The Attributes of God - His Self-Existence

Too many people think that theology is for scholars and pastors, but the truth is that it is simply the study of God and who he is. We Christians like to tell others that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. I agree with them, but I must shake my head when those who say that, make little to no attempt at the very relationship they claim to have. Theology is really about getting to know who God is. If you love someone, you want to know everything you can about them. Love is a reciprocal act. We love each other and desire to do things that bring joy and happiness to the object of our love. True love puts the other person first, a commitment to doing whatever it takes to please. We must remove the idea of theology being something only seminary students do and become a people who long to learn all we can about our wonderful God so that we will love Him as He desires us to.

The theology of the attributes of God is paramount in our relationship with Him. Yet, it is not taught and not preached about enough in our churches. I am currently doing a study with a friend on a series about the attributes of God from Ligonier Ministries and thought it would benefit myself to spend a little time writing out some of things I learn, and my hope is that it might help others grow closer to God as well.

The first attribute we looked at is titled the aseity of God. Don’t feel bad, I had no idea what the word aseity meant either. Theology is known for using words none of us understand and that is part of the problem. That type of language tends to make one feel the stigma of theology is true and it isn’t for us regular people. That’s unfortunate but don’t let those words get in the way of seeking to know God better. 

Aseity simply means that something exists in and of itself. But even that definition comes across a bit deep. Let’s break it down to something we can all understand. 

God has no beginning and no end. He wasn’t created. He always was and He always will be. He doesn’t need anything outside of Himself to exist. Let us look at a few scriptures to see that this is true about God.

Psalm 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 

Psalm 102:26-27  They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. 

Revelation 22:13  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

Another important thing to understand is that not only is God eternal, but every single thing that exists, has existed, or will exist, does so because he created them. God is the source of all things and since He is the source of them, He isn’t dependent on anything outside of Himself. 

Romans 11:36  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Acts 17:24-25  The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

The good news of this truth of God, that He is self-sufficient and is the source of all things, is that we can know that anything we must possibly need in this life and even in the next one, He can provide. 

The humbling aspect of this attribute of God is that we also must understand that we are not “The captains of our souls” as famously written by James McLain in the poem with that very title. We can lay claim to no glory nor ought we pat ourselves on the back extolling our great talents and knowledge. 

James 1:16-18  Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

It’s hard to believe that there has ever been a place in time when man has thought more highly of himself than now. Even many Christians have fallen into the trap of thinking themselves important and long to receive glory and fame. But that is simply a trap of the devil, the one who more than anyone else, longs to steal the glory and worship only God deserves.

Revelation 4:11  “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Isaiah 42:8  I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 

What a wonderful God we serve. A God who is self-sufficient and needs nothing from us. Yet, amazingly, He created us and allows us to be a part of His kingdom, having given us both life and the gifts of the Holy Spirit empowering us to serve Him. 

We started off with a big word; aseity. God is deep and trying to always grasp an infinite God with a finite mind as we possess isn’t easy. Let us dig every day into His Holy Word and learn more of Him, who He is. When we do that our faith will grow, for we will see and know that every single thing is centered on Him and He has the power to accomplish everything He has promised to do. 

Dig into His Word today. Pray to Him, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal these great truths about who our God is. Then we can worship Him as we have been called, in spirit and in truth.

Next time, the attribute of the spirituality of God.