Who is God?

As a college student, I see a lot of people nervously treading around the idea of who God is.  It can be an awkward thing to discuss when you're sitting in a group with people of other faiths, or people who believe in God but aren't sure what they believe about Him.

Recently I've heard different variations of: "God is __________ to me.  That's how I see Him.  But He can be something different for you.  And that's okay."

God is God.  He is the I AM.  He is unchanging.  He isn't a big, powerful God when speaking to some people and a distant, small God when speaking to others.  He's God.  His characteristics are His.  Nothing can change that.

Frances Chan, the author of "Crazy Love," had something to say about this in his book:

A lot of people say that whatever you believe about God is fine, so long as you are sincere. But that is comparable to describing your friend in one instance as a three-hundred-pound sumo wrestler and in another as a five-foot-two, ninety-pound gymnast... He already has a name, an identity. We don't get to decide who God is. 'God said to Moses, "I am who I am"' (Ex. 3:14). We don't change that.

It can be intimidating to stick up for who God is, especially when you are surrounded by people who don't believe the same way you do.  However, never deceive yourself by thinking that it's fine to have different ideas of who God is and it's possible for them to all be true.

God has many different characteristics.  He has a personality and an identity.  We are discovering more about Him, not defining Him in ways that fit us best.  That isn't how it works.

Here are a few unchanging, Biblical attributes of God I'd like to share with you today.  Feel free to add on to the list. 

1. God is eternal. (Deuteronomy 33:27)
2. God is the Creator. (Genesis 1:1)
3. God is our Father. (Isaiah 9:6)
4. God is omnipresent. (Isaiah 66:1)
5. God is omniscient. (Psalm 139:1-6)
6. God is omnipotent. (Job 42:2)
7. God is the One true God. (1 Timothy 1:17)
8. God is compassionate. (Psalm 103:8)
9. God is holy. (Psalm 77:13)
10. God is merciful. (Daniel 9:9)
11. God is faithful. (Psalm 145:17)
12. God is an honest judge. (Psalm 98:9)
13. God loves you. (John 3:16)
14. God and Jesus Christ are One. (John 10:30)