What are some guidelines for considering who God is?

Two nonnegotiable theological convictions that we are wise to bring to this discussion are, first, a commitment to the absolute accuracy and authority of Scripture—as the revealed Word of God, not as a product of human imagination, experience, intuition, or ingenuity (2 Peter 1:21). The other is a strong belief that the gospel sets forth the only possible way of salvation from sin and judgment—by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s face it: the idea that the entire human race is fallen and condemned is simply too harsh for most people’s tastes. They would rather believe that most people are fundamentally good. All we need to do, they say, is cultivate our underlying goodness, and we can fix everything wrong with human society. (That’s not terribly different from what the Pharisees believed about themselves.) But Scripture says otherwise. We are hopelessly corrupted by sin. All who do not have Christ as Lord and Savior are in bondage to evil, condemned by a just God, and bound for hell.