Everyone carries a picture of God: perhaps a stern heavenly judge, a watchmaker no longer involved, or an indulgent figure granting every request. What is he really like? Beginning with his own declaration of his name, this article explores his uniqueness, Trinity, holiness, love, justice and faithfulness, and the wonder of his transcendence and nearness. To see God clearly, look at Jesus Christ.
Speaker: Pastor Bond
His Glorious Image
“This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3)
Even people who have never read Scripture usually carry a picture of God.
For some, he is a stern judge high in heaven, constantly keeping accounts. His main task is watching for mistakes and preparing punishment. Such a God produces fear, leaving people afraid to approach.
For others, he is an indulgent figure granting every request. His purpose seems to be fulfilling my wishes and keeping life safe and smooth. Unanswered prayer then feels like betrayal or heavenly injustice.
Others imagine a watchmaker who built the world and walked away. Having wound it up, he has retired behind the scenes, indifferent to your rent, illness and loneliness.
These pictures usually come from upbringing, others' words and our fears, rather than careful investigation. Here is the problem: if the God we worship, trust or fear is only our imagined picture, we have not truly known the living and true God.
What is God really like? We need not guess. He has personally revealed himself through Scripture and the incarnation.
When Moses asked his name before the burning bush, God's answer became a key to knowing him throughout Scripture:
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’…” (Exodus 3:14)
His name, Hebrew יהוה (YHWH), commonly rendered Yahweh, speaks of the one who exists in himself and eternally exists. Everything in the universe requires creation and sustenance. He alone needs nobody to give him life. He is every existence's source, dependent on nothing. This distinguishes him from all imagined created deities. He is more than the universe's largest being: he is the reason the universe exists.
Further reading If God Created the Universe, Who Created God?
Yet God does not stop with greatness and distance. Later at Sinai, he passes before Moses and declares his own character, in Scripture's most frequently quoted self-introduction:
“Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin…” (Exodus 34:6–7)
Notice what comes first: neither overwhelming power nor terrifying severity, but mercy, grace, patience, abundant loving kindness and truth. This is the first impression God wants us to have. The same passage says he “will by no means clear the guilty”; justice is never absent from his love. Yet when introducing himself, he first extends grace's hand.
Following Scripture, let us explore his glorious image's many facets. These are no cold catalogue of attributes, but the living God's disclosure of himself. He is neither a religious symbol casually fashioned by people nor a distant, indifferent cosmic principle. He feels, acts, possesses righteousness and wisdom, and actively reveals his beauty.
1. He creates the universe and everything in it. Scripture opens, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The universe did not drift accidentally into existence, and humanity is no meaningless dust. We exist because God intended creation. Human life's worth must be sought in its Creator.
2. He is the only God. “Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). No second being equals him. We need not live anxiously between idols, fate and spiritual powers. Only one truly governs everything.
3. He exists in himself, eternally, and creates time. He tells Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). He has no starting point and suffers no erosion through time. We have birthdays, ageing and an end. He remains the living Lord yesterday, today and for ever.
4. He is holy and infinite. Heavenly beings cry, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies!” (Isaiah 6:3). Holiness first means separation from all created things, complete purity without darkness. Time, space, knowledge and power do not limit him. He transcends and sustains the universe and searches human hearts, rather than simply being its greatest inhabitant.
5. He is living and true. Paul says, “let God be found true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). He is no psychological projection, cultural symbol or religious atmosphere. He truly exists, speaks and acts. Human lives are brief and fleeting; the Creator is eternally and unchangingly real.
6. He is a hidden God. “The secret things belong to Yahweh our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). God is no object under a human microscope. His depths exceed our comprehension. Faith does not shrink him into something controllable. It humbly obeys within revealed light and acknowledges his right to retain mystery.
7. He also reveals himself. The same verse says, “the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deuteronomy 29:29). He does not remain silent and leave us guessing eternally. Through creation, conscience, history, and especially Scripture and Jesus Christ, he makes himself known. Knowledge of God begins with his willingness to be known, rather than our cleverness.
8. He delights to reward seekers. “…he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). He is no cold-faced judge rejecting everyone. He does not despise sincere seekers, but delights in their turning and gives himself to them.
9. He overflows with love and warmth. “Yahweh, your God… He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Astonishingly, he loves his people joyfully, rather than mechanically performing love. His love carries a father's delight, warmth and cherishing, beyond a cold principle.
10. He loves working and willingly serves. Jesus says, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too” (John 5:17). Work itself is no curse. Before the fall, God was creating, governing and entrusting responsibility. Serious work, faithful service and bringing order from disorder reflect this working God.
11. He is full of wisdom and creativity. “Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom, you have made them all” (Psalm 104:24). Stars and cellular particles, changing seasons and bodily metabolism reveal wonderful wisdom and abundant creativity. Human thought, art, engineering, education and innovation respond, finitely, to his creative beauty.
12. He rules supremely and uses authority well. “For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). His authority differs from fallen worldly power: it accomplishes goodness, justice and redemption rather than control, exploitation and self-gratification. His rule keeps history from spinning out of control and preserves hope for sufferers.
13. He brings order from chaos. Genesis describes the earth as formless and empty, with darkness over the deep. God says, “Let there be light”, and light appears (Genesis 1:2–3). Chaos does not frighten him. He separates light from darkness, establishes boundaries and makes a habitable, fruitful world. No disorder in our lives leaves ruins beyond his restoration. Even the satisfaction of finally tidying a messy desk or room responds, finitely, to the beauty of his created order.
14. He plans comprehensively and governs history. “My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:10). Unexpected events disrupt our plans, but he sees the end from the beginning. He fulfils good purposes in history's depths rather than merely improvising repairs.
15. He is triune, working together in unity. At Jesus' baptism the Son is in the water, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks: “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21–22). One God, three persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—love and work in unity. Relationship, love, cooperation and unity are no later inventions; they are rooted in God's life. Joy and satisfaction in a trusting, smoothly cooperating team finitely reflect this glory.
16. He honours humanity. “For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5). He treats people as neither tools nor expendable materials, but creates them in his image with a calling, identity and dignity. Appearance, income, achievements and applause do not determine worth. The God who creates and honours people does.
17. He is faithful and never lies. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent” (Numbers 23:19). Broken promises, deception and unpredictability make trust difficult for us. Yet his promises are no passing whims. His words will not fail.
18. He gives generously and treats people graciously. “…he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Sunshine, rain, food, air, friendship, wisdom, health, family, talents, resources, money and, most precious, salvation: every true benefit comes from his generous grace. He is not miserly. His deepest generosity is giving himself.
19. He gives freedom with rules and boundaries. In Eden he said, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden”, while forbidding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16–17). Freedom does not require no boundaries. True freedom enjoys goodness within life's order. His boundaries protect us from sin's devouring power, rather than deprive us.
20. He is gentle and humble. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). How astonishing: the ruler of everything reveals gentleness and humility to weary people. He is a Saviour willing to carry and teach us and give inward rest, rather than a brutal, crushing master.
21. He does not dominate people. Joshua tells the people, “choose today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Absolute authority does not make humanity puppets. God calls, urges, warns and draws us, while allowing real consequences of choices. He desires a response arising from trust and love, rather than controlled obedience.
22. He teaches and trains his children. “…whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights” (Proverbs 3:12). His discipline trains like a father rather than venting anger. Through truth, circumstances, church, suffering and reminders, he shapes, renews, equips and sends us, beyond merely comforting us.
23. He is compassionate and understanding. “Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13–14). He knows human frailty and never despises tears. Jesus' compassion for distressed, scattered people reveals God's own heart.
24. He helps with a smiling face. “For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence” (Psalm 42:5). His help is more than cold problem-solving. The light of his face sustains people and raises downcast heads. Looking back, believers can say, “Yahweh helped us until now” (1 Samuel 7:12).
25. He comforts and strengthens. Paul calls him “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” and says he comforts us in every affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). God has more than the strong in view. He draws especially near to the sorrowful, frightened and weak. His comfort holds us in truth so we can rise, rather than cheaply saying we should stop overthinking.
26. He accompanies without abandoning. “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). People leave, relationships change and circumstances turn against us. God is no fair-weather friend. He walks with his people and gives the upright light even in darkness.
27. He takes no pleasure in injustice and hates sin. “For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you” (Psalm 5:4). This expresses goodness so real that sin can never be dismissed, rather than a bad temper. Without his hatred of lies, violence, oppression and betrayal, victims would have no hope of justice.
28. He governs and judges righteously. “He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the peoples in uprightness” (Psalm 9:8). Judgement sounds frightening but is good news: hidden sins, unresolved injustices and evil concealed by power will face the righteous God. Evil will not have the final word.
29. He is slow to anger. He introduces himself as “a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). He does not turn hostile at the slightest provocation. Patiently, he gives time to repent. Our continuing life and opportunity to return evidence that patience.
30. He does not remain angry for ever. “He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever” (Psalm 103:9). His anger is holiness responding to sin, rather than loss of emotional control. He takes no delight in anger. His desire is for people to leave sin and return to grace, rather than remain crushed for ever.
31. He shows no partiality. “…there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes” (2 Chronicles 19:7). Background, money, connections and status often govern our world. They cannot buy God. Rich and poor, strong and weak stand before the same righteous Lord.
32. He does not judge by appearances. “For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). He sees true motives, wounds, faithfulness and pretence. This exposes our disguises and comforts those underestimated, overlooked or misunderstood: God sees your real heart.
33. He does not fail to repay. “He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him” (Proverbs 19:17). God is no forgetful master overlooking a cup of cold water offered in love. Good deeds are no bargaining chips, yet within his just and faithful government, love and faithfulness will not be lost.
34. He loves selflessly and willingly suffers for love. Christ “gave himself for our sins… according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4). God's deepest beauty appears in the cross's self-giving love, beyond the power creating the universe. Instead of standing far away demanding we climb up, he enters human pain, sin and death to bring us back into his light.
Together, these facets keep our picture from becoming flat. He is unique, holy and supreme, yet loving, humble and near. He rules, judges and hates sin, yet is patient, compassionate and willing to save at his own cost. The God Scripture reveals is greater than we imagine and gentler than we dare believe.
Perhaps the attributes still feel indistinct. What does God actually look like? Can we know him more concretely?
Scripture answers directly: look at Jesus Christ.
“No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.” (John 1:18)
“He is the image of the invisible God…” (Colossians 1:15)
“His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance…” (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). At Christianity's comforting centre is this: the invisible, infinite, holy God takes a form we can see and touch in Jesus Christ, dwelling among humanity.
Want to know his attitude towards weakness? See how Jesus treats the woman surrounded by people ready to stone her. Wonder whether he pities sufferers? Watch him weep at Lazarus' tomb. Ask whether he is gracious or severe? Hear him pray for those crucifying him, “Father, forgive them.” God's truest, clearest picture lies in Jesus of Nazareth's words and actions, rather than our imagination. Replace your mistaken picture with the Gospels' real Christ, and your knowledge of God is thoroughly renewed.
Knowing God is no examination question. It truly changes how we live.
It heals fear. If he is merciful, gracious and slow to anger, we need not approach in anxious dread. We still revere his holiness, yet may draw near confidently, as children to their father.
It corrects prayer. Knowing his holy justice and loving faithfulness changes prayer from flattering an unpredictable deity or ordering an obliging servant into entrusting ourselves to our heavenly Father. He knows how we are made and can do all things.
It rebuilds security. The self-existent, eternal, unchanging, covenant-faithful God is the only foundation that cannot collapse. People, circumstances and even we ourselves change. He alone remains “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Knowing God takes a lifetime. One article cannot finish the subject. Yet every step matters, because knowing him begins eternal life (John 17:3).
Dear friend, set aside your old picture for a moment. Let Scripture's living and true God show himself:
He is the self-existent, eternal, unique Creator: so holy angels cover their faces, yet so loving he gave his only Son for you. Higher than heaven, he willingly dwells with contrite hearts. All this appears clearly in Jesus Christ's face.
The best next step is to open the Gospels and discover Jesus, rather than resolve every theological difficulty first. Begin with John 1.
Perhaps the God you have misunderstood, feared and avoided is far more beautiful, nearer and more loving than you imagined.
Let us pray together:
God, I confess many misunderstandings. Sometimes I fear or doubt you, sometimes make you too small, and more often forget you. Thank you for not leaving me to guess. You speak through Scripture and reveal yourself in Jesus Christ. Remove my false pictures. Through Jesus, let me know your true beauty: holiness, love and faithfulness. Let this knowledge begin a lifetime of reverence, nearness and trust. In the name of the Lord Jesus, amen.
Further reading: After Coming to Faith, Who Do You Really Trust? — How an undersized picture of God affects our response to temptation.
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