LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Wonder of Hashem
Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Michael Vlach
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 525 B11
Systematic Theology 1
by
Gaspar Cortez
September 17, 2023
Contents
Contents ............................................................................................................
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Application: Curriculum Project ......................................................................
1
Introduction ....................................................................................................
1
Attribute 1 - Eternal ........................................................................................
2
Attribute 2 - Omnipotent ................................................................................
3
Attribute 3 - Omniscient .................................................................................
5
Attribute 4 – Unchanging ................................................................................
6
Attribute 5 - Love ............................................................................................
8
Conclusion ......................................................................................................
9
Bibliography .................................................................................................
10
1
Application: Curriculum Project
This is a one-day course instruction on the Wonder of Hashem. It will go over key
attributes as to the nature of Hashem. The target audience is new believers in the faith with a
mature age 18 and up.
Introduction
What is an attribute? Well according to the online Cambridge Dictionary, it is a quality or
characteristic that someone or something has. It is also a quality or feature of a person or thing,
esp. one that is an important part of its nature, and I will add both outwardly in the physical and
inwardly in the spiritual if you will (Cambridge Dictionary, s.v. “Attribute” [accessed Sep. 16,
2023, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/attribute?q=attribute]). Let’s think
about that for a second, especially the second part of that definition. It is an important part of
its nature. In order to truly understand the significance of this, let us look at it in terms of who
you are. For example:
(Looking at an audience member, choose and describe their attributes to show their features)
Now that we have an understanding of the physical, let us move on to characteristics or
who we are or what our nature is. Are you loving, caring, respectful? Do you have humility? Are
you humble? Are you just? In a nutshell, how do you think? How do you hold yourself when no
one is looking? These are all attributes we have and adapt as we need to because we are
human.
But, what about Hashem?
As believers in Hashem and His Son Messiah Yeshua, we should have an idea of who our
Abba, Father is. But why should we know these? Why should we understand what they mean
when we talk about them or hear them in conversation? And the answer is simple because we
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want a relationship with Him. In order to have a relationship with your spouses, you have to
know them, do you not? I guess you do not have to, but how awful would that be. In the
context of scripture, knowing someone comes from a deeper level. Adam knew Eve and they
conceived a child (Gen 4:1). In this context, knowing is to truly understand who they are, to feel
their pain, to love what they love, to hurt when they hurt, and to hate what they hate. In a
nutshell, it’s to truly understand their why’s. If we really knew our Father in heaven a little
better, I guarantee we would be a bit more obedient to Him and all things He says to us through
His set-apart and holy Scriptures.
For this course, we will go over some attributes of Hashem. There are so many attributes
to who He is, so for brevity, we will go over six of them that every believer must understand.
First, He is Eternal. Second, He is unchanging. Third, He is omnipresent. Fourth, He is
omniscient. And finally, something that all these add up to; the most important attribute that as
disciples of Messiah we must understand He is love.
Attribute 1 - Eternal
Preliminary Questions:
1) What does Eternal mean?
2) Can you give an example to explain eternal?
He is eternal. (Look into the audience and ask them) What does that mean? What is
eternal? I like the way the Lexham Bible Dictionary states it. The term םָלK ֹוע (o-lam) means
“forever, “always,”, “everlasting,” “eternal,” “ancient,”, “perpetual,” etc… It essentially means
distant or concealed time ranging from a lifespan to the furthest time imaginable (Lexham Bible
Dictionary, s.v. “Eternity/Measurable Time” [accessed Sep 16, 2023, Logos]). One of the best
images for eternal that I like to think of is the helicopter at a parade. You are sitting at street
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level at a point where you are seeing what is currently passing by you, but the helicopter can
see what has passed you (the past), it can see what you see (present), and it can see what is to
come and the end of it all (future). This is how Hashem sees things from His view point, but
even more He is in all three at the same time.
He has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in His own being, He is absolutely
timeless.1 In the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB), the prophet Isaiah tells us “He lives forever”
(57:15). In the original Hebrew the word for “live” is ן֥ ֵ
כR S ֹׁשU (so-ken) and means to inhabit, to
settle down, to abide, or to dwell.2 If we think of eternal in this context, Hashem’s being, His
deity is in the eternal, meaning that all things are equally and always present to him, with Him
duration is an eternal now.3 He is in the infinite and cannot be contained. He is everlasting and
forever, which brings me to the next attribute of Hashem, He is omnipotent.
Attribute 2 – Omnipotent
Preliminary Questions:
1) What is omnipotent?
2) What are some Scriptures that confirm Hashem’s omnipotence?
3) Is there anything Hashem cannot do?
This is the first of three “omni” or “all” as is translated in the Latin, attributes that
characterize Hashem. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as having unlimited power and able
to do anything (Cambridge Dictionary, s.v. “Omnipotent” [accessed Sep. 16, 2023,
1 Wayne Grudem, “Guide to the Attributes of G-d,” Zondervan Academic (online), May 17, 2018, accessed
Sep. 16, 2023, https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/attributes-of-god.
2 “7931. Shakan or shaken,” Biblehub.com, n.d., accessed Sep. 16, 2023,
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7931.htm.
3 Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1973), 1:385. In Peter Sammons,
“The Eternal God of a Vanishing Creation: Recovering the Doctrine of Divine Timelessness,” The Master’s Seminary
Journal 31, no. 2 (Fall 2020): 189–211, accessed Sep. 16, 2023, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLAiREM210208000687&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/ omnipotent]). Imagine having an unlimited
power in the known universe and beyond, yet having the discipline and wisdom to know when
and how to use it. Millar J. Erickson in his book Systematic Theology defines it as Hashem being
able to do all things that are proper objects of His power.4 And this is only reinforced by
powerful biblical images and titles of creator, ruler, warrior, and judge, the Elohim of our faith
wears the epithet "LORD" appropriately.5
The Scriptures confirm Hashem’s omnipotence by saying He can do whatever it is He
pleases (Ps. 115:3). Everything He says has come to pass or will come to pass. But there are a
few things He cannot do. He cannot lie, He cannot perform immoral actions, He cannot do
anything evil, and He cannot contradict anything He says in His Word.6
His omnipotence is an attribute so many cannot comprehend. Unbelievers will argue: if
Hashem was so powerful then why is there evil in the world. Yet what they do not understand is
that having this infinite power and allowing a creation, His children to make their own decisions,
their own choices, shows a power that is infinite and gentle. And it is this gentle power that
truly shows what a great Hashem He really is.
Attribute 3 – Omnipresent/Omniscient
Preliminary Questions:
1) What is omnipresent?
4 Millard J. Erickson, Systematic Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 246.
5 Patrick D. Miller, “Hallelujah! The Lord God Omnipotent Reigns,” Theology Today 53, no. 1 (April 1996):
1–4, accessed Sep 16, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=
ATLA0001010253&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
6 John M. Frame, “The Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence of God,” The Gospel Coalition,
n.d., accessed Sep. 17, 2023, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/omnipotence-omniscience-
omnipresencegod/.
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2) What is omniscience?
3) How can one know all things?
4) Why is omniscience hard to comprehend?
What does these mean? Let us define these words to begin to understand what they
mean. We will not get into omnipresent as much as the others, just understand that it means
Hashem is everywhere; He is present in all matters of His creation and sees all things. This
attribute is connected to the other “omnis” because in order to know all things, one must have
“all power” and have “all knowledge” as we will see.
Omniscient comes from the two words in the Latin, “Omnis,” meaning “all,” and
“scientia,” meaning “knowledge.” When we use this word omniscient, as believers we mean to
say that Hashem knows all things, including in the past, present, and future.7 He knows all things
immediately, simultaneously, and exhaustively.8 A.W. Tozer wrote in The Pursuit of God, “He is
omniscient, which means that He knows in one free and effortless act all matter, all spirit, all
relationships, all events.”9
As a believer this can be one of the hardest ideas about Hashem to comprehend. We
work hard to truly understand this idea, and this is why sin is a difficult issue to overcome. Deep
in our hearts, we know that Hashem is omniscient, but we spend time attempting to override
that concern by telling ourselves, “Hashem knows my heart, He understands what I am going
through, and what I’m working with.”10 And that is absolutely true, He knows exactly what you
7 Penny Noyes, “What Does it Mean That God Is Omniscient?,” Christianity.com, Nov. 18, 2019, accessed
Sep. 16, 2023, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/all-knowing-god.html.
8 Rabbi Loren Jacobs, “God’s Attributes: God’s Omniscience,” Congregation Shema Yisrael (Online), May
28, 2013, accessed Sep. 16, 2023, https://shema.com/gods-attributes-gods-omniscience-3039/.
9 A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, ebook (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 2008), 39.
10 Henry M. Morris III, “God is Omniscient,” Institute for Creation Research, Apr. 29, 2021, accessed Sep
16, 2023, https://www.icr.org/article/god-omniscient.
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are going through, but at the same time, He also has a standard in which He set from the
beginning. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and we should understand that our
knowledge is incomplete because we are not “all powerful,” nor are we present everywhere at
all times.
Attribute 4 – Unchanging
Preliminary Questions:
1) What is change?
2) Why do we accuse Hashem of changing?
3) What are some passages of Scripture that show an unchanging Hashem?
In the book of Malachi, we are told that Hashem does not change (3:6). Ya’acov (James)
reiterates the same thing when he states, “Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither
variation nor darkness caused by turning” (1:17, Complete Jewish Bible). The KJV uses the
terminology, …“with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” The NIV states, …
“who does not change like shifting shadows.” The prophet Isaiah whom our Messiah quoted
from often tells us that all things will fade, but His Word will stand forever (40:8). There’s that
word in which we just went over, eternal or forever. This is the whole context for the attribute of
unchanging; is that it lasts forever, not until, but time everlasting.
This is an attribute that unfortunately with time has come to mean change whether the
contemporary church wants to admit it or not. Many arguments have come and gone on this
subject of change, and one that I hear consistently is how Abraham was able to change
Hashems mind before He burned Sodom and Gomorrah. The Scriptures tell us that Abraham
was able to begin to negotiate with Hashem; he was able to take Hashem from 50 righteous
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people (Gen. 18:24) down to only 10 righteous people (18:32). What if I told you Hashem
already knew (all knowing) there were less than 10 righteous people in the city, and He was
testing Abraham.
Another important thing to understand is that Hashem’s Son, the Messiah Yeshua was
sent to fulfill what He was sent to do and save mankind through redemption. However, Yeshua
cannot change what the Father has already put into motion (Jn. 4:34; 6:38), in fact He can only
confirm what the Father has put into motion (Isa. 42:21). Here is the key to understand, if
Yeshua came to change anything, even to the yod or tittle (Mt. 5:17-21), then it would
contradict what Hashem said through Moshe and the prophets, when He says His Word is
everlasting (Gen.
17:7; 17:13; Ex. 31:16; Ps. 105:8; 119:89; Is. 40:8; 1 Pt. 1:25).
Before moving on to the next subject let us also define righteousness according to the
Scriptures. The reason we need this definition is that Hashem’s righteousness never changes
and to understand the next two attributes, we must understand how He defines righteousness.
According to the Scriptures, it is defined in Deuteronomy as following and observing every one
of His commands (6:25). Shaul reiterates this idea in the book of Romans by telling us the
Messiah (the Torah made flesh [Jn. 1:14]) is the end goal of the Torah, to bring righteousness to
everyone (10:4).
Attribute 5 - Love
Preliminary Questions:
1) What does it mean that Hashem is love?
2) What does love consist of?
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Sam Storms in his essay on “The Love of God,” defines God’s love as the benevolent
disposition or inclination in Hashem that stirs him to bestow both physical and spiritual benefits
upon those created in His image (and is thus in this respect synonymous with grace), the most
exalted of all such benefits is Hashem’s selfless gift of Himself to His creatures in Messiah
Yeshua.11 The Scriptures as are His love letter to us. Billy Graham says that Hashem doesn’t
simply love us because we are loveable or worthy, because we are not, but because He is love
and His love is unconditional for us.12
Love as a character trait consists of many traits including mercy, grace, patience, justice,
as well as sacrifice. All throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament) and the New Testament we see
these traits playing out in the story of redemption. Isaiah tells us that the mountains may leave
and the hills will be removed, but His grace will never leave us, and His covenant of peace will
not be removed, because He has compassion for us (54:10). Jeremiah tells us that He has an
everlasting love and that His grace will draw us to Him (31:3). David in the Psalms tells us that
Hashem loves righteousness and justice, and the earth is full of His grace (33:5). And John, tells
us about the sacrifice the Father made for us because of His love for us (Jn. 3:16).
As believers we must come to understand His love is who He is and begin to act within
that context. He has given us everything we need in this life and all He asks in return is for our
obedience, for us to return that love. If someone gave everything they had for you, would you
not want to return with the same measure? But even when we do not do so, He still loves us.
This is why He is truly set apart and holy.
11 Sam Storms, “The Love of God,” The Gospel Coalition, n.d., accessed Sep. 17, 2023,
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-love-of-god/.
12 Billy Graham, “Attributes of God: Love,” Training Center at the Cove, n.d., accessed Sep. 17, 2023,
https://thecove.org/blog/attributes-of-god-love/
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Conclusion
To conclude this course on the attributes of Hashem, we can see that without
understanding some of these our view may be incomplete on just who He is. These are only a
few of the many, but with a bit of due diligence in wanting to know who He is, we can all have a
better understanding of who He is. We may never fully grasp just who He is, but we can try our
hardest, because that is what love truly is.
Bibliography
Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
Frame, John M. “The Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence of God.” The Gospel
Coalition. N.D. Accessed Sep. 17, 2023. Https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/
omnipotence-omniscience-omnipresence-god/.
Graham, Billy. “Attributes of God: Love.” Training Center at the Cove, N.D. Accessed Sep. 17,
2023. Https://thecove.org/blog/attributes-of-god-love/.
10
Grudem, Wayne. “Guide to the Attributes of G-d.” Zondervan Academic (online). May 17, 2018.
Accessed Sep. 16, 2023. Https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/attributes-of-god.
Hodge, Charles Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1973.
Jacobs, Loren. “God’s Attributes: God’s Omniscience.” Congregation Shema Yisrael (Online).
May 28, 2013. Accessed Sep. 16, 2023. https://shema.com/gods-attributes-
godsomniscience-3039/.
Miller, Patrick D. “Hallelujah! The Lord God Omnipotent Reigns.” Theology Today 53, no. 1 (April
1996): 1–4. Accessed Sep 16, 2023. Https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLA0001010253&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Morris III, Henry M. “God is Omniscient.” Institute for Creation Research. Apr. 29, 2021.
Accessed Sep 16, 2023, https://www.icr.org/article/god-omniscient.
Noyes, Penny. “What Does it Mean That God Is Omniscient?.” Christianity.com. Nov. 18, 2019,
Accessed Sep. 16, 2023. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/god/all-knowing-god.html.
Sammons, Peter. “The Eternal God of a Vanishing Creation: Recovering the Doctrine of Divine
Timelessness.” The Master’s Seminary Journal 31, no. 2 (Fall 2020): 189–211. Accessed
Sep. 16, 2023. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=
ATLAiREM210208000687&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Storms, Sam. “The Love of God.” The Gospel Coalition. N.D. Accessed Sep. 17, 2023.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-love-of-god/.
Tozer, A. W. The Pursuit of God. Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 2008.
