ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (PART II)

Attributes of Goodness

Moral Qualities

If the Attributes of Greatness we studied in the preceding lesson were God’s only

attributes, he might be conceivably be an immoral or amoral being, exercising his power and

knowledge in a capricious even cruel fashion. But what we are dealing is a good God, one who

can be trusted and loved. He has attributes of goodness as well as greatness. In this lesson, we

will consider his moral qualities, that is, the characteristics of God as a moral being. For

convenient study, we will classify his basic moral attributes as purity, integrity and love.

1. Holiness

There are wo basic aspects of God’s holiness. The first is his uniqueness. He is totally

separate from all creation. It speaks of “the otherness of God.” This is what Louis Berhof

called the “majesty-holiness” of God. The other aspect of God’s holiness is his absolute

purity and goodness. This means that he is untouched and unstained by the evil in this world.

God’s moral perfection is the standard for our moral character and the motivation for

religious practice. The whole moral code follows from his holiness.
 2. Righteousness

The second dimension of God’s moral purity is his righteousness. This, as it were, the

holiness of God applied to his relationships to other beings. The righteousness of God

means, first of all, that the law of God, being a true expression of his nature, is as perfect and

righteous as he is.

3. Justice

God administers his kingdom in accordance with his law. That is, he requires that others

conform to it. God’s righteousness is his personal or individual righteousness. His justice is

his official righteousness, his requirement that other moral agents adhere to the standards as

well. God is, in other words, like a judge who as a private person adheres to the law of

society, and in his official capacity administers that same law, applying others.

The justice of God means he is fair in the administration of his law. He does show

favoritism or partiality.

Integrity

The cluster of attributes which we are here classifying as integrity relates to the matter of

truth. There are three dimensions of truthfulness; 1) genuineness—being true; 2) veracity—

telling the truth; and faithfulness—proving true.

 1. Genuineness

In a world in which so much is artificial, our God is real. He is what he appears to

be. God is real; he is not fabricated or constructed or imitation, as are

all other claimants to deity.

2. Veracity

Veracity is the second dimension of God’s faithfulness. God represents things as

they really are. Whether he is speaking of himself or part of his creation, what God is

says is the way things really are.

God has appealed to his to his people to be honest in all situations. They are to be

truthful both in what they formally assert and in what they imply.

3. Faithfulness

If God’s genuineness is a matter of his being true and veracity is his telling of the

truth, then his faithfulness mans that he proves true. God keeps all his promises. This is a

function of his unlimited power.

Love
 When we think in terms of God’s moral attributes, perhaps what comes first to mind is

the cluster of attributes we are here classifying as love. Many regard it as the basic attribute, the

very nature or definition of God: God is love! The basic dimension of God’s love to us are: 1)

benevolence 2) grace 3) mercy.

1. Benevolence

Benevolence is a basic dimension of God’s his we mean the concern of God for the

welfare of those whom he loves. He unselfishly seeks our ultimate welfare. It is

agape, not eros type of love.

2. Grace

Grace is another attribute which is part of the manifold of God’s love. By this we

mean that God deals with his people on the basis of their merit or worthiness, what

they deserve, but simply according to their need; in other words, he deals with them

on the basis of his goodness and generosity.

3. Mercy

God’s mercy is his tender-hearted, loving compassion for his people. It is his

tenderness of heart toward the needy. If grace contemplates man as sinful;, guilty and

condemned; mercy sees him as miserable and needy.