If someone were to ask you, who is God? or what is God? What would you say? Could you begin to answer them? Many correct thoughts may be offered here, but I want to propose a foundational framework by which you could begin to answer this question and build upon it for future understanding.

Before we begin, it must be pointed out that our frameworks for understanding God in all His glory are not perfect. There are at least four classification frameworks used to understand God’s attributes. These four may be reduced to two simplified groups: (1) who God is and has been forever and as distinct from everything else and (2) who God is as manifested in relationship to objects.

Generally stated, God is usually classified in His nature and the expression of it to objects. But even that is far too simple and imprecise to say. Nonetheless, it is helpful to have some kind of human-dimensional framework to think of the infinite and invisible God (similar to the Bible’s use of anthropomorphisms). Therefore, I propose a foundational and imperfect framework which begins to think of God in terms of His nature, characteristics of His nature, and actions that reveal His nature.

God’s Nature

When asked who is God, I propose we start with the truth that God is spirit (John 4:24). As spirit, we rightly think of God as having a non-corporeal existence, which is to say that He does not have a physical body or parts or dimensions like we do. Rather, God is invisible and not confined by space nor existing of matter. This is why Jesus talks of not worshiping in one location, for God is not confined to one location. From this let us begin to build (or better yet grow).

God is spirit who has revealed Himself as the Father (Rom. 1:7), the Son (John 1:1), and the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14). He is one God (Isaiah 45:5) expressed in three persons (Matthew 28:19–20). Each person is fully God, but distinguishable within the one God. You might visualize the framework so far like this:

Characteristics of God’s Nature

Along with the truth that God is spirit revealed as triune, are further essential characteristics to His nature. While all of God’s characteristics are essential to His nature—such as being spirit—I have chosen to imprecisely describe it this way for the sake of finding a simple place to begin. From the truth that God is spirit and triune, we note that He is self-existent. God depends on no one else for His existence (Acts 17:24– 25). Furthermore, He is eternal. There was never a point in time in which God did not exist (Psalm 90:2). He always was, is, and will be. Additionally, God doesn’t change.

Creation will wear out like a garment and be changed, but God will never change (Psalm 102:25–27). As a self-existing, unchanging, and eternal spirit existing in a Trinity, God is also omniscient (Psalm 139:1–6), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7–12), and omnipotent (Genesis 18:14). He knows all things, is fully everywhere, and can do anything that is an object of His power.

Moreover, He is morally perfect (Psalm 118:29). Our updated framework now looks like this:

Actions that Reveal God’s Being

Our framework ends with actions that reveal the nature of God. Among these are the truth that God is creator, sustainer, judge, and redeemer of all things. All creation comes from God, is sustained by Him, and is answerable to Him as judge. But the news is good! For our creator and judge has also become our redeemer and savior through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Our foundational framework is now complete and even contains the gospel!

So who is God? Great question! He is a noncorporeal spirit existing as three distinct yet co-equal persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—who is self-existing, unchanging, eternal, and morally perfect, who created all things, will judge all things, and seeks covenant relationship with mankind through Jesus Christ.

This framework may feel overwhelming at first glance. But so was our first language when we were young. Nevertheless, through practice we learned, memorized, and now speak well. Let that be the case with learning the beautiful and foundational truths of God.