Select Page

Who is God?

by | Oct 3, 2014 | Answers for Seekers, Christian Theology

The question “Who is God?” is an important question.  It is better than asking “What is God?”  This is because God exists, created us, loves us, is concerned for our being, desires to provide for us, and sent Jesus to redeem us.  If we were to ask “What is God?” we might be tempted to say that He is the infinite being, the creator, a presence, or something like that.  In some respect, this would be true.  But the first question brings us closer to understanding more of who He really is in His character and His love for us as revealed in the Bible.The One True God graphic

The Bible teaches us that in all existence, from all eternity, there has been and always will be only one God. God was never created, is completely loving, completely just, completely holy, completely merciful, and that He desires the best for us.  God is holy, and He can have nothing to do with sin as the Bible says, “His eyes are too pure to look upon evil,” (Hab. 1:13).  This does not mean that God cannot see what someone does that is wrong.  It is a way of describing how holy God is.  God cannot sin.  He is perfect.

The Trinity

In Christianity, God is a Trinity.  This means that he is three persons, not three gods.  Technically, the doctrine of the Trinity states that in the one God is the person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each is not the same person as the other, yet there are not three gods but one (Isa. 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5).  This is similar in analogy to the nature of time.  Time is past, present, and future.  The past is not the same as the present, which is not the same as the future.  But, there are not three times.  There is only one thing called time.  Time is a good analogy.

The reason the word “person” is used in describing God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is that each exhibits attributes of personhood – not in a body of flesh and bones, but in personhood.  In other words, each has a will, loves, speaks, is aware of others, communicates with others, etc.  These are attributes of personhood, and we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each demonstrate these qualities.  That is why we say God is three persons.

Because of the Trinity, God can become flesh in the form of the Son and still exist in such a way so that He can run the universe.  Therefore, the Son can communicate to us on our level.

The following are a couple of verses that hint at the Trinity.

  • Matt. 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
  • 2 Cor. 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”

The Bible says there is only one God:  “I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me, there is no God,” (Isaiah 45:5).  Yet, the Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each called God.

Below is a very brief chart that shows that each of the persons in the Trinity shares the same attributes that only God shares.  But remember, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have wills and speak, etc.  Therefore, we say there are three persons.

FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT
Called God Phil. 1:2 John 1:1,14; Acts 5:3-4
Creator Isaiah 64:8 John 1:3; Job 33:4, 26:13
Everywhere 1 Kings 8:27 Matt. 28:20 Psalm 139:7-10
All-knowing 1 John 3:20 John 16:30; 21:17 1 Cor. 2:10-11
A Will Luke 22:42 Luke 22:42 1 Cor. 12:11
Speaks Matt. 3:17; Luke 5:20; 7:48 Acts 13:2

 

Some Biblical Truths about God

  • God Is
    • Truth, Psalm 117:2; Jer. 10:10
    • Light, 1 John 1:5
    • Love, 1 John 4:8, 16
    • Invisible, 1 Tim. 1:17
    • Does Not Have A Human Body, Luke 24:39; Deut. 4:15-16
    • Does Not Change, Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17
    • Is Without Limit, 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23-24
    • Is Most Loving, 1 John 4:8-10

There are many more such statements about God in the Bible.  But, what is clear is that God is alive, concerned about you, has provided Jesus as a sacrifice for sins, because he is loving, merciful, and gracious.  And, of course, the best representation of God is found in Jesus (Heb. 1:3).

A summary of God

There is only one God (Isa. 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5), who is the one and only necessary (Exodus 3:14-15), Trinitarian Being (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14), eternally consisting (Psalm 90:2) of three simultaneous and distinct persons (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14), the Father (Phil. 1:2), the Son (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4). The Trinity is spiritual in nature (John 4:24; Luke 24:39), is non-contingent (Isa. 44:24; Acts 17:25; 1 Tim. 6:16), unchanging (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 9:22), transcendent (Exo. 3:14; Isa. 44:24), and sovereign (Isaiah 46:10). He is the ultimate source (Rom. 4:17) of all truths (Psalm 31:5; Eph. 1:11), all actualities (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 44:24), and all potentialities (Luke 10:13; John 15:22). He created the universe (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 42:5). He does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3; Dan. 4:35) and ordains all that occurs (Eph. 1:11). He possesses infinite knowledge (1 John 3:20), wisdom (Psalm 147:5), presence (Psalm 139:7–12), and power (Genesis 18:14) that manifest out of His good and holy nature (1 Pet. 1:16). That which is good is revealed by God’s nature (Mark 10:18) which is consistent with His holiness (1 Sam. 2:2; 1 Pet. 1:16). He has revealed Himself in creation (Rom. 1:20), Scripture (Exo. 20:1–5; John 5:39), and Jesus (John 1:1,14; Heb. 1:3). There is no condition in which the Christian God might exist or could not exist (Ex. 3:14; Psalm 90:2) since that would not be the God of the Bible.

SUPPORT CARM

Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. We greatly appreciate your consideration!

SCHOOLS USER LOGIN

If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [email protected].

MATT SLICK LIVE RADIO

Call in with your questions at:

877-207-2276

3-4 p.m. PST; 4-5 p.m. MST;
6-7 p.m. EST

You May Also Like…