I Believe in God
In this nation, the great majority of people say that they believe in God. But they describe Him in such radically different ways, that it becomes apparent that when two people say, “God,” they may not mean the same thing.
In this nation, the great majority of people say that they believe in God. But they describe Him in such radically different ways, that it becomes apparent that when two people say, “God,” they may not mean the same thing.
For this reason, it is futile to argue for the existence of God until we establish which God we are talking about.
And when I say God, I mean the God described in the Bible.
· God is a He, not an It.
One of the first things you notice about the God of Scripture is that He is a He and not an It. That is just another way of saying that God is personal. He has the qualities of personhood.
In the Bible we read that God thinks, speaks, wills, acts, sees and hears. The Bible also uses the personal pronoun “He” in reference to God.
· God is both personal and infinite.
Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Job 11:7-8)
Here’s the main thing that sets the God of the Bible apart from the gods of most of the world’s religions. The gods of the Greeks & Romans, the Babylonians and the Hindus are understood as persons. But they are not infinite. The pagan gods were said to arise out of nature’s chaos. The God of the Bible created nature and is distinct from it.
Other beliefs, like those of the Buddhists and the Brahmans speak of infinite Being. But they do not believe that the infinite is also personal.
Only the Bible and religions derived from it speak of God as both personal and infinite.
· God is holy and just.
I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:1-3)
In one sense, holiness speaks of apartness. As we mentioned, the Bible does not identify God with creation. Nature is not a part of God’s being.
As creatures, humans find that there is an uncrossable chasm between God and us. He is the Creator and we are His creatures.
· God is worthy of our worship.
I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised. (Psalm 18:3)
As our Creator and the fountain of all that is good, God deserves our worship and praise. In fact, that is the essential purpose of the Church: to unite believers in the worship of the living and true God.
More about God
This little article can only begin to tell the glories of the God we worship and serve. The Westminster Larger Catechism gives a classic description of God, but a fuller explanation of all its terms could take up volumes. Here it is:
What is God?
Answer: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.The Apostles’ Creed
You can find another classic summary of the Bible’s teaching about God in a very early statement of Christian faith called The Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
*The word "catholic" refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.Questions about God?
Email me at gravelbelly@gmail.com, and I will be happy to make arrangements to explain more about the Bible's teachings concerning God.
