Who Is God?

What we believe about God will determine how we behave in the world He has placed us. If we believe God is only the best version of us and that we will ultimately become equal with Him.

I. God Is Spirit

No Body (not a “nobody”). He is non-material. But still a living being.

John 4:24 NASB95

24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Spirit = wind or breath

II. God Is Beyond Us

Transcendent or supernatural

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95

8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 57:15 NASB95

15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.

God is not just the best possible human. He is not just the best possible even of the angels. He transcends the order of man and the order of angels.

The difference between men or angels and God is not at all like the difference between a bug and angel. A ladybug is is far weaker/simpler than an arch angel in God’s heavenly army, but at least that difference can be measured. The difference between men and God is so great it cannot be measured. It is an infinite difference. That is how far beyond us God is. That is transcendence.

God does not follow the physical rules of the universe that we follow because He made the rules of the universe. We are bound by time, space, matter, and physics, but God transcends time, space, matter, and physics because He invented time. He formed matter out of nothing, and he set the laws of physics in order.

Incomprehensible

Job 26:14 NASB95

14 “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”

Ezekiel 1:4–5 NASB95

4 As I looked, behold, a storm wind was coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth continually and a bright light around it, and in its midst something like glowing metal in the midst of the fire. 5 Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. And this was their appearance: they had human form.

Ezekiel 1:13 NASB95

13 In the midst of the living beings there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches darting back and forth among the living beings. The fire was bright, and lightning was flashing from the fire.

Ezekiel 1:22 NASB95

22 Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads.

Ezekiel 1:26 NASB95

26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man.

1 Timothy 6:16 NASB95

16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

God helps us understand Him through the Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:9–11 NASB95

9 but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

III. God Is Unique

Self-existent

Exodus 3:14 NASB95

14 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.’ ”

John 1:3 NASB95

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Colossians 1:16 NASB95

16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is Solitary

Exodus 15:11 NASB95

11 “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?

Isaiah 40:18 NASB95

18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him?

Malachi 3:6 NASB95

6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

He Is Self-Sufficient

Genesis 1:1 NASB95

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

John 5:26 NASB95

26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;

Job 35:7 NASB95

7 “If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, Or what does He receive from your hand?

We are not needed. We do not complete God in some way. He was not lonely and in need of something to do or in need of company so that He needed to create us. We are not necessary!