Characteristics of God - The nature of God - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize (2024)

Characteristics of God

Christianity teaches that God created the world and everything in it. They find this information in the first chapter of the Old Testament, Genesis, which states:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

As well as creating the world and everything in it, Christianity teaches that God continues to be involved in the world. This is what is meant by God as the sustainer. This is the idea that everything in the world is still completely dependent on God for its existence.

The term omnipotence refers to the idea that God is all-powerful. There are many stories in the Bible which reveal the power of God. An example of God's omnipotence is found in the chapter that describes the creation of the world in the book of Genesis. It states how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, and how God made a man from the dust in the ground and a woman from man’s rib. Even Christians who do not believe this story to be literally true still accept that creation shows God's power.

Some Christians are known as literalists. This is because they believe the accounts from the Bible to be the truth, and stated exactly as they happened. Others, known as non-literalists, believe the accounts may be more . Despite how the accounts are interpreted, they still portray the power or omnipotence of God.

Omnibenevolence

The term omnibenevolence refers to the idea that God is an all-loving being. The idea of an all-loving God can be found in many different parts of the Bible:

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Christian faith teaches that God loved humanity so much that he chose to send Jesus to Earth so that people could have eternal life.

Omniscience

The term omniscience refers to the idea that God is all-knowing. The idea of an all-knowing God is mentioned in the Bible:

God is greater than our heart, and He knowns everything.

Christianity teaches that this all-knowing power goes beyond what we can imagine as humans. The belief is that God knows if someone loses a single hair, and knows people's thoughts before they speak them.

Omnipresence

The term omnipresence refers to the belief that God is everywhere. Christianity teaches that God is present everywhere in the world, at all times. The idea of an all-present God is mentioned in the Bible:

The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of earth.

Question

Match the following terms with the correct definition.

Terms

  • Omnipotence
  • Omnipresence
  • Omnibenevolence
  • Omniscience

Meanings

  • all loving
  • all knowing
  • everywhere
  • all powerful

Question

Describe Christian beliefs about the nature of God.

Characteristics of God - The nature of God  - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

Characteristics of God - The nature of God - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize? ›

God is a personal/relational being in that He is three distinct persons in one being (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). By character God is loving, just, holy, wise, gracious, compassionate, merciful, kind, forgiving, long suffering, slow to anger, faithful and more.

What are the nature and characteristics of God? ›

God is a personal/relational being in that He is three distinct persons in one being (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). By character God is loving, just, holy, wise, gracious, compassionate, merciful, kind, forgiving, long suffering, slow to anger, faithful and more.

What are the 4 natures of God? ›

Omnipotence - God is all-powerful - everything consistent with God's nature is possible. Omniscience - God is all-knowing, of past, present and future. Omnibenevolence - God is all-good/all-loving. Omnipresence - God is present everywhere.

What are the characteristics of God in the Creation Story? ›

The message of Genesis isn't confusing. The information throughout the Bible is consistent: The universe was created by an omnipotent, omniscient, and transcendent Being. The words of Scripture insist that God's work was recent, complete, and good.

What are the characteristics of the God of the Bible? ›

Another characteristic of God is that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8, NIV) He is also gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). God the Father committed history's most powerful act of love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, die for us, and forgive us.

What are the attributes of God and his nature? ›

Thus it can be said that God is spirit, a person, He is one, and He is a trinity or triunity. God is further described or explained by His additional attributes. While it is difficult to separately describe God according to His nature and His attributes, we could consider them in their entirety as attributes of God.

What are the three aspects of God's nature? ›

He is also omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (everywhere present), and omnipotent (all powerful). These attributes are part of what it means for God to be transcendent—distinct from and Lord over creation. God remains distinct from the creature; otherwise, He would cease to be God.

What are the four characteristics of God? ›

Show answer
  • Omnipotence - God is all powerful.
  • Omnipresence - God is everywhere.
  • Omnibenevolence - God is all loving.
  • Omniscience - God is all knowing.

What is a defining characteristic of gods? ›

The exact qualities of a deity will vary from one belief system to another, but they generally have powers and knowledge far beyond those of humanity, often including omnipotence and omniscience.

What is the main character of God? ›

God's character is of the highest integrity. He is morally perfect in every way, so He will always do the right thing. He is holy, absolutely truthful, righteous and just. He will never betray your confidence.

What are the 5 characteristics of God's name? ›

The five attributes we cover below point to who God is: All-powerful, sovereign, holy, merciful and good. Some of us may not see God this way, either because of our life experience or because of what we've been taught. But God does want us to know who He is, so the Bible is full of details highlighting His character.

Why are the characteristics of God important? ›

God's incommunicable characteristics are important to understand because they can help us define how God is different from us and from creation. For instance, God is omnipresent, omniscient and self-existent.

What characteristics does God want us to have? ›

Godly Men Characteristics. In 1 Timothy 6:11–12, the Bible reads, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.

What is the real nature of God? ›

The Omnipotence of God

God's omnipotence is often described as His all-powerful nature and is rooted in the belief that He created the universe from nothing through His word alone, as illustrated in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

What is the simple nature of God? ›

Simplicity denies any physical or metaphysical composition in the divine being. This means God is the divine nature itself and has no accidents (properties that are not necessary) accruing to his nature. There are no real divisions or distinctions in this nature.

What is God in nature? ›

God is creator of heaven and earth. Everything we see in nature has been carefully designed to the last detail and brought to life by God. In the beginning, God had the authority to command nature come to life. In the same way we reflect the image of God, his creation in nature reflects his creativity and splendor.

What is to have the nature of God? ›

The divine nature refers to the spiritual attributes of God (His spiritual nature), the righteous character of God (His righteous nature) and the supernatural possibilities of God (His supernatural nature). Possessing the divine nature, therefore, makes us act like God.

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