As I was putting this together, I realized that certain aspects about God seemed to group themselves together, some even overlapped. Therefore, in addition to encouraging you to study these topics further via word studies, etc. I have arranged them into clusters that made sense to me.

As you compare the characteristics within each cluster, they will shed light on each other. As you contrast the different clusters, you will have a balanced picture of God. This comparing and contrasting will also shed further light on different aspects of God. Again, it is similar to a diamond's facets, one reflects the light of the other, changing it in one way or another.

In addition, if you are ministering, using the clusters can help magnify the effects of knowing God. One could use the contrasting clusters to help balance the image that one has of God. As we keep the contrasts in balance, we maintain a balanced view of God. Many cults and non-believers have unbalanced views of Him. Many disagreements over doctrine in the Church are caused by overemphasizing certain aspects of God while minimizing or ignoring others. As we begin to realize that both sides are true and biblical and to not try to explain away the parts we disagree with, the whole Body of Christ will benefit.

- CLUSTERS -

BENEFITS Assurance, Covenant, Faithful, Finisher, Giver, Good, Grace, Habitation, Healer, Heaven, Joy, Justifier, Knowledge, Loves, Mercy, Life, Power, Savior, Shepherd, Victorious, Wonders

BODY PARTS Anger (Nostrils), Arms, Jesus-pre and post incarnation, Knowledge (Ears and Eyes), Lord (Feet), Present (Face)

CHAMPION Advocate, Anger, Arm, Assurance, Calls, Coming, Creator, Exalted, Father, Faithful, Finisher, Glory, Habitation, Healer, Holy, I AM, Jesus-pre and post incarnation, Judge, Life, Lord, Name, Power, Savior, Victorious, Wonders

COMMUNICATOR Creator, Knowledge, Light, Shepherd, Speaks

EMOTIONS Anger, Good, Joy, Knowledge, Limited, Love, Mercy

FREE WILL Good, Grace, Holy, Limited, Love, Mercy, Reconciler, Savior

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Assurance, Faithfulness, Humble, Good, Holy, Joy, Life, Light, Love, Mercy

GENTLE Advocate, Builder, Humble, Jesus, Limited, Mercy, Patient

INFINITE Calls, Creator, Eternal, Exalted, Faithful, Glory, Heaven, Holy, I AM, Judge, Knowledge, Light, Lord, None Like, Power, Present, Unsearchable, Wonders

INTELLIGENCE Builder, Calls, Creator, Eternal, Father, Finisher, Judge, Knowledge, Light, Lord, None Like, Shepherd, Speaks, Unsearchable

LIFE Assurance, Builder, Creator, Father, Finisher, Giver, Healer, I AM, Jesus, Life, Light, Love, Mercy, Name, Power, Savior

MERCIFUL-GRACE Advocate, Covenant, Faithful, Good, Grace, Humble, Jesus, Justifier, Life, Love, Mercy, Reconciler, Savior

"MOTHER-HOOD" [God created women in His image as well as man. The positive characteristics that most women share, came from Him.] Advocate, Arms, Assurance, Beloved, Giver, Good, Grace, Healer, Humble, Jesus, Loves, Life, Mercy, Present, Reconciler, Savior, Shepherd

"NEGATIVE" Anger, Calls, Discipliner, Glory, Holy, I AM, Judge, Lord, Power

PERSONAL Advocate, Arms, Builder, Covenant, Creator, Discipliner, Father, Giver, God, Titles of Not Listed Elsewhere, Habitation, Healer, Judge, Justifier, Knowledge, Lord, Loves, Reconciler, Savior, Shepherd, Speaks

PURITY Eternal, Faithful, Glory, Good, Holy, Humble, Just, Love, Knowledge, Light, Lord, Mercy

SECURITY Advocate, Arms, Assurance, Builder, Calls, Coming, Covenant, Creator, Discipliner, Faithful, Father, Finisher, Giver, Good, Grace, Habitation, Healer, Humble, I AM, Jesus, Joy, Justifier, Knowledge, Light, Lord, Love, Mercy, None Like, Power, Present, Reconciler, Rock, Savior, Shepherd, Victorious

SOVEREIGN Builder, Calls, Counselor, Creator, Eternal, Exalted, Faithful, Finisher, Glory, I AM, Judge, Lord, Power, Shepherd, Speaks, Unsearchable, Victorious, Wonders

WILL Calls, Knowledge, Lord, Shepherd

WORSHIP Beloved, Exalted, Glory, Holy, Jesus, Jesus-pre and post incarnation, Light, Love, None Like, Power, Unsearchable, Wonders

-CONTRASTING THE ATTRIBUTES AND CLUSTERS-

Benefits/Merciful/Life \ / "Negative/Purity/Infinite

Free Will/Security/Humble #9; X Worship/Intelligent

Personal / \ Sovereign

Free Will > < Sovereign

Merciful-Grace > < "Negative", Purity

Infinite > < Personal, Worship

One > < Godhead

Think with me a while about these different clusters and their contrasts. I want us to think about what our God would be like without each and every one of these clusters.

IMAGINE OUR GOD WITHOUT...

Benefits - With out this cluster, what paupers we would be. We would have such a sterile life and our relationship, without giving and receiving, would be sterile, also.

Champion - Good and evil would be on equal terms, like in many religions, without this cluster. No one could know who would win in the end. But this battle is between Creator and creature, and there is no contest.

Communicator - Without this grouping, we would not be able to know our God, nor communicate with Him.

Free Will - This cluster signifies to us that we are included in the decision making process and can effect history by how we cooperate or not with God. God's ultimate purposes will be performed, but we have a part in that purpose. Without this cluster and others, God would not be approachable.

Fruit Of The Spirit and Purity - We would have a God who demanded what He did not perform without this grouping. Besides that, all of His other works would be perverted, without pure motives, etc.

Gentle - This cluster shows that our God is approachable and that He can empathize with us. It also shows the depths that Jesus went to redeem us. For the majority of us who are not noble, mighty, wise, rich, etc. we can know God.

Infinite and Sovereign - God would not be able to do all that He wanted to do, such as have relationship with and bless each of us without this grouping. Besides, how could we live, knowing everything was up to chance?

Intelligence - God's love would be meaningless without this cluster because He would not know every intimate detail of our lives and, hence, reject us when He did discover everything. He also could not be sovereign if He did not know everything. How could He uphold the world without His intelligence?

Life - God would be suppressing, even "murdering" without this cluster.

Merciful-Grace - We would all be destroyed immediately and sent to hell without this grouping, for that is all we deserve.

"Motherhood" - This cluster shows the "soft-side" of God. God could seem harsh and foreboding without it, which is definitely not the case.

"Negative" - Even the attributes of this cluster are a blessing. Who would want a God who did not punish murderers, rapists, blasphemers, etc. All mercy and no judgment is not a good mix.

Personal - This cluster also shows the approachability of our Lord. The impersonal force that many believe in would not touch our lives nor have a personal, intimate relationship with us that these characteristics describe.

Security - We would never want to approach God, without this cluster, because we would be blown away. We also could never have peace.

Worship - There would be nothing to inspire awe in us, without the attributes of this cluster.

 A SYNTHESIS

I have tried to refrain from making too many comments about the different scriptures and attributes, preferring to allow scripture to speak for itself. I believe that scripture best interprets scripture with the Holy Spirit leading us into all truth. However I wanted to make some comments in conclusion.

I trust that as we have analyzed the parts of the one true God that we understand Him better. I want to now focus our attention on the whole, or to synthesize the parts into the whole. I believe that one of the goals that the Lord has for us is to see His heart for us.

As I was studying to put this book together, I began to see the heart of our Father more clearly. I have read and heard much on this topic, but nothing makes it clearer like personal, unbiased study. In fact, I wish you could have been with me these last 6 1/2 years as I studied. I would like to share these observations with you and let you draw your own conclusions.

I see our Father open to all of us without exception (Free Will cluster). Though He sovereignly calls us, any of us may come to Him as He draws us (Sovereign cluster). While He cannot tolerate and will severely judge sin in any form ("Negative" cluster), He is, at the same time, very merciful (Merciful-Grace cluster). I see Him as doing all He can to keep us from being judged (Discipliner and Shepherd). He draws us (Calls) and enables us (Power) to escape the wrath that is to come. He has restrained His anger in duration and severity until the end (the tribulation and hell-Anger, Coming, Judge). What negative things He allows are to show us where we are wrong so that we will repent and be in right relationship with Him (Discipliner). In all, I see God's primary priority is to have relationship with us. (Personal and Worship clusters).

On top of all God does to get us right with Him in order to have relationship with Him, He pours out His grace on us (Benefits cluster). We are not worthy of a relationship with Him, but on top of letting us have one, our Fathers longs to lavish us with all we have need of and much of what we desire. What is even more amazing to me is that, while God has already provided everything pertaining to life and godliness (1 Pet. 1:3), He asks us over and over and over again to ask (see Giver and Good). On top of this present life, God has provided abundantly for our eternal life with Him (Heaven, Coming, Giver).

I am awestruck at God's overwhelming goodness to us. In fact, to be honest, it is difficult for me to believe His unfathomable love and goodness. That is why writing and re-reading this book has been so good for me because I need to train my mind to think of God correctly. My prayer is that your concept of God will be correct and that you can help others with their concept of Him, also.

Lastly, I am realizing that these attributes of God are not dry, dusty words to fill theological volumes. God meant for all of His 'personhood' to minister to us and to be an example for us to follow. You have found that in each of these areas there are verses that minister to you and bless you. You have also discovered, I am sure, that in each of these areas there are verses that tell you to be like God is. Let's keep open to God. As we re-read and re-study these sections in the future, let's allow Him to minister and challenge us afresh.

1.) What concepts or details about God did you understand for the first time by reading this chapter?

2.) Concerning the authors comments, did any of them challenge you in thought or action? Did you agree or disagree with them?

3.) Which verses caused 'the light to come on' and the Holy Spirit impressed something to you? Is He challenging you to change anything?

4.) What do you need or want God to minister to you or change about you after reading this chapter?

5.) How will the attributes of God in this chapter affect your prayer, worship, and/or other aspects of your relationship with Him?

6.) How will the attributes of God in this chapter affect how you minister to others, both to Christians and non-Christians?