This is a new series we are starting on the attributes of God.
Selected Scriptures
Purpose: In this session we will look at four points concerning the Aseity of God so that we know and live in the reality of the Aseity of God.
- Definition of Aseity
- Scriptural Proofs of the Aseity of God
- Examples of how the Aseity of God relate to other areas of theology
- What are the Implications from this lesson?
Definition of Aseity
- “The term aseity comes from the Latin phrase a se, meaning ‘from or by himself.”[1]
- When we are talking about God’s Asiety we are simply talking about the independence of God.
- According to Bavinck: It is the doctrine “that God is self-sufficient in everything; in his existence, in his attributes, in his decrees, and in his works.”[2]
- According to Wayne Grudem it is self-existence, and His indepdence with God’s independence defined as “God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation can glory him and bring him joy.” [3]
- Synonyms for aseity: independence, self-existence, self-sufficiency, and self-containment.”[4]
Scriptural Proofs of the Aseity of God
- God’s Aseity follows from the implication that God owns everything:
- “10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. 11 “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.” (Psalm 50:10-12)
- Note the allusion that God own His creation and creatures in verses 10-11.
- The implication is stated in verse 12: Because all things are His, He does not need to depend upon us human creatures.
- Even the Jewish religious sacrifices is not something God ultimately needs for Himself in verses 8-9.
- “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11)
- This is God speaking, answering Job.
- God owns everything and owes no one anything!
- “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;” (Acts 17:24-25)
- God does not need to dwell in man made locations (Acts 17:24)
- Notice God is not “served by human hands” (Acts 17:25)
- Notice God also does not “needed anything” (Acts 17:25)
- Notice God’s satire against false God’s for lacking Aseity in Isaiah 40:19-20, 44:15-17.
- “10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. 11 “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.” (Psalm 50:10-12)
Examples of how the Aseity of God relate to other areas of theology
- Relations to God as Creator:
- “People have sometimes thought that God created human beings because he was lonely and needed fellowship other persons. If this were true, it would certainly mean that God is not completely independent of creation. I would mean that God would need to create persons in order to be completely happy or completely fulfilled in his personal existence.”[5]
- Why is not God loneliness driving Him to create? Remember the doctrine of the Trinity!
- God’s Aseity also imply God needs nothing else to create the World, hence Creation Ex Nihlo.
- Relations to God’s Goodness:
- God does not depend on an abstract “goodness” to be God, rather goodness depends on God.
- “And his righteousness is self-justifying, based on the righteousness of his own nature and on his status as the ultimate criterion of rightness” [6]
- Relations to God’s Grace:
- Ultimately God’s grace is not based upon anything that we do; it is free from our manipulation since it is based solely on God’s own desire to be gracious to us.
- While obedience of a believer yields more blessing, understanding God’s aseity means we acknowledge that even our own obedience doesn’t have to require God to be gracious to us, as if He owes us and we can control Him.
- Relations to God’s Faithfulness:
- “God does put himself under obligation to creatures by making covenants and promises…But these obligations, based on his nature and his voluntary covenants, are self-imposed, not forced on him by creatures.”[7]
- God is faithful because He wants to be faithful!
What are the Implications from this lesson?
- If God doesn’t owe anything to us, then we should be thankful for everything God has given us; do you have thanksgiving towards God for everything?
- This doctrine should humble us!
- More knowledge often make us become prideful but meditate on the truth that all that we know depends on Him revealing Himself and truths to us, while He does not depend on us to tell Him who we are since He already knows it!
- Contrast God with who we are as creatures: We depend on God for our continual existence, while He does not depend on anything from Creation or His creatures!
- Do you comprehend the truth that God is not dependent upon creatures for our Salvation as well? Worship Him for providing 100% our salvation!
- When we serve God we should not have a man-centered attitude thinking God needs us or else; rather we should see it as a privilege to serve Him!
[1] John Frame, Doctrine of God (Phillipsburg, NJ:Presbyterian and Reformed, 2002), 600.
[2] Herman Bavinck, The Doctrine of God (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1951), 145.
[3] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 160.
[4] John Frame, Doctrine of God (Phillipsburg, NJ:Presbyterian and Reformed, 2002), 601.
[5] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 161.
[6] John Frame, Doctrine of God (Phillipsburg, NJ:Presbyterian and Reformed, 2002), 602.
[7] John Frame, Doctrine of God (Phillipsburg, NJ:Presbyterian and Reformed, 2002), 604.
Thanks for this lesson outline! “Aseity” is a new theological term for me although I’m obviously aware of the doctrine in Scripture. It’s difficult for us who are soooooo dependent upon others and, most importantly, upon God, to conceive of God as absolutely self-sufficient. He has no “need” of us, yet created us and made it possible for us to be His adopted children.
I think Aseity is a new term for some of the people during Bible study too, though I know Christians have some concept of Aseity just from reading the Word and being among Christian circles. I think this is a very important attribute of God and foundational for establishing other attributes of God too. I don’t know if the term is used also in some of the more new Systematic Theology books. Do you have any Systematic Theology books?
Nope, I don’t have any Systematic Theology books. Too advanced for my T-101 background. 🙂
This is a new word to me, also. And it makes sense if we really dive into it. It really blows a hole in those who think God exists for them. Peace!
Thanks. Love Wayne Grudem. “God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation can glory him and bring him joy.”
Blessings.
I am familiar with the concept/truth of “Aseity” but had never heard of the word before, thank you for this very instructive post Jim. My simple conclusion to this would be, “this is why we call Him Almighty God!”
A great conclusion from you, indeed this is what makes Him unique and one of the ways He is Almighty! How have you been and how have your head been these days?
Thanks for enquiring after my welfare Jim. My head seems to be behaving itself at present, praise the Lord. Although I have more broken parts than an old Ford Cortina, haha. I am on day three of a back strain which makes movement difficult and painful. The back injury is a regular occurrence thanks to my earlier years of lifting work. These things are sent to try us, polishing us up to shine brightly for Him – Hallelujah brother!😁
[…] God’s attribute: The Aseity of God […]
This is a well-researched and well-thought-of article, Jim! GOD is indeed True and Living GOD, truly independent and self-sufficient from His creation. No man conceptualized “gods” are like Him. This gives us many things to think about including the possibility of a GOD Space or Heaven for an omnipresent GOD, that is outside of creation/universe. I agree with you, it is a blessing and a GOD-given opportunity to know Him and worship Him. Nothing we could give or even do/serve that is not His, we are His creatures. Indeed, we can only be grateful especially with salvation. Blessings to you, Nancy, and your kids!
Amen to your comment. I really enjoyed teaching this attribute of God. I feel it’s foundational to some of the other attributes of God and shapes how we understand other attributes of God. This comment stands out: “ Nothing we could give or even do/serve that is not His, we are His creatures. Indeed, we can only be grateful especially with salvation.” Amen! This makes me love God more. Thank you for your prayers for my eye, it seems a lot better today after my sleep (not just nap!). I hope it’s not just good for the first few hours of today. Thank you for your prayers brother!
Reblogged this on My Logos Word.
Wonderful word of God’s nature. Great reminder of who God Is. Continue. Touched my soul.
Aww glad it minister to your soul. God is self-sufficient and we are not; We need to depend on God and Christ amen??
Amen and Amen.
A new term for a concept most Christians know about
In my world repetition is the key to learning and why I tell myself all the time “do not put God in a box. Do not limit God!” God is greater and outside any box I can make. At some point we have to come to a point of faith and say, “yes. Creator God is bigger than me, not dependent on me, does not need me.” As you say, this leads to a place of humility. Where the God of the universe, bound by nothing but Himself, took on flesh, being born of a virgin to die for me and my sins, that is beyond Good News. I cannot wrap my mind that before the Incarnation, Jesus did not look like us. Jesus bound Himself to human limitations and flesh and redeemed it for the whomsoever. I am so thankful that we are called to depend on the One who is completely, utterly, perfectly independent! Thinking about who God is absolutely thrills my soul! Love this series! Love and Blessings to you, Nancy and girls!!!
Your opening portion of the comment made me think of my professor who always said “Repetition is the key to learning, the key to learning is repetition, so guys repetition is what?” and the class answer “Key to learning!” Thanks for invoking that memory, a pleasant one. I love how you said “Jesus did not look like us. Jesus bound Himself to human limitations and flesh and redeemed it for the whomsoever.” It is so profound to think of that and quite moving; it makes me want to love Jesus more. I am glad you got to join us yesterday. It felt from hearing the prayer requests last night that many are concern and aware of the difficult situation the US is in, along with remembering the spiritual dimension of national events. That I’m grateful for to see. I think you sharing things also made it seems more surreal since you live closer to our nation’s capital. Good prayer requests by the way, one we all need to pray for. How’s your day going so far?
I think many believers feel it. The invisible civil war in this country is becoming visible, it is here and it is real. God tells us to be prepared for this moment, may we rise to glorify him. I never imagined Gov Wolf would send 1000 PA national guard members to DC until the inauguration on Jan 20. Jimmy, I really do want to stay behind Jesus and follow Him in all of this. I am also asking God to show me and prepare me to stand up in confident resistance to the “tolerance” that Christians are going to be asked/mandated to accept.
My day is good because I stayed up for study last night. I have thought about the Aseity of God all day. God totally isn’t dependent on me because I sure didn’t know that the invisible, spiritual war would be made so manifest in my lifetime, not just here in the States but throughout the world. May the person who doesn’t know Jesus reading this post and comments section have today be the day of salvation. Seek Jesus while there’s still time!
Knowing who God is and us in this light sure matters. Thanks Jim for a very clear presentation
Gary thank you for reading this. Every Wednesday on the blog I’ll be posting outlines from our Midweek Bible study on the Attributes of God. How are you doing these days?
Doing well here Jim. Taking a lot of guys ice fishing lately and connecting well. Bracing for high winds and snow tomorrow..
You’re welcome again, Jim! True, GOD’s Aseity and Uniqueness is foundational as it gives us the understanding that we cannot compare GOD to anything we’ve known nor limit GOD to what we’ve known about Him like what Mandy said. So, with GOD, it is about TRUSTing Him even if we can’t find answers to Who He Is; GOD’s election included.
His attributes are amazing. I love how you show aseity shapes other attributes of God!
I preached on this topic before. It’s refreshing indeed. Have you checked on Dolesal’s work on this?
I have not finish his books but I have and am consulting his book on Divine Simplicity and also his book “All that is in God.” Were you referring to All that is in God? Did you read or have both?
Yes brother and also “God without parts”. Great read!
Thanks much…I learned the attribute of Aseity when I read, “None Greater” by Matthew Barrett…what an Awesome God, He is! Looking forward to your attributes series. 🙌🙌🙌
It’s a foundational attribute to the other Attributes of Classical Theism
Thanks for this brother Jimmy.
What do you think about Frame’s book on the Doctrine of God?
Arne! Grateful to see your comment here. I immensely enjoyed Frame’s Doctrine of God; actually I enjoy all 4 of his volume in the Theology of Lordship series. I probably have grown the last year and half to hold more strongly Classical Theism than Frame does but still I think Frame is a must read for me. In addition I think he’s impacted me very much in being conscious of theological methods and also the inter-relationship between doctrines. Even with works that are much more stronger in Classical Theism or Divine Simplicity I still think Frame’s discussion about the biblical basis for Divine Simplicity is still good though I think the way of configuring it I am more with the historic presentation of Classical Theism. Hope that answer your question? Let me know what you think of Frame’s DG if you have read it or his theology proper in general…always grateful for your input brother
I have not heard or read asiety in some time. My memory kicked in but it was nice having the definition for assurance. And your conclusions are spot on. As Screwtape said God really loves those little bipeds. That is indeed humbling.
[…] https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/gods-attribute-the-aseity-of-god/ […]