The Self-Existent God
Meditating on God’s Glorious Independence.
“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof’” (Psalm 24:1).
The belief that God has life in himself—that his life and being are not derived from anything outside of himself—is known as God’s aseity (a meaning “from” and se meaning “self”). This doctrine is assumed throughout the Bible, beginning on page 1. The first words of the Bible open with, “In the beginning, God created…” This means that nothing in all of creation—including you and me—exists independently. As creatures, we are all deriving our life from the creator. This means you are not here by accident, and nothing in your life and mine is an accident. It is all a gift from the Creator, meant to be received by faith with thanksgiving.
God’s aseity reminds us that God has all life in himself. He is the self-existing one. All of creation is dependent on him, and nothing exists independently of him. Therefore, everything that exists is unnecessary and not essential—and yet God, the only essential being in the universe, chose to create. Why? Because he wanted to. Not to add to his being, but out of his own good pleasure, for the display of his glory.
Contemplating the doctrine of God’s aseity is like pouring gasoline on the fire of curiosity. All of creation is dependent on the Independent One. As a result, all we do is receive life as a gift. We are eternal recipients of God’s unmerited gifts. When we come to relish and savor the reality that God created the world and everything in it not out of necessity, but out of his own good pleasure, we are invited to be amazed at everything.
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