Eternal, omnipotent, omniscient God; personal, holy, and loving Creator
The C&MA understands God as the eternal, self-existent, and infinite Creator upon whom all existence depends. God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere present), and immutable (unchanging in essence). These attributes are not mere labels but describe God's essential nature. God is also described as absolutely holy, just, and loving — these characteristics defining his character and actions in history.
God is personal and knowable, revealing himself supremely through Jesus Christ and through Scripture. The C&MA rejects impersonal conceptions of deity, emphasizing instead that God is a conscious being who acts, communicates, speaks, and relates to creation with intention and purpose. God's sovereignty is affirmed — he ordains and directs history toward his redemptive goals — yet in a way that respects human agency and moral responsibility.
Central to C&MA piety is the theme of God's love and desire for human holiness and healing. The fourfold gospel (Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, Coming King) reflects the character of God as demonstrated in Christ: reconciling sinners, transforming believers into holiness, healing broken bodies and souls, and consummating history in his kingdom.
Key Distinctions
- Theism type:
- classical monotheism — one God, infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient
- Primary divine attribute:
- holiness and love (coequal); God's nature is revealed in Christ's redemptive work
Scripture References
Sources
- C&MA Statement of Faith
- C&MA Manual, Doctrine of God