Doctrine of God

God eternally exists (Exod 3:14, Ps 90:2, Jude 25) as one God (Gen 1:1, Exod 20:2-3) in being and essence.  Likewise, He exists in three distinct and co-equal persons; this too being before the creation of the world (Isa 63:9-10, Gen 1:26, Matt 3:16-17).  Each of these persons is fully God: the Father (John 6:27), the Son (Col 1:15-17), and the Spirit (Isa 40:13-14) and they each have equal power, character and attributes.  Each person of the Trinity participated in creation (Gen 1:1-2, John 1:1-4, Ps 104:30) and was therefore not created or beget, as in created by anyone or anything.  Each participated in the work of redemption (Eph 1:3-14) and in the virgin birth (Luke 1:35).  Within each of these events, the Trinity performs different roles and even submits to one-another (John 16:13-15, 17:6); these roles do not diminish deity but simply show that they are equal in being but subordinate in role.

God is eternally self-existent (Matt 6:24-33, Acts 17:24-25) and therefore has everything He needs and desires outside of creation. However, to display His glory and grace, God chose to create the universe out of nothing (Gen 1:1-2).  He is immutable in His being, perfections, promises, and purposes, and will always be who He is and will do what He wills (Ps 33:11, Isa 46:9-11).  He is also omnipresent (Ps 139:7-10, Deut 10:4), meaning that He exists outside of time and space and therefore can be everywhere at once.  Furthermore, God is omniscient or all-knowing, (Heb 4:13, Ps 139:1-4), omnisapient or all-wise (Job 9:4, Rom 8:28-29), and omnipotent or all-powerful (Gen 18:4, 2 Cor 2:18); therefore there is no one who can hide anything from Him, survive without His providence (Matt 6:25-34), and do anything to thwart Him (Dan 4:35-37; Rom 11:33-35).  God is also immanent in that He has chosen to make Himself known and available to His creation (Gen 12:1-3; Rom 5:1-3). He is majestic (Ps 93:1-2), faithful (Mal 3:6), loving (Deut 7:9; 1 John 4:8), truth (Isa 65:16; Num 23:19), judge (Heb 12:23), wrath (Rom 1:18; 2:5), gracious (Eph 2:8-9), merciful (Eph 2:4-5) and good (2 Sam 22:31; Ps 18:31).  Within each of His attributes, there is unity (Exod 34:6-7) and He can therefore be all of who He is at all times. Although one can never fully know and understand who God is (Ps 147:5; Isa 40:28), the believer can be thankful for the fact that for some unthinkable reason he has been chosen to know and be known by Him.1

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1. Packer, J.I. Knowing God. Inter varsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1973.