The God of the Bible

The Bible teaches that there is one God (Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 6:4; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6, 8; 45:5-6, 14, 18, 21-22; 46:9; Jeremiah 10:10; Malachi 2:10; Mark 12:29-33; John 17:3; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5; 6:15-16; Jude 25), the Father (John 20:17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:6), who has made heaven His dwelling place (1 Kings 8:43; Psalm 115:16; Matthew 6:9), where He dwells in light which no mortal can approach (1 Timothy 6:16). He is called "the living God" throughout the Bible (1 Samuel 17:26, 36; 2 Kings 19:4, 16; Matthew 16:16; 1 Timothy 3:15), and He uses the fact of His existence to declare that His word will be fulfilled (Numbers 14:21, 28; Ezekiel 5:11; 33:11).

No mortal can see God and live (Exodus 33:17-20; 1 John 4:12; John 1:18). He is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 41:13; Psalm 90:2; 93:2; Habakkuk 1:12), the one who is inherently immortal and the source of immortality (1 Timothy 6:13-16), which means He cannot die (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16; Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 57:15). He is all wise and all powerful, with no equal (1 Timothy 1:17; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 40:25-28). He is the creator and sustainer of all things (mentioned over 300 times - Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 45:7, 12; Acts 17:24-29). God declares that he is not man or the son of man (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29), nor can He be tempted (James 1:13). God does not need to learn (Isaiah 40:28), God does not need to be saved (Isaiah 45:7; 43:11), God cannot grow weary (Isaiah 40:28), God does not sleep (Psalm 121:2-4), God's power is unlimited (Isaiah 45:5-7), God knows all (Isaiah 46:10).

The Bible teaches that is essential that we know who God is (John 17:3). He wants us to know who he is (Isaiah 55:3) and what His name means (Exodus 34:5-7). He has declared in his name (Yahweh Elohim) that he intends to enthrone himself upon earth with those who wish to manifest his characteristics in their daily lives (Revelation 21:3). He is a personal God who cares for us and He has a plan for this world (Numbers 14:21; Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14) and has promised to reward His faithful followers with a permanent place on the earth (Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 5:10). God is a God of love and a God of punishment (1 John 4:16; Romans 11:22). He wants all men to repent and seek Him (2 Peter 3:9) and will discipline us to change our wayward direction (Hebrews 12:5-7, 11; Revelation 3:19). He will judge and punish those that do not repent with destruction (1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 10:26-27; 1 Peter 4:17), and judge and reward the obedient with life everlasting (1 Peter 4:17; Hebrews 9:27; Daniel 12:2; Romans 2:1-11).

Written by Matthew Smith