The One True God

The One True God

Colossians 2:6-10
⁶ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ⁷ rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. ⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. ⁹ For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Last week we concluded our study discussing the life of Paul and his contribution to Scripture. Today we will begin with part of his Epistle written to the church in Colossae. The Epistles were letters written (Paul writing thirteen of them) to different Churches to address a Doctrinal or Spiritual issue (or issues in most cases). These issues were severe enough to require quality time confronting and correcting, and in one case, Paul even said, “we’ll talk more about this when I get home” [2 Corinthians 10:10-11].

Here in Colossians, Paul is addressing three issues rooted in worldly tradition that were creeping into the church, philosophy, vain deceit, and traditions of men, specifically teaching false doctrine concerning the Godhead. Which is still an issue that needs to be addressed today. I imagine if you asked a room full of people what the Godhead is, or even who God is, more than likely you will get a room full of answers. It simply amazes me how people adapt their idea of God so that He fits inside their bubble. Some go as far as saying, “Oh, the Godhead is too complicated, we aren’t capable of understanding it.” Just as Paul was tackling this 2,000 years ago, I am here to do the same. That statement is a copout and nothing more than a deceptive tactic of Hell to keep people from living a truly victorious life, shielding them from the true authority one can possess in the revelation of the Godhead.

God’s Revelation of His Identity

Atheists believe there is no God, Agnostics aren’t sure if there is a God, Polytheists believe there are many gods, and Pantheists believe everything is God. But who does God say He is? To find out let’s do a quick review of Scripture.

Deuteronomy 6:4
⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

Isaiah 43:10-11
¹⁰ […] understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

1 Timothy 2:5
⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Ephesians 4:4-6
⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

James 2:19
¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
⁴ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. ⁵ For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 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. 

Clearly from these verses we can fully understand that there is only ONE God, and the basis of true Biblical doctrine is an uncompromising belief in one God, which is known as monotheism.

As we read more of the Bible, we get to know God better. We learn how He communicates, how He interacts with His creation, we even are informed about how the names (or characteristics) of God explain more of, or educate us to understand, His nature.

From reading Scripture we learn,

• He’s the beginning and the ending.
• He’s everlasting and a very present help.
• He’s good, BUT He sent plagues and people died.
• He’s patient, BUT He has been angry and He has punished sin.
• He’s sovereign, BUT He allows people to make their own decisions (even when it’s not in their best interest).
• He’s a deliverer, BUT He is also a disciplinarian.
• He’s merciful AND He is righteous.

We could go on for a while, but let’s continue with our study. The main thing we learn from Scripture is God is supernatural and can’t be seen with our natural eyes [1 Timothy 1:17]. But He will at times make Himself known in this physical world in physical ways.

In the Old Testament, one of the His most remarkable physical presentations was when He called to Moses from a burning bush.

Exodus 3:2-4
² And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. ³ And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. ⁴ And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

While He talked to Moses from within the burning bush, He was not limited to that one location. While He was manifested as fire, He didn’t cease to be the Creator of Light or the Spirit that moved on the face of the water. It was during this encounter that God revealed to Moses a name.

Exodus 3:13-15
¹³ And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? ¹⁴ And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. ¹⁵ And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

The name that God revealed to Moses, I AM THAT I AM, was recorded in Hebrew with four letters, YHWH. We have adapted this to be pronounced Yahweh in today’s English, and from the Latin counterpart we have also derived the word Jehovah. In your Bible it has been translated as LORD (distinguished by ALL CAPS). In Psalm 68:4, we are introduced to a shortened version, just I AM, translated as JAH. This is where we get our word Hallelujah, which literally means “Praise JAH!” That’s why it’s such a powerful word of worship. When you say hallelujah, you are saying “I Praise the NAME of God!”

We will talk more about the I AM statements in a later session, but you will find verse after verse in the Old Testament where this name, I AM is referenced.

This ONE God, did not limit His revelation to just Moses. As we continue through the Old Testament, we will find that He,

• Spoke to Noah [Genesis 7:1]
• Appeared to Abraham [Genesis 18:1-3]
• Appeared to Isaac [Genesis 26:2]
• Came to Jacob in a dream [Genesis 28:10-15]
• Went before Israel in a pillar of cloud by day, and fire by night [Exodus 13:21]
• Appeared to a woman [Judges 13:6-7]
• Walked in the fiery furnace [Daniel 3:25]

There are many others, but wherever, whenever, and however God presented Himself, He was not only at that specific location. God is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere at all times. David captures this best.

Psalm 139:7-10
⁷ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? ⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. ⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; ¹⁰ even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.