(Part 3 of a Series)

This series explores two essential topics: God and people. When children know who God really is and what He says about who they really are, they can confidently navigate faith and life. Kids must know both the Lord and themselves intimately—not superficially.

God matters most. Learning about the Lord is more important (and more rewarding) than anything else we can do!

People matter to God. People who truly grasp what God says about their identity finally understand who they are and how to live.

The question, “What is God Like?” follows naturally from a previous topic, “Who is God?” Read that article of this series here.

“What Is God Like?”

Short Answer
The Lord is Perfect. God has every excellent quality; He is flawless.

Biblical Answer (Deuteronomy 32:4)

God refers to Himself as a “rock”—keeping His children safe from danger and secure from harm. But rather than an ordinary rock, think of the Lord as a fascinating “geode.” On the outside, a geode appears to be an ordinary rock, but after breaking it open, hundreds of beautifully shaped crystals glisten in the light. Inside the geode, each tiny surface or facet is slightly different from all the others. Similarly, once we start to explore what the Lord is really like, we realize how attractive He is. The closer we look, the more exciting and amazing God is. He has so many wonderful qualities!

Expanded Answer

Many people are confused about what God is really like. To some, He is a complete mystery. Others come up with their own ideas about the Lord; sometimes those ideas are accurate and other times they’re very mixed-up. The Bible is the only reliable source to learn about God’s character. By exploring the Scriptures, we can truly understand His personality and truly know what He is like.

“There is such a perfection in God’s nature and being that nothing is wanting to it or defective in it, and nothing can be added to it to make it better.” —A. W. Pink

What Is God Like? “The Lord is Perfect. God has every excellent quality; He is flawless.” God reveals His perfection in these six important ways:

GOD IS INFINITE. The Lord possesses unlimited capacity; He is boundless in every way.

“Infinite” means without end, or limitless. Anything infinite goes on and on and on forever.

He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:4-5)

What are some ways God is infinite? There is no end to God’s power; He is almighty and can do anything. There is no end to God’s knowledge; He knows everything. There is no end to God’s location; He is everywhere all the time. There is no end to God’s life; He has no beginning or ending.

GOD IS MAJESTIC. The Lord generates unsurpassed splendor; He is magnificent in every way.

“Majestic” means splendid, awesome, or spectacular. We address a king or queen as “your Majesty” to show great respect for someone very important.

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)

What are some ways God is majestic? The Lord is Light and shines through the darkness. The Lord is Life and makes things live. The Lord is Glorious—displaying His fame and prestige everywhere. The Lord is Beautiful—elegant and most lovely.

GOD IS UPRIGHT. The Lord maintains untarnished integrity; He is honorable in every way.

“Upright” means totally honest. God perfectly follows all His rules; He is always exactly right. God never does anything with even a hint of wrong.

Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness. (Psalm 119:137-38)

What are some ways God is upright? The Lord is Holy—separate from all evil. He is Truthful and cannot lie. He is Faithful, keeping every promise forever. God does everything right and nothing wrong. He is always fair and stands up for what is good and right.

GOD IS BENEVOLENT. The Lord bestows unbounded blessings; He is caring in every way.

“Benevolent” means full of good will and ready to help others. God benefits and blesses people.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

What are some ways God is benevolent? The Lord is Good and Generous, always doing what is best. He is Gracious (giving favor that people don’t deserve) and Merciful (withholding punishment that people do deserve). God readily gives Peace and Hope.

GOD IS LOVING. The Lord expresses unfailing affection; He is devoted in every way.

God takes “love” to the very highest level. His love is pure and selfless—staying strong no matter what. God’s love never fails.

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16)

What are some ways God is loving? The Lord is Patient, Kind, and Gentle. He gladly forgives all who sincerely repent. Best of all, God’s love is steadfast—He never stops loving us!

GOD IS SOVEREIGN. The Lord wields unwavering control; He is dominant in every way.

“Sovereign” means “sole ruler.” God directs every event across the whole universe. Though we don’t always see His hand, the Lord continues working out His magnificent plan.

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

What are some ways God is sovereign? The Lord is Wise; He has the best plans and makes the best decisions. Every moment of every day, God actively uses all His abilities to accomplish His purposes on earth. Nothing can block His will.

Never forget: the Lord is Perfect. God has every excellent quality; He is flawless.

Application Ideas

Because God is infinite and perfect, we will always need His help!
We exist for the Lord (not the other way around). He will not share His glory with anyone.
As you read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, replace the word “love” with “God.” He loves us no matter who we are or what we have done!

Read the next article in this series: What are You Like?