Examine God as Personal [10 marks]
God is often described using anthropomorphic language, such as His “eyes” looking towards the
righteous, or Him “resting” on the seventh day of Creation. Despite these human attributes,
Christians generally do not believe God has any physical human features as it would limit Him
(make him conceivable, His power potentially analysable like our own). However, in the Bible it is
said that humankind is made in God’s image, which could therefore explain how our positive
human qualities - for example His ‘love was poured into human hearts’ - have come from God. As
a result, we can begin to comprehend that God is not a ‘person’ as we see Him, but an entity
whose qualities are personal to Him.
God being Personal also carries the assumption He is immanent within creation, in order to give
humankind attributes likened to His own. On one hand, this creates tension with God being
transcendent (outside of time and space) because how can He both be physically part of the
Universe and outside of it. However, it is the Godhead within the Trinity that is described as
transcendent, but each of the three persons is immanent within the Universe. As a result, the
relationship between God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can be seen as a model for Christians
to use within their own relationships. Trinitatian love can be modelled within society due to the
personal relationship God establishes with God the Son in order to save humanity.
Moreover, to describe God as Personal implies that He can have a personal relationship with a
Christian. This is practised in many ways, for example prayer and baptism. The belief that God
can communicate with humanity is solidified through the Covenant made in the Old Testament,
and the 10 Commandments that followed. As a result, Christians follow the belief that God is
Personal by following the moral standards set by a personal God (one that can be reached
through religious experience). Christians therefore try to lead moral lives because they know
God as an entity whom they can establish a personal relationship with, and help them towards
salvation.
God is often described using anthropomorphic language, such as His “eyes” looking towards the
righteous, or Him “resting” on the seventh day of Creation. Despite these human attributes,
Christians generally do not believe God has any physical human features as it would limit Him
(make him conceivable, His power potentially analysable like our own). However, in the Bible it is
said that humankind is made in God’s image, which could therefore explain how our positive
human qualities - for example His ‘love was poured into human hearts’ - have come from God. As
a result, we can begin to comprehend that God is not a ‘person’ as we see Him, but an entity
whose qualities are personal to Him.
God being Personal also carries the assumption He is immanent within creation, in order to give
humankind attributes likened to His own. On one hand, this creates tension with God being
transcendent (outside of time and space) because how can He both be physically part of the
Universe and outside of it. However, it is the Godhead within the Trinity that is described as
transcendent, but each of the three persons is immanent within the Universe. As a result, the
relationship between God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can be seen as a model for Christians
to use within their own relationships. Trinitatian love can be modelled within society due to the
personal relationship God establishes with God the Son in order to save humanity.
Moreover, to describe God as Personal implies that He can have a personal relationship with a
Christian. This is practised in many ways, for example prayer and baptism. The belief that God
can communicate with humanity is solidified through the Covenant made in the Old Testament,
and the 10 Commandments that followed. As a result, Christians follow the belief that God is
Personal by following the moral standards set by a personal God (one that can be reached
through religious experience). Christians therefore try to lead moral lives because they know
God as an entity whom they can establish a personal relationship with, and help them towards
salvation.
