Scripture Snapshots:
Who is God ?
Series 1 Lesson 8
Before we answer the question “Who is God?”, we need to answer the question(s) “Is there a God? Does God really exist?”
A Russian astronomer once said, “Either there is a God, or there isn’t”. Pretty profound, right? Then he added, “Both possibilities are frightening”. What he meant was that if there is no God (his belief), then there are almost 8 billion people on earth, spinning 1000 miles per hour and no one is in control. There is no hope for the future, no purpose, and no justice.
On the other hand, if God does exist (my belief), then there is hope, purpose, and justice. It also means that we are accountable for the way we live, and we will answer to Him one day. God will justly judge all of the wrong committed in the world.
I could say much more and present a real solid case for the existence of God but …instead of presenting scientific, historical, and moral arguments right now, I want to continue doing what we have been doing throughout this lesson series … working our way through the Bible looking at what it says. So far, we have talked about the most important events of history and God’s plan throughout history to provide salvation for you and me through His only Son Jesus. As we continue, I believe that the Bible will give us the clearest evidence for the existence of God as we look at who He really is.
What does the Bible say about who God is?
Genesis 1 says that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth … and God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good …”. God is called the “Creator” in other parts of the Bible as well. And we have talked about this before, but it bears repeating … God is the Creator! He created the earth, sun, moon, and stars …. the plants, animals, and people … and even the time, weather, and seasons. And before sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, everything was very good.
Even today after the devastating effects of sin upon the world, Romans 1 tells you and I that “the invisible things of Him (God) from the creation of the world are clearly seen … even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse”. This means that God still reveals Himself through Creation and nature so clearly that all people can see that there is a God. In fact, the Bible says that the evidence is so clear that no one has an excuse to deny His existence. But later in Romans 1 it also says that people willfully reject the idea of God and then they do whatever they want to do … they think it doesn’t matter. But it really does!
It matters because God is soooo much more than most people think.
God is eternal! He is eternal and infinite which means that God has no beginning, and He has no end. To help illustrate this point, the Bible calls Him the Alpha & Omega. In the Greek alphabet, alpha is the first letter and omega is the last letter … nothing comes before, and nothing comes after … just like God!
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Revelation 22:13 (also Revelation 1:8, 1:11, and 21:6)
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 90:2
(also Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 57:15; I John 1:2; Genesis 21:33; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Revelation 1:18; Psalm 145:13 and many many more verses)
God is Omnipresent. This means that He is present everywhere all the time. He sees everything.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3 (also Jeremiah 23:23-24 and Psalm 139)
God is Omniscient. This means He is all-knowing. God knows the past, present, and future. He is not surprised by anything that happens. He knows it all.
He telleth the number of stars; He calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:4-5
… God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. I John 4:20
Psalm 139 shows God’s omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence.
God is Omnipotent. This means that he is all-powerful, and He can do anything that He wants to do. He is not subject to physical limitations like you or I are. As we have already seen, the Creation account in Genesis 1 shows how God created everything out of nothing … amazing!
Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee … Jeremiah 32:17
… with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 (also Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37 and Luke 18:27)
In our next lesson, we are going to look at more of who God is to you and me. It always amazes me when I look at who God is and then remember that He cares personally about me … God cares about you too!
With all of these great and powerful attributes, people often think of God like a genii or a magician. They think that God is able to grant wishes and perform magic tricks or miracles. And while God does answer requests and do mighty things, God is soooo much more than that!!
God knows every detail about you. The Bible says that He even knows how many hairs are on your head … which actually changes a lot as hairs fall out and new hairs grow. Yet, God knows.
God knows your thoughts … all of them. He knows your hurts, worries, joys, and struggles.
God sees and hears you! You can talk to Him at any time and in any place.
GOD LOVES YOU! He wants to be part of your everyday life…not just on Sundays. He wants His very best for you. Much more in the next lesson…until then READ YOUR BIBLE & PRAY EVERY DAY!!