There are some qualities, characteristics or perfections that only God possesses—we call them God’s incommunicable attributes.
First, only God is absolutely independent. Some have wondered where God came from. That is actually a foolish question, because God does not come from anywhere or anyone—He is. God’s existence or being does not depend on anything outside of Himself. “Neither is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25). No creature can give God anything, or add anything to Him. How different God is from us—we depend on Him for everything, whether we admit that or not!
Second, only God is absolutely one or simple. There are not many gods, but one, true, living and ever blessed God. God is not a complicated being made up of parts. He is a perfectly harmonious being; there are no contradictions, conflicts or divisions in Him. Therefore, all God’s attributes are one in Him. God’s attributes do not conflict with one another, so, for example, His mercy never contradicts His justice. How different God is from us—we are so conflicted that we do not even know our own minds!
Third, God is infinite, which means that God is not limited. This is true in two respects—time and space. God is eternal, which means that He has neither beginning or ending. Time has no effect upon God—He created time, and He is outside of time as the Eternal One. “I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6). “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2). God is also omnipresent, which means that He fills heaven and earth and the whole universe with the whole of His being. There is nowhere, where God is not. We are limited by time and space.
Fourth, God is immutable, which means He cannot change. God does not develop, change or become different from what He always is, simply because He is perfect. Because God is unchangeable, His will or purpose never changes, but is eternally the same. “I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).
Fifth, God is omniscient, which means that God knows all things. His perfect knowledge includes all past, present and future realities. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psalm 139:6). How glorious is God, whose knowledge is infinite!
Sixth, and finally, God is omnipotent or all-powerful. God’s omnipotence is His might or His ability to do all things that He wills to do. By His omnipotence, God created all things. By that same power, He upholds all things, and rules over all things. Mighty king Nebuchadnezzar was forced to confess God’s omnipotence: “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35). Another word for God’s omnipotence is His sovereignty, which means that He exercises the power and authority of a king. One who depends on His creatures, or who cannot fulfill all His will with His creation, is not the God that dwells in the heavens.
This is the God whom we confess and worship. He is incomparable in His Majesty and glory. He is infinitely above the creature. He is able to save from the lowest misery. Happy is the man whose God is the Lord!