Is God Too Great to Be Personal?

In Jeff Johnson's sermon, "The Imminence of God," he explores the profound nature of God's attributes, particularly focusing on His transcendence and imminence. He begins by discussing the communicable and incommunicable attributes of God, explaining how certain characteristics, like love and mercy, are shared with humanity, while others, such as omnipotence, are unique to God alone. This leads to the theological question of how God relates to creation—how He is both distinct (transcendent) and close (imminent).Johnson draws from Isaiah 57:15 to illustrate this tension, highlighting that while God is high and holy, He also dwells with those who are humble and contrite. He critiques classical philosophy's attempts to define God, such as Aristotle’s concept of the "unmoved mover" and modern pantheism, which fail to capture the personal and relational nature of God as revealed in Scripture.Ultimately, Johnson emphasizes the importance of the Trinity in understanding God's relational nature. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in eternal communion, which forms the basis for God’s relationship with humanity. In contrast to impersonal philosophical ideas, the biblical God is both transcendent and personally involved with His creation, inviting us into a loving relationship with Him.