A Vocabulary for Praise

When the Christian studies the Scriptures, several practical things happen. His trust and confidence in God grow. His knowledge of his sinfulness increases. His understanding of God’s holy requirements expands. And, perhaps most important, he is moved to worship and praise God. This is exactly what we have seen happening to Paul as we have studied Romans 11 this month. He discussed the mysterious but infinitely wise ways of God among Jews and gentiles. Then, filled with awe and joy over the greatness of the God behind the plan of redemption, he overflowed with praise in verses 33–36, lauding such attributes of God as His knowledge, wisdom, self-sufficiency, power, and glory. It is altogether fitting that all God’s people should praise Him in this way, therefore, it is helpful for Christians to spend time studying the attributes of God, that they might expand their praise “vocabulary.” For this reason, before we move into Romans 12, we will pause briefly to focus more closely on a few of the attributes of God. The final six studies of this month will be drawn from Dr. R.C. Sproul’s “Renewing Your Mind” teaching series “The Attributes of God.”

When we examine the attributes of God, we basically are trying to define Him. This is no simple task, for when we talk about God we are talking about One who is, in an ultimate sense, sui generis—“in a class by Himself.” Therefore, He cannot be classified in the manner we might classify a plant or animal according to species, genus, and family. Yes, we can say rightly that He is a being. But while we, too, are beings, there are vast differences between God and humans. We are limited, finite, material, fallen, mutable, and so forth. He is unlimited, infinite, immaterial, holy, immutable, and much more. We are human beings; He is the Supreme Being. In fact, medieval scholars referred to Him as the ens perfectissimum—“the most perfect being.” He is the highest, most perfect idea we can contemplate.

And that is why we struggle to define God. When we begin to study His attributes, we are contemplating a subject with which we are not familiar. We are imperfect beings trying to speak meaningfully of the One who has all perfection in Himself. We can only stumble through these things. And yet, the stumbling is worth it, for it helps us to know our heavenly Father more intimately.