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.
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.
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.