Great is YHWH, and mighty in power; there is no limit to God’s wisdom (Psalm 147:5; TIB).
Introduction
Over many years, I have found and saved a number of clear biblical statements which tell us about God:
- God is light (1 John 1:5; NLT).
- God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; NIV).
- Yahweh is tenderness and pity (Psalm 103:8; NJB).
- Yahweh is mercy (Psalm 111:4; NJB).
- The Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (Isaiah 26:4; KJV).
- The Lord is peace (Judges 6:24; NLT).
- God is love (1 John 4:8; NLT).
- Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24; NLT).
- Christ is a life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45; NLT).
- Jesus Christ is Lord (2 Corinthians 13:3; NLT).
- Christ is the head of the church (Ephesians 5:23; NLT).
- Christ is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; NLT).
- Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
- Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (John 20:31; NLT).
- The Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6; NKJV).
- The Spirit is life (Romans 8:10; KJV).
- The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14; CSB).
In order to explore the significance of these statements, let’s reflect on how they are being used by their various writers.
Language about God: metaphorical or literal?
Throughout my life I have taken it for granted that when Biblical authors use these declarations, they are writing metaphorically. That is, they are telling us what God is like, rather than what God actually is.
However, a few days ago I suddenly saw that when we read, for example, “God is light”, these words are not being used solely metaphorically. Rather, they are also literally true. This realisation immediately upended all my previous assumptions.
So, it’s not just that God is like a light illuminating our lives and the world. Rather, God is, in fact, light itself. The statement God is light is therefore true both metaphorically and literally. In other words, God is all the light which exists, has ever existed, and will ever exist.
The same holds true for every statement on the list above. Each one shows us not solely what God is like, but also reveals a factual aspect of God’s endless, deeply mysterious Being.
For example, let’s take the second sentence, “God is a consuming fire.” This doesn’t simply tell us that God has a powerful, fiery nature. It also signifies that God is every kind of flame and fire, small or large, on earth, in the sun and stars, and everywhere throughout the whole cosmos.
Similarly, the words, “God is peace”, indicate that wherever there is peace, God is that peace.
The same is true when we consider pity, mercy, love, Lordship, and all the other known aspects of the Trinity’s Being.
Conclusion
When reading the Bible, it is vital to reflect on whether statements made about God are metaphorically true, literally true, or both. Until very recently, I had unthinkingly assumed the first view only, but now I am having to incorporate a much broader perspective into my ever-expanding faith.
I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness – secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name (Isaiah 45:3; NLT).