If you were to describe in only five words your best friend, spouse, or one of your children, which words would you use? Now let’s make this a bit more difficult. Can you describe God in just five words? How can we reduce the infinite God to just five words? Well, thankfully, He did it Himself. In His interaction with Moses on Mount Sinai, God describes Himself as "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6 NKJV).  

This description, with some variation, is used many times throughout Scripture. You may notice that the specific words vary in different English translations as well. In our May sermon series, we will look at these five attributes of God, explaining what they mean and how God displays these characteristics. We’ll also talk about how we can become more like God by learning how to live in this same way. 

Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone described you using these same characteristics? All Bible study, preaching, and teaching must ultimately result in transformed lives. Otherwise we’re just religious people becoming more religious rather than Christ-followers becoming more like Jesus. The Bible actually says we have been called to be “partakers of the divine nature.” What an amazing promise!  

2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

According to this verse, God’s power has already given us everything we need to live godly lives. As we increase in the knowledge of God, we can access more of his nature, becoming more and more like Him in every area of our lives. Too often we make Christianity overly complex. The life you and I are called to is to simply learn how to be more like God and how to resist “sinful desire.” 

So how do we become more merciful or compassionate? How can we more consistently be gracious? How does it look like to be longsuffering or slow to anger in the 21st century? How can we abound in goodness or unfailing love in our day? And how can we better display truth or faithfulness to those around us? Many things change over time—especially over centuries. But the important things don’t. These five characteristics are what is important. Let’s learn how to become more and more like God in every area of our lives!