Key Scripture (NKJV)
Exodus 34:6-7
“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…'”
Supporting Scriptures (NKJV)
- Malachi 3:6
- James 1:17
- Psalm 145:8-9
- John 14:9
- Hebrews 13:8
Introduction
One of the most important pursuits of the Christian life is knowing who God truly is. Many people form their understanding of God through personal experiences, religious traditions, cultural influences, or human opinions. However, God desires to reveal Himself through His Word and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
A.W. Tozer famously wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our understanding of God’s character influences how we worship, pray, trust, obey, and relate to Him.
The Bible reveals a God who is holy, loving, righteous, merciful, faithful, just, gracious, and unchanging. His character is perfect and complete. The Father reveals His nature through His works, the Son reveals His nature through His life, and the Holy Spirit reveals His nature within believers.
The Blood of Jesus provides the clearest demonstration of God’s character, where His holiness, justice, mercy, grace, and love meet perfectly at the Cross.
Theological Foundation
The Father’s Role
The Father is the source and revelation of divine character.
Everything God does flows from who He is. His actions are always consistent with His nature.
Malachi 3:6
“For I am the LORD, I do not change.”
Because God’s character never changes, believers can trust Him completely.
The Son’s Role
Jesus perfectly revealed the Father’s character.
John 14:9
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
When we study Jesus’ compassion, holiness, mercy, authority, and love, we are seeing the Father’s character on display.
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.
The Holy Spirit’s Role
The Holy Spirit reveals God’s character to believers and transforms them into Christ’s likeness.
2 Corinthians 3:18
“Being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”
The Spirit enables believers not only to know God’s character but also to reflect it.
Covenant Significance
The New Covenant reveals both God’s justice and mercy.
At the Cross:
- God’s holiness confronted sin.
- God’s justice demanded payment.
- God’s mercy provided a substitute.
- God’s love offered redemption.
The Blood of Jesus satisfied divine justice while extending divine grace.
Practical Application
Understanding God’s character helps believers:
- Trust Him during trials.
- Worship Him with confidence.
- Pray with faith.
- Walk in obedience.
- Reflect His nature to others.
A distorted view of God produces insecurity.
A biblical view of God produces faith.
Deep Study Points
- God Is Holy
God’s holiness sets Him apart from all creation.
Isaiah 6:3
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts.”
God is morally perfect, completely pure, and utterly righteous.
His holiness reveals:
- His perfection
- His purity
- His transcendence
- His glory
The Cross demonstrates the seriousness of sin because God’s holiness cannot ignore evil.
- God Is Love
Love is not merely something God does—it is who He is.
1 John 4:8
“God is love.”
The Father’s love is demonstrated through:
- Creation
- Provision
- Redemption
- Adoption
- Restoration
The greatest display of divine love is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:8
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- God Is Just
God’s justice ensures that righteousness ultimately prevails.
He cannot overlook sin because His nature is perfectly righteous.
At Calvary, God’s justice was satisfied through the sacrifice of Christ.
The Blood of Jesus paid the penalty that divine justice required.
Without justice there is no moral order.
Without mercy there is no hope.
At the Cross both meet perfectly.
- God Is Faithful
God always keeps His promises.
Lamentations 3:22-23
“Great is Your faithfulness.”
Throughout Scripture:
- God kept His covenant with Abraham.
- God delivered Israel.
- God fulfilled His promises concerning Christ.
- God continues to fulfill His promises today.
His faithfulness is rooted in His unchanging nature.
- God Is Merciful and Gracious
Mercy withholds deserved judgment.
Grace gives undeserved favor.
The Father’s mercy is seen throughout Scripture, but nowhere more clearly than at the Cross.
Because of the Blood of Jesus:
- Sinners receive forgiveness.
- The guilty receive pardon.
- The lost receive adoption.
- The condemned receive eternal life.
God’s mercy triumphs through His grace.
Hebrew Word Study
Hesed (חֶסֶד)
Meaning:
- Lovingkindness
- Covenant love
- Faithful mercy
- Loyal love
Used frequently throughout the Old Testament, Hesed describes God’s steadfast covenant love toward His people.
It is a love that remains faithful even when people fail.
God’s Hesed finds its fullest expression through Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.
Cross References
- Exodus 34:6-7
- Deuteronomy 7:9
- Psalm 103:8-13
- Psalm 145:8-9
- Isaiah 6:1-3
- Lamentations 3:22-23
- Malachi 3:6
- John 14:9
- Romans 5:8
- Hebrews 13:8
- 1 John 4:8
Life Application
Many believers struggle because they have an inaccurate view of God.
Some see Him only as Judge.
Others see Him only as Friend.
The Bible reveals a God who is both holy and loving, both just and merciful, both powerful and compassionate.
When you understand God’s character:
- Fear gives way to trust.
- Doubt gives way to confidence.
- Shame gives way to acceptance.
- Anxiety gives way to peace.
Your spiritual growth is directly connected to your understanding of who God is.
Reflection Questions
- Which aspect of God’s character encourages you most?
- Which aspect of God’s character do you struggle to understand?
- How does Jesus reveal the Father’s nature?
- How does the Blood of Jesus demonstrate God’s holiness and mercy simultaneously?
- What areas of your life require greater trust in God’s character?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word and through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that You are holy, loving, faithful, righteous, merciful, and true.
Lord Jesus, thank You for demonstrating the Father’s character through Your life, death, and resurrection. Thank You for Your precious Blood that reveals both God’s justice and His grace.
Holy Spirit, deepen my understanding of God’s nature. Remove every false perception and every distorted image of who God is. Help me trust His goodness, rest in His faithfulness, and walk in His truth.
Transform me into the image of Christ so that my life reflects the character of the God I serve.
In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen.
Five Declarations
- My God is faithful and keeps all His promises.
(Deuteronomy 7:9)
- The Lord is merciful, gracious, and abounding in goodness toward me.
(Psalm 145:8-9)
- I am redeemed through the Blood of Jesus and stand accepted before God.
(Ephesians 1:7)
- God’s love for me is everlasting and unchanging.
(Jeremiah 31:3)
- I am being transformed into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
Call to Action
For the next seven days:
- Read one chapter from the Gospel of John each day and observe the character of God revealed through Jesus.
- Make a list of ten attributes of God found in Scripture.
- Thank God daily for one aspect of His character.
- Take Communion and reflect on how the Blood of Jesus reveals God’s holiness, justice, mercy, and love.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any incorrect beliefs you may hold about God.
Challenge
Create a personal “Character of God” journal.
Write down every attribute of God you discover during your Bible reading this week and record how that truth impacts your daily life.
End each day by declaring:
“My God is good, faithful, holy, loving, and worthy of my complete trust.”