God Is All-Sufficient and Perfectly Glorious (Chapter 2, Paragraph 2)

“God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself...”

This opening phrase sets the tone for one of the most breathtaking truths in all theology: God is utterly self-sufficient. He does not borrow life or power from anyone. He does not receive glory from outside Himself. He is not made happy by creation nor improved by it. Instead, God is the fountain of all life and joy (John 5:26). He possesses all glory in Himself (Exodus 33:18–19). He is eternally and infinitely blessed in His own being.

This is the doctrine of aseity—that God is self-existent. It may sound lofty, but its implications are deeply comforting. It means God is not needy. He’s not like the gods of paganism who require sacrifices to survive. Our God is eternally full, and everything He gives us is not from lack but from abundance. He doesn’t love because He’s lonely—He loves because He is love (1 John 4:8).

“…is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He has made…”

This means God didn’t create the world because He needed help, fellowship, or praise. He was not improved by making us. Acts 17:25 says plainly, “He is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything.” This is such a vital truth. Our works, our prayers, our very existence—do not fill a lack in God. Rather, God made the world out of the overflow of His goodness, not out of necessity.

Why does this matter for the believer? Because it means our God is not frail. He will not run out of grace. His love is not based on what we can give Him. He is free, strong, and always fully Himself. We serve Him not to complete Him, but because He has first given all to us.

“…nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them…”

This is not saying that we do not glorify God—of course, we do. The Psalms are full of calls to glorify the Lord (Psalm 29:1–2). But this phrase reminds us that our glorifying of God adds nothing to His essential glory. Instead, it manifests or reflects what is already true of Him. Like a mirror turned toward the sun, we reflect His glory—we don’t generate it.

This is why all creation exists: to display the glory of God. The heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1). Our salvation declares His grace (Eph. 1:6). Even the judgment of the wicked reveals His justice (Romans 9:22–23). God’s ultimate purpose in all things is His own glory. And that is good news, not bad news. Why? Because when God glorifies Himself, His people are blessed. His glory and our good are never in conflict.

“…He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things…”

This echoes Romans 11:36: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” God is the source, the means, and the goal of everything that exists. He is not one piece of the puzzle—He is the foundation of the entire universe. All things exist because of Him. All things are sustained by Him. And all things find their purpose in Him.

“…and He has most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleases.”

Here we encounter the sovereignty of God. He does what He wills, with whomever He wills, whenever He wills. Daniel 4:35 says, “He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand.” There are no accidents in God’s universe. He governs every detail—from galaxies to sparrows—with perfect wisdom and purpose.

Yet His sovereignty is not cold or cruel. He is not arbitrary. He is good, righteous, and wise in all His works.

“…in His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature…”

God doesn’t learn anything. He doesn’t guess. He never reacts in ignorance. Hebrews 4:13 tells us, “No creature is hidden from His sight.” He knows all things instantly and perfectly. That includes our thoughts, fears, and sins—and yet He still loves and saves. His perfect knowledge is a refuge, not a threat.

“…so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain.”

To us, life feels uncertain. But to God, nothing is uncertain. There is no plan B. His decrees are eternal and unshakable. And that gives believers deep peace. We can rest, knowing our God is never surprised.

To behold this God—self-sufficient, sovereign, all-wise—is to be humbled and comforted at once. He does not need us, yet He calls us His own. He rules all things, yet He hears our prayers. Let us worship Him not because He needs it, but because He deserves it.