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What Kind of God Is Needed For Messianic Prophecies?
What makes the fulfilled Messianic prophecies greater than even the power seen in creation? What makes God able to promise a Messiah to save us? In studying Messianic prophecies, it is essential to understand the qualities of God that permit such divine intervention into human affairs. There are at least three types of characteristics which accomplish the goal of the eternal salvation of mankind.
The first is to look at the characteristics or qualities of God that empower the Almighty to accomplish His goal of saving us. As you may have noticed, that name – The Almighty (Rev.1:8) – is one. It would be impossible for Yahweh to accomplish a desired goal without the ability to make it so. Other “definitions” of God such as Omniscience and Omnipresence work together with God’s Omnipotence to accomplish His goals. Included in this is God’s immortality. After all, how can God grant what He doesn’t have (1 Tim.6:16; 2 Tim.1:10)?
The second is to look at the characteristics of God which makes Him desire to save us. It has been said many times when Adam and Eve sinned, God could have just let them and their children who followed in their sinful ways be separated from God forever. What is it about God impels Him to save us? As the apostle John said, “God is love” (1 Jn.4:8). Without love, or Omnibenevolence as philosophers and theologians might say, all the power and knowledge of how to save are just cold, impersonal abilities. It is impossible to love without the willingness to show mercy and give grace when needed; and thanks to the incarnation Jesus can empathize with our situation (Heb.4:15).
The third category is to look at the characteristics of God which qualifies Him to be a Savior. Here is where we consider the qualities of righteousness or holiness. To be a Savior, God must be without reproach and blameless; unlike the people He is saving. As Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch” (Mt.15:14). Isaiah, the greatest Messianic book, is filled with God’s holiness because the book is also filled with man’s sinfulness. God’s glory is so blinding because of God’s holiness. God’s glory is the “visible” representation of God’s holiness. It is God’s righteousness which demands justice and allows for atonement. Paradoxically, God’s holiness which means “set apart” is what allows God to remove the barrier that sets us apart from Him.
Taking these three necessary components to saving mankind, we can see how our redemption is even greater than all of creation. When in the beginning God created all of existence, all that was absolutely necessary was omnipotence. Contrary to that creative act, in recreating us into His image we see even more was necessary. God is more than able. God is mercifully willing. God is morally qualified.
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