Characteristics of God
We can talk about/know God by understanding his attributes, his characteristics. One of the ways people have tried to discuss God’s attributes is to understand that their are some that he shares with (or communicates to) us. God loves — and we love. God shows mercy, and we too can show mercy. When we stand up for the poor or those who are being oppressed - we demonstrate justice. God is just. These characteristics aren’t exactly the same in both us and God - surely His justice, mercy, and love are purer and better than ours. But we have (or can have) these things.

Incommunicable Attributes
There are some attributes that are a lot less shared, a lot less “communicable” — the fancy adjective in theology for these attributes is “incommunicable”. Use that in a sentence this week! God’s eternity. His omnipresence. He is unchanging. Those don’t translate all the way into our lives - at least not 100%, not the same way (if at all).

God’s Independence / self-reliance / self-sufficiency
Consider God’s independence - everything in all of creation is dependent upon something, and dependent upon Him. The most Macgyver-ish, Man vs. Wild-ish, loner guy in the world is not truly independent. MacGyver needs that duct tape and hair pin (even if that’s all). Bear, the guy on Man vs. Wild, still depends upon finding a stream for water, a zebra carcass to get nutrition, or a tree for shade. God depends upon no one. That’s an attribute of God that we just can’t attain. It should be humbling to consider that God doesn’t need us. Or anyone.

Questions

  • How should we respond to God in consideration of these incommunicable attributes?
  • Are there any of God’s incommunicable attributes that we could come closer to attaining?
  • If yes, would any of them be good for us, positive growth?
  • If yes, would any of them be harmful to us, perhaps a temptation?

Source: Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem
Also see: Bible Doctrine, Wayne Grudem - a thinner, lighter version of Systematic Theology

--Nick P