One God, One Lord

God’s true spokesmen—from Moses in Genesis to John in the Book of Revelation—have witnessed to the inviolable truth of the supremacy of One God, the Creator of all things. This God is Spirit and not physical. God is not male or female. Yet, God uses human relations to explain “His” goodness and love—He is like a Father.

God knew that Adam would fall and that a second Adam needed to redeem God’s fallen creation. As Creator, God is Lord or ruler over all. He promised Adam and Eve that He would send the Messiah [Genesis 3:15] to redeem mankind. This savior would be a man born unlike any other. He would literally be God’s Son, and therefore “lord” with all the authority of his Father, God. This man was Jesus Christ. God raised Jesus from the dead with a new spiritual body. Jesus Christ is now lord of all, under His Father’s authority and rule.

The Apostles understood these truths. They wrote and taught that Christians have only one God—and He is our Father. He is Spirit and the source of all good things. They also wrote and taught that Christians have only one lord—Jesus Christ. And that all the good things of God are through him. Paul explained this in his letters to the early church.

I Corinthians 8:5,6:
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of [Greek ek, out of, the Source] whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by [Greek dia, through, by means of] whom are all things, and we by him.

Ephesians 4:5,6:
One Lord [Jesus Christ], one faith [in Christ], one baptism [in Christ’s death],
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Sadly, this truth of one God and one lord became corrupted before the end of the first century. The Devil worked in false prophets to turn people from Paul who spoke the truth [II Timothy 1:15]; to swerve from the truth [II Timothy 2:18]; to resist the truth [II Timothy 3:8]; and to turn from the truth unto fables and myths [II Timothy 4:4]. That includes the modern myth of a “God man.”

This corruption of the truth continued until false teachings became codified as church doctrine. Beginning with the First Council of Nicaea in 325 and up to the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, seven meetings of arguing Christians were convened by emperors and religious leaders to hammer out the confusion. From these “councils” came a mixture of apostolic truth, Eastern mysticism, and pagan idolatry forming the “doctrine of the Trinity.”

These religious leaders forgot that God is Spirit, and tried to change a physical being, a person, into the eternal God. They twisted Jesus’ own words and turned him into a “God man.” Calling Jesus “God” was no new accusation. The Judeans of his own time misunderstood that Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, the promised Messiah. The adversary even back then had tried to propound the myth that Jesus was God, His Father.

John 10:30-36:
I and my Father are one [in purpose and heart].
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

These religious leaders were saying that Jesus blasphemed by making himself God. Yet Jesus never claimed that. The Old Testament scriptures clearly show that the Messiah would never be God, but God’s Son, and in that sense, equal to God (I Chronicles 22:10; Psalms 2:7). Jesus said that he was “the Son of God,” and had all the authority of His Father. That is what really concerned these power-hungry religious leaders.

The Invisible God

From the first verse in Genesis, the Bible teaches that God is Spirit. He has no physical body, and is invisible.

Genesis 1:1,2:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

God, Who is Spirit, created the heavens and the earth. Jesus, more than any other man, believed and trusted the scriptures. He read the Old Testament and understood it. Jesus said that God is Spirit.

John 4:24:
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God is invisible.

I Timothy 1:17:
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 11:27:
By faith he [Moses] forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him [God] who is invisible.

Paul reminded Timothy that God is Spirit, He cannot be seen. The Book of Hebrews says that Moses could not physically see God, yet he had God’s spirit and could know Him. Jesus Christ could be seen. Jesus is the image, the representation, of God Who is invisible. Jesus said that if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.

Colossians 1:15-18:
Who [Christ] is the image [representation] of the invisible God, the firstborn [prōto, first in time] of every creature:
For by [en, in] him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by [dia, by means of] him, and for [eis, unto] him:
And he is before [pro, ahead of in position] all things, and by [en, in] him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning [archē, first in authority], the firstborn [prōto, first in time] from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians shows that Jesus Christ is the preeminent one. He is the visible expression of the invisible God, his Father. Today, Jesus Christ alone is lord. At his name, every knee should bow (Philippians 2:9-11). Here in Colossians, Christ is described in a few ways:

1. the firstborn [prōto, first in time] of every creature
2. by [en, in] him were all things created
3. all things were created by [dia, by means of] him, and for [eis, unto] him
4. the beginning [archē, first in authority]
5. the firstborn [prōto, first in time] from the dead

These truths are simple and clear in light of the original language and in the context of the New Testament.

1. There is no doubt that Jesus was the firstborn of God—he is God’s only begotten Son. Since Pentecost, people can become sons of God with the new creation of God’s spirit within them.
2. All things regarding the Body of Christ, the church, are created “in” Christ.
3. All of God’s riches are “by means of” Christ (I Corinthians 8:6), and we are “unto” him.
4. Jesus is the archē, first in authority. This Greek word refers to his position as lord, not that he was in the “beginning” with God.
5. Jesus Christ was the first raised from the dead. That is what we believe to get born again (Romans 10:9,10).

John 1:18:
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

No man has ever seen God physically. Yet, many saw God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, had a close, intimate relationship with his Father. In the Eastern culture of Bible times, “in the bosom” indicates a tender and loving bond. God’s Son declared what God, his Father, is all about.

I John 4:12-15:
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John’s record is true. We can never see God physically. But when we believe on Jesus Christ, we receive God’s gift of holy spirit and God dwells in us [Romans 10:9,10]. God did not send Himself; He sent His Son. We don’t confess that Jesus is God. We confess that Jesus is the Son of God, our lord and savior.

Only One God

The first use of “one God” is revealing.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

This is the most important truth about God. He is the only true God. This truth was to be taught to children at all times. It was to be always before a person’s eyes and even written on the doorposts and gates. Jesus was well aware of this fundamental truth.

Mark 12:29:
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.

This truth was the first of the ten commandments.

Exodus 20:1-3:
And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

God talks about “other gods” 63 times in the Kings James Version of the Old Testament. He didn’t like His people turning from Him to false gods.

Exodus 34:14:
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

The Living God

God is life. False gods and idols are dead. These statues and amulets represent the fallen angels, Satan and his host, who want to receive worship through them. God deserves our worship and praise for His goodness and kindness to us. Look at the first use of “the living God.”

Deuteronomy 5:26:
For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?

The “living God” is used 30 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is always in contrast to dead gods, idols. These false gods have mouths, eyes, ears—yet they cannot speak, see, or hear. Those who follow them are just as dumb, blind, and deaf spiritually. They take wood and burn it for heat, and carve the same wood into their “god.” This is foolish and destructive [Psalms 115:4-8; Psalms 135:15-18; Isaiah 44:15-20].

Romans 1:21-25:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God [Who is Spirit] into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

People changed God, Who is Spirit, into the form of corruptible, physical things. Even in our times, some worship gods that have animal forms. Some worship gods that have a human form. Sadly, some Christians worship images of God’s Son, a man. Jesus had a body; he would have corrupted in the grave had not his Father raised him from the dead. We should glorify the Father by making Jesus our lord, not our God.

The final use of the “living God” shows how God gave His authority to His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was slain like the Passover Lamb to forgive sins and bring salvation. God is the One Who “sits” on the throne as Ruler over all—and now Jesus Christ reigns with His Father in glory.

Revelation 7:2,9-11:
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb [Jesus Christ].
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Angels worship God, the Creator, Who sits on the throne. God gave Jesus Christ (the Lamb) all authority. Yet, Jesus Christ is still under His Father’s authority.

I Corinthians 15:27,28:
For he [God] hath put all things under his [Jesus Christ’s] feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he [God] is excepted, which did put all things under him [Jesus Christ].
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The Apostles knew that Jesus was the Son of the living God, not a “God man.”

Matthew 16:16:
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 6:69:
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

We don’t get saved by confessing Jesus as God. We confess Jesus as lord and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Romans 10:9,10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

God, the Holy Spirit

God is the “Holy One.”

Psalms 78:41:
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

Jesus understood this.

Matthew 6:9:
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed [Holy] be thy name.

Luke 11:2:
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed [Holy] be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Jesus also understood that his Father was Spirit and not limited to physical things.

John 4:24:
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God put His spirit upon David and others before the coming of Christ. Keeping this spiritual connection was conditional upon that person continuing to trust and obey God. David was sorry for his sins and asked God to maintain this spiritual relationship with him.

Psalms 51:11:
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Isaiah describes God putting His spirit upon Moses.

Isaiah 63:10,11:
But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?

Moses had God’s spirit, and spoke for Him. The children of Israel “vexed” God by disobeying His prophet.

God, Our Father

God was worshipped before Jesus came. But it was only God’s Son who fully revealed this invisible God to be a loving Father. Jesus’ first recorded words attest to this relationship.

Luke 2:49:
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business [in my Father’s house]?

Jesus’ last words to his followers show how those who believed on him would receive the Father’s gift of holy spirit.

Luke 24:49:
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost [God’s spirit given to them] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:1-4:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [God’s spirit given to them], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Christians are born again of God’s spiritual seed by believing His Word about Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:2:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jesus Christ Our Lord

The Bible first speaks of the “Lord” God as the Creator. It shows God’s relation to man that He created.

Genesis 2:4-8:
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

After this first man fell, God promised to send the “seed of the woman” [Genesis 3:15] to redeem mankind. This Messiah would be a man who would give his life as a ransom.

I Timothy 2:3-6:
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Clearly there is only one God, the Creator. And there is only one lord who is the mediator between God and men—Jesus Christ. In Christ we have faith and access to the Father.

Ephesians 4:4-7:
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord [Jesus Christ], one faith [in Christ], one baptism [in Christ’s death],
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

We are baptized into his death and receive eternal life. Paul clarified the distinction between Jesus as our lord, and God as our Father. All things are out of God our Father, and all things are through Jesus Christ, our lord.

The word “lord” is used more than 700 times in the King James Version of the New Testament. Most refer to Jesus Christ as lord, or are quotes about God being Lord from the Old Testament. It was Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross—through God’s eternal purpose—that allows us to be born again and serve the “living God.”

Hebrews 9:14:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Jesus was God’s only Son—physically and spiritually. It was through his sinless life and service that we have eternal life. And God exalted Jesus, giving him a new spiritual body, making Jesus lord over all things. Only the Father is greater in authority than His Son [John 14:28; I Corinthians 15:28].

Philippians 2:6-11:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How do we glorify God, our Father? By bowing in service to our lord, Jesus Christ, and by confessing in our words and deeds that Jesus is lord. That is our joy and crown.