This module establishes the core characteristics of God and defines the concept of sin from a biblical perspective. It will then connect these two truths to reveal why a Divine Plan of Salvation was necessary, explaining how God’s nature, specifically His holiness and love, provided the perfect solution for humanity’s separation from Him.

The Nature and Characteristics of God

To understand God’s plan for humanity, we must first understand who He is. The most foundational truth about God’s nature is that He is Spirit, as declared by Jesus Himself in John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” This means God does not have a physical body in His true essence; He is an omnipresent and invisible being. His characteristics are not separate parts of Him but are inherent aspects of His one, complete being.

• Holiness: God is absolutely holy. This means He is set apart from all sin and is morally perfect. Isaiah 6:3 describes seraphim in heaven crying out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” This holiness means He cannot and will not be in the presence of sin.

• Justice: Because God is holy, He is also just. His nature requires that sin be punished. He is a God of order and righteousness, and He cannot simply overlook transgression. As it is written in Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.”

• Love: While God is just, He is also a God of profound love. He desires a relationship with humanity and does not wish for any to be lost. 1 John 4:8 tells us, “God is love.” His love is the driving force behind His desire to redeem His creation.

The Divine Revelation to Moses

When God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai, He revealed a more complete picture of His nature, a definition of Himself that has echoed through the ages. He is a God of both steadfast love and unyielding justice.

In Exodus 34:6-7, God proclaims His own character: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.”

This profound declaration highlights several key characteristics of the one true God:

• Compassionate and Gracious: The Hebrew words rachum (compassionate) and chanun (gracious) describe a God who feels deep, tender pity for His creation and extends unmerited favor to them.

• Slow to Anger: This trait, represented by the Hebrew phrase erek appayim, signifies God’s incredible patience and long-suffering. He does not quickly act on His righteous anger but offers opportunities for repentance.

• Abounding in Steadfast Love and Faithfulness: The word chesed (steadfast love) is one of the most important concepts in the Old Testament, representing God’s loyal, covenantal love. It is a love that is unwavering and faithful, just as the word emet (faithfulness or truth) implies that He is utterly reliable.

• Forgiving: God declares that He is a God who forgives “wickedness, rebellion and sin.” This is the hopeful side of His nature—the promise of forgiveness and redemption.

• Yet He Does Not Leave the Guilty Unpunished: This final phrase is crucial. It balances the merciful characteristics with His unchangeable justice. It reinforces that while He is full of grace, He is also a just Judge who will not compromise His holiness by letting sin go unpunished.