At first glance, the phrase "the simplicity of God" sounds strange.
Many people hear it and think it means God is simple-minded or uncomplicated.
That is not what theologians mean at all.
The simplicity of God means that God is not divided into parts.
God is one.
His attributes are not separate pieces that make Him who He is.
God does not have wisdom as though it were one ingredient.
He does not have love as though it were another ingredient.
He does not have holiness as though it were a third ingredient.
Rather, God is wisdom.
God is love.
God is holy.
Everything that God is, He is perfectly and completely.
📖 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." — Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV)
Human beings are made up of parts.
We have bodies and souls.
We possess knowledge, but we are not knowledge itself.
We show love, but we are not love itself.
We can become wiser.
We can become stronger.
We can lose abilities.
We can change.
But God is different.
God cannot be improved because He is already perfect.
God cannot be diminished because He is already complete.
📖 "For I am the LORD, I change not..." — Malachi 3:6 (KJV)
Think about it this way.
When a human judge shows mercy, he may do so at the expense of justice.
When a human ruler exercises power, he may neglect wisdom.
Human qualities often compete with one another because we are finite and imperfect.
But in God there is no conflict.
His justice is always wise.
His wisdom is always holy.
His holiness is always loving.
His love is always righteous.
Everything God does reflects all that God is.
This is one reason the cross of Christ is so glorious.
At Calvary, God's attributes did not compete with one another.
They worked together perfectly.
His justice was satisfied.
His holiness was upheld.
His love was displayed.
His mercy was extended.
His wisdom was revealed.
📖 "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." — Psalm 85:10 (KJV)
Only a simple and perfect God could accomplish such a salvation.
The simplicity of God also protects us from creating a false image of Him.
Many people prefer to speak only of God's love.
Others speak only of His holiness.
Some emphasize His mercy.
Others emphasize His justice.
But we cannot divide God into pieces.
The God who loves is also holy.
The God who judges is also merciful.
The God who is sovereign is also good.
Whenever we focus on one attribute while ignoring the others, we begin to create a god of our own imagination rather than the God of Scripture.
📖 "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." — 1 John 1:5 (KJV)
What comfort this gives the believer.
God's love is not a weak love.
It is the love of a holy, wise, sovereign, omnipotent God.
God's mercy is not uncertain mercy.
It is the mercy of an unchanging God.
God's promises are not fragile promises.
They come from the God who is perfectly consistent with Himself.
This means God will never cease to be what He has always been.
He will never become less loving.
He will never become less holy.
He will never become less faithful.
📖 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." — Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
Believer, your salvation rests in the hands of a God who is perfectly united in all His attributes.
His love will not cancel His holiness.
His holiness will not destroy His mercy.
His justice will not overthrow His grace.
All that God is stands behind every promise He has made to His people.
Rest today in the simplicity of God.
The God who is perfectly one.
The God who is perfectly complete.
The God whose attributes never conflict.
The God who is forever faithful to Himself.
📖 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." — Deuteronomy 6:4 (KJV)
To Him be glory forever.
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