God’s Self-Existence
The Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary gives us this definition of “aseity”: “the quality or state of being self-derived or self-originated; specifically : the absolute self-sufficiency, independence, and autonomy of God.”
The word comes from the Latin which means “of oneself.” It describes God as being self-existent, or in the words of Merriam-Webster, “self-sufficient,” “independent,” or “autonomous.” I do not like the aspect of the definition that says “self-derived” or “self-originated.” God did not derive from anything, not even Himself. Nor did He originate anywhere, not even within Himself. It is impossible to derive your own existence or to originate your own existence. Something, someone, cannot exist before it exists. So God is not “self-caused,” “self-derived,” or “self-originated.”
God is the original Uncaused Cause of everything else that is caused.
The basis for God’s self-existence are those verses which show:
1. He existed prior to and independent of creation;
2. He brought into and sustains everything that exists.
You viagra cheapest price could have heard that to improve your sexual performance. External application: When Booster capsules can be taken orally about 1-hour priors’ viagra online canadian o any sexual activity. Few decades, everything was going right levitra price and we don’t come to hear the issues of male sterility. Nighttime crooning: Most artistes begin their career by crooning viagra tablets price at a local nightclub. For example, in Psalm 90:2, we read: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Or, Acts 17:25 – “Nor is he [God] served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”
One more, among many: “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10).
Because God is pure essence, He cannot change. Therefore, He cannot go out of existence. That, it seems to me, is the meaning behind God’s self-description as “I am who I am” in Exodus 3:14. Jesus applies the same designation to Himself throughout the Gospel of John, through seven specific statements and the key statement in 8:58 which led the Jews to pick up rocks to stone Him for blasphemy.
What does it mean for us that God is “pure essence”? I suggest the metaphor that God is our “Rock” is emblematic of God’s self-existent nature. He does not depend on anyone or anything. No one is above or beyond God or over God in any way that he or it can change God in any way.
Take a look at these verses which call God our “Rock:” Deuteronomy 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31 (contrast with false gods as “rocks.”); 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2, 3, 32, 47; 23:3; Psalm 18:2, 31, 46; 19:14; 28:1; 31:2, 3; 42:9; 61:2; 62:2, 6, 7; 71:3; 78:35; 81:16; 89:26; 92:15; 94:22; 95:1; 144:1; Isaiah 17:10; 26:4; 30:29; 44:8 (in contrast with false gods); Habakkuk 1:12; Matthew 16:18; Romans 9:33/1 Peter 2:8 (Isa. 8:14); 1 Cor. 10:4.
–Paul Holland
