By Edwin D. Roels

Introduction

For many people the word “God” does not mean very much. They do not know who God is or what he has done. They do not know whether there is only one God or many gods—or whether there is any God at all. They may have some general ideas about God and may even use his name in their ordinary conversation, but they definitely do not know him. And they aren’t at all sure that it is even possible to know anything about him. They are not terrified by his awesome holiness, they are not afraid of his perfect justice, and they are not comforted by his gracious promises. They have no idea whether or not God knows any more about them than they know about him. And they have no idea how to find out. Whether God truly exists or not, he definitely does not have a significant place in their present life or in their plans for the future. In this Lesson you will learn some of the things the Bible teaches us about the one true God. Whether or not you believe what the Bible says, you will at least learn what the Bible teaches.


1. Who is God?

God is the Creator of the world and the source of all life.

Scripture References

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth . . . gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24-25)

You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. (Nehemiah 9:6)


2. How many true Gods are there?

There are millions of so-called “gods” in the world, but there is only one true God who is worthy of our worship and praise.

Scripture References

I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no God. (Isaiah 45:5)

Thus says the LORD . . . the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”( Isaiah 44:6)

Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:10-11)


3. How has God made himself known to us?

God has made himself known to people in many ways. One of the ways he has revealed himself to people around the world is through his work of creation.

Scripture References

The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)


4. Is there any other way in which God has made himself known to us?

Yes. God frequently spoke to prophets and others so that they would know his will for their lives. He also provided them with comfort, encouragement, guidance, and other information that he wanted them to have. Those who received messages from God often wrote them down so that others could also benefit from them. Many of those written messages were collected together in The Holy Bible.

Scripture References

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. (Hebrews 1:1)

Jesus said, “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:44-45)

Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)


5. How has God revealed himself to us most clearly?

God has revealed himself most clearly and fully in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Scripture References

In these last days he [God] has spoken to us by his Son. (Hebrews 1:2)

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18)

 [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)


6. What does the Bible teach us about the holiness of God?

God himself is perfectly holy, free from imperfection or fault of any kind in his Person and in his dealings with others. Because of his own holiness, he also requires and demands that we also must be holy. Further, his holiness requires that all actions, thoughts, and words which are not holy must be punished in one way or another.

Scripture References

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! (Isaiah 6:3)

Exalt the LORD . . . for the LORD our God is holy! (Psalm 99:9)

There is none holy like the LORD. (1 Samuel 2:2)

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil, and cannot look at wrong. (Habakkuk 1:13)


7. What does the Bible teach about the goodness and grace of God?

God gives us both material and spiritual blessings in abundance. All that we receive from him is given because of his kindness and grace and not because of anything we merit or deserve.

Scripture References

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:2-5)

The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9)

The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. . . . He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:14, 19)

He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. (Acts14:17)


8. Does God forgive the sins of those who truly repent?

Yes. Though God himself is perfectly holy and wants us to live holy and obedient lives, he is also slow to anger, merciful, and forgiving. When we are genuinely sorry for our sins and ask him to forgive us, he graciously does so. 

Scripture References

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:8-12)

You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression? . . . He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (Micah 7:18)


9. Does God forgive those who do not love him or trust him or repent of their sins?

No. God is a God of mercy and love, but he is also a God of justice and holiness and will punish those who do not repent of their sins.

Scripture References

The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty. (Exodus 34:6-7)

Because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5)

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:5-6)


10. What does the Bible teach about the love of God?

Though God must punish the sins of those who do not truly repent, his love is far greater than we can measure or even imagine. 

Scripture References

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love for those who fear him. (Psalm 103:11)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. (Psalm 86:5)

God is love. (1 John 4:8)


11. Was there ever a time when God did not exist?

No. Though we cannot understand the eternity of God, the Bible clearly teaches that God did not have a beginning and he will never have an end. He is from everlasting to everlasting.

Scripture References

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2)

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 40:28)

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)


12. Is it possible for us to see God?

No. At times God did assume a physical form which made him visible to people he was talking to, but he is an eternal spiritual being that cannot be seen by human eyes.

Scripture References

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)

No one has ever seen God. (1 John 4:12)

[God] dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. (1 Timothy 6:16)


13. Is God’s power limited in any way?

No. God is all powerful and is able to do whatever he chooses to do. This attribute of God is referred to as his “omnipotence.”

Scripture References

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. (Psalm 135:6)

All things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27)

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)


14. Is God able to be in more than one place at the same time?

Yes. God is always present everywhere. This, too, is something we cannot fully comprehend, but the Bible makes it very clear that there is no place where we can hide from God or flee from God. This attribute of God is called his “omnipresence.”

Scripture References

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (Psalm 139:7-8)

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

“Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24)


15. Is there anything that God does not know?

No. God knows everything about everyone everywhere. He not only knows what we say and do but he also knows our thoughts and desires. He knows the past as well as the future. There is absolutely nothing hidden from God. This attribute of God is called his “omniscience.”

Scripture References

O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. . . . You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. (Psalm 139:1-4)

I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. (Isaiah 46:9-10)

God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:20)

No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)


16. Does God rule over the entire world or only part of it?

God is the sovereign Lord who rules over the entire world. Though there are many human rulers who exercise authority over parts of the world, God has ultimate authority over every person, every ruler, every kingdom and every nation. He has always been Lord over all and he always will be. 

Scripture References

The LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39)

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. (1 Chronicles 29:11)

For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. (Psalm 47:2)


17. May we make images or pictures of God to help us worship him?

No. God does not want us to make idols of any kind. No idol can begin to represent the eternal and invisible God or help us worship God in the way he wants us to worship him. Idols always lead people away from God and never draw them closer to him.

Scripture References

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (Exodus 20:4)

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. (Acts 17:29)


18. Is it possible for us to understand everything about God?

No. Though we are made in the image of God and in some ways are like God, God is a spiritual and eternal being who is far greater than we will ever be able to understand. We should therefore not reject or deny things which the Bible teaches us about God simply because they are beyond our human understanding.

Scripture References

Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven . . . Deeper than Sheol. . . . Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. (Job 11:7-9)

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9) 

Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

 

Last modified: Monday, August 6, 2018, 12:00 PM