Our belief in God is extremely important, and what we believe about God separates us
from other religions and cults.
Likewise, having a proper understanding about who God is helps to shape who we are.
So, let’s discuss this very important belief, known as the doctrine of God.
We believe God exists, which sets us apart from the Atheists who say there is no god.
The first step in knowing God is to believe that He exists.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
- Hebrews 11:6
We also believe that creation testifies to a creator.
This means the complexity of creation points to intelligent design.
We do not believe the complexity of the creation could have happened by accident.
We understand that such complexity could only be the result of an intelligent creator.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”
- Psalm 19:1
The perfect balance of the ecosystem, the food chain, the atmosphere, everything about
the world points to intelligent design.
It is impossible for all of these things to come into existence by accident.
Therefore, creation testifies to a creator, and we are without excuse.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they
are without excuse” - Romans 1:20
We believe God is the Creator of all things.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
- Genesis 1:1
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible
and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him.”
- Colossians 1:16
Not only that, but God created humans to be different from all other creatures, making
us in the image of God.
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.”
- Genesis 1:27
This was done so that we could know God and have relationship with Him.
Believing that we can know God sets us apart from Agnostics and Deists who believe in a
creator, but do not think we can actually know Him.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent.”
- John 17:3
God reveals Himself to us through His Word, through the prophets, and most importantly
through His Son, Yeshua the Messiah.
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by
the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir
of all things, through whom also He made the worlds”
- Hebrews 1:1-2
We also believe that God interacts with His creation, which sets us apart from Deists
who believe God set the universe in motion and abandoned it.
However, we believe that God is still active and interacting with His creation.
The ultimate demonstration of the way God interacts with His creation is presented in
the incarnation of Yeshua, the “Son of God.”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:16
We believe we can never fully know or understand God, because we are finite and He is infinite,
we are limited and He is limitless.
We could spend our entire lives seeking Him and learning about Him, and we would never
run out of things to learn about God.
“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
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.”
- Psalm 145:3
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”
- Romans 11:33
We believe there is only one God, which sets us apart from Polytheists who believe in many
gods.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”
- Deuteronomy 6:4
“…The Lord is one, And His name one.”
- Zechariah 14:9
We believe this one God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three in one.
We see this plural unity of God hinted at in Genesis.
“Then God said, "Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness…”
- Genesis 1:26
“Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of US, to know good and
evil…”
- Genesis 3:22
We see all three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit present and identified individually
during the Baptism of Yeshua.
“When He had been baptized, Jesus (SON) came up immediately from the water; and behold,
the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God (HOLY SPIRIT) descending
like a dove and alighting upon Him.
And suddenly a voice came from heaven (FATHER), saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased."
- Matthew 3:16-17
And Yeshua explains that the Father and Son are One.
“I and My Father are one.”
- John 10:30
Therefore, we believe in One God who exists eternally in three Persons, identified as
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe God is omniscient, which means He is all knowing.
He knows everything, including even knowing our thoughts.
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD”
- Psalm 139:1-4
“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and KNOWS ALL THINGS.”
- 1 John 3:20
“Would not God find this out?
For HE KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART.”
- Psalm 44:21
We believe God is omnipotent, which means He is all powerful.
He made all things, and has unlimited power to do anything He wants.
Nothing is impossible for God.
“Ah, Lord God!
Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched
arm.
There is nothing too hard for You.”
- Jeremiah 32:17
“Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that You can do everything, And that
no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”
- Job 42:1-2
“For with God nothing will be impossible."
- Luke 1:37
We believe God is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at all times.
God is not limited with respect to space.
It is not simply that He can go anywhere that He wants, but that He is already everywhere
at all times.
He fills heaven and earth, and there is nowhere we can go to escape the presence of God.
"Am I a God near at hand," says the Lord, "And not a God afar off?
Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the Lord; "Do
I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 23:23-24
“Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there
Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.”
- Psalm 139:7-10
We believe God is immutable, which means He does not change.
He does not learn or mature or grow or evolve.
God’s character, purpose, promises, nature, and being will never change.
Because God does not change, we can trust Him to do what He says He will do.
This shows us that He is always faithful.
The immutability of God shows an important distinction between the Creator and the creation.
We are constantly changing and growing and becoming, but God simply is.
He is who He always was and will always be.
He never changes, He never grows, He never learns, and He never ages.
“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”
- Malachi 3:6
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father
of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
- James 1:17
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
- Hebrews 13:8
“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like
a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.
But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.”
- Psalm 102:25-27
Not only does this verse speak about the unchangeable nature of God, but it also speaks about His
eternality.
We believe God is eternal and not limited by time.
He existed before time existed, because time is relative to matter, and He existed before
the creation of matter.
Therefore He existed before time.
God has no beginning and no end, and He does not age.
“Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
- Psalm 90:2
In fact, one of the names of God given in the Bible is the “everlasting God”.
“Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of
the Lord, the Everlasting God.”
- Genesis 21:33
“Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor
is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.”
- Isaiah 40:28
Because God is everlasting, His attributes such as love and mercy are also everlasting.
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”
- Psalm 100:5
“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And
His righteousness to children's children,” - Psalm 102:17
Likewise, this also means His rewards and judgments are everlasting.
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting
life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
- Daniel 12:2
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:16
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
- John 3:36
We believe God is Holy.
He is exalted and worthy of complete devotion.
He is perfect and set apart from everything else.
He is sacred and sinless, and here is none like Him.
“Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
- Exodus 15:11
“No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock
like our God.”
- 1 Samuel 2:2
Holy means separate or set apart, and because God is Holy, He wants us to be holy people,
separate from sin.
“For I am the Lord your God.
You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy…”
- Leviticus 11:44
We believe God is sovereign, which means God has supreme power and authority over all things.
He does whatever He pleases, and no one can stop Him.
“Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep
places.”
- Psalm 135:6
"I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”
- Job 42:2
“God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.”
- Psalm 47:8
His sovereignty also means there are no other gods who reign with Him.
He alone reigns over all things.
“Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God
in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.”
- Deuteronomy 4:39
Because God is sovereign, everything belongs to Him.
“Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with
all that is in it.”
- Deuteronomy 10:14
He is sovereign over all things, and He reigns eternally.
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter
of Your kingdom.”
- Psalm 45:6
We believe God is righteous, which means He is morally right, virtuous, and good.
“Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?”
- Job 4:17
“For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.”
- Psalm 11:7
We believe God is just, which means He judges correctly and without partiality.
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,
who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving
him food and clothing.”
- Deuteronomy 10:17-18
“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and
without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”
- Deuteronomy 32:4
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's
work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear”
- 1 Peter 1:17
We believe God is faithful, which means loyal, constant, steadfast, true, and committed.
His word is true, and you can know that whatever He says, He will do it.
“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant
and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments”
- Deuteronomy 7:9
“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised
is faithful.”
- Hebrews 10:23
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.”
- 1 John 1:9
We believe God is merciful and kind, which means He forgives us even though we don’t
deserve it.
“for the Lord your God is a merciful God, He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor
forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.”
- Deuteronomy 4:31
“…But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them.”
- Nehemiah 9:17
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance…
and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…”
- 2 Peter 3:9,15
We also believe that God is love.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us”
- Ephesians 2:4
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 8:38-39
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born
of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the
propitiation for our sins.”
- 1 John 4:7-10
As I said before, we can’t know everything about God because He is beyond our understanding,
but He has revealed many things to us about Himself, and these things prove to us
that He is worthy of our love, obedience, and worship.