The Attributes of God
Last updated: 2026-04-10
Theologians traditionally distinguish God's attributes into those that are uniquely His (incommunicable) and those that He shares in a creaturely way with humanity (communicable). While both reflect His glorious nature, the incommunicable attributes highlight His distinct transcendence as the Creator, while the communicable attributes reflect His moral image in which man was created.
🏔️ The Infinite Creator: Incommunicable Attributes
Incommunicable attributes are those perfections belonging exclusively to God that are not shared with His creatures, emphasizing His transcendence and self-sufficiency. As stated in the 1689 LBCF Ch.2 §1-2, God is immutable, eternal, and independent in His being. These attributes remind us that God does not depend on us for His glory, but we depend entirely on Him for our existence. As we read in Psalm 90:2, "Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God," we see His eternal nature, which sets Him apart as the Creator who exists entirely outside the limitations of time and space.
Sources: 1689 LBCF Ch.2 §1-2 · Psalm 90:2
✨ Reflecting the Image: Communicable Attributes
Communicable attributes are those that God communicates to His creatures, allowing us to bear His image. While God is infinite, our display of these attributes is finite. The 1689 LBCF Ch.2 §1 describes God as holy, wise, and loving. We see these traits in a limited, creaturely way because He created us in His likeness. Most significantly, 1 John 4:8 tells us, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." This love is the very essence of the gospel; though we were sinful and flawed, God manifested this attribute by sending His Son to redeem us. We do not love to earn acceptance; we love because He first loved us, and our growth in these virtues is a reflection of the grace received in Christ.
Sources: 1689 LBCF Ch.2 §1 · 1 John 4:8
Knowing God's attributes transforms worship from a mere duty into a response of awe, anchoring our confidence in His unchanging character rather than our fluctuating emotions. It reminds us that while we reflect His communicable virtues, He alone possesses them in infinite perfection, leading us to find our ultimate satisfaction in Him.
🙌 Worship as a Response to Perfection
When we contemplate God's attributes, we are moved to worship Him not because we must, but because He is infinitely worthy. The Westminster Shorter Catechism — Question 46 reminds us that our primary duty is to know and acknowledge Him as the only true God. Our worship is the fitting response to the truth that He is "a most pure spirit... most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute" as described in the 1689 LBCF Ch.2 §1. Because He is unchanging, our worship is grounded in a rock-solid foundation that does not shift with the trials of life.
Sources: Westminster Shorter Catechism — Question 46 · 1689 LBCF Ch.2 §1
❤️ Finding Identity in the Gospel
Understanding God’s attributes humbles us deeply, as we realize how far our own character falls short of His, yet it also invites us to hope in His grace. We see that He is the fountain of all things, as noted in Romans 11:36. This truth frees us from the tyranny of moralism; we are not accepted because we perfectly mirror His attributes, but because Christ lived, died, and rose to secure our standing before a holy God. We are more flawed than we dared believe, yet because of His immutable love, we are more loved in Christ than we ever dared hope.
Sources: Romans 11:36
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