Nobody is dopey. To the extent that we are willing, we are being taught by God's Spirit. We aren't in the same place and maybe I'm way behind most.
I am just re-examining what I have assumed, based sometimes on hand-me-down teachings, to be true.
So, to me, the most important characteristic is God's Sovereignty. If I don't have that, it doesn't matter that a god is love, because that god can only lead me to self-sacrifice at the hands of a stronger God. It doesn't matter that a god is atoning for me, because it doesn't matter if the stronger God doesn't accept that atoning. It doesn't matter if that god claims to be my savior, if he can't stand up and protect me from the stronger God.
That God is Spirit and fire and love and full of mercy are characteristics, though I am glad John identifies a primary characteristic of God as love (versus wrath). It certainly makes me feel good that He is omniscient and omnipresent, too. But, if He isn't truly sovereign, none of that really matters.
We believe what Jesus taught, because God raised Him from the dead, just like Jesus said He would. That enables us to believe that everything else Jesus said was with the complete backing of God the Father. Otherwise, what we call the Bible would have little value, because we certainly couldn't trust in a God who couldn't bring about what He promised. And, this is even more important for a gentile like me, because the Old Testament comes alive to me, because of Jesus' resurrection. Because Jesus quoted the Old Testament. He talked about the flood, so why wouldn't I believe that account? He talked about God creating us, so why wouldn't I believe that account? He quoted the Psalms, as if they were Scripture to be fulfilled, so why would I believe the scholars who relegate them to simply poetic literature versus Truth in poetic form?
When I talk to the kids God has entrusted to me, I speak about how God calls His shots in advance. He demonstrates His sovereignty by telling us what He is going to do in advance then pointing to what He already told us after He does it--and even the spirit-beings like satan--miss it! I stand in awe of Him!!!!!