The Eternal Nature Of God

What This Means

            When we speak of God as being eternal, what we mean is that He has no beginning and no end. God has always existed. He was not created, did not spring out of nothing, but has always existed. Moses declared that God is from forever to forever. “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:1–2) He tells us that there is no God before Him, and none after Him (Isaiah 43:10). This is why Jesus is spoken of as being Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8): Alpha is the beginning of the Greek alphabet, and Omega is the ending of it. There is no pre-Alpha, nor is there a post-Omega. Neither is there any God other than the One who is eternal, having neither beginning nor end of life.

How We Know This To Be True

            There is only one way that we know anything about God, and that is through Him revealing Himself to us. Paul said, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33–36) God is past knowing, unless He chooses to make Himself known. We only know God through His revelation of Himself, which comes to us in two ways: general revelation and special revelation.

            In general revelation, God makes Himself known to us in nature. Both nature around us, and our own nature, testify to us of the eternal existence of God. Paul told the Romans, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:18–21) Man has the knowledge of God within himself. Man is born with the knowledge of God. He also sees the testimony of God’s existence in the Creation. The person who takes the time to consider recognizes the folly of the evolutionary idea that all that is in the world came into being by time and chance. There must be a Creator who is all powerful and was before all things, and thus eternal.

            God also makes Himself known to us by special revelation, which is His speaking to us in His Word and in His Son. Jesus made God known to us (John 1:1-4,14018). The Scriptures are God’s making Himself known to us also (2 Timothy 3:14-17;Deuteronomy 29:29;2 Peter 1:16-21). This is why Jesus said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.   Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:12-15) (KJV) We know God because His Word tells us of Him.

God Alone Is Eternal

            Remember that God is the Creator of all things. Life comes from Him. There is none before Him and there is none after Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8). This means that the eternal nature of God differs from the eternal life that we have. In fact, note His words through John: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:1–3) The eternal life that God has is prior to all other life. This means that God is alone in having no beginning. This is one thing that sets Him apart from all other gods (See Isaiah 43:10-13). This is why Paul spoke of Him as being the sole possessor of immortality (1 Timothy 6:15).

            God’s eternal nature is the source of our eternal life. The life was made known to us (1 John 1:1-3), and we partake in that life by it being given to us (John 1:1-5;17:1-3). When we are born again, the eternal life which we receive is derivative. It is not original to us, but is the gift of God (See John 3:16-18,36). “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20–21) We do not attain to the same level as God, but are the humble recipients of His gift of life (Romans 6:23), and Christ Jesus is our life (See Colossians 3:1-4).

Practical Application

            There are many things to learn from this great truth, but I shall focus on three important things:

1.     Humility. This truth should humble us by causing us to realize just how little and helpless that we are. “For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)

2.     Worship. This should lead us to worship God by seeking Him when we have needs. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:” (James 1:5–9) “Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:16–17)

3. Trusting Him for eternal life. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)