The Self-Existence of God

Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

Every creature, person, and living thing has a beginning. Everything depends on its beginning, because without that it does not exist. Only the Triune God has no origin and no dependence on any beginning or anything else beside Himself.

What a great beginning to boast in: that God has always existed! For there is not one thing, and not one person on earth which has this perpetual existence. God, the Trinity itself, has been forever – and to boast in something of this nature is amazing. For if God had a beginning, we – the believers in Him – would not exist. How great it is to think that we are the chosen who get to enjoy coming into His covenant and boasting that He has always existed and will forever exist. How much enchantment and gratification it brings to the heart of man to know that his God whom he serves has forever reigned – and will forever reign – above all of creation. The believer needs to see that there is absolutely no other being that has, or will have, this nature. This nature, which is eternal, distinguishes the Creator from His creation, and gives reason for His creation. The trees, the mountains, the seas, animals, and most of all, His people – to bring Him the praise that is due Him because of His nature, for all eternity.

This truth needs to be sought out and placed into man’s mind most of all when thinking highly or becoming prideful of himself. Oftentimes, humans tend to think they are capable of many things and that they can find the enjoyment of life itself in their own existence. For example, man might find delight in making a lot of money, or having a well-known name, or many friends – so man often tries with his nature to seem like he is unstoppable or incapable from being brought down into humbleness and humility, as the believer experiences so often. The believer must see that this truth of the character of God calls for him to see his humanity and his own limitations that compels him to rely on God for his very existence. What I am trying to get across in this, is that since God is always there – with there being no beginning and no ending – it is a necessity for the believer to boast in this truth because he would otherwise cease to exist. How great it is to boast in the only existence that has, is, and will be forever! This particular truth, out of many truths of the gospel, is pleasing to the soul because of the uniqueness that it has from all else in creation. Believers can boast in and find their pleasure in the fact that their relationship, their religion, their beliefs, their Creator, have no beginning in the sense that God simply just is. This attribute of God cannot be possessed by any other creature, for its Creator stands alone and is the only One that will ever have it. The angels and demons themselves were created, just like this earth and the universes which are around it.

This is important to today’s 21st century believer, due to the philosophy and movements that try to make God seem as a created being and therefore lessen Him. To that, I say simply one thing: you lessen the character of God, and you have lessened the gospel. This God, who has and will endure through all ages and its mocking and lessening of Him, will one day destroy those who do so, and redeem His people to the consummation of spending eternity with Him forever and ever. As for the believer of this truth, may you stand in awe and boast of the God that not only created you, but also has allowed you to come into a covenant with Him in a relationship that only select humanity gets to delight in and fall in love with. The believer may boast that if it was not for this attribute of God, he would have no hope in life or in the gospel. It is God’s self-existence that gives all of creation existence. The believer needs to boast in this God – the God who is the One higher than all of creation and shows His character as that of being above all of humanity, like no other being that has been, or will be, created by Him. This God calls for the uttermost boasting; for His existence deserves His chosen to glorify His name and His nature above all else.

The Self-Existence of God

Exodus 3:13-14 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

Every creature, person, and living thing has a beginning. Everything depends on its beginning, because without that it does not exist. Only the Triune God has no origin and no dependence on any beginning or anything else beside Himself.

What a great beginning to boast in: that God has always existed! For there is not one thing, and not one person on earth which has this perpetual existence. God, the Trinity itself, has been forever – and to boast in something of this nature is amazing. For if God had a beginning, we – the believers in Him – would not exist. How great it is to think that we are the chosen who get to enjoy coming into His covenant and boasting that He has always existed and will forever exist. How much enchantment and gratification it brings to the heart of man to know that his God whom he serves has forever reigned – and will forever reign – above all of creation. The believer needs to see that there is absolutely no other being that has, or will have, this nature. This nature, which is eternal, distinguishes the Creator from His creation, and gives reason for His creation. The trees, the mountains, the seas, animals, and most of all, His people – to bring Him the praise that is due Him because of His nature, for all eternity.

This truth needs to be sought out and placed into man’s mind most of all when thinking highly or becoming prideful of himself. Oftentimes, humans tend to think they are capable of many things and that they can find the enjoyment of life itself in their own existence. For example, man might find delight in making a lot of money, or having a well-known name, or many friends – so man often tries with his nature to seem like he is unstoppable or incapable from being brought down into humbleness and humility, as the believer experiences so often. The believer must see that this truth of the character of God calls for him to see his humanity and his own limitations that compels him to rely on God for his very existence. What I am trying to get across in this, is that since God is always there – with there being no beginning and no ending – it is a necessity for the believer to boast in this truth because he would otherwise cease to exist. How great it is to boast in the only existence that has, is, and will be forever! This particular truth, out of many truths of the gospel, is pleasing to the soul because of the uniqueness that it has from all else in creation. Believers can boast in and find their pleasure in the fact that their relationship, their religion, their beliefs, their Creator, have no beginning in the sense that God simply just is. This attribute of God cannot be possessed by any other creature, for its Creator stands alone and is the only One that will ever have it. The angels and demons themselves were created, just like this earth and the universes which are around it.

This is important to today’s 21st century believer, due to the philosophy and movements that try to make God seem as a created being and therefore lessen Him. To that, I say simply one thing: you lessen the character of God, and you have lessened the gospel. This God, who has and will endure through all ages and its mocking and lessening of Him, will one day destroy those who do so, and redeem His people to the consummation of spending eternity with Him forever and ever. As for the believer of this truth, may you stand in awe and boast of the God that not only created you, but also has allowed you to come into a covenant with Him in a relationship that only select humanity gets to delight in and fall in love with. The believer may boast that if it was not for this attribute of God, he would have no hope in life or in the gospel. It is God’s self-existence that gives all of creation existence. The believer needs to boast in this God – the God who is the One higher than all of creation and shows His character as that of being above all of humanity, like no other being that has been, or will be, created by Him. This God calls for the uttermost boasting; for His existence deserves His chosen to glorify His name and His nature above all else.

The Immutability of God

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Malachi 3:6 For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

The unchanging being – God – should be boasted in by believers because of the certainty over all areas of life that they have in their God. The believer can boast in an all-perfect, never-changing God.

The believer of the gospel must see the necessity of praising God for being like no other. This particular characteristic of the gospel reveals the difference between the Creator and His creation more clearly than any other. There is not one person, one creature, nor anything else in creation that does not change in one way or another. The Creator is superior over believers in many ways, and it is so great to grasp the concept of boasting in the One that is the same forever! How great it is that the believer can fall in so many areas of life, yet run to the Lord who is always the same! The believer must boast that he can be comfortable in the Lord who never changes in any circumstance. For the believer, this truth is crucial when it comes to boasting in the gospel. Not one promise broken, never a change of mind, not a covenant forgotten about — how wonderful that we can dwell under the God who is always unchanged and will always keep His character in all ways! 1 Samuel 15:29 reminds the believer of his place before God, saying, “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” Anything ever done, said, and promised will remain forever in the all-covenant keeping God. This is something that the believer can look upon when in a time of doubt or uncertainty, as they do not know what is next, or what situations may be thrown at them. Oftentimes, it seems that the believer starts to look upon others – either in the church or even in the world – for guidance and help while in trouble. But here the believer can rest in knowing that God will not change and that He is forever good to His people and there will be only ever be but a perfect plan for His sheep.

This calls the believer to fall before the unchanging God and worship Him with the most respect that he can give. The believer, in order to boast, must see his limitations in life and how he is like the wind that blows wherever it wills. This God, whom the believer serves, stays the same in nature – for what He has been, He will be always, and His character will not change – no never! Boast in this God above all other gods today, for there is not one like this One. What God is, He is to perfection, and will never change. How great it is to know that the believer serves the same God whom he served yesterday, and will serve tomorrow. The believer can find this helpful in the time of need, when he has no clue what tomorrow may bring; he knows his covenant-keeping, unchanging God will lead him correctly. How great it is for the believer to know that no one can influence God or change His mind. The believer serves a God who will not – and cannot – be moved. The believer serves a God who knows He is right in all things. The believer serves a God in whom there is no change of mind when His will is done. How great this is: that the God of the gospel – the God who is the gospel – cannot and will never change His character, His will, His person, or His nature. For He is certain beyond all measure and will endure forever! The believer, while here on earth, needs to look always and forever at the truth that he can boast in the only certainty of life. The believer can find happiness in the fact that only the gospel will never change. This is one of the great aspects of the truth that is found in both God’s word and the gospel that lies in it. How great it is that the believer and follower of God can live and know for sure that His word never changes. This can be where the boasting in Him begins: the fact that what He promises and what He has said will never change. How great it is to serve and live in fear of the perfect, never-changing God, which will bring delight to the soul of His people. Many times in life, the believer gets caught up in all the different types of changes in this world. Changes can be different for all types of peoples – school, work, friends, even family. Often, even the believer will say, “I cannot do this anymore,” or “I don’t know what to do any longer, or even how I feel.” But, in the midst of it all – in the midst of the fast- paced world of changes – stands a consistent Lord; One who never changes. For He applies and supplies all things for His people, and the believer needs to live in the consistency that He provides. Indeed, God is the perfect example for the believer to live in consistency. How can believers even live at all without the consistency of God? This is what the believer boasts in – that the constant gospel allows the believer to live and be worthy and honoring of the never-changing beautiful God.9

The Omnipresence of God

Psalms 139:7-12 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

No matter where the believer is in life, or what he is doing, God sees all things and knows exactly what it is he does. The believer can boast in knowing that God is always near to him.

So many times Christians think that God is in the heavens, far away – that He lives there and we are down here. What is sad is that even the believer rarely thinks about the truth in scripture that God is with His people. Rather, they are inclined to base their truth on their current experience alone. Therefore, if rough times come up and difficult situations occur, they think God is not watching; God can’t be there. Oftentimes believers forget that the eye of the Lord is upon them at all times, and that He is everywhere. This should be looked at and known, and boasted in so that the believer can know truths such as this to find satisfaction in God, who is always watching. The believer needs to remember this truth because of the fact that it lives out in the walk of a believer. It seems that even believers live a life in which they think they can hide from God. The believer so often tries to hide from God as Adam and Eve did after sinning – trying to hide in little ways. Still worse is that while in the act of sin itself the Christian even thinks he can hide at that given time! I must remind you, the believer, of Isaiah 59:2: “but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Oh, how the believer must know this truth of the character of God, that He sees all things. For there is nowhere to hide from the all-seeing God, be it during the act of sin or after your sin has taken place. There is no deceiving or misleading the Lord of hosts who sits in the heavens and watches your every move. It is so important that we find hope in this truth, and not find it terrifying. In some sense, yes, we must live in the fear of the Lord, but we can also find this truth of God great to the soul. Knowing that we serve a Savior that never sleeps; One who is always aware of the acts which take place and watches them all.

It is crucial for the believer to understand that God’s nature is what makes Him unavoidable. It is not that God walks around and follows you everywhere you go, but the fact is that the believer – or any man for that matter – cannot escape the presence of God. The believer ought to boast in the fact that there is no place where he can flee to, and there is no place in which he might hide from God – and because of that, the believer can serve and praise God for His work which He does watching over His people. The believer’s mind tends to see this as if it is supernatural to God, but in truth, it is His very nature. This is why the believer must give God the praise of His character and the truth that lies in it, which He deserves. And although this is a hard concept to grasp, the believer must know it and stand in awe and praise their God who sees all things. For the believer, this is a great area to boast in because the comfort that it brings to the soul enables the saints to live on earth, and through eternity, knowing that they serve an all-seeing God who watches over His people.