Four characteristics of God are especially relevant if one desires to establish a relationship with Him. First, God is Holy—perfect, right and sinless. God does not just act holy, He is holy, it is His character, and to tolerate sin would violate that character. We must fellowship with God on His terms: “Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1Peter 1:16)” This is bad news for us because we “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).”
Secondly, God is just. Justice means that God always abides by, and enforces the law without prejudice or bias. And the laws are His own because He alone is worthy to determine right from wrong. He does not simply act justly, He is just, it is His character, and again, He cannot violate His character. This is bad news for us because, “…whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)”
Thirdly, God is love, and because of His love, He has recognized our helplessness and devised a plan by which He can forgive our sin without violating His own holiness and justice. Since the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23) and the penalty must be paid to afford forgiveness, He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to die in our place. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:10)” This means that He satisfied God’s Holiness and Justice on our behalf. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God… (1Peter 3:18)”
Lastly, God is merciful and gracious: He withholds that which we do deserve (condemnation and eternal ruin), and offers us that which we do not deserve (forgiveness and eternal life). But, since God created us with a free will, He does not force Himself on us; He offers His salvation from sin as a gift, to be received by faith. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)” “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)”