This is one of life’s greatest questions.
Every religion, philosophy and worldview offers an answer.
The Bible also answers this question, but not by asking us to imagine what God might be like. Instead, it tells us that God has revealed Himself.
One of the beautiful truths Christians have recognised throughout history is called “divine simplicity”. Despite its name, it is a wonderfully practical truth because it helps us understand the God revealed in Scripture.
What Is Divine Simplicity?
Divine simplicity teaches that God is one, undivided, and not made up of separate or competing qualities. When the Bible tells us that God is love, holy, just, merciful, wise, faithful and true, it is not describing different parts of God. Rather, these are different ways God has revealed His one perfect and undivided being.
Therefore,
God’s attributes are not ranked in importance because they are not separate qualities competing for prominence. They are the one, undivided perfection of God’s being.
God’s love is always holy love.
His holiness is always loving holiness.
His justice is always righteous justice.
His mercy is always holy mercy.
Everything God does expresses everything God is.
God never acts from only one attribute.
He always acts according to His whole being.
A Wrong Question
People sometimes ask,
“Which attribute of God is His most important one?”
It sounds like a reasonable question. But it assumes God’s attributes are separate and can be ranked. The Bible never presents God this way.
Common Misconceptions
Once we ask the wrong question, misunderstandings naturally follow.
For example:
- “God is love, so He won’t judge.”
- “God is holy, so He couldn’t forgive.”
- “God is just, so mercy is impossible.”
Each conclusion separates what God has perfectly united.
The Truth
The God of the Bible never acts from one attribute alone. He always acts according to His whole being.
His love never compromises His holiness.
His holiness never diminishes His mercy.
His justice never opposes His grace.
Everything God does perfectly reflects everything God is.
Where Do We See This Most Clearly?
The answer is Jesus Christ. Jesus did not simply come to teach us about God.
He came to reveal God.
Jesus said,
“The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
The writer of Hebrews declares,
“He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Paul writes,
“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9)
When we look at Jesus, we are not seeing one aspect of God. We are seeing God perfectly revealed.
The Cross
The cross is where the beauty of God’s character shines most clearly.
At Calvary, God’s holiness, justice, love, mercy, wisdom and faithfulness are not competing with one another. They shine together in perfect harmony.
The cross is not where one attribute triumphs over another.
It is where the one, undivided God reveals the perfection of His character.
Why This Matters
Divine simplicity is not merely a theological idea.
It answers the question,
“What is God really like?”
And it leads us to an even greater answer: Look to Jesus.
Because Jesus perfectly reveals the Father.
As Jesus Himself said,
“The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
[ The written Word faithfully leads us to the living Word. ]