Topic: Attributes and Characteristics of God

John 17:3 > Genesis 1:26-27 > James 3:9 > John 1:1-3 > Moses 6:8-10 > Genesis 5:1, 3 > Genesis 9:6 > Mosiah 7:27 > John 1:4-17 > Doctrine and Covenants 20:17-24 > Genesis 32:30 > Exodus 33:11 > Deuteronomy 4:28 > Matthew 3:16-17 > Luke 24:36-43 > John 14:6-28 > The Acts 7:54-56 > The Acts 17:28-29 > Philippians 2:5-11 > Philippians 3:20-21 > Doctrine and Covenants 130:22

According to John chapter 17 verse 3, if we are to have Eternal life, or be saved in the Kingdom of God, then we must know God and Jesus Christ. We must ask ourselves, “What does it mean to know God”? Does it mean to simply to know about Him, or know of Him? Can we come to know God if we believe, fundamentally, that He is unknowable? I believe that we can come to know God just as well, if not better, than we know our best friend or our spouse. One way we come to know God is by learning of His attributes and characteristics. Through the scriptures in this Scripture Train, we will begin to learn what it means to know God by learning what He says about us.

If we read Genesis chapter 1 verses 26 and 27 carefully, we will learn that there are at least two Gods. First, God said, “Let us make man in our image and after our likeness”. Second, God created man in his own image” and third, verse 27 states, “In the image of God created he him”. Therefore, there are at least two Gods, the God who created man in His own image and the God whose image man was created after. Therefore, God the Creator created man in His own image and in the image of this other God. This other God, as we learn in James chapter 3 verse 9, is the Father. Turning to the Gospel of John chapter 1 verses 1 through 3, John teaches that God, the creator was in the beginning with God the Father. First, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God”. Second, He is the creator, “All things were made by Him”.

It is important to note the words the scriptures use in this creation: Image, likeness and Similitude. In the Webster’s Dictionary, Image is defined as “Exact Likeness”. Likeness is defined as, “The quality or state of being like”. From these two definitions, we learn that man was created to be exactly like God! Similitude is defined as, “A visible likeness”. So not only were we created to be like God, but we look like Him as well. The significance of this is further emphasized in Genesis chapter 5 verses 1 and 3. We see here that the same language, the same words that were used to describe man’s creation and relationship with God the Father and God the Creator were used to describe Adam and his son Seth. Seth was born in the likeness and image of his father, Adam. Why would Moses, the writer of the book of Genesis, use these same terms to describe the relationship of man to God and of son to father? Could it not be to teach us that we were created after the image and likeness of God the Father and God the Creator just as Seth was created after the image and likeness of his father Adam? Simply stated, we look like God the Father and God the Creator. If we were to see them right now, we would see that we look like them. We have a body consisting of a head, a torso, legs and feet, arms and hands; eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair and so forth. We were created in the image and likeness of God the Father and God the Creator. What characteristics do we learn of God and Jesus Christ? They, too, have a head, a torso, legs and feet, arms and hands; eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair and so forth. We were created in their likeness and in their image, thus we look like them, or they look like us! Genesis chapter 9 verse 6 further emphasizes this point.

Now, who is God the Creator? Turn in the “Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ”, to Mosiah chapter 7 verse 27. Reading this verse, we learn that the Book of Mormon teaches the same as the Bible that we were created in the likeness and in the image of God the Father. In the Book of Mormon we learn that God the Creator is Jesus Christ and that Jesus Christ was to come down and take upon Himself the image of man who was created in the image of God. John, in the New Testament, also teaches this; John chapter 1 verses 4 through 17. The Word who was in the beginning with God, He who created all things, is Jesus Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants section 20 verses 17 through 21, further teaches that God the Father gave God, His Son, to redeem us from our lost and fallen state. All scripture testifies to this truth. The attributes and characteristics of God and Jesus Christ are the same. Jesus was created in the image and likeness of God, but the scriptures also teach that Jesus was created in the image and likeness of mankind. From this we learn that if we were to see them, now, at this time, we would see that they look like us or that we look like them, in other words, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ have bodies.

These verses in the Doctrine and Covenants also teach us more of the attributes and characteristics of God. God gives commandments! God commands us to worship Him. God gave us His Son who was crucified, died and was resurrected for us. Jesus reigns with the Father, in Heaven. Returning to the fact that the scriptures teach that God and Jesus Christ have bodies, in the next chapters and verses in the books of Genesis, Exodus and Deuteronomy, we can verify this. We learn that Jacob saw God face to face and lived; Moses saw God face to face and spoke with Him as a man would speak to his friend. And in Deuteronomy we learn that Moses was told that God has eyes and ears, and that they eat and smell. In other words, God the Father and Jesus Christ have the same body parts, which perform the same functions as their creations. It only makes sense; they created us in their likeness and in their image. All these are attributes and characteristics of God that we must come to know if we expect to gain eternal life.  

Now, if there should be any question about the nature of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, let us read Matthew chapter 3 verses 16 and 17. In these verses, we also learn of a third God, God the Holy Ghost. At the Baptism of Jesus Christ, the Godhead manifested themselves in three complete and separate personages. Jesus Christ is baptized, the Holy Ghost descends upon Him in a dove-like form and God the Father speaks to those present, introducing His beloved Son. So another important attribute and characteristic is that there are three members of the Godhead, God the Father God the Son or Creator and God the Holy Ghost; also, they are three distinct and individual beings.

In the following three scripture sets we will examine the teachings of Jesus that teach us concerning the distinct attributes of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. In Luke chapter 24 verses 36 through 43, we learn that Jesus Christ is a resurrected Being, having a body of flesh and bone, for His disciples touched His hands and feet. He also speaks, feels and eats. In John chapter 14 verses 6 through 28, we learn the following 7 points: 1. No one can go unto the Father, but through Jesus Christ; 2. If you have seen the Son you have seen the Father, in other words they look alike; 3. If you know the Son, you know the Father, for they are alike; 4. The Father will send the Holy Ghost, who is the comforter, the Spirit of Truth, when Jesus ascends to His Father; 5. The Father is in the Son, and the Son in the Father; in other words, they are perfectly united in all things; 6. To love God and Jesus Christ we must keep their commandments; 7. The Holy Ghost will teach us all things and bring all things that we have learned to our remembrance. In other words, the Holy Ghost will teach us as we study the scriptures, listen to the servants of God and pray for further understanding, guidance and direction in our lives. In the third scripture set of the three, we will examine the experiences and teachings of Christ’s disciples. The Acts chapter 7 verses 54 through 56; here we read of Stephen’s experience when he was about to be stoned to death. He looked up and the heavens opened to him, he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. How did he recognize God the Father? Because He and the Son look alike as Jesus had taught. He stood there with His Son, Jesus, side by side in the full measure of His glorious, physical stature.

In the final four scripture sets, we see further evidence of these important attributes that have been discussed. First, in The Acts chapter 17 verses 28 and 29; Paul teaches us that we are God’s offspring and that we should not think of the Godhead as in any other form, but in the form of our creation. Philippians chapter 2 verses 5 through 11; Jesus Christ is in the form of God and equal to God having been exalted by God. Jesus was formed in the same fashion as mankind, being born of a woman upon the earth. Jesus was humble and obedient, which are vital attributes. Philippians chapter 3 verses 20 and 21; Jesus Christ has a glorious physical body and our body will become like His. Finally, in Doctrine and Covenants section 130 verse 22, we have these attributes of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost taught simply and plainly: God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, have a physical body made of flesh and bone, tangible like ours. The Holy Ghost, on the other hand, has only a body of spirit.

These first attributes and characteristics of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, help us come to know them and thus give us our start on the path to eternal life.