A Simple God

Theology Thursday

Since last post of mine dealt with the complexity of God, I figured it would be beneficial to look at an attribute of God that often goes unnoticed – His Simplicity. While “simple” goes far to making a catchy blog title, it may be more useful to employ the term “unity”.

Definition: God’s simplicity, or unity, refers to the fact that God’s attributes are not divided into parts, though different ones are emphasized at different times (taken heavily from Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology)

The implications of this doctrine may escape us at first, but lets look more closely. This means that everything God has done/does/will do is consistent fully with all his other attributes. He is not wrathful at one time, loving at the next – God simply IS, and we define His actions according to human terminology. For example, we may witness an act of God and praise his mercy, but this does not mean that all of the other attributes aren’t manifest in some way.

Some basic applications:

• This should keep us from singling out certain attributes as more important than others.
• It should point us to a better understanding of who God is – not a collection of attributes, but rather a being from whom all attributes come.
• It should lead us to the very name that God gives himself – Yahweh, or I AM. The truth that God IS goes beyond our understanding, and, though we cannot fully understand this, the doctrine of simplicity leads us to a basic awareness of how the attributes of God exist in His being.

And finally, it should lead us to praise. Anytime we are faced with a truth about God, it should awaken our hearts to praise Him. Why? Simple – Our God is worthy of praise.

Psalm 96:1-6:

1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all the earth!

2Sing to the LORD, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

3Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods.

5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

but the LORD made the heavens.

6Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.