Who is God?

Who is God?… A question that has baffled some Christians & scholars for generations. Is God really a mystery?, Who cannot be known or explained?… Or is God composed of 3 co-eternal persons, called the “Trinity” as many Christians believe?…

Jesus told us plainly, that the very first thing that his followers ought to do, is to gain the right conception of God! This is stated in;

JOHN 4:24; “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

JOHN 17:3; “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

As Christians we have been warned that our conception & knowledge of God was not to be based on human judgment, or opinion, but based solely on the facts contained in the holy word & in the life of Christ. So let’s take a look at the scriptures of truth to discover what it really says about who God really is… Inorder to find out “who” God really is, we must take a look at the only available source that talks about this God… Which is of course the Bible.

WHO WAS GOD RECOGNIZED AS, BY THE ANCIENT BELIEVERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TIMES?

Let’s take a look at some Bible verses and we shall begin in: Deuteronomy 32:3-4 & v.6, as we begin to get the answer to the above question, and it reads;

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he…6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy Father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

By examining the Word of God, we see that the ancient believers in the Old Testament times recognized God as the “Father”. Here are some key verses that highlight this:

1 Chronicles 29:10
“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever.”
Psalm 89:26
“He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”
Isaiah 63:16
“Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our Father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.”
Isaiah 64:8
“But now, O LORD, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Malachi 1:6
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a Father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name.”

WHO WAS GOD RECOGNIZED AS, BY THE ANCIENT BELIEVERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES?

The ancient believers in the New Testament times also recognized “God” as the “Father”.

Let’s examine some key verses:

Mark 11:22, 25-26
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God… And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
John 4:21-24
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father… God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
John 6:27
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”
John 8:41
“Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.”
John 16:27
“For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
John 20:17
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
Romans 1:7
“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 4:20
“Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Thessalonians 3:11, 13
“Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you… To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

IS THE “FATHER” THE ONE TRUE GOD?

The Scriptures make it clear that the “Father” is the One True God. Here are some verses that confirm this:

1 Chronicles 29:10-11
“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”
Malachi 2:10
“Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
1 Corinthians 8:6
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
Ephesians 4:6
“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
John 17:1, 3
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee… And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

HAS THE “FATHER” ANY EQUAL?

The Bible clearly states that God has no equal. Here are some verses that emphasize this:

Isaiah 40:25
“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.”
Isaiah 46:5, 9
“To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?… Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.”

HOW IS IT THAT THE “FATHER” HAS NO EQUAL?

The “Father” is the source of all things. Here are some verses that explain this:

1 Corinthians 8:6
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
Romans 11:33, 36
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!… For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:9
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

HOW DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF TO US?

God reveals Himself to us through various means:

His Word
- 1 Samuel 3:21 – “The LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.”
Nature
- Romans 1:19-20 – “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.”
Providence
- Genesis 45:5-8 – “God did send me before you to preserve life… So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God.”
His Law
- Hosea 4:1-2, 6 – “Hear the word of the LORD… My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast forgotten the law of thy God.”
His Son
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 – “God… hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

WHAT IS THE TRUE NAME OF GOD?

God has revealed His personal name in the Scriptures:

Exodus 6:2-3
“I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.”
Psalm 83:18
“That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.”
Isaiah 12:2
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”

WHO IS THE “ME” IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT?

When we examine the First Commandment of God, it is clear that it refers to a singular Being, as the singular pronoun “Me” is used:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before ME.”
(Exodus 20:3)

The question we must ask is: Who is the “Me” in the First Commandment? Is it; “God The Father”, “God The Son”, or “God The Holy Spirit”?…

Thankfully, we do not need to guess or speculate, as the Scriptures of Truth provide the answer. The Bible gives us several examples of who this Being is by using the singular pronoun “Me.” Let’s explore these examples:

EXAMPLE ONE: HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIM

Whoever this “Me” is, He desires for us to know Him and assures us that He is not a mystery;

Jeremiah 9:24
“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

From this verse, we see that the “Me” wants us to know Him intimately. He is not hidden or mysterious but reveals Himself through His character and actions.

EXAMPLE TWO: HE ALONE IS GOD

The “Me” in the First Commandment emphasizes that He alone is God;

Isaiah 44:6
“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.”

This verse confirms that the “Me” is the One True God, and there is no other besides Him. This is a significant truth that sets Him apart from all false gods.

EXAMPLE THREE: HE IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD

The “Me” declares that He is truly the Only True God.

Isaiah 44:8
“Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.”

Here, the “Me” reaffirms His uniqueness as the Only True God, and He calls His people to be witnesses of this truth.

EXAMPLE FOUR: HE IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION

The “Me” reveals Himself as the source of our salvation.

Isaiah 45:21-22
“Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me. Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

This passage shows that the “Me” is not only the Creator but also the Savior of all humanity. Salvation comes from Him alone.

EXAMPLE FIVE: HE KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING

The “Me” demonstrates His omniscience by knowing the end from the beginning.

Isaiah 46:9-10
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

This verse highlights the “Me” as the all-knowing God who governs history and fulfills His perfect will.

EXAMPLE SIX: HE CARES FOR US

The “Me” shows His deep care and concern for His people.

Hosea 13:4-6, 9
“Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but Me: for there is no saviour beside Me. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought… O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help.”

Here, the “Me” reminds His people of His faithfulness and His role as their Provider and Helper.

EXAMPLE SEVEN: HE IS A GOD OF JUSTICE AND MERCY

Finally, the “Me” reveals Himself as a God of justice and mercy.

Hosea 4:6-7
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against Me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.”

This passage shows that the “Me” is both just and merciful, rewarding obedience and correcting disobedience.

HOW MANY PERSONS ARE IN THE “ME” BEING?

We have seen seven examples of the Being described by the singular pronoun “Me” in the First Commandment. The next question we must address is: How many persons are in this “Me” Being?

Today, many Christians are confused about who God is and whether He is composed of one, two, or three persons?... The Bible is clear on this matter, yet the confusion persists. Let’s examine the Scriptures to determine the numerical identity of the “Me” in the First Commandment.

THE BIBLE DECLARES ONE GOD;

In Mark 12:28-29, 32, we find a profound exchange between Jesus and a scribe:

Mark 12:28-29, 32
“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord… And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He.”

In this passage, both Jesus and the scribe affirm that there is ONLY ONE GOD. The Scripture uses the singular pronoun “He”, emphasizing that God is not a multiplicity of beings such as the Trinity. The Bible is clear: God is one.

THE IDENTITY OF THE “ONE GOD”;

Let’s now identify who this “One” God is, as referenced in the First Commandment.

We begin with: 1 Corinthians 8:6:

1 Corinthians 8:6
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.”

This verse clearly distinguishes between God the Father and Jesus Christ. It affirms that the one God is the Father, the source of all things, while Jesus Christ is the Lord through whom all things exist.

Similarly, in John 17:1, 3, Jesus Himself identifies the one true God:

John 17:1, 3
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee… And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.”

Here, Jesus refers to the Father as the Only True God. This confirms that the “Me” in the First Commandment is God the Father, also known as “JEHOVAH”.

TESTING DOCTRINE BY SCRIPTURE:

In the classic book “The Great Controversy” (1888 edition), Ellen G. White emphasizes the importance of testing all doctrines by the Law of God:

The Great Controversy, p. 452
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. While conflicting doctrines and theories abound, the Law of God is the one unerring rule by which all opinions, doctrines, and theories are to be tested.”

The Trinity doctrine fails this test because the “Me” in the First Commandment is a singular pronoun, referring to a; SINGLE, PERSONAL BEING—GOD THE FATHER. The Scriptures consistently identify Him as the One True God.

WHO IS THE “LORD THY GOD” IN THE SABBATH COMMANDMENT?

When it comes to the Sabbath Commandment, many Christians are unsure who the “Lord thy God” refers to. However, the Bible is clear about the identity of the “Creator”. Let’s examine the Sabbath Commandment:

Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God… For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

This commandment highlights the Creator as the Lord thy God. But who is this Creator?

THE CREATOR GOD

The Bible begins by introducing the Creator:

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”

From the very first verse, the Bible establishes that there is a Supreme Being who created all things. Let’s explore more Scriptures that reveal His identity:

Revelation 4:10-11
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Genesis 2:7
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Isaiah 37:16
“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, Thou art the God, even Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth.”
Isaiah 40:28
“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding.”
Isaiah 42:5
“Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.”
Isaiah 44:24
“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself.”
Isaiah 45:18
“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”
Romans 1:25
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

THE CREATOR’S NATURE;

The Scriptures reveal that the Creator God is a loving, caring, and powerful Being. Despite the presence of sin, the beauty of creation testifies to His wisdom and care. He is the source of all life and the sustainer of all things.

Now that we have learned from the Scriptures that there is a God who created all things, we need to establish who He is?.. This can be clearly ascertained by examining the Scriptures, beginning with Matthew 5:45:

Matthew 5:45
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

This verse reveals that the Creator God is our Father in heaven, who cares for all His creation.

MORE SCRIPTUAL CONFIRMATION OF THE CREATOR;

Let’s explore more Scriptures that identify the Creator God:

Matthew 11:25
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
Matthew 5:34-35
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.”
Matthew 6:26, 30
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?… Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
Malachi 2:10
“Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”
Psalm 83:18
“That men may know that Thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.”

From these verses, we see that the Creator God is none other than God the Father, the Supreme Creator of all things.

I Thought It Was “Christ” That Made All Things?

Many Christians assume that it was Christ who made all things. While this may appear correct on the surface, a deeper examination of Scripture reveals how Christ is also seen as the Creator. Let’s begin with Genesis 1:26:

Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

During the time of creation, God the Father spoke to someone when He said, “Let us” make man. Who was He speaking to? Let’s allow the Scriptures to answer:

THE ROLE OF CHRIST IN CREATION;

Proverbs 30:4
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in His fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if thou canst tell?”
Ephesians 3:9
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 1:1-2
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.”

The Father Created Through the Son. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, it is evident that God the Father created all things through His dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ. In Genesis 1:26, when God said, “Let us make man in our image,” He was speaking to His Son. This shows that the Father created all things through and with His Son.