The Simplicity of God

Some thoughts from Dr. Norman Geisler's Systematic Theology, Volume 2, on the simplicity of God. I know there are assumptions underlying some statements, so it's paraphrased because I don't remember everything I've read verbatim. Really, I'm probably just rambling, but it makes sense to me!!

God is pure actuality. Actuality is defined as "that which is in act or that which is (existence)." Pure actuality is the state of existing with no possibility of not existing or being anything other than what it is. God has no potentiality (that which can be), so therefore he is pure actuality - He is existence. (Think about Exodus 3:14 where God gives Moses his own name - "I AM WHO I AM.")

There can be no potential for change without something making that potential (or another way, nothing can change without having a possibility of change). So, there must be something to make that potential exist. For potential to exist where before it did not exist, something would have to change. When there is no change, that potential cannot exist. Once, however, the potential does exist, there must be a cause for change to happen. The change cannot exist without a cause, and the cause cannot exist without the potential for the cause, and the potential cannot exist where it did not before without something changing.

At some point this circular reasoning has to stop with an original cause. This cause is God - he is pure cause, pure action, pure actuality.

There is much more to that train of thought, but I'm not going to type out the 30 something pages it takes to fully explain it all!