GOD IS LIVING

GOD IS LIVING

Having established the fact from the Bible that God is spirit, it must be understood that this affirmation is basic to the conception that God is personal. But even though this fact includes all the qualities that constitute personality, spirit extends far beyond personality to include all that God is in His being. And what is even more significant, as spirit God is larger than the sum total of all His attributes.

In fact, even the attributes that men isolate and classify as personal do not exhaust all that God is when it is affirmed that God is personal. Some small approach to this fact may be apprehended when an effort is made to narrow down the meaning of personality in man. What is true of man in finite measure is infinitely so with God. This comparison is appropriate, for man was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27; 5:1-2; 9:1; 1 Cor. 11:1; Jas. 3:9).

Theologians will vary as to those qualities that should be classified as depicting personality. But certainly, all will agree that the following attributes should be included in this category. In general, conservative theologians will agree that in personality God is living, intelligent, purposive, active, free, self-conscious, and emotional. For this particular article, attention will be centered on the first four attributes of personality: living, intelligent, purposive, active.

By the clear statements of the Bible, GOD IS DECLARED TO BE LIVING. Thirty-one times this categorical statement is made in the Bible. Allusions to this fact, clear implications, and contextual settings of this truth abound within the Scriptures. The first statement appears in the address of Moses to the children of Israel on the plains of Moab, as recorded in the book of Deuter­onomy: "For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?" (Deut.5:26). In the same forceful vein, Paul declares this fact: "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe" (1 Tim. 4:10).

It is the meaning of the fact that God is living that calls for explana­tion. "He is the living God"(Jer. 10:10). He "hath life in himself" (John 5:26). But having made the affirmation, it is almost impossible to explain its mean­ing. Life is a simple idea, but it is incapable of clear definition. Every effort of men falls short of the full significance or the exact meaning involved. Men recognize the presence of life in themselves and are conscious of its importance, but they find themselves lacking in ability to fully comprehend its nature and extent. What is true for man is infinitely true in relation to God. Still, there has been imparted to men some measure of ability to understand intuitively this quality in man and God.

With reference to God, as set forth in the Bible, life is in part simply potential energy or activity directed by God to some purposeful end. God is living in the sense that He is able to do things, things which the non-personal cannot do. In organizing the 31 references of the Bible where God is declared to be living, there are at least eight categories of things which God is able to do as a result of being the living God. He can speak to men (Deut. 5:26). He works miracles (Josh. 3:10; Hos. 1:10; Rom. 9:26). He created and preserves the universe in contradistinction to idols which can do nothing (Jer. 10:10-17; Acts 14:15; 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 Tim. 6:17; 2 Cor. 6:16). God is also able to de­liver from perils and troubles (1 Sam. 17:26, 36; 2 Kings 19:4, 16; Isa. 37:4, 17; Dan 6:20, 26-27). Since God is living, He is able to save from sin and seal from harm (1 Tim. 4:10; Rev. 7:2). He is the kind of God who is able to im­part life (Matt. 16:16; John 6:69; 2 Cor. 3:3; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 9:14). Because He is living, the saints thirst after Him for fellowship (Psa. 42:2; 84:2; Heb.12:22). Being what He is, God is able to judge men for their deeds and to punish evil doers (Jer. 23:36; Matt. 26:63; Heb. 3:12; 10:30-31).

The practical values that grow out of this attribute of God are many. It confirms the admonition of the second commandment against idolatry

(Exod. 20:4-6). Idols are a denial that God is living, for idols can do nothing for men. Ancient pagans worshipped the work of their hands and were thus guilty of idolatry; whereas modern pagans worship the work of their minds, which makes them guilty of idealolatry. But these are both the same thing, a denial that God is living. This truth about God is also a sufficient answer to panthe­ism which identifies God with His creation. Unlike pantheism, God is neither locked in nor out of the natural system, so that He could not introduce a miracle into the natural order nor answer the sincere prayer addressed to Him (Josh.3:10; Dan. 6:20, 26-27; Isa. 37:4,17). Such a God is a great encouragement to a saint who is in the midst of peril or trouble (Dan. 6:20, 26-27; 1 Tim. 4:10). This attribute of God provides the incentive on the one hand for good works, be­cause God is able to judge the deeds of men and reward them; and it provides a deterrent on the other hand to sin and encourages men to forsake evil, for God is able to punish evil doers (Jer. 23:36; Heb. 3:12; 10:30-31). Above all else, a living God provides for the child of God an infinite person who is able to respond to and provide the deepest satisfaction of the heart in fellowship. The soul of the Psalmist thirsts after the living God (Psa. 42:2). His heart and flesh cry out for the living God (Psa. 84:2). One day God became incarnate in flesh, and men immediately recognized in Christ that God is living (Matt. 16:16; John 6:69).