22.    How does the Bible describe God?

• Perfection: there can be nothing higher or better. (Job 11:7-11; Ps 145:3)
• Eternity: God is above time and is not subject to its limitations; for God, there is only an eternal present, no past or future. (Ps 90:2; Rev 1:8)
• Omnipresence (immensity or infinite presence): God is present everywhere and is not subject to the limitations of space. (Is 66:1; Ps 139:7-10; Jer 23:23-24)
• Omniscience (infinite knowledge): God possesses all knowledge and is all-comprehensive; He knows all things past, present, and future, and not only the things that have real existence, but also those which are merely possible; thus He foreknows all possibilities (knowledge of the hypothetical). God knows what would have been had things been otherwise. (Jn 21:17; Isa 46:9-10; Ps 139:1-4; 147:4-5; Mt 11:21) However, this foreknowledge does not determine events. Human freedom remains freedom, significantly self-determining.
• Omnipotence (infinite power): God has the execute His will completely (Ps 115:3; Ro 1;20); however, He cannot lie, sin, or deny Himself (Nu 23:19; 1Sa 15:29; 2Ti 2:13; Heb 6:18; Jas 1:13,17) because these are against His character.

• Grace (unmerited favour): God loves the undeserved man through pardoning sin. (Eph 1:5-8; 2:7-8; Ex 34:6; Titus 2:11)
• Mercy or compassion: God is tenderhearted; He shows compassion toward the miserable, needy people He loves; He does not bring on fallen people what they deserve. (Ex 3:7,17; Ps 103:13; Mt 9:36; Eph 2:4-5)
• Longsuffering, persistence, or forbearance: God is patient; He bears with the sinner who does not heed the instructions and warnings of God; He delays or lessens retribution. (1Pe 3:20; Ps 86:15; Ro 2:4; 9:22-23)

(4) Holiness: God is distinct from all His creatures for His moral perfection; He is totally free from all moral impurity or sin; He is separated from all that is sinful. (1Sa 2:2; Isa 6:5; 1Pe 1:16)

(5) Righteousness and justice: God maintains a moral governance in the world; He acts justly and shows no favoritism in giving rewards or punishments. (Ro 1:32; 2:9,11; 1Co 4:7; Ac 10:34-35; Ps 19:7-9; Jer 9:24a)

(6) Faithfulness: God is trustworthy; He never defers from the fulfilment of His promises. (Nu 23:19; Heb 6:17; 1Sa 15:29; Jn 17:17,19; Heb 6:18; Titus 1:2)

(7) Sovereignty: God is the supreme ruler and has the imperative to decide as He pleases; called the sovereign will of God. (Mt 7:21; 20:15)

23.    God is changeless. How do we explain ‘God repents’?

• This is an example of anthropomorphism (using human analogies to explain the mystery of God’s character). Other examples include references of God’s hand (Ex 3:20), God’s arm (Ex 6:6; Dt 4:34; 5:15), God’s ear (Isa 37:17; 59:1; Ps 11:4). These references are to be understood metaphorically.
• When God is described as "changeless" or "immutable", it refers to God’s consistent nature as insurmountably good, that is, He remains always only the best. No change can or will take place in the divine character. However, God is capable of responsive interaction. Augustine showed that God changes works without changing plans.
• Immutability does not mean that God is unresponsive or incapable or interaction. "God repents" or "God relents" (NIV) describes God’s free responsiveness to human needs amid changing historical circumstances. God’s compassions do not fail (Jas 1:17); they are new every morning (Lam 3:23).
• In three Biblical examples, disasters should be a just punishment but God is merciful and He changed His plan because of changed circumstances, including the repentance of the Ninevites (Jnh 3:10), the repentance of David (2Sa 24:16; 1Ch 21:15), and the prayers of Amos (Am 7:1-6).
• In other cases where the word "repent" was used, it only describes the grieving of God because of man’s sin (Gen 6:6; 1Sa 15:11,35)

24.    God is holy and righteous. Why did He create sin?

• Sin is not a substance that needs to be created. It is a quality; sin is the privation (or lack) of goodness. One example is a person’s hate. God created the person but hate is originated from the person, not something created by God.
• A further question is: why did God permit sin to exist? He could have created man who can only choose good.
• But there is and can be no love without freedom. No one can be coerced into loving another. Love includes the provision of a choice. Either love exists freely or it does not exist at all. True freedom includes the possibility of choosing wrongly. Otherwise, man would be just like a robot.

25.    Jealousy appears to be a negative emotion. How can a loving God be jealous?

• This is another example of anthropomorphism so that the word used is not completely accurate.
• When Israel worshipped other gods, God was described as being jealous (Ex 20:5; 34:14; Dt 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Jos 24:19). It should be understood that God’s holiness includes separation from idolatry and sin. God demands His people to be faithful. Idolatry (worshipping other gods) is a major sin.
• Love is always consisted of two components: the passion to possess the object of love (Gr. eros) and the passion to self-giving (Gr. agape). Love prizes the beloved so earnestly that it yearns for possession; at the same time, love prizes the beloved so highly that it cannot withhold any available gift or service, even to the point of self-sacrifice.
• His deep love for His people leads to the sacrifice on the cross. On the other hand, He also demands fidelity from His people, just like a husband demands fidelity from his wife.

The word "jealousy" provides us with some (though not totally accurate) notion of how God was angry with Israel for their infidelity despite His deep love for them.