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9:10; 10:27; 14:27; 15:33; 19:23; 22:4). Fear of dishonoring God and fear of consequences motivates us
to seek biblical knowledge and apply it rightly. We can imitate God’s wisdom by asking God for it

Truthfulness (and Faithfulness)
“God’s truthfulness means that he is true God, and that all his knowledge and words are both true and
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the final standard of truth.” Faithfulness means that “God will always do what he has said and fulfill
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what he has promised (Num. 23:19; cf. 2 Sam. 7:28; Psa. 141:6, et al.). On truthfulness, Jeremiah says
that “ But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at his wrath,
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and the nations cannot endure his rage. You are to say this to them: “The gods that did not make the
heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens” (Jer. 10:10-11 [CSB]).
Muslim definition of God states that any description, or identification of God, other than how he has
revealed himself in the Scriptures, is false. The Truthfulness of God is sharable in that we can in part
imitate it by trying to have true knowledge about God and about His world. Further, we can imitate
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truthfulness in our own reaction to truth and falsehood.

Communicable Attributes that Describe the Morality of God the Father.

Goodness
This attribute means that “God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy
of approval.” Is there anyone who can approve God? There is no one but God approves good by
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Himself because there is no ultimate standard of good besides Himself. The psalmist affirms that the
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LORD is good (Psa. 100:5). In other chapters, the psalmist screams, “ Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good; his faithful love endures forever” (Psa. 106:1; cf. 107:1, et al. [CSB]). Since God is the
ultimate definition of goodness, then, He ought also to be the ultimate good that we seek, and the
ultimate source of emulation. We can imitate this attribute by trying hard to do good ourselves. That
means that we should always try to do what God approves. Paul writes that “

Love
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“God’s love means that God eternally gives of himself to others.” Erickson says that “many regard it as
the basic attribute, the very nature or definition of God.” Apostle John teaches us that “ The one who
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does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8 [CSB]). Further, he says that “Notice
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that this love was there before the creation of the world. Furthermore, he says that “ Father, I want
those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given
me because you loved me before the world’s foundation” (John 17:24 [CSB]). Apostle Paul says that
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“ But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8
[CSB]). How can we imitate the attribute of love? We imitate this attribute by first loving God who is the
source of love. Further, we imitate this attribute by showing love to others.

Mercy, Grace, Patience
These could be three separate attributes or specific aspects of God’s goodness. “God’s mercy means
God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress.” “God’s grace means God’s goodness toward
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those who deserve only punishment.” “God’s patience means God’s goodness in withholding of
punishment toward those who sin over a period of time.”
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On God’s mercy, David says “ David answered Gad, “I have great anxiety. Please, let us fall into the
LORD’s hands because his mercies are great, but don’t let me fall into human hands” (2 Sam. 24:14
[CSB]). Paul calls God the Father as the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). We are
called to draw near to God’s throne so that we might receive both mercy and grace in time of need

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