All three persons of the Trinity equally possess the same divine attributes.
Holy. God is distinct and set apart from all else. He is morally pure and cannot sin. His attitudes, thoughts, words, motives, actions, and reactions are inherently righteous. His revelations, proclamations, commandments, principles, designs, and assessments are eternally true.
The Bible often uses repetition to emphasize a truth. Holy is the only divine attribute that Scripture repeats three times in immediate, uninterrupted succession when describing God.
The phrase “holy, holy, holy,” which appears once in both the Old and New Testaments, underscores the special importance of this attribute and its breathtaking nature.
It is as though we hiked around a blind corner on a mountain trail and were stunned by the grandeur of the scenery suddenly unfolding before us, prompting us to blurt, “Awesome! Just awesome! Just…awesome!”
Infinite. God is boundless, and his attributes are immeasurable. While on earth, Jesus was infinite, but he lived within the bounds of his humanity most of the time.
Eternal. God always was, always is, and always will be. He has neither beginning nor end. Time is his creation. He exists apart from it.
Jesus generally submitted to time constraints while on earth, but sometimes he acted outside them. His first miracle, turning water into wine, was one such instance. He compressed the years required to produce an exceptional vintage into an instant.
Self-existent. God is neither a conception nor a creation. He exists independently of any cause. If he were a construct, his designer would be God. Jesus has been alive in bodily form since eternity past.
Self-sufficient. God is complete in every respect. He has no needs or deficiencies. He cannot improve. God is self-sustaining and requires no outside support. His life cannot be extinguished. He is the source of all other life.
Jesus set aside his self-sufficiency during his time on earth. For example, he required parental care in his childhood. His earthly body died on the cross, but his spirit did not. He now has a resurrected version of that same body.
Omniscient. God knows everything about everything. His knowledge of the past, present, and future is complete. He is fully aware of all possible outcomes. He cannot learn.
Jesus set aside his omniscience upon leaving heaven. He grew intellectually as well as physically during his youth. In other words, he learned humanly what he already knew as God.
Omnipotent. God is all-powerful. He rules every realm—seen and unseen. His power is unlimited and unwavering. It neither waxes nor wanes. Jesus demonstrated this omnipotence in his miracles.
Omnipresent. God exists outside of time and space, yet in the person of the Holy Spirit, he is transcendently active throughout these realms. He does not inhabit natural things like trees, rocks, or animals, but we are always in the presence of his personhood, handiwork, and outreach.
Jesus generally traveled within the bounds of space and time during his earthly life, but not always. He once walked on water, and after his resurrection, he moved instantly from place to place without restriction.
Sovereign. God reigns supreme over all things. His plans always prevail in the end. God acts according to his will alone. He never does anything he does not will. He cannot be manipulated or coerced.
Immutable. God cannot change his character. His attributes are unchangeable. He is the same person today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow.
Wise. God knows best. His assessments and decisions are always well-informed and accurate. He thinks logically and acts judiciously, guided by an eternal perspective. He is never mistaken.
Faithful. God is true to his word. He cannot lie. He always keeps his promises and fulfills his commitments. His allegiance is steadfast. He is utterly dependable.
Love. God cares deeply about his creation, especially us. He is profoundly warm and tenderly affectionate. His love is boundless, unfailing, and everlasting.
Good. Everything God thinks, says, and does is virtuous. He cannot commit or sponsor evil. He produces goodness in and around the lives of reborn believers from every experience, including our suffering.
Gracious. God is kind, generous, noble, and magnanimous. He is free of all resentment and vindictiveness. He is unselfishly devoted to our well-being.
Just. God holds everyone accountable for their unrighteousness without bias or favoritism. He will not allow himself to be mocked without recourse. He eventually avenges the unrepentant enemies who defy him, abuse his people, and misuse his name. God’s justice is always reasonable, equitable, and proportionate. His judgments are always guided by truth and fairness.
Merciful. God is compassionate, benevolent, patient, and forbearing. He blesses us more than we deserve. He postpones his judgment so the defiant have time to repent of their sins. Only after they have sufficiently ignored his many entreaties does he unleash his justice.
