Attributes of God
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
Attributes of God
Lesson 4 of 5
12 min
Let's begin
A storm rolls over Lake Muhazi. Thunder cracks, and Gatete's little sister hides under the blanket. Their grandfather holds her hand and says, "The One who made this storm is stronger than it. And He does not change: He was with our family long ago, and He is with us now."
Grandfather has just described two attributes of God.
Omnipotence means having all power. Believers teach that God created everything and keeps it going, and that nothing is too hard for God.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
"Ah Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17)
"For nothing spoken by God is impossible." (Luke 1:37)
Christians also see God's power in the miracles of Jesus, such as calming a storm and healing the sick.
"His is the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; He quickeneth and He giveth death; and He is Able to do all things." (Qur'an 57:2)
"Sovereignty" means rule, and "quickeneth" is old English for "gives life". The Qur'an also calls Allah "Doer of what He will" (Qur'an 85:16), and one of His beautiful names is Al-Qadir, the All-Able.
Both faiths teach that God's power is always joined to goodness, wisdom and justice. God never uses power to do evil.
Immutability means never changing. People grow up, grow old and change their minds. Rivers change their course and mountains are slowly worn down. But believers teach that God's nature and God's promises stay the same forever.
"For I, the LORD, don't change." (Malachi 3:6)
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow." (James 1:17)
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
A shadow moves and changes as the sun moves across the sky. James says there is no "turning shadow" with God: He does not change.
"Everyone that is thereon will pass away; There remaineth but the Countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory." (Qur'an 55:26–27)
"Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal." (Qur'an 2:255)
Everything on earth passes away and changes; only Allah remains, always living, never tired and never changing.
Worked example
Sort these two statements.
(a) "God made the heavens and the earth by His great power." This is about power → omnipotence.
(b) "God's promises are the same today as they were long ago." This is about never changing → immutability.
Tip
Potent = powerful. Mutable = changeable
Omni-potent = all the power.
Im-mutable = not changeable. "Im-" means "not", as in "impossible".
What does omnipotence mean?
Answer: being all-powerful.
Complete Jeremiah 32:17: "There is nothing too ___ for you."
Answer: hard.
Which verse says, "For I, the LORD, don't change"?
Answer: Malachi 3:6.
What does Qur'an 55:26–27 teach about God and creation?
Answer: everything on earth passes away, but God remains forever. God does not change.
Why do believers say God's power is never used for evil?
Answer: because God's power always goes together with His goodness, wisdom and justice.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Everything else in this lesson, including the practice questions, was written by Ganzaa.
Quick check
Match each word part to its meaning.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
