If someone were to ask you to name an attribute of God, what would you say? Maybe you’d say love, grace, or mercy. Maybe you’d say justice, righteousness, or holiness. These are all pretty well-known attributes of God that we hear about a lot in church, and they all describe amazing aspects of who God is. But God is so much more than love or justice (and that it definitely something to be thankful for!). God has so many wonderful characteristics, and some are not that well-known. One of these lesser-known attributes is “aseity”.
You may be asking, “What in the world is aseity?” If you’ve never heard this word before, you’re in good company. I only heard it for the first time a few months ago while listening to an episode of the Knowing Faith podcast (I definitely recommend that podcast, by the way!). The attribute of “aseity” basically means that God is both self-existent and self-sufficient. This lesser-known attribute is actually found in the very beginning of the first verse of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (ESV)
The first four words of the Bible are “In the beginning, God”. God existed in the very beginning. He created all things, which means He had to have existed before them. No being or thing created God. He existed (and still exists) by Himself. The Apostle John reiterates this message as he introduces Jesus Christ in his gospel:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made though Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)
John is writing that the Christ, the Son of God and second person of the Trinity, existed in the beginning. All things, from the universe’s largest planet to the earth’s smallest bacterium, were created through Him. John later writes that both the Father (God) and the Son (Christ) have life in themselves (John 5:26). Our God is self-existent!
Our God is also self-sufficient. He existed before all other things, which means He needs no being or thing to continue existing. The Apostle Paul hits on this point when he speaks at the Areopagus in Acts 17. He declares:
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24-25)
Paul is saying that God does not need anything else to continue existing. He sustains and preserves Himself. No human can do anything to make God’s existence better or longer. He is self-sufficient!
What does this all mean for us? Only God is self-existent and self-sufficient. God’s aseity reminds us that we are not. God created us in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:13), and He preserves and sustains us throughout our lives (Psalm 54:4). We cannot live apart from God. Theologian R.C. Sproul wrote:
“God created us, which means that from our first breath we are dependent upon Him for our very existence. What God creates, He also sustains and preserves, so we are as dependent upon God for our continuing existence as we were for our original existence.”1
Living as a true Christian in today’s world is not an easy task. When you feel weary or discouraged, remember that God created you and continues to preserve you to do His good work. Be encouraged to depend on God at all times during this crazy adventure called life to help and sustain you. He has placed you where you are for a good purpose, and He will bless and reward you for your service to Him! Praise God today:
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)
- R.C. Sproul, Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology (Sanford, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2014).
