What is the Doctrine of God?

By Admin | September 10, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Christianity is not the only worldview that believes in the existence of God. But what makes Christianity different is its fundamental belief in who God is. This is where the importance of the doctrine of God comes in.

Without a stern knowledge of the God of the Bible, we can easily become vulnerable to the doctrines of demons. It is for this reason that we need foundations of doctrine based not on tradition but on Scripture.

Who is God?

The God of the Bible, the Christians God, is Yahweh. He is the one (Deuteronomy 6:4), ultimate (Psalm 97:9; Isaiah 40:12-31), and eternal being (Psalm 90:2). God is the creator (Genesis 1:1), who rules (Psalm 115:3) and sustains all that exists (Job 38:1-41; Acts 7:24-28).

There may be countless substitutes who divert worship to themselves. But there is only one Creator and Savior – God. He is the life-giver who deserves our gratitude. God controls every heartbeat and circumstance; He alone deserves our trust when it comes to our family and finances.

It’s because God is eternal that no one will outlive Him. He is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, and the only one in the universe to whom we must finally answer.

How Do We Know God Exists?

We are constantly challenged by atheists, skeptics, and hecklers to prove that there is a God. How do Christians prove the existence of God? This problem is solved in the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Bible is not a textbook that attempts to prove the existence of God – the Bible opens with the positive fact that God does exist. The Bible plainly states that it is the fool who denies the existence of God (Psalm 14:1).

Countless apologetic books explain in great detail the various proofs for the existence of God. This includes the following:

The wonders of nature witness God’s existence as Creator (Psalm 19:1-4).
The inner voice of our conscience testifies to God’s existence as Lawgiver and Judge (Romans 1:18-32; 2:12-16).
And the love of Christ reveals God’s existence as Savior and Friend (John 1:1-18; 15:15).

Acceptance of Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God,” leads a sincere seeker into the path of a fuller revelation of God Himself.

God made Himself self-evident. Let us come as children in simple faith, based on the revelation of God in Scripture and nature, believing and trusting Him completely.

What is God Like?

The study of God has been the ambition of philosophers for millennia. Some sit and meditate and try to think into the realm of the eternal Being. But the only true knowledge about God can be gained from the Bible.

God is the one and only (Isaiah 44:6), immutable (James 1:17), invisible (Colossians 1:15), infinite (1 Kings 8:27), and perfect (Matthew 5:48) Spirit being (John 4:24). He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), loving (1 John 4:8-16), and truthful in all that He does (John 3:33).

God has lived from all eternity as one God in three distinct persons (Matthew 28:19), and at one time He visited us as God in the flesh (John 1:1-14).

One God in Three Persons

The Bible tells us explicitly that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).

So, where do we get the idea that God is one God in three persons? A careful study of the Scriptures will show that God exists in three Persons, that is, a Godhead manifested in three Persons.

The Bible emphasizes the unity of God (Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19). But it also describes Him as three distinct persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – all of whom are fully and equally God. See Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8; 1 Peter 1:2.

But how can God be three Persons and one God at the same time? Would that not make three Gods, resembling pagan philosophy and contradicting Deuteronomy 6:4? The doctrine of the Trinity may be incomprehensible and contrary to reason. Isaiah 55:8-9 teaches that human reason has no bearing in the study of God.

The Trinity remains a mystery and will remain a mystery until we meet the Lord in glory.

God is Infinite

What do we mean when we say that God is infinite?

God is infinite in that He is unlimited (Luke 1:37). He is unrestricted by time, space, or circumstance. He is also eternally timeless (Psalm 90:2; Revelation 22:13), all-powerful (Matthew 19:26), all-knowing (Job 37:16), and omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12; Matthew 28:20).

Yet, God remains distinct from His creation (Isaiah 40:18-26). He is limited only in the sense that He cannot do anything inconsistent with His own goodness (Titus 1:2; James 1:13).

To say that God is finite means He is vastly different from the gods of the Eastern mystics or Western materialists. Their gods are either so small and self-contradictory or so secular and inclusive. Thus, they cannot be distinguished from cows, rats, scorpions, statues, or human thought.

Read on the natural and moral attributes of God here.

God is the Creator and Sustainer

God is not “a creator” or someone who simply creates. He is “the Creator,” for by Him and through Him, all things were created (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). God created all things out of nothing and has touched everything in His creation directly.

Since God created all things, no one created Him; He alone is the Creator. Satan cannot create; He can only pervert. Humans cannot truly create because they must start with something that has already been created.

God is also described as the Sustainer of all things (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:17). To sustain something means to give it strength, protection, encouragement, and comfort. His sustainment is a holding together with a power that surpasses that of any human (GotQuestions.Org).

God sustains the universe, maintaining the power and balance necessary for life’s existence and continuity. What a comfort to know that the same God who keeps the planets aligned also holds you in His hands

Conclusion

Unfortunately, many are turned off by the term doctrine or theology and consider these two terms boring and useless. But a healthy relationship with God begins with an intellectual knowledge of who He is.

And for our knowledge of God to be accurate, the primary source must be the Bible, God’s special revelation of Himself.

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Recommended Resource: Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth by John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue

Long-Awaited Systematic Theology by Well-Known Pastor, Author, and President of the Master’s Seminary

Doctrine isn’t just for theologians―it’s important for every Christian because it shows us who God is and how we should live.

Systematizing the robust theology that has undergirded John MacArthur’s well-known preaching ministry for decades, this overview of basic Christian doctrine covers topics such as God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, salvation, and more.

Comprehensive in scope yet written to be accessible to the average reader―with non-technical vocabulary, minimal footnotes, and a helpful bibliography―this volume offers Christians a solid foundation for what they believe and why.