Who is God?
by Byron L. Spradlin
If worship is to be central in all areas of our church life, then the question must be asked, “Who is God”? To answer this question, four major theological realities must be articulated: 1) God is supreme, 2) God is holy, 3) God is the Creator, and 4) God is hesed-love.
Let’s look at these individually. First, God is supreme. God is not a created being. He is eternally existent, all powerful (omnipotent), all knowing (omniscient), all wise, (omnisapient), and everywhere present (omnipresent) always. The Scriptures are clear that there are simply no other gods and God Himself makes it clear that He is the supreme and only God.
In Deuteronomy 6:44 we read, “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh is God; Yahweh alone.” The Hebrew language, especially in its historical context, is clear, precise, unequivocal. The Bible declares no other god exists. The implication is that other spirits, other alleged gods simply are not gods at all. There is only the One, True GOD. Period.
Second, God is holy. He is completely “other-than” and “unique from” His creation. His “otherness” or His being “unique from” and “above” His creation is especially seen in His divine moral purity and beauty.” God’s nature and person is completely separated from sin and evil. He is absolutely devoted to His own divine perfect honor and glory.
It is almost impossible to adequately “explain” God’s “holiness” because His reality is so great. The Hebrew term for “holy” is “qadowsh.” Some theologians translate this term as “pure.” Its larger meaning includes absolute purity. In Scripture, writes Dr. Ron Allen, “holy” is “. . . to be different,” “to be other,” “to be distant.” Of course, God is pure! But in His holiness, He is absolutely unique. There is nothing in the entire universe that may be compared to Him.
“Qadowsh” presents the “BIG-NESS” of God, the “weightiness” of God, the “awesome substance and moral beauty” of God; and thus, His absolute “otherness.” He is not a “creature.” He is completely and eternally unique. He alone is GOD.
Third, God is the Creator. The Bible starts with the reality that the uncreated God—who was already existing, before time and space existed—created all that is: all the cosmoses; all time, space, spiritual and transcendent realities; all physical reality, life, truth, goodness and beauty; everything that is.
Finally, God is hesed-Love. God is both, “uniquely different from” and “above” His creation, and is perfectly loving toward His creation. Moreover, God created humans for the specific purpose of companioning with Him, in perfect harmony and communion. This love is not simply “affection.” This is hesed-love. It involves compassion, longing, delight, pursuit, mercy, patience, forbearance, and unceasing-staying-power. This love is at the deepest level possible. So much so that, even though humans are frail and sinful, God chooses to pursue. It is this hesed-love that compels God to pursue human companionship.
The term hesed expresses the overwhelming capacity of God to show patient and passionate love toward His human creatures. Exodus 34:5-7 demonstrates this hesed-love capacity: Then Yahweh came down in the cloud and stood there with him (Moses) and proclaimed his name, Yahweh. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “Yahweh, Yahweh, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love (hesed) and faithfulness, maintaining love (hesed) to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.”
The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah demonstrates God’s hesed-love and desire for people to receive healing, repair and a new life when he proclaims in Isaiah 43:1-3: “But now, this is what the Lord says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. or I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
In summary, there are four basic realities of the nature of God. Our God is the one-and-only God who is supreme, creator, holy and hesed-love. These attributes provide the basis for our worship and love of Him as Sovereign Lord.