Christianity: Nature of God

Question 1

List the characteristics of God.

Answer 1

• Benevolent (good)
• Omniscient (all-knowing)
• Omnipotent (all-powerful)
• Judge
• Eternal
• Transcendent (metaphysical)
• Immanent (involved with our world)
• Personal (has a relationship with his followers)
• Forgiving

Question 2

How is Christianity a monotheistic religion?

Answer 2

It teaches that there is only one God. 
This means:
- He is the most important and powerful being in the Universe
- It is important to live by His rules
- He is worthy of worship
E.g. Exodus 20:3
"You shall have no other gods before me"

Question 3

What is the significance of God being benevolent?

Answer 3

• Everything he does is good - he can do no evil (existence of evil dilemma)
• He is the summon bonum - the highest good
• For humans to be good means they are God-like

Question 4

What is the significance of God being omniscient?

Answer 4

• He knows everything - people cannot keep secrets from Him
• He knows everything that happens, has happened, and will happen
• He knows the future, so he knows what is best for the world (existence of evil dilemma)

Question 5

What is the significance of God being omnipotent?

Answer 5

• Christians pray to him for help

- He can stop evil (existence of evil dilemma)

Question 6

What is the significance of God being the judge?

Answer 6

• His omniscience and perfect nature mean He is a righteous judge of humans
• Humans must lead a God-like life to be granted eternal life after death
• He can punish humanity if they are not abiding by his rules, e.g. Noah’s Arc, The Ten Plagues
• Older view
• John 3:18
  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God”
• Matthew 25:31-46
  The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats:
  Jesus judges the dead:
  “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.” Jesus says that if someone has shown kindness to another person, they have shown kindness to God → Karl Rahner - anonymous Christians

Question 7

What is the significance of God being eternal?

Answer 7

• He has no beginning and no end → He is superior to humans
• He has always existed, therefore he was never created
• E.g. The Plymouth Brethren try to live separately from the rest of the world because of their interpretation of passages such as 1 John 2:15-17:
  “Do not love the world or the things in the world (…) the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.”

Question 8

What is the significance of God being transcendent?

Answer 8

• He exists outside of time and space
• He is the Creator of everything, but He was not created
• He created time - according to Catholics, He exists outside of time

Question 9

What is the significance of God being immanent?

Answer 9

• He is involved in the world
• He can interfere in what happens - punishment or miracles
• He can reveal himself to people in religious experiences e.g. Moses

Question 10

What is the significance of God being personal?

Answer 10

• There is a relationship between each person and God
• This enables prayer
• Idea of a loving God who is the Father of all humans; -
• He loves everyone
• More emphasis in Protestant denominations

Question 11

What is the significance of God being forgiving?

Answer 11

• Humans are given the chance to redeem themselves if they sin
• More modern view
• More emphasis in Protestant denominations