Have you inventoried your life lately?

Have you ever been accused of being a Christian?

Can they find enough evidence to convict you?

Do you want a better relationship with GOD?

When was the last time you told GOD you love Him?

To answer these questions in Truth,

please continue reading.

Questions:

“Who is GOD?

What is GOD?

How can we know GOD?”

Who is GOD?

First of all, the fact of GOD’s existence is so conspicuous, both through creation and through man’s conscience, for this reason, the Bible calls the atheist a “fool”(Psalm 14:1).

Next, the Bible never attempts to prove the existence of GOD; rather, it assumes His existence from the very beginning(Genesis 1:1).

However, the Bible does reveal the nature, character, and work of GOD.

Who is GOD? – The Definition

Now, thinking correctly about GOD is of utmost importance because a false idea about GOD is idolatry. In Psalm 50:21, GOD reproves the wicked man with this accusation: “You thought I was altogether like you.”

In the first place, a good summary definition of GOD is “the Supreme Being; the Creator and Ruler of all that is; the Self-existent One who is perfect in power, goodness, and wisdom.”

Who is GOD? – His Nature

Here, we know certain things to be true of GOD for one reason: in His mercy He has shown actions of superiority to reveal some of His qualities to us.

GOD is spirit, by nature intangible (John 4:24).
GOD is One, but He exists as three Persons—GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17).
GOD is infinite (1 Timothy 1:17), incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6).
GOD exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12), knows everything (Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:28), and has all power and authority (Ephesians 1;Revelation 19:6).

Who is GOD? – His Character

So, here are some of GOD’s characteristics as revealed in the Bible:

GOD is just (Acts 17:31),
Loving (Ephesians 2:4-5),
Truthful (John 14:6),
Holy (1 John 1:5).
GOD shows compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3),
Mercy (Romans 9:15),
Grace (Romans 5:17).
GOD judges sin (Psalm 5:5)
GOD also offers forgiveness (Psalm 130:4).

Who is GOD? – His Work

Additionally, we cannot understand GOD apart from His works, because what GOD does flows from who He is.

Also, here is an abbreviated list of GOD’s works, past, present, and future:

GOD created the world (Genesis 1:1;Isaiah 42:5);
He actively sustains the world (Colossians 1:17);
He is executing His eternal plan (Ephesians 1:11) which involves the redemption of man from the curse of sin and death (Galatians 3:13-14);
He draws people to Christ (John 6:44);
He disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:6);
and He will judge the world (Revelation 20:11-15).

Who is GOD? – A Relationship with Him

In the Person of the Son, GOD became incarnate (John 1:14). The Son of GOD became the Son of Man and is therefore the “bridge” between GOD and man (John 14:6;1 Timothy 2:5).
However, It is only through the Son that we can have forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), reconciliation with GOD (John 15:15; Romans 5:10), and eternal salvation (2 Timothy 2:10).
Additionally, In Jesus Christ “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). So, to really know who GOD is, all we have to do is look at Jesus.

Question: “What is GOD?”

Answer: A. W. Tozer wrote, “’What is GOD like?’ If by that question we mean ‘What is GOD like in Himself?’ there is no answer.

If we mean ‘What has GOD disclosed about Himself that the reverent reason can comprehend?’ there is, I believe, an answer both full and satisfying.”

Tozer is right in that we cannot know what GOD is with respect to Himself.

The book of Job declares, “Can you discover the depths of GOD?

Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?

They are high as the heavens, what can you do?

Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?” (Job 11:7–8).

GOD’s Revelation about Himself

However, we can ask what GOD has revealed about Himself in His Word and in creation that “the reverent reason” can grasp.
When Moses was directed by GOD to go to the Egyptian Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites, Moses asked GOD, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The GOD of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” (Exodus 3:13).

The answer GOD gave Moses

As a result, God’s answer to Moses was simple, yet very revealing: “GOD said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you”’” (Exodus 3:14). The Hebrew text in verse 14 literally says, “I be that I be.”
Furthermore, this name speaks to the fact that GOD is pure existence, or what some call pure actuality. Pure actuality is that which IS with no possibility to not exist. Put another way, many things can have existence (e.g., human beings, animals, plants), but only one thing can be existence. Other things have “being” but only God is Being.
Finally, the fact that GOD alone is Being leads to at least five truths about what GOD is – what type of being GOD is.

First of All

GOD alone is a self-existent being and the first cause of everything else that exists.
Next, John 5:26 simply says, “The Father has life in Himself.”
Then, Paul preached, “He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25).

Second

Nevertheless, GOD is a necessary being. A necessary being is one whose nonexistence is impossible. Only GOD is a necessary being; all other things are contingent beings, meaning they could not exist. However, if GOD did not exist, then neither would anything else.
Still, He alone is the necessary being by which everything else currently exists – in addition, a fact that Job states: “If He should determine to do so, If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust” (Job 34:14–15).

Third

Equally important, GOD is a personal being. The word personal in this context does not describe personality (e.g., funny, outgoing, etc.); rather, it means “having intent.”
For this reason, GOD is a purposeful being who has a will, creates, and directs events to suit Him.
Furthermore, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “I am GOD, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isaiah 46:9–10).

Fourth

In fact, GOD is a triune being. This truth is a mystery, yet the whole of Scripture and life in general speaks to this fact.
Of course, the Bible clearly articulates that there is but one GOD: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our GOD, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). But the Bible also declares that there is a plurality to God.
Therefore, before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
To illustrate, notice the singular “name” in the verse; it does not say “names,” which would convey three gods. There is one name belonging to the three Persons who make up the Godhead.

Father GOD, Jesus GOD, The Holy Spirit GOD

However, Scripture in various places clearly calls the Father GOD, Jesus GOD, and the Holy Spirit GOD.
For example, the fact that Jesus possesses self-existence and is the first cause of everything is stated in the first verses of John: “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life” (John 1:3–4).
Also, the Bible says that Jesus is a necessary being: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

Fifth

Also, GOD is a loving being. In the same way that many things can exist but only one thing can be existence, people and other living things can possess and experience love, but only one thing can be love.
And, First John 4:8 makes the simple ontological statement, “GOD is love.”

The Only Necessary Being

What is GOD?

Therefore, GOD is the only one who can say, “I be that I be.” GOD is pure existence, self-existent, and the source of everything else that possesses existence. He is the only necessary being, is purposeful/personal, and possesses both unity and diversity.
Additionally, GOD is also love. He invites you to seek Him and discover the love He has for you in His Word and in the life of His Son Jesus Christ, the one who died for your sins and made a way for you to live with Him for eternity.

Question: “What are the different names of GOD and what do they mean?”

Answer: Each of the many names of GOD describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better-known names of GOD in the Bible:

EL, ELOAH:

GOD “mighty, strong, prominent” (Genesis 7:1; Isaiah 9:6) – etymologically, El appears to mean “power,” as in “I have the power to harm you” (Genesis 31:29).

El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of might remains.

ELOHIM:

GOD “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity.

From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of GOD’s power is evident as GOD (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).

EL SHADDAI:

“GOD Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) – speaks to GOD’s ultimate power over all.

ADONAI:

“Lord” (Genesis 15:2;Judges 6:15) – used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men.

In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in GOD’s dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.

YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH:

“LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) – strictly speaking, the only proper name for GOD.

Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, “Lord.”

The revelation of the name is first given to Moses “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14).

This name specifies an immediacy, a presence.

Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3).

YAHWEH-JIREH:

“The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when GOD provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

YAHWEH-RAPHA:

“The Lord Who Heals” (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul.

In body, by preserving from and curing diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities.

YAHWEH-NISSI:

“The Lord Our Banner” (Exodus 17:15) banner is understood to be a rallying place.

This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17.

YAHWEH-M’KADDESH:

“The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy” (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) – GOD makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy.

YAHWEH-SHALOM:

“The Lord Our Peace” (Judges 6:24) – the name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him.

YAHWEH-ELOHIM:

“LORD GOD” (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – a combination of GOD’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords.

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU:

“The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is GOD alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become the Righteousness of GOD in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

YAHWEH-ROHI:

“The Lord Our Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship GOD had with him, and so he declares, “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH:

“The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once-departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8—11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).

YAHWEH-SABAOTH:

“The Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7 means “hordes,” both of angels and of men.

He is Lord of the host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave.

The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of GOD and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do.

EL ELYON:

“Most High” (Deuteronomy 26:19) – derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or “ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest.

El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship.

EL ROI:

“GOD of Seeing” (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to GOD by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14).

When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen GOD Himself in a theophany.

She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a GOD who lives and sees all.

EL-OLAM:

“Everlasting GOD” (Psalm 90:1-3) – GOD’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are GOD.”

EL-GIBHOR:

“Mighty GOD” (Isaiah 9:6) – the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah.

As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty GOD, will accomplish the destruction of GOD’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).

Question: “What does it mean that GOD is infinite?”

Answer: The infinite nature of GOD simply means that GOD exists outside of and is not limited by time or space. Infinite simply means “without limits.” When we refer to GOD as “infinite,” we generally refer to Him with terms like omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence.

Omniscience –

Namely, means that GOD is all-knowing or that He has unlimited knowledge. Therefore, His infinite knowledge is what qualifies Him as sovereign ruler and judge over all things.

In the same way, not only does GOD know everything that will happen, but He also knows all things that could have possibly happened. Nothing takes GOD by surprise, and no one can hide sin from Him.

Thus, there are many verses in the Bible where GOD reveals this aspect of His nature. One such verse is 1 John 3:20: “…GOD is greater than our heart, and knows all things.”

Omnipotence –

Now, this means that GOD is all-powerful or that He has unlimited power. Having all power is significant because it establishes GOD’s ability to carry out His sovereign will. Because GOD is omnipotent and has infinite power, nothing can stop His decreed will from happening, and nothing can thwart or stop His divine purposes from being fulfilled.

Moreover, there are many verses in the Bible where GOD reveals this aspect of His nature. One such verse is Psalm 115:3: “But our GOD is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Or when answering His disciples’ question “Then who can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25), Jesus says, “With men this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Omnipresence –

means that GOD is always present. There is no place that you could go to escape GOD’s presence. GOD is not limited by time or space. He is present at every point of time and space. GOD’s infinite presence is significant because it establishes that GOD is eternal. GOD has always existed and will always exist.

Before time began, GOD was. Before the world or even matter itself was created, GOD was. He has no beginning or end, and there was never a time He did not exist, nor will there be a time when He ceases to exist.

Again, many verses in the Bible reveal this aspect of GOD’s nature to us, and one of them is:

Psalm 139:7-10: “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.”

Because GOD is infinite –

He is also said to be transcendent, which simply means that GOD is exceedingly far above creation and is both greater than creation and independent of it. What this means is that GOD is so infinitely above and beyond us and our ability to fully comprehend that, had He not revealed Himself, we would not know or understand what He is like.

But, thankfully, GOD has not left us ignorant about Himself. Instead, He has revealed Himself to us through both general revelation (creation and our conscience) and special revelation (the written Word of GOD, the Bible, and the living Word of GOD, Jesus Christ).

Therefore, we can know GOD, and we can know how to be reconciled to Him and how to live according to His will. Despite the fact that we are finite and GOD is infinite, we can know and understand God as He has revealed Himself to us.

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-17 KJVS

Our Relationship with GOD

[1] And GOD spake all these words, saying,
[2] I am the Lord thy GOD, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
[3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
[4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy GOD am a jealous GOD, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
[6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
[7] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy GOD in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

The Sabbath Day, Made For Mankind

[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy GOD: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
[11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Our Relationship with Other People

[12] Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy GOD giveth thee.
[13] Thou shalt not kill.
[14] Thou shalt not commit adultery.
[15] Thou shalt not steal.
[16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
[17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.