In this article, we will discuss the eternality of God. We will notice that the Bible reveals God to be eternal. The creation reveals God to be eternal. Jesus Christ reveals the eternal Father. There are things said to be eternal. The eternality of God is a subject that can cause “weariness to the flesh” (Ecclesiastes 12:12) because the well is so deep. It can be a subject that is hard to grasp, but it is a beneficial study for a serious student of the word. Let us consider some thoughts as we study together.
The Bible reveals God to be eternal. Moses wrote that God is everlasting in Psalm 90:2. Our hope rests in the eternality of God. Paul wrote, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen” (Romans 16:25-27 NASB95).[i] Moses referred to God as eternal and everlasting. “The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He drove out the enemy from before you, And said, 'Destroy!'” (Deuteronomy 33:27 NASB95). Abraham called on the name of the everlasting God. “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33 NAS95). Regarding “the Everlasting God”, John MacArthur wrote it is “A divine name appropriately signifying to Abraham the unbreakable and everlasting nature of the covenant God had made with him, notwithstanding his being only a resident alien and a sojourner in the land” (MacArthur E-Sword Module).[ii]
This is not all the Word says about God’s eternality. The prophecies, miracles, and dealings with mankind all point to God’s eternality. God’s word is described wonderfully in Psalm 19 and Psalm 119. In fact, Psalm 19:7-11 says, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward” (Psalms 19:7-11 NASB95). I like what the late R.C. Sproul wrote in his book “Everyone’s A Theologian”, “Scripture is given to us not merely as an abstract doctrine; it comes to us as God’s divine Word, designed for edification, reproof, correction, and instruction, that we may be fully equipped as men and women of God” (Sproul 43).[iii] We can see the abundance of evidence that displays the eternality of God within the very word of God itself so that we are indeed without excuse. We can shout the words of David who said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the LORD!” (Psalms 106:48 NASB95).
The creation reveals God’s eternality. Creation reveals the Eternal Cause which is God. David wrote, “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalms 33:9 NASB95). When I look at the creation of our world and the universe, mind returns to the very words of David in Psalm 8. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalms 8:3-4 NASB95). Regarding the Eternal Cause, brother Roy Lanier Sr. wrote, “John tells us that God was in the beginning and that nothing was made that was not made by him John 1:1-3). Moses says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). If God created all things, it follows that (1) God is not a created thing; (2) he existed before all material things; and (3) he is independent of and transcends all matter. Moses said God is "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psa. 90:2). If we draw a large circle to represent unending duration, then we put a tiny parenthesis on that circle to represent time from the beginning of Genesis 1:1 to "then cometh the end" of First Corinthians 15:24, we will see that time is a small period between two vast eternities. Being self-existent, the uncaused Being, God has no beginning and will have no end” (Lanier Sr 56).[iv]
I love what David said in Psalm 19 regarding creation and God’s eternality. As a comparison, we will observe the Legacy Standard Bible on this passage: “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat” (Psalms 19:1-6 LSB).[v] I used the LSB here to show that the creation is continuing to tell of the eternal glory of God. Other translations say “the heavens declare..”, but the LSB brings out the continuous action of the glory of creation.
We also notice to that the creation of the eternal spirit of man declares God’s eternality as well. Genesis 2:7 reads, “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7 NASB95). God gave man a spirit that does not cease to exist. The Bible simply does not teach annihilation or a ceasing to exist. It teaches that man will continue to exist and this declares the eternal God who created it.
Jesus Christ revealed the Father’s eternity. John’s gospel reveals “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18 NASB95). We know this is true for God Himself said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" (Exodus 33:20 NASB95). Regarding seeing God’s face, John Gill wrote “if there was to be such a revelation made of the grace and goodness, and glory of God in Christ, as it really is in itself, it would be too much for mortals in the present state to bear; it would break their earthen vessels in pieces; the full discovery therefore is reserved to a future state, when these things will be seen as they are, and men will be in a condition to receive them; otherwise we find that men have, in a sense, seen the face of God in this life, and have lived; though many, and even good men, have been possessed with such a notion, that if a man saw God he must die” (Gill E-Sword Module).[vi] We long for the day to see the face of God (1 John 3:2).
Jesus came to show us the Father and so He did. Christ has the same characteristics that the Father has. Isaiah writes, “ For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NASB95). Jesus reveals to us that He is the I AM. "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24 NASB95). You will notice in the text that “He” is italicized which means that it is not in the original manuscript. Jesus literally claims to be deity as the Father revealed this name to Moses in Exodus 3.
There are things said to be eternal that reveal the eternality of God. God’s purpose is eternal (Titus 1:2). The spirit of man is eternal (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The mercy of God is eternal (Psalm 103:17). The word of God is eternal (Hebrews 13:20; Matthew 24:35). Our redemption is said to be eternal (Hebrews 9:12). Our salvation is also said to be eternal (Hebrews 5:9). The Kingdom of God is eternal (2 Peter 1:11). Life is revealed to be eternal (John 17:3). Our inheritance is eternal (Hebrews 9:15). All of these truths are founded upon and teach the eternality of God. Moses wrote, “Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalms 90:2 NASB95).
We have looked at the eternality of God and have noted the following: (1) the Bible reveals God to be eternal; (2) creation reveals God to be eternal; (3) Christ revealed the Father to be eternal; and (4) there are things said to be eternal that reveal the eternality of God. It is my prayer that this helps us to appreciate and grow in our faith as we consider God and eternity. I want to conclude this study with the words of the late Puritan George Swinnock who wrote, “It is not proper to say of God He was, for none of His duration is ever past with Him; or He shall be, for none of His duration is ever to come. But He is; His full eternity is always present. Hence His name is I Am (Ex. 3:14), not I was or shall be. And Christ tells the Jews, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). It seems false grammar, but it is most proper true divinity” (Smith 206).[vii]
End Notes
[i] “Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”
[ii] MacArthur, John MacArthur Bible Commentary. Electronic Edition. 2005
[iii] Sproul, R. C. Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. Ligonier Ministries, 2019.
[iv] Lanier, Roy H. The Timeless Trinity For The Ceaseless Centuries. Sain Publications, 2008.
[v] Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.
[vi] Gill, John John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible Electronic Edition
[vii] Smith, Dale W. Ore From The Puritan’s Mine. Reformation Heritage Books, 2020.
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