Who is God?

I prepared this while in Osaka in 1988.

Q. Who is God ?

A. God is the One who exists by His own power, "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life”. No one created Him; neither is He the product of any event nor of man's imagination. He created all things out of nothing both "that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers”. (Col. 1:16). His power is infinite and His dominion is boundless. He is actively present in the day to day affairs of the universe "upholding all things by the word of His power”. (Heb. 1:3).

Q. What is the name of God ?

A. God revealed His Name as Yahweh or Jehovah (Exodus 3:13-16). The name means "He that is" or "I Am" or the self-existent and eternal one. To avoid using this divine name (out of supposed reverence), a word meaning 'Lord' was substituted in public reading. English Bibles unfortunately follow the same practice. The following are the English translations of the personal intimate name of God:

YaHWeH: translated as LORD

ADON: translated as Lord

YaHWeH+ADON: translated as LORD GOD

There are also other Hebrew words translated as "GOD":

1. EL The powerful one. It means 'The Deity' meaning God in the distinctiveness of His divine nature.

2. ELOHIM Plural form of EL. It is not translated as gods but the God who completely possesses all the divine attributes. (Genesis 1:1,26-" Let US" :This suggests the Holy Trinity).

3. ADON This means 'Lord' or 'Master'. It describes God as 'Sovereign' or 'Lord' pointing to His divine authority and executive rule. This word is also used of man.

Compound Names of God

• EL SHADDAY or EL SHADDAI

'Shaddai' probably means "mountain”. Mountain is used symbolically of changelessness and enduring strength contrasted to the helplessness of man. Genesis 17:1. This compound name means "The Almighty God”. It refers to God's boundless and infinite power. It implies that God has the power to accomplish that which He promised and planned to do. No one can hinder Him from doing whatever He desires because no power can stop Him. What does this name mean to you? He is able to protect you. He will perform His promises to you. You don't have to fear anything because He is almighty.

• EL ELYON

Genesis 14:18. 'ELYON' means 'Highest'. 'EL ELYON' therefore means 'The Most High God’. It implies that God is the possessor of Heaven and Earth. God has the highest authority and exercises it both in heaven and in earth (Mt. 28:18). Does He exercise authority in your life?

• EL ROI

Genesis 16:13. Hagar's experience. EL ROI means 'The God who sees’. God saw the affliction of Hagar. In the same way, He sees your afflictions. Are you facing problems, persecutions, and afflictions? God is EL ROI.

• EL OLAM

Genesis 21:33. 'OLAM' has two uses:

a) Used of secret or hidden things.

b) Used of an indefinite time and age.

It therefore means "The everlasting God’. From everlasting to everlasting He is God (Psalm 90:2). He has no beginning or end, no father, no mother. In relation to His Word, His Word is Eternal. In relation to His love, His love for you is everlasting. Because He is eternal, He is able to give ETERNAL LIFE to those who trust in Him. Is He your EL OLAM?

• EL BETHEL

It means "The God of Bethel”. Genesis 31:13.

'BETH' means 'House'. 'BETH-EL' means house of God.

Therefore, EL BETHEL means 'The God of the House of God’.

EL BETHEL hears those who pray in the house of God. 2 Chronicles 6:20-21). EL BETHEL hears all vows, requests, and petitions made in the house of God.

• EL ELOHE YISRAEL. Genesis 33:20.

After God delivered Jacob from Esau's anger, Jacob built an altar in Shechem. He called it EL ELOHE YISRAEL. It means "GOD, the God of Israel”. This has special meaning to both Jacob (Israel) as a person and to Israel as a nation. He is the powerful God who is ever present with Jacob and the nation of Israel in times of struggles, problems, and dilemma. In the same manner, God is ever present with each Christian (in a personal way) and His Church in times of trials and difficulties and in times of rejoicing. He is a personal God.

Other Titles of God

The Holy One. The most centrally important title of all. Isaiah 10:17. A variation of this is the title 'The Holy One of Israel' (Isaiah 1:4). In Acts 2:27, Jesus is called the Holy One.

The Lord of Hosts. Describes God as the One great in power. Jeremiah 32:18-23.

Creator. Isaiah 40:28.

Judge. Genesis 18:25.

King. Jeremiah 10:7.

God of all flesh. Jeremiah 32:27.

Q. What is the Holy Trinity ?
A. It means One God eternally existing in three distinct persons (sometimes God is referred to as the Triune God) -- the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being, identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.

Q. Is this taught in the Bible ?
A. Yes. The Bible teaches that there is only One true God (Deut. 6:4; Eph. 4:6; Ex. 34:14) and Him alone we must serve. But God's Word also declares that God exists in three distinct persons -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God the Father. God is revealed as the Father distinct from the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 6:9; John 15:26).
God the Son. The Holy Scriptures also teaches that the Son, Jesus Christ, is God and equal to the Father (John 10:30; John 14:7-9; John 17:5; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8; John 1:1-4; compare Rev 1:8 and Rev 22:13-16).

God the Holy Spirit. The Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit is God (see Acts 5:3,4; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:15- 17 compare with Jeremiah 31:33-34).

Q. What then is my duty to God ?

A. King Solomon summarized this for us: "Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). Jesus made this specific by saying, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent" (John 6:29). "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18).

Q. What is the responsibility of those who have believed on Him?

A. To love, serve, and worship Him. Jesus said, "The first of all the commandment is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Mark 12: 29-30). God deserves such love and devotion. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, encouraged believers in Christ to serve the Lord: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor. 15: 58). Above all, God is worthy of adoration: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev. 4:11). "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." (Rev. 5:12). Do you give God the love, service, and adoration that is due to Him?