The Bible teaches that there is only one true God, the Creator of all things. Here is a summary of what the Bible says about who God is:
God is eternal
God has no beginning or end. He has always existed and will always exist (Psalm 90:2). He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8).
God is self-existent
God depends on nothing for life, but all life depends on Him (John 5:26). God contains life within Himself and is the source of all life (Acts 17:25).
God is self-sufficient
God does not need anything or anyone to complete Him. He is perfect in Himself (Acts 17:25). God is complete within Himself (Psalm 50:12).
God is immutable
God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). God’s attributes, character and promises do not change.
God is omnipotent
God is all-powerful. Nothing is too difficult for Him and no one can defeat Him (Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26). He spoke the universe into existence (Genesis 1:1-3).
God is omniscient
God is all-knowing. He knows everything – the past, present and future. God’s understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:5; 1 John 3:20). He knows our actions, hearts, and motives (Psalm 139:2-4).
God is omnipresent
God is everywhere all the time. He fills the universe in all its parts without being contained by it (Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 17:27-28). We cannot escape God’s presence (Psalm 139:7-12).
God is holy
God is completely separate from sin and evil. He is perfect in righteousness, justice, purity and truth (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). God is morally perfect (Matthew 5:48).
God is just
God is fair and impartial in all He does. He always does what is right (Psalm 89:14). God does not show favoritism or partiality (Romans 2:11).
God is loving
God’s very nature is love. He cares deeply for His creation and desires relationship with us (1 John 4:7-21). God’s love is unconditional, sacrificial, patient, faithful and eternal.
God is merciful
God is kind, compassionate and slow to anger (Psalm 103:8). He offers forgiveness to those who repent and turn to Him (Psalm 86:5). His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
God is sovereign
God rules over everything and controls everything. His plans and purposes always prevail (Psalm 115:3; Daniel 4:35). Nothing takes God by surprise. He works all things for His glory.
God is triune
God eternally exists in three distinct co-equal persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. They are one God in three persons (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
God is spirit
God is an invisible, immaterial spirit. He has no physical body or form (John 4:24; Luke 24:39). God is eternal life and light (1 John 1:5; John 1:4). He cannot be represented by idols or images.
God is our creator
God created everything out of nothing simply by speaking it into existence (Genesis 1). He created us in His image for relationship with Him (Genesis 1:26-27). God is also the giver and sustainer of life (Acts 17:25).
God is our heavenly Father
God loves us as His dear children and desires intimate relationship with us (1 John 3:1). As our perfect Father, He guides, provides, comforts and protects us (Isaiah 64:8; Psalm 103:13).
God is faithful
God keeps all His promises and is totally trustworthy and reliable (Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Timothy 2:13). He will never leave or forsake those who follow Him (Hebrews 13:5). We can depend fully on Him.
God is all-glorious
God possesses all excellent virtues, majesty, splendor and dignity (Exodus 15:11). All glory belongs to Him (Revelation 4:11). His glory is displayed in creation (Psalm 19:1) and redemption (Ephesians 1:6).
This is just a brief summary of some of the key things the Bible teaches about who God is. The attributes described here are unique to God. There is no one like our great and awesome God. He alone is worthy of all glory, honor, praise and worship.
Getting to know the one true God by studying His names, character, and actions in Scripture helps deepen our relationship with Him. We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. He wants us to know Him intimately.
Understanding who God is as revealed in the Bible protects us from false ideas about God. It equips us to discern truth from error. As we seek God through Christ, His Spirit enlightens us to His truth and draws us close to Him.
God is infinitely far above our ability to fully comprehend. But through Christ, God graciously makes Himself known to us. Keep seeking God in His Word and He will continue revealing Himself to you.
Here are some additional key verses on the nature and character of God:
Deuteronomy 4:39 – Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.
Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Isaiah 40:28 – Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
1 John 4:8 – Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Romans 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Revelation 4:11 – Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
Getting to know God through studying the Bible helps us understand how great and glorious He is. We can never fully comprehend everything about God, but the Scriptures give us true and reliable revelation of His character and deeds so we can know Him personally.
By understanding the nature of God revealed in Scripture, we are protected from false ideas and idols. We must evaluate every view of God against what the Bible teaches. Our knowledge of God must be grounded in biblical truth.
Meditating on the perfections and majesty of God fuels worship and obedience. As we reflect on God’s greatness, it humbles us and reveals our need for Him. It compels us to surrender our lives completely to our wonderful and loving Creator.
Seeking to know the one true God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible is crucial for every believer. Having sound doctrine regarding God’s identity lays the foundation for proper relationship with Him. We know God by what He has shown us of Himself in His Word.
God wants us to know Him intimately yet recognizes our limited ability to comprehend Him fully. In His grace, God gave us His Word so we can keep growing in our knowledge of Him throughout our lives until we see Him face to face.
Our eternal destiny hinges on knowing the one true God (John 17:3). Therefore, we must be vigilant to protect and defend biblical revelation of God’s identity against false ideas that do not align with Scripture.
As we read the Bible, we see God reveal Himself through His names, attributes, actions, promises and commands. All Scripture testifies about who God is and what He is like. The more we read and study the Bible, the more we learn about our great and awesome God.
Understanding the nature of God as presented in the Bible protects us from deception. It equips us to identify teachings that distort the truth about who God is. We must evaluate every view of God against the standard of Scripture.
Proper knowledge of God fuels intimacy with Him. The more we comprehend His greatness, the more we are humbled and compelled to worship Him. Our relationship with God deepens as we seek to know Him as He has revealed Himself in His Word.
There is always more to learn about our infinite Creator. God is infinitely greater than we can grasp. But in His grace, God gave us His Word so we can keep growing in our knowledge of Him throughout our lives. Our passion should be to know Him more and more.
