Welcome back to Theology Thursday!
Here is your bite-sized lesson in orthodox biblical doctrine in 3 simple steps:
ONE concept explained
TWO concise definitions laid out
THREE Scripture passages to meditate on
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Concept: The Essence of God
While trekking up Angels Landing at Zion National Park in Utah, I was shocked by how few guardrails there were. In certain moments, you can’t help but think, “One misstep and I’ll go splat.” Exploring the trinity can feel like a hike. You may feel that one wrong word will send you to your theological death. We should be at rest as we trust the Spirit through the Word to guide us; at the same time, we are given terms that enable us to guard what is taught by Scripture lest we misrepresent who our God is. As we begin to trek through Trinitarian theology, we start to come across terms such as essence and persons. What is God’s essence?
In one sense, no one knows. Only God can comprehend His own essence. In another sense, we recognize that Scripture gives us a glimpse into the being of God. God’s Essence (Greek: Ousia; Latin: Essentia or Substantia) is what God is in Himself. Essence is the nature of a thing—what makes something what it is, rather than something else. While inserting no division or distinctions in God, His essence is typically described by His various attributes. So when we speak of God’s essence, we speak of His eternal, infinite, holy, unchanging nature. Some have said that God is “pure act,” not referring to motion or doing, but the fullness of being with no lack or potential. God is pure being. In Him there is no potential, no becoming, no change. He was, is, and always will be fully Himself, never developing, never changing. In light of this, we can worshipfully cry out with Moses, “Show me your glory!”
Definitions:
Intrinsic Glory: The two ways to think of God’s glory are God’s intrinsic glory and His ascribed glory. God’s intrinsic glory is synonymous with His essence. God’s glory is who He is in Himself apart from His creatures.
Ascribed Glory: The goodness of God displayed outwardly when His creatures praise or live to please Him. We don’t add to God’s glory or make Him glorious, but like viewing the night sky through a telescope, we simply magnify that which dazzles with infinite beauty.
Passages:
“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.’”
Exodus 3:14
“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
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24