Transcendence of God
The Transcendence of God: Above and Beyond All
The transcendence of God is a fundamental part of Christian theology. His nature is above and beyond the created order of all things. This attribute emphasizes God's limitless nature as one who is not limited by the physical because He exists outside the constraints of time, space, and matter, evoking awe and reverence for His sovereignty and Holiness.
The Bible declares God's transcendent nature from before the foundation of the world. In Isaiah 55:8-9, the Lord declares, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” This passage emphasizes the vast difference between God’s divine intellect and human understanding, showcasing the fact that His thoughts, ways, and intentions exceed anything we can comprehend.
God's reign over creation is a powerful testament to His authority. Psalm 115:3 states, “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” This reassures us that God is above all and governs all according to His will, unhindered by any external forces or limitations. His sovereignty affirms that He is the ultimate authority in the universe.
Acts 17:24-25 presents a profound declaration of God’s transcendence during Paul’s address to the Athenians on Mars Hill: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” This passage reveals to us that God is not confined to physical spaces nor is He dependent on His creation. He is the Creator who exists independently, sustaining all of creation while remaining distinct from it.
Isaiah 40:22 portrays God's transcendence by illustrating His role as the Creator who rules the cosmos. “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.”
The transcendence of God declares His supremacy over all creation. Through scriptures such as Isaiah 55 and Acts 17, we see that God's ways and thoughts are far beyond ours, and He exists independently of His creation. This prompts a sense of awe and reverence to every soul who recognizes the fact that He truly is the Alpha & Omega, the Beginning & End, who transcends time, space, and matter. As His creation, may we all approach God with gratitude and humility, knowing we exist because He transcends all. Recognizing His authority and magnificence, we are inspired to worship our Creator, who transcends all and is from everlasting to everlasting. The magnificence of His nature drives us to worship Him, the Almighty Creator, who was and is and is to come, He who is above & beyond all things.
~Casey Clement
>PS. Set aside 2 minutes at the same time each day to pray to God in silence just to thank Him for creating you and giving you life.