and divine sovereignty.