Character of God Revealed in Human Experience
The character of God is revealed in human experience through various means, including the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. According to 1 Timothy 3:16, the incarnation is a mystery of godliness, where "God was manifested in flesh, was justified in Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory" [2]. This manifestation of God in human form is a central theme in Christian theology, highlighting God's willingness to engage with humanity.
The biblical account of God's interactions with humanity provides insight into God's character. In Exodus 34:5-9, Moses experiences God's presence in a revelation of God's name, or character, emphasizing God's personal name, Yahweh [4]. This encounter demonstrates God's desire to be known and understood by humanity. Similarly, in Ezekiel 1:26-27, the prophet Ezekiel beholds a vision of God in human form, signifying God's presence and judgment [5].
The apostle Paul writes that the Spirit searches the deep things of God, revealing them to believers (1 Corinthians 2:10) [3]. This revelation enables humans to understand God's character and will. Furthermore, the testimony of God concerning his Son is greater than human testimony (1 John 5:9) [1]. The incarnation and the work of the Spirit are closely tied, as the Spirit justifies Christ and proclaims him among the nations (1 Timothy 3:16) [2].
Different Christian traditions interpret the character of God revealed in human experience in various ways. For instance, the Methodist/Wesleyan tradition emphasizes the renewing work of God in humanity, citing Colossians 3:10, which speaks of being "renewed in knowledge" [7]. In contrast, the Baptist/Reformed tradition focuses on the mystery of the incarnation, highlighting the union of divine and human natures in Christ (1 Timothy 3:16) [6].
The biblical account and Christian traditions collectively reveal a God who is actively engaged with humanity, desiring to be known and understood. The character of God is thus revealed through the person of Jesus Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the experiences of believers throughout history. As God's people encounter him, they come to understand his character, which is marked by goodness, glory, and a desire for relationship with humanity [4, 5].
Sources
- I John “I John 5:9 (LEB) — If we receive the testimony of people, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son.”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 3:16 (LITV) — And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in flesh, was justified in Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.”
- 1 Corinthians “But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. -- 1 Corinthians 2:10”
- Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 34:5: 34:5-9 Moses experienced God’s presence in a revelation of the name, or character, of God. As God had promised (33:19), he showed Moses the glory of his goodness. 34:5-6 Yahweh: Here God is emphasizing his personal name.”
- Ezek (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezek 1:26: 1:26-27 On the throne of God was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. Ezekiel’s ability to describe the scene was overwhelmed by the magnificence of the sight. This human form revealed the Lord’s overpoweringly radiant glory that had once filled the Tabernacle and the Temple as a visible manifestation of God’s presence (cp. Dan 7:9-10; Rev 1:12-17). While God’s awesome presence in human form comforts his faithful people, it signifies inevitable judgment for those who are disobeying him. This vision presages God’s coming to earth as a man in Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,.... What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical g”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man - See on Rom 12:1-2 (note). Is renewed in knowledge - Ignorance was the grand characteristic of the heathen state; Knowledge, of the Christian. The utmost to which heathenism could pretend was a certain knowledge of nature. How far this went, and how much it fell short of the truth, may be seen in the writings of Aristotle and Pliny. Christianity reveals God himself, the author of nature; or, rather, God has revealed himself, in the Christian system with which he has blessed mankind. Christianity teaches a man the true knowledge both ”