God's nature can be also called his perfections, or essence. What is meant when we speak of the nature or essence of God? The idea of His essence can be broken down into two parts. There is His normal nature, and then His real nature.
Example in gold, normal nature consists of the idea that this precious metal gold has a special $ value, plus a wonderful golden natural beauty.
Then there is gold's real nature. This would be the constitution of its atomic structure on which its properties depend. This information is not known to the average person who owns gold, yet, they accepted the idea of gold's normal essence, which is its' value, and natural beauty.
Now we have some knowledge of the normal nature of God, but not much concerning His real nature. Do the Scriptures give us any understanding of God's normal essence?
1. This through the creation itself! First through the creations natural beauty, secondly through its complex interwoven infrastructure.
2. Through our conscience, we being able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, the feeling and emotion of guilt, and when we ask questions concerning a Supreme Being.
3. We have been given a glimpse of God nature through the Bible.
4. And most importantly, through the physical presence of Jesus.
1 Tim.3:16, K.J.B. "God manifest in the flesh."
Our Creator descended from heaven, took upon Himself the form of a man, lived a spotless life, and brought to all men a message of hope. Hope linked as a chain to our believing in His work, His word, and our faith, united together in eternal salvation. These things inform, and give to us a glimpse of God's normal essence.
But we lack any real understanding of God's spiritual makeup? What is His form? His true beauty; His full glory; His real power.
Moses spoke to God through a cloud, and his face began to radiate. Isaiah was terrified when he saw the Lord Jesus sitting on the throne of heaven. Also when he was confronted by God, he was humbled by his sinful condition, saying,
Isa. 6:5, "Woe is me! for I am undone = (destroyed); because I am a man of unclean lips = (defiled), for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts."
When John saw Jesus in all His glory, Rev.1:17, he, "Fell at His feet as dead."
Ez.1:28, Dan.8:17, Ezekiel, and Daniel heard the voice of God, they both, "Fell upon (their) faces."
Jesus said in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee = (the Father) the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," life eternal lies in the knowledge, and worship of the Lord Jesus, this to the glory of the Father.
Hope this helps,
Phil LaSpino
