The Attributes of God
Self-Existence—Aseity—Independence
Pastor Jerry Koller

Review:
· An attribute of God is whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.
· Characteristics are features or qualities of someone or something. They can and do change.
· God is not the sum total of His attributes.
· God is eternal, infinite, immaterial, and omnipresent.
· God’s attributes are in perfect balance.

Self-Existence: God has always existed.

God has no origin. ~Novatian

Self-Existence, Aseity, and Independence are related.

Saying God is self-existent is a way to help us understand the fact that He has always existed.

Implications:
· God’s existence does not depend on anyone.
· God has always been and always will be exactly what it He is.
· God depends on no one.

"Were all human beings suddenly to become blind, still the sun would shine by day and the stars by night, for these owe nothing to the millions who benefit from their light. So, were every man on earth to become atheist, it could not affect God in any way. He is what he is in himself without regard to any other. To believe in him adds nothing to his perfections; to doubt him takes nothing away.”
~ Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy

· God does not need you and I to worship Him.
· God does not need us to help Him.

· God does not need us to defend Him.
· God does not need our love.
· God is not answerable to us or to anybody.

Good News:
· God’s Existence Does Not Depend on Anyone: There is strength, security, and encouragement in knowing that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

· God Depends on No One: The good news is that God chooses, in accordance with His pleasure and will, to the praise of His glorious grace, to bless us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

· God Does Not Need You and I to Worship Him: But why wouldn’t we worship Him? Worship is an active response to God whereby we declare His worth. He allows us to share in His glory. And, we have the opportunity to declare His glory to all.

· God Does Not Need Us to Defend Him: The good news is God does allow us to take the good news to all nations.

· God Does Not Need Our Love: The good news is God allows us to share in His perfect love.

· Anna Bocock’s Lyme tests came back that she has Epstein Barr in addition to one strain of Lyme. They are not able to treat the Lyme until the Epstein Barr is under control. She is currently very sick and is not responding to the treatments for the Epstein Barr. Pray that the treatments start working and she is able to get that under control so that she can move forward with the Lyme treatment within the next few months. .
· Caroline Bocock is doing much better! She passed her concussion test after a year of failing and has been approved to do anything she wishes. She will have more Lyme testing later this month, but the symptoms have almost completely disappeared since her treatment in July. Pray for continued improvements and for clear test results so she doesn’t have to do anymore treatments.
· Rhonda Dobberstein hs been diagnosed with breast cancer. She has a lumpectomy scheduled for 2/13 followed by radiation and estrogen treatments.
· Nolan Marshall has had an increase in behavioral issues. Pray that they will be able to get things regulated and under control again soon.
· Joyce Bocock continues to do well. Prayers for continued improvement and relief from pain are appreciated.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com