The Bible forms the foundation for our beliefs about the divine nature of God[1]. The existence of His word in this written form (the Bible) testifies that He is present and involved in the affairs of men. His Word personally speaks, guides, convicts, and reveals who God is (attributes), what He has done (testimony), and what He will do (promises).
God has communicable attributes that He shares with humanity. An example of these attributes is love and peace, which God communicates by showing us and which we communicate to others by sharing. The concept of the immanence of God is the belief that God is present and active within the natural world and human experience.
Key Takeaways
- God possesses both immanence and transcendence, meaning He is both present and active within the world and beyond human comprehension. This dual nature is fundamental to understanding God’s relationship with the world and humanity.
- God’s immanence is experienced through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. Each aspect offers a unique lens through which to experience and understand God’s presence and activity in the world.
- God’s immanence makes Him accessible and relatable to humanity, while His transcendence maintains His divine mystery and sovereignty. This harmony enriches the Christian understanding of God as both a personal savior and an incomprehensible deity.
What Is The Immanence Of God?
According to Britannica, “immanence” is a term applied in philosophy and theology. From the Latin immanere, “to dwell in or to remain,” it is the state or fact of being entirely within something. It is used generally to designate the self-sufficiency and interiority of being. It also relates to the pantheistic conception of God as being present throughout the universe. Synonyms of this term include “inherent”, “operating”, “remaining within”, and “existing”.
The immanence of God means that God exists and is active (relationally) within all creations. God is knowable, perceivable, or graspable through His indwelling presence in all His creation. This idea emphasizes the intimate connection (nearness) between God and the world. It also highlights the idea that God is not separate from creation but rather intimately involved in it.
A Greater Understanding And Representation Of God’s Immanence
To Understand God’s Immanence Through The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God actively remains on earth as an agent of communication between God and mankind. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the action by which God takes up permanent residence in the body of a believer in Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we can see the activity of God on earth. God’s immanence manifests itself in revival, transformation, signs, visions, wonders, and miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit.
To Reveal God’s Immanence Through The Bible
The powerful word of truth (the Bible) is evidence of God’s immanence. Through the Bible, God communicates His will, laws, nature, and saving purpose to humanity. The Bible is a collection of various scriptures, such as the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Poetry and Wisdom Books, the Books of Prophecy, the Gospels, and the Epistles.
To Experience God’s Immanence Through The Son Of God, Jesus Christ
God’s covenant of love to mankind was fulfilled through His begotten Son, Jesus Christ. People witnessed that the Son of God was afflicted, nailed to the cross, resurrected, and ascended to the heavens.
How Is God Immanent And Transcendent?
God is often described as both immanent and transcendent. While these concepts may seem contradictory, they are two sides of the same coin that attempt to describe the nature of God’s relationship with the world.
On the one hand, the immanence of God refers to the idea that God is present and active within the world. It is often associated with the attributes of love, mercy, compassion, healing, provision, and performing miracles, signs, and wonders. God is seen as being intimately concerned with the well-being of all creation. God reveals Himself as the ever-present help in times of need. He is our savior, redeemer, provider, and friend.
Psalm 113:7–9 declares the immanence of God: “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!”
On the other hand, God’s transcendence refers to the idea that God exists beyond and above the world and the heavens. Simply put, God is beyond human comprehension and understanding. Human language and concepts cannot fully capture the nature of God. Divine transcendence is also often associated with the attributes of power, majesty, and awe. God is seen as being beyond the limitations of the created world.
Psalm 113:4–6 declares God’s transcendence: “The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?”
In Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and Jesus (God in human form) can be understood as immanent within the world. Meanwhile, The Father is the nature of God that is transcendent, completely beyond human comprehension.
A Prayer Thanking God Of His Immanence
Dear God,
I praise You, God. I come before You in humility today to thank You for Your immanence in my life and in the world around me. I am grateful for the ways in which You are completely present and active in the world and for the many blessings that You have bestowed upon me.
Thank you for the ways in which You reveal yourself to me through the beauty of the natural world, through the kindness and compassion of others, and through the quiet moments of prayer and reflection. Thank You for Your steadfast love. We received the gift of Your salvation because of it.
Please help me to remember that You are with me, even in the midst of difficult times and challenges. Help me to find comfort and strength in Your presence. And help me to trust in Your goodness and Your grace.
May I always see Your divine immanence in Your creations and honor Your presence in all that I do. Thank You for Your word of truth that lights my path. May You bless and guide my life. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.
Amen.
Closing Thoughts
God revealed that He is both immanent and transcendent. These two aspects of His nature are inseparable. While God is beyond human comprehension and understanding, He is also intimately involved in the affairs of the world and accessible to human beings.
The Holy Spirit and Jesus express the immanence of God in the world. Specifically, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He lives on earth to prove the immanence of God. The powerful word “it is done; it is finished” declares the finished work of Christ. He tore the veil and made a way to reconcile us with God’s transcendence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Immanence Of God Means?
The immanence of God means that God exists and is actively present within all of creation, indicating a close and intimate involvement with the world and human experience.
How Is God Immanent And Transcendent?
God is immanent and transcendent in that He is both present and active within the world (immanent) and exists beyond and above the world (transcendent), embodying both closeness and incomprehensible majesty.
What Is The Attribute Of God Immanence?
The attribute of God’s immanence refers to His presence and active participation in His creation, showcasing His desire to be knowable and accessible to humanity through His indwelling presence.
What Is An Example Of Immanence?
An example of immanence is the presence of the Holy Spirit within believers, which represents God’s ongoing involvement in the lives of those who follow Him, guiding, comforting, and empowering them.