The one true and living God eternally existing in three self-existent, uncreated persons of one and the same essence, equal in divine attributes, yet distinct in personality (Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 4:21-23; Genesis 1:2; John 5:23). God is the infinite and perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support, and end. The Bible does not attempt to prove the existence of God; it is assumed (Genesis 1:1). God must disclose Himself to man, or He will not be found. There is a general revelation of God available to all men through creation (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-6) and conscience (Romans 2:14-15). Therefore, all men know that they are dependent on God (Acts 17:25-28), responsible to God (Romans 1:32), and need acceptance by this God. All men, however, suppress this knowledge of God and are without excuse (Romans 1:18; John 1:9). Furthermore, God has specifically disclosed knowledge of Himself through direct revelation, visions (Ezekiel 1:1), dreams (Daniel 9), mighty acts (Exodus 5:1-2; Exodus 6:1), Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2-3), and the Bible (Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:21). Thus, the central affirmation of Scripture is not that God is (such is assumed in Genesis 1:1), but that God has spoken.
God is a person, not a mere force or energy, and possesses personal qualities such as spirituality (John 4:24), life (1 Thessalonians 1:9), intelligence (Acts 15:18), emotion (John 3:16), will (John 6:38-9), purpose (Isaiah 14:26-7), freedom (Daniel 4:35), and self-consciousness (Exodus 3:14). God manifests His essence through His attributes – qualities inherent in and inseparable from the person of God. God’s attributes are divided into two categories. Attributes associated with His greatness include: Self-existence (Exodus 3:14), Infinity (1 Kings 8:27; Genesis 21:33), Perfection (Matthew 5:48), Omnipotence (Genesis 17:1), Omniscience (Psalm 139:1-4), Omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12), Immutability (Malachi 3:6), and Incomprehensibility (Romans 11:33). Attributes associated with His goodness include: Holiness (Leviticus 11:44-45; Psalm 99:4-9), Truth (Psalm 31:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), Love (1 John 4:8), Righteousness (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 145:17), Faithfulness (Psalm 36:5), Mercy (2 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 2:4), and Grace (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 5:10). God’s holiness governs all His attributes (Isaiah 6:1-3; Isaiah 57:15).
God exists wholly and indivisibly, simultaneously and eternally in three persons: Father (Ephesians 4:6), Son (Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 4:14), and Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Matthew 28:19). These three persons exist in one divine essence, are identical in nature, having the same attributes and perfections are equal in power and glory, and are worthy of all honor, worship, and adoration (Genesis 1:26; Acts 5:3-4; Romans 1:7; Hebrews 1:8). The Triunity of God maintains an economic arrangement for purpose of function and accomplishing the Divine decree. Within the economic arrangement the Father functions as the Head with the Son and Spirit in submission to Him (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 11:3). The Father eternally generates the Son (John 1:18) and the Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son (John 14:26; John 15:26).
God as the sovereign creator and sustainer of all things has freely (Romans 11:34) rendered certain all events past, present, and future according to His own singular purpose (Ephesians 3:11) and for His good pleasure and glory (Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 115:3; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 48:11). God’s eternal plan incorporates the means as well as the effects (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Though there is no pure contingency in the universe (Isaiah 40:13-14), God’s plan does not absolve human responsibility and or remove human participation (Romans 1:20; Matthew 23:37).
God supernaturally and instantaneously created the universe including all impassable “kinds” (Genesis 1:11-12) out of nothing in six, normal, twenty-four-hour days (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9; Exodus 20:11). God’s creation was perfect and complete at the end of the creative week (Genesis 1:31; Genesis 1:12, 20-25, 30). God preserves his creation with all its laws, properties, powers, and processes (Colossians 1:17; Acts 17:28). God providentially controls His creation efficaciously (Genesis 50:20) and permissively (Job 1:12; Job 2:6) in bringing the Universe to its predetermined goal and design (Psalm 148:8).