InstaStudy

The Nature of God

An exploration into the foundational truth of who God is, His singular being, and His various revelations to humanity.

1. The Absolute Oneness of God

1.1 God is One

Verses: Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 43:10-11; Isaiah 44:6; Mark 12:29
  • The Bible consistently declares there is only one God.
  • This one God is the sole Creator and Redeemer.
  • There is no God besides Him.

1.2 No Plurality in God's Being

Verses: Isaiah 45:5; Malachi 2:10; James 2:19
  • God's nature is indivisible and singular.
  • He is not composed of multiple persons or beings.
  • His unity is absolute and complete.

1.3 The One God is Spirit

Verses: John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:17
  • God's essential nature is spirit, invisible and omnipresent.
  • He is not limited by physical form or location.
  • His spiritual nature allows Him to be everywhere at once.

2. God as Spirit and Creator

2.1 The Invisible God

Verses: Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; John 1:18
  • God, in His essential being, is unseen by human eyes.
  • He is eternal, immortal, and invisible.
  • His glory is too great for mortal man to fully behold.

2.2 The Creator of All Things

Verses: Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; John 1:3
  • The one God is the sole originator of the heavens and the earth.
  • All things were made by Him and for Him.
  • His power and wisdom are evident in creation.

2.3 The Sustainer of Life

Verses: Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17
  • God not only created but actively sustains all existence.
  • In Him, we live and move and have our being.
  • His continuous power upholds the universe.

3. Jesus Christ: God Manifested in Flesh

3.1 Jesus is God Incarnate

Verses: John 1:1; John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:9
  • The eternal God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
  • In Jesus, the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily.
  • Jesus is not a separate person from God, but God Himself revealed.

3.2 Jesus Bears Divine Titles

Verses: Isaiah 9:6; John 20:28; Romans 9:5
  • Jesus is called 'Mighty God' and 'Everlasting Father'.
  • Thomas declared Jesus to be 'My Lord and my God'.
  • He is God over all, blessed forever.

3.3 Jesus Performs Divine Works

Verses: Matthew 9:6; John 10:28; John 14:9
  • Jesus forgave sins, a power belonging only to God.
  • He gives eternal life, demonstrating His divine authority.
  • To see Jesus is to see the Father, revealing His identity.

3.4 The Father and the Son are One

Verses: John 10:30; John 14:7-9
  • Jesus declared, 'I and my Father are one'.
  • He explained that knowing Him is knowing the Father.
  • The Father is the Spirit, and the Son is the fleshly manifestation of that Spirit.

3.5 Jesus is the Only Savior

Verses: Isaiah 43:11; Acts 4:12
  • God declared Himself to be the only Savior.
  • Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ.
  • Jesus is the manifestation of the saving God.

4. The Holy Spirit: The Spirit of God

4.1 The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit

Verses: Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Romans 8:9-11
  • The Holy Spirit is not a separate person but the active presence of the one God.
  • It is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Christ.
  • The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers.

4.2 The Holy Spirit's Divine Attributes

Verses: Psalm 139:7-8; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
  • The Holy Spirit possesses divine attributes like omnipresence and omniscience.
  • These attributes belong to God alone, confirming the Spirit's identity as God.
  • The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

4.3 The Holy Spirit Indwells Believers

Verses: 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:22
  • Believers become temples of the Holy Spirit.
  • God Himself dwells within His people through His Spirit.
  • This indwelling is the promise of God's presence.

4.4 The Holy Spirit Empowers and Guides

Verses: Acts 1:8; John 16:13
  • The Spirit provides power for witness and service.
  • He guides believers into all truth.
  • The Spirit is the active agent of God in the world today.

5. Understanding God's Manifestations

5.1 God as Father

Verses: Isaiah 63:16; Malachi 2:10; John 14:9
  • 'Father' refers to God's role as Creator, Originator, and source of all.
  • It describes God in His eternal, invisible Spirit form.
  • Jesus revealed the Father to us through His own life and words.

5.2 God as Son

Verses: Hebrews 1:3; Philippians 2:7-8; John 1:14
  • 'Son' refers to God's manifestation in human flesh, Jesus Christ.
  • It describes God's role as Redeemer and Savior.
  • The Son is the visible image of the invisible God.

5.3 God as Holy Spirit

Verses: John 14:16-18; Acts 2:4; Romans 8:9
  • 'Holy Spirit' refers to God's active, indwelling presence in believers.
  • It describes God's role as Comforter, Guide, and Empowerer.
  • The Spirit is the very Spirit of God and of Christ.

5.4 One God, Multiple Roles

Verses: 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6
  • God reveals Himself in different ways to accomplish His purposes.
  • These are not three separate persons but different manifestations of the one God.
  • There is one Lord, one Spirit, and one God and Father of all.