Nature of God: Eternal

Aug 14, 2022 |

This theological truth affirms that God has no beginning and no end. He is self-existent. He is before all things and will be after all things. God is independent, which means his being is dependent on no one/thing. God is self-sustaining in that he is not sustained by human action, but entirely by himself. He does not need anyone outside of himself. An important aspect to recognize about God’s eternality is that he does not change in being, nature, purpose or personality.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DISCUSSION #1: God as Pre-existentDISCUSSION #2: God as ImmortalDISCUSSION #3: God as Self-SustainingDISCUSSION #4: God as Unchanging

DISCUSSION #1: God as Pre-existent

This theological truth affirms that God has no beginning and no end. He is self-existent. He is before all things and will be after all things. God is independent, which means his being is dependent on no one/thing. God is self-sustaining in that he is not sustained by human action, but entirely by himself. He does not need anyone outside of himself. An important aspect to recognize about God’s eternality is that he does not change in being, nature, purpose or personality.

In this discussion we will explore how God has no beginning and no end. He is self-existent and He is pre-existent, meaning he existed before the world was made, and there was never a time when He did not exist.

MY STORY | Starting Place

Is there a history book or biography that you love? A historical story you treasure? Who was it that recorded the story and how did they know it happened?

DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:2

Knowing that all humans experience a beginning (birth) and an end (death), how is God different from us? There is a theological term for the ways God is different from humanity; wholly other. How is God “wholly other” in relation to our existence?

The psalmist proclaims God as “before” and “from everlasting to everlasting.” What do you think is meant by this? Why would it be important for the author to make such distinctions?

Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. Isaiah 41:4

There may be a number of phrases that come to mind when you think of God as pre-existent, as having no beginning and no end. What are some of those phrases or verses that come to mind?

If you were to explain God’s pre-existence to an unbeliever, or a new believer, how would you do that? Share with your group how you would explain this.

Why is it significant that God has always been and always will be?

If God has always existed and has no beginning, does that make his voice more reliable, or less? The history we absorb through books and media is always interpreted history because it comes through the filter of whoever wrote or recounted the events. How is God different from all other historians and storytellers in light of his self-existence and pre-existence?

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

Growing and learning in community is part of God’s will and design for humanity. How did this theological truth impact your discussion as a group? Was there a new appreciation for God and/or one another gained?

MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Is there someone in your life who would benefit from hearing about how God’s self-existence and pre-existence has impacted you? Make time this week to share with them what you have gained from exploring this piece of God’s nature.

DISCUSSION #2: God as Immortal

This theological truth affirms that God has no beginning and no end. He is self-existent. He is before all things and will be after all things. God is independent, which means his being is dependent on no one/thing. God is self-sustaining in that he is not sustained by human action, but entirely by himself. He does not need anyone outside of himself. An important aspect to recognize about God’s eternality is that he does not change in being, nature, purpose or personality.

This discussion will focus on God as immortal, meaning he cannot die, and existing forever, which is that he has no end. The radical truth these aspects reveal is that God is not subject to time like mankind is. God’s presence is within time, but his eternality sets him above and outside of it. God does not age, he cannot be wounded, and ultimately, the essence or spirit of God the Father cannot die.

MY STORY | Starting Place

Can you recall a time in your life when the death of someone was particularly life-altering and or uniquely impactful? What were some things you learned about life, death, and being human from this experience?

DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Romans 1:22-23

This passage articulates a grave issue of mankind loving, adoring, and worshiping creation over the Creator himself. Creation is intended to reveal the character and nature of God and result in awe, wonder, and the worship of Him.

Paul powerfully and with some exasperation states that fools forego the glory of the IMMORTAL God for the lesser things he made. Why do you think humanity gravitates toward worship of mortal things?

Let’s pause here for a moment. When was the last time you contemplated God’s immortality? What does that mean? In what ways does that make Him different from humanity?

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy… Isaiah 57:15a

“Who inhabits eternity…”

Not only does this statement imply God’s pre-existence, but also his immortality and assured existence into the future for all time.

In Romans 1, Paul comes to the conclusion that the ultimate problem of fallen humanity is they did not respond to God’s glory with worship. Rather, they worshiped the things he created. How does this passage impact your worship of God? What “caution” could we bring to our worship from this passage?

Knowing God’s existence goes on forever, how does that impact your view of Him? Is God more trustworthy? Frightening? Glorious? Explain.

Take a moment and read Psalm 8 together. In contrast to Romans 1, this psalm is a great example of a proper response to God in light of his creation.

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

Sharing our various perspectives of God and our responses to his character and nature are a fruitful aspect of Christian community. How have you been impacted or changed by God’s immortality and eternality?

MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Let’s get personal…

How will this week’s discussion of God’s immortality and eternality impact your pursuit of him?

Your pursuit of God and your personal relationship with him is a powerful example to the world around you. How can you more fully pursue your relationship with the immortal and eternal God who has made Himself available to you? Is he deserving of this?

DISCUSSION #3: God as Self-Sustaining

This theological truth affirms that God has no beginning and no end. He is self-existent. He is before all things and will be after all things. God is independent, which means his being is dependent on no one/thing. God is self-sustaining in that he is not sustained by human action, but entirely by himself. He does not need anyone outside of himself. An important aspect to recognize about God’s eternality is that he does not change in being, nature, purpose or personality.

This discussion will focus on God’s nature as self-sustaining, or also known as his self-sufficiency, meaning God is dependent on no one or anything for his existence.

MY STORY | Starting Place

Can you recall a time in your life when you desperately needed something or someone? How did that need get filled or not filled? How did it impact you?

DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. Acts 17:24-25

“As though he needed anything…”

Have you ever acted or spoken like you were doing God a favor? What are some things you’ve maybe assumed he needs from you?

Thinking all the way back to creation, did God create the world and mankind because he needed them?

Why did God create if he was not in need of creation?

What do you think is mankind’s proper response to this truth about God?

In all other Ancient Near Eastern creation stories (yes, other cultures did come up with their own pagan creation stories) the gods of these pagan groups created because they needed mankind to serve or provide for them in some way. For example, a pagan god created mankind to work the ground and feed him.

In contrast to the given example, how is the Christian God different to the pagan god? How is he different specifically in His reason for creating?

When we think about how God is different, have you ever thought about God having no needs? Does God get hungry, thirsty, cold, or tired?
The reason why God has no needs is because he is self-sufficient. Discuss how we were uniquely made not self-sufficient. Why would God have made us this way?

How does the reality of God being self-sufficient impact your motives for serving him? Why would we do this if he is not in need of anything we can offer him?

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

Now that you have discussed how we are unlike God in that we are not self-sufficient, how can this community with you now contribute to one another’s needs in humble, godly service? Is there anyone among you in need? If so, is there anything your community can do about the need? What is beyond your abilities that only God can provide for you?

MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Begin this week by specifically praying for God to reveal someone to you in need of something you can provide. When he does, anonymously fill the need and ask for God to be glorified.

DISCUSSION #4: God as Unchanging

This theological truth affirms that God has no beginning and no end. He is self-existent. He is before all things and will be after all things. God is independent, which means his being is dependent on no one/thing. God is self-sustaining in that he is not sustained by human action, but entirely by himself. He does not need anyone outside of himself. An important aspect to recognize about God’s eternality is that he does not change in being, nature, purpose or personality.

This discussion will dive into God’s nature as never-changing, he is always the same in will, motives, character and nature.

MY STORY | Starting Place

Has there been a person in your life who changed dramatically from who you knew them to be? Was the change for better or worse? How did their change impact you?

DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application

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

In this verse, the Lord is speaking through the prophet Malachi. He states this about himself.
What do you think it means that God is unchanging?

What is the benefit to God never changing?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

In the passage this verse is taken from, the author of Hebrews is combating some false teaching that is tempting the audience to depend on the Law instead of completely on Jesus.

Part of what makes Christ’s atoning work on the cross final is his unchanging character and nature. In other words, because Christ does not change, his work is ultimate and final.

Does the unchanging nature of the Trinity make you feel more secure or less secure in your faith? Explain.

How does this character trait influence God’s trustworthiness?

How is changing one’s mind different from changing one’s character and nature? Perhaps you can think of an example in Scripture of God changing his mind. Distinguish the ways in which these types of changes are different from one another.

All of God’s goodness is preserved because of this aspect of his nature. God is never going to fall to sin or abandon us.

*BONUS* Comparing God and satan, how does this part of God’s nature set him apart from what we know of satan and his fall?

GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship

Something we know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that humans are forgetful, or at least have a limited capacity to remember all things at all times. How can this believing community make a plan and a commitment to remembering and reminding one another that God is unchanging and why that is good?

MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action

Is there someone in your life struggling to believe that God is unchanging? Maybe they feel betrayed or abandoned by God. Perhaps a crisis has made them question this. Take time to reach out to that person this week and encourage them with the truth that God has not changed at any time throughout history and Scripture promises he never will in the future.