The Attributes of God

[Ron]

It is important to note that God as well as His attributes are infinite. It is impossible for the human mind to fully comprehend God. This study is only an introduction to the Creator of the universe. It will never be completed.

Part 1: God's Mercy;

And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” – Exodus 34:6-7

But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. – Psalm 86:15

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. – Psalm 145:8-9

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. – Micah 7:18-20

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:14-16

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. – James 5:11

Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

MER'CY,  noun  [Latin misericordia.]
1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders.  mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.

The LORD is long-suffering and of great mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. - Numbers 14:18

2. An act or exercise of mercy or favor. It is a  mercy  that they escaped.

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. - Genesis 32:1

3. Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.

And he said, he that showed mercy on him. - Luke 10:37

4. Clemency and bounty.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy. - Proverbs 28:13

5. Charity, or the duties of charity and benevolence.

I will have mercy and not sacrifice. - Matthew 9:13

6. Grace; favor.  1 Corinthians 7:25.  Jude 1:2

7. Eternal life, the fruit of mercy. 2 Timothy 1:2

8. Pardon.

I cry thee mercy with all my heart.

9. The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected. The prisoner cried for mercy.

To be or to lie at the mercy of, to have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the mercy or compassion of another, or in the power of that which is irresistible; as, to be at the mercy of a foe, or of the waves.

Strong's Concordance
H2617 From H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opprobrium) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty: - favour, good deed (-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.

H2616 A primitive root; properly perhaps to bow (the neck only (compare H2603) in courtesy to an equal), that is, to be kind; also (by euphemism (compare H1288), but rarely) to reprove: - shew self merciful, put to shame.

H7356 From H7355; compassion (in the plural); by extension the womb (as cherishing the foetus); by implication a maiden: - bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.

H7355 A primitive root; to fondle; by implication to love, especially to compassionate: - have compassion (on, upon), love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy (-iful, on, upon), (have) pity, Ruhamah, X surely.

G1656 Of uncertain affinity; compassion (human or divine, especially active): - (+ tender) mercy.

Divine Mercy
(for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. – Deuteronomy 4:31

And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” – 2 Samuel 24:14

For You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. – Psalm 86:5

God's mercy is eternal.
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. – Psalm 103:17-18

Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. – Psalm 106:1

God's mercy is boundless.
I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds. – Psalm 108:3-4

The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. – Psalm 119:64

God's mercy prolongs life.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

God's mercy encourages repentance.
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. – Joel 2:13

God's mercy forgives sin.
Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. – Micah 7:18-19

And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. – Luke 1:50

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, – Ephesians 2:4

God's mercy makes salvation possible.
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, – Titus 3:5

Examples of Divine mercy.
So the LORD said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Genesis 18:26

And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. – Genesis 19:16

And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, – Ezra 9:13

They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them. – Nehemiah 9:17

Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful. – Nehemiah 9:31

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. – Psalm 103:11-14

God's mercy is promised.
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” – Exodus 34:6-7

“With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; – 2 Samuel 22:26

For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.” – 2 Chronicles 30:9

My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him. Psalm 89:28

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. – Psalm 103:8

“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the LORD, your Redeemer. – Isaiah 54:7-8

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. – Isaiah 55:7

Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the LORD; ‘I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the LORD your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the LORD. – Jeremiah 3:12-13

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Note: God's mercy and grace are inseparable.

[Ron]

Part 2: God's Grace;

And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing  the guilty,  visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” -- Exodus 34:6-7

But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. -- Psalm 86:15

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. -- Psalm 111:4

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. -- Psalm 145:8-9

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. -- Hebrews 4:14-16

Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

GRACE, noun [Latin gratia, which is formed on the Celtic; Eng. agree, congruous, and ready. The primary sense of gratus, is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from advancing.]
1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace
Or each, or all, may win a lady's grace

2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.
And if by grace then it is no more of works. Romans 11:5.

3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.
My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5:2.

5. A state of reconciliation to God. Romans 5:2:2.

6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, etc. proceeding from divine influence.

7. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Ephesians 4:29.

8. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Ephesians 3:8.

9. Eternal life; final salvation. 1 Peter 1:13.

10. Favor; mercy; pardon.

Strong's Concordance
H2587 From H2603; gracious: - gracious.

H2603 A primitive root (compare H2583); properly to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (that is, move to favor by petition): - beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour (-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious (-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.

G5485 From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Divine Grace

God's grace is freely given.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. -- Psalm 84:11

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. -- Acts 11:23

Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. -- Acts 13:43

God's grace empowers men for service.
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. -- 1 Corinthians 3:10-11

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. -- 1 Corinthians 15:10

God's grace enables men to lead a simple life.
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. -- 2 Corinthians 1:12

God's Grace will be rendered ineffectual if rejected.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. -- 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousnesscomes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” -- Galatians 2:20-21

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” -- James 4:6

God's grace is not given for selfish use.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. -- 1 Peter 4:10

God's grace is promised to the humble.
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of yoube submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” -- 1 Peter 5:5

Christ's example of grace.
Grace exhibited in His childhood.
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. -- Luke 2:40

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. -- John 1:17

His grace manifested in self-sacrifice.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. -- 2 Corinthians 8:9

His grace is sufficient for all human needs.
And He said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -- 2 Corinthians 12:9

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” -- Ephesians 4:7-8

His grace is bestowed on sinful men.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. -- 1 Timothy 1:12-14

His grace is the source of power.
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. -- 2 Timothy 2:1

The cross of Christ represents grace in its simplest form.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. -- 2 Corinthians 5:21

[Ron]

Part 3: God's Compassion;

But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. – Psalm 86:15

His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. – Psalm 111:3-4

Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your fame, O LORD, throughout all generations. For the LORD will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants. – Psalm 135:13-14

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. – Psalm 145:8-9

Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old. – Micah 7:18-20

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. – Matthew 9:36

Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. – James 5:11

Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language
COMPASSION, noun
1. A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it. Extreme distress of an enemy even changes enmity into at least temporary affection.

He being full of compassion forgave their iniquity. - Psalms 78:38.

His father had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. - Luke 15:20.

COMPASSION, verb transitive To pity.

Strong's Concordance
H7349 From H7355; compassionate: - full of compassion, merciful.
H7355 A primitive root; to fondle; by implication to love, especially to compassionate: - have compassion (on, upon), love, (find, have, obtain, shew) mercy (-iful, on, upon), (have) pity, Ruhamah, X surely.
(As in Psalm 135:14: and he will 'repent himself'-H5162 concerning his servants. - KJV)
H5162 A primitive root; properly to sigh, that is, breathe strongly; by implication to be sorry, that is, (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself): - comfort (self), ease [one’s self], repent (-er, -ing, self).

Divine Compassion
And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. – Exodus 3:7

Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you. – Deuteronomy 30:1-3

And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. – 2 Chronicles 36:15

But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again. – Psalm 78:38-39

Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone to his land. – Jeremiah 12:15

For the LORD will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. – Lamentations 3:31-33

I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them. – Hosea 11:3-4

Compassion of Christ
Compassion for the multitude.
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. – Matthew 9:36

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. – Matthew 14:14

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” – Matthew 15:32

Compassion for the unfortunate.
So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. – Matthew 20:34

Compassion for Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! – Matthew 23:37

Compassion for the leper.
Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. – Mark 1:40-42

Compassion for the bereaved.
Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her,“Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. – Luke 7:11-15

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” – John 11:32-36

The greatest display of Christ's compassion is accompanied by forgiveness. It is found in Luke 23.

And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. – Luke 23:33-34