The apostle Paul taught that no man can know the things of God unless God reveals them to him (1 Cor. 2:11-12). God has revealed Himself to us through His word. Some people hold beliefs about God that simply are not true, as these beliefs are contrary to what has been revealed in the Bible. Let us consider some things that God is not.
God Is Not A Man. "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Num. 23:19). God is not like us because He keeps His word. However, this contrast between God and man goes much further. God does not act or think like we do. He does not share our weaknesses and limitations. It is foolish for us to try to bring God down to our level. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isa. 55:8-9). We would do well to remember that God is not a man like us.
God Is Not A Respecter of Persons. "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him'" (Acts 10:34-35). Calvinism's doctrine of unconditional election falsely states that God has already chosen the individuals who will be saved and lost, regardless of what they do or believe. According to the apostle Peter, this simply cannot be true. Our acceptability before God is conditional. We must fear Him and work righteousness. God has not singled you out for salvation or damnation. Such is a choice that you must exercise yourself.
God Is Not Unaware of Our Lives. Or, stated in the positive, God is intimately aware of every person. "The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men" (Ps. 33:13). Being omniscient and omnipresent, God knows both who we are and what we do. "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3). This is a comforting thought if we are doing good, but a horrifying realization if we are doing evil, for it just so happens that this God, who knows everything that we do, will judge us on the Last Day. "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Heb. 4:13).
God Is Not Out To Get Me. Some have the idea that God is just waiting to catch them doing something wrong so He can punish them. Nothing could be further from the truth. While God's righteousness requires Him to punish sin, the Bible tells us that God is merciful and forgiving. "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18). He takes no joy in seeing evil people punished. "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live...'" (Ezek. 33:11). God wants you to be saved, not destroyed. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3-4).
God Is Not Mocked. While God is patient and merciful, we must understand that our sins will not be ignored. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (Gal. 6:7-8). The idea behind "mocking God" is that God can somehow be outwitted by man. God cannot be fooled. We are not going to sneak anything past Him. If we ignore the warnings of Scripture, and live a life of disobedience and rebellion, we will reap what we sow.