Page 61 - Bible Writers Theology Original

God Himself and can be grieved. He is holy, not only the divine power is holy, but also the moral character of God. He is God in action for the bene fit of His p>eople (See Isaiah 63:10-11).
4.4 Nature of God: Essence
The essence of God can be defined as that which underlies the outward manifestations of Himself, the reality itself wherein dwells His qualities or attributes. Where there is no essence or substance, there could be no attrib utes. So to speak of God is to speak of an essence or substance not of a mere idea or a personification of an idea.
There is a difference between the essence and the attributes of God. Some of the so-called attributes of God are strictly speaking not attributes at all. Some of the aspects of His divine essence are spirituality, self-existence, immensity and eternity.
A Spirituality
God is a spiritual substance not a material substance. Jesus said, "God is a spirit" (John 4:24). This defines that God's nature is spiritual. God is imma terial and incorporeal. Jesus said, "a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Luke 24:39). The second commandment of God, given to Moses in Exodus 20:4; forbids the making of any graven image or likeness of anything. It is based on the incorporeal nature ofGod.Soalsoarethevar ious commandments of God against idolatry (Jeremiah 4:12-19; Romans 1:20-26; Acts 17:29-30; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 16:22).
The expressions that represent God as having members of the body such as hands (1 Corinthians 12:12-21; Isaiah 65:2; Hebrews 1:10), feet (Genesis 3:8; Isaiah 66:1); eyes (I Kings 8:29; II Chronicles 16:9); and ears (Isaiah 59:1; Psalm34:15) are rather anthropomorphic and symbolic representations. The expressions serve to make God comprehensible to man. They express His various interests, powers, and activities. God is an infinite Spirit, and as such is non-corporeal (Acts 7:48; Isaiah 66:1). Man differs in that he has a
finite spirit which dwells in a material body.
B He is invisible
When the Almighty God appeared to the Hebrew children in Horeb, they did not see any form. Therefore they were prohibited from making any image of God (Deuteronomy 4:15-19; Romans 1:20-25). God also told Moses that no man could see Him and live (Exodus 33:20). John said no man has seenGodatanytime(John1:18). PaulalsosaidofHimthatHeisinvisible
The Oneness of God ♦ 45