Attributes of God: Essence and Substance of God

It’s very difficult for the finite mind to adequately comprehend the infinite God. Job said, “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty” (Job 11:7 NKJV)? Someone illustrated it this way, “trying to understand God is like putting the Atlantic ocean in glass.” But, that does not mean we should not try.

We should do our best to understand all of God that we can, knowing that the finite mind is attempting to grasp the infinite. I also want to emphasize we can understand what God says about Himself in the Word, though our limited minds may tend to blow a circuit at times.

Let’s begin by comparing essence and substance and distinguishing between the two and God’s attributes. Essence and substance are basically synonymous when used of God. Thieson defines the two as “that which underlies all outward manifestation; the reality itself whether material or immaterial, the substratum of anything (substance lying beneath a thing). That in which the qualities or attributes inhere” (Thieson, Lectures in Systematic Theology; page 119).

Webster defines it as: 1. An entity. 2. That which makes something what it is. Both essence and attribute refer to the nature of God, though there is a difference between the two, but that difference is hard to distinguish.

Spirituality. “God is a spirit” (John 4:24 NASB).

God is immaterial or incorporeal. After His resurrection Jesus said, “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39 NASB). Someone may say, what about all the passages where God is described as having body parts? For example, “stretched out arm” (Jeremiah 32:17 KJV); “the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool” (Daniel 7:9 NASB). These are metaphors which serve to bring the infinite within the apprehension of the finite.

The Bible also uses wings to describe God, “He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge” (Psalm 91:4 NASB). Therefore, to use the above scriptures to say God has a human body, you would also have to say He is a bird (Psalm 91:4). Anyone would say that is absurd. So God is immaterial or without material substance.

God is invisible. Let me reference a couple of scriptures with this. “He is the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 NASB); “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17 NASB). The scriptures state that no man can see God ( Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16). How do we reconcile this with the fact that Moses looked on God (Exodus 33)? As you read the passage, Moses merely got a glimpse of God’s glory. No man can see God in His full essence.

There are other scripture which refer to men seeing God. “As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake” (Psalms 17:15 NASB). “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NASB). “They will see His face” (Revelation 22:4 NASB). R.A. Torrey in What the Bible Teaches says, “A man may see a reflection of his face in a glass (mirror). It’d be true for him to say, I saw my face and also I never saw my face.” (Thieson, Lectures in Systematic Theology; page 120)

These, however, seem to refer to our seeing God in eternity after we have been glorified (1 Corinthians 15:50-57). Mortal flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God nor see God (1 Corinthians 15:50). “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is (1 John 3:2). It will be at that point, when we are glorified that we look upon Him in all of His glory. Praise the Lord!

God is alive. The idea of spirit also implies this. “By this you shall know that the living God is among you” (Joshua 3:10 NASB). “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God” (1 Samuel 17:26 NASB)? “Peter answered,You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 NASB). “For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). “My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psalms 84:2 NASB). Our God is alive! We glean from this:

• Victory in battle – Joshua 3:10; 1 Samuel 17:26; Matthew 16:16.
• Worship of the true God – 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Psalms 84:2.
• The soul longs for such a God – Psalms 84:2.
• Who Jesus is – Matthew 16:16.
• Our foundation is built on the solid Rock – Matthew 16:16-19; Matthew 7:24-27.
• The Church is built upon a sure foundation – Matthew 16:16-19.
• This living God appoints authority to His trusted followers – Matthew 16:16-19.

God is a person. This also is implied in spirit. Take the analogy of ourself in His image (Genesis 1:27). If He were not a person He’d be on a lower lever than us. Personality denotes we can have a relationship with Him which is the essence of Christianity. God manifests all the characteristics of personality. To name just a few:

• Self-consciousness – 1 Corinthians 2:11.
• Determination – Hebrews 6:11-12.
• Intellect – Romans 11:34.
• Feelings – Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 3:17.
• Speaking – Acts 13:2; Hebrews 12:25.
• Anger – Hebrews 3:10; 12:25-28.
• Jealousy – Exodus 20:5; 2 Corinthians 11:2.

NEXT – Attributes of God: Essence and Substance of God Part 2 >

About the Author

Gary Linton is a writer, teacher, church planter and preacher with over 30 years of ministry and church planting experience. As founder of GSL Ministries, Gary trains and encourages pastors and church leaders from all walks of life.