The Truth About God

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) Who is speaking here? The Lord (Jehovah or Yahweh) thy God said “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29, 30)

Who are we required to love with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind? If we are required to love the Lord our God with all our heart, then we will have to understand who He is. It is very difficult to love someone whom you do not know; and impossible to love them with all your heart. If we want to love God with all our heart, then we must first learn to know and appreciate His character. This can only be done by accepting the testimony from the Scriptures on this subject.

We are instructed to follow Christ as our example. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” (1 John 2:6) Who did Christ love with all His heart, and worship? His Father.

“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.” (John 4:22, 23) Christ said that He worshipped the Father. “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17)

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:12) The God referred to in all the preceding verses is none other than the Father.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir ²⁸¹⁸ of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image ⁵⁸⁴¹ [a precise reproduction in every respect] of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (Hebrews 1:1-4) The Son of God was appointed by His Father to be heir [one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship] of all things. And He has, by inheritance, obtained an excellent name. Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God, begotten of the Father before all creation.

For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him… But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God [The Father refers to His Son as God, a name which He received by inheritance], is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows… But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” (Hebrews 1:5-13)

“The Lord ³⁰⁶⁸ [Jehovah = ‘the existing One’ the proper name of the one true God] said unto my Lord ¹¹³ [Adonai], Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Psalm 110:1) The Father (Jehovah) said unto His Son (Adonai), Sit at my right hand. “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high ⁵⁹⁴⁵ [the Highest (the Father)] over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18)

“And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty ⁷⁷⁰⁶ [most powerful], but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Exodus 6:3) Jehovah (the Father) is the Highest, and the Most powerful. How many Most Highs can there be? One, the Father!

“And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high ⁵³¹⁰ [highest, most high, of rank: the most high God] God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” (Mark 5:7)

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty ³⁸⁴¹ [omnipotent, He who holds sway over all things, the ruler of all] and the Lamb [the Son of the Father] are the temple of it.” (Revelation 21:22) The Father is above all (including His only begotten Son.) “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6)

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient ⁶²⁶⁸ [advanced, aged, old] of days, and they brought Him near before Him.” (Daniel 7:13)

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only ³⁴⁴¹ [alone, without a companion] true ²²⁸ [real, true genuine, it contrasts realities with their resemblances (note: Christ is a resemblance of His Father)] God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) Who is the only true God? The Father!

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator ³³¹⁶ [one who intervenes between two] between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:4, 5) Who is the one God? The Father?

“There is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge.” (1 Corinthians 8:4-7) Who is the one God from whom all things originated? The Father!

What about John 1:1? Isn’t Christ spoken of here as being God? In the original Greek this verse reads as follows. “In the beginning was the Word [the Son of God], and the Word was with [the ³⁵⁸⁸] God [the Father], and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with [the ³⁵⁸⁸] God [the Father].” (John 1:1, 2) Notice the distinction that is made when the word the is inserted in the proper places.

Let’s take a look at some of the attributes that are true about God the Father only. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” (John 1:18) This certainly could not be referring to the Son of God, for many men have seen Him.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted ⁵⁵¹ [not liable to temptation to sin] with evil, neither tempteth He any man.” (James 1:13) Who is the God who cannot be tempted? The God that cannot be tempted could not refer to the Son of God, for He was tempted in all points as we are.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

“Our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only ³⁴⁴¹ [alone, without a companion] hath immortality ¹¹⁰ [undying, everlasting, deathlessness], dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:14-16) God the Father is the only one who cannot die under any circumstance, because He is the source and sustainer of all life: if He were to die, then all things would cease to exist. This quality, of course, could not apply to the Son of God, for He was dead! “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:18)

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” (Hebrews 13:20)

How could Christ lay down His life for us?

“For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself.” (John 5:26) Here is the answer, His life was given to Him, therefore He could lay it down, and suffer death. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for ¹²²³ [because of, for this reason] the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)

Who did Christ rely on for everything He did? His Father is the strength and sustainer of His life. “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30)

What about where it says that in Christ is all the fulness of the Godhead? “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead ²³²⁰ [this Greek word is only used once] bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell.” (Colossians 1:19) “To wit, that God [the Father] was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) The term Godhead refers to God, the Father, who is the head of His Son. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)

The Bible says that we also can be filled with all the fulness of God. “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19) This is accomplished by God allowing us to be partakers of His divine nature. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)

God was in Christ, and Christ can be in us, which is the hope of glory. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

“And when all things shall be subdued ⁵²⁹³ unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject ⁵²⁹³ unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:28)

The Son is subject unto His Father now, and will be forever. The Greek word that was translated subject and subdued means this: “to arrange under, to subordinate, to submit to one’s control, to subject one’s self, to obey: A Greek military term meaning ‘to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader’.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

“Who is the image ¹⁵⁰⁴ [likeness] of the invisible God, the firstborn ⁴⁴¹⁶ [see note below] of every creature.” (Colossians 1:15) 4416—”or it may be; born before all creation.” (Wigram’s)—”Christ is called, firstborn of all creation, who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things.” (Thayer’s)

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth ⁴¹⁶³ [origin] have been from of old, from everlasting [the days of eternity].” (Micah 5:2) “Whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” (Revised Standard Version) This verse is talking about the Son of God, whose origin (beginning) was long before the beginning of this world; and time as we know it.

In the first verse of Proverbs 8 it says that wisdom is speaking. Who is wisdom? In verse 8 it tells us that He has a mouth, and speaks. “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30) Christ is Wisdom, and is speaking in Proverbs chapter 8.

“When there were no depths, I was brought forth ²³⁴²; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth ²³⁴².” (Proverbs 8:24, 25) Also in another version (The 1965 Bible in Basic English) “When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth.”

The Hebrew verb that was translated brought forth is used, in this verse, in the Pulal form: the definition for the Pulal form is the only definition that can apply here. This definition is as follows: “to be made to writhe, be made to bear, to be brought forth.” This verb, in this form, is only used four times in the Bible; here is one of them. “Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made ²³⁴² before the hills?” (Job 15:7)

If Proverbs 8:24, 25 were talking merely about an intellectual wisdom, then you must say that at some point God acquired wisdom, and that before that time He did not have wisdom. These verses cannot be talking about that, but rather the origin of the Son of God.

“When He prepared the heavens, I was there [Remember John 1:1, the Word was with God in the beginning when He made the heavens]: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth:… Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” (Proverbs 8:27, 30)

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in His fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is His name, and what is His son’s name, if thou canst tell?” (Proverbs 30:4) The terms Father and Son, by definition, indicate the existence of the one before the other.

The New Testament over and over affirms the fact that Christ was brought forth from the Father before the world was. “John [who was six months older than Jesus] bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred ¹⁰⁹⁶ [to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being] before me: for He was before me.” (John 1:15) “This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred ¹⁰⁹⁶ before me: for He was before me.” (John 1:30)

“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth ¹⁸³¹ [to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of] and came from God; neither came I of myself, but He sent me.” (John 8:42) “For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out ¹⁸³¹ [e*xevrcomai “to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of”] from God. I came forth ¹⁸³¹ from the Father, and am come ²⁰⁶⁴ [e*vrcomai “to come from one place to another”] into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” (John 16:27, 28) Jesus was born of the Father before the world was. “Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out ¹⁸³¹ from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” (John 17:7, 8)

“By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” (Acts 4:30) Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God: not merely called the Son of God since He was born in Bethlehem.

“Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater ³¹⁸⁷ [elder] than I.” (John 14:28) The Greek word that was translated greater in this verse, is translated elder in Romans 9:12. Here is the definition of this Greek word: “larger (literally or figuratively, specifically in age).” (Strong’s) “It was said unto her, The elder ³¹⁸⁷ shall serve the younger.” (Romans 9:12) Here we have plain evidence that the Father is older than the Son. It does not take a wise man to figure out something so plain that a child can understand. Ask your child, “Who is older, you or I?” I am sure he will give you the right answer.

Doesn’t the Bible say that the Father and His Son are one? They are one, but how are they one? Are they the same being?

“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:22) Jesus prayed that His disciples may be one in the same way that He is one with His Father. Jesus was not imagining one disciple with twelve heads, neither is He part of a three in one God, but He was imagining twelve disciples who are united with the same thinking. Even as a man is to become one flesh with his wife. Though many miles separate the two, they are still one in goals and desires.

What about Isaiah 9:6, where the Son of God is called the Father? “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting ⁵⁷⁰³ [for ever (of future time) - Brown Driver Brigg’s] Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) Is Christ the Father? If so, how can He be the Son? And if He is both Father and Son, then how can there be a trinity, for a trinity is three individuals. This verse is obviously not supporting of a trinity doctrine.

“And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” (Hebrews 2:13) Christ is called everlasting, which is appropriate, since He will last forever. He is called Father, not of Himself, but of the children which God has given Him.

Notice also that Isaiah 9:6 says that “His name shall be called… The mighty God”. Some may use this phrase to mean that Christ is the supreme God. This would be a good argument if the verse had referred to Christ as the Almighty God, however it uses the term mighty God. We read of mighty men, but never of Almighty men. It certainly is appropriate to refer to the Son as mighty, for He is powerful. It is also appropriate to refer to Him as God, for the Almighty God Himself refers to His Son as God in Hebrews 1:8. Therefore the terms everlasting Father and The mighty God can rightly apply to the Son.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1) The term The most High always refers to the Father.

What about Revelation 1:8, Isn’t Christ called the Almighty? “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8) The Greek word

that was translated “Almighty” in this verse is pantokratwr, which is formed by the combining of the Greek words paV and kratoV. paV means “all,” and kratoV means “power.” Jesus declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) Jesus says that “all power” has been given unto Him. Therefore He now has all power, and the term “Almighty” can rightly be applied to the Son of God. Yet this does not indicate that He is the Most High God, for the Most High God is the one who gave Christ “all power.”

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come [the Father]; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; And from Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 1:4, 5)

Christ is never referred to as the Most High God. He is never referred to as the only true God. He is never referred to as the Ancient of Days. He is never referred to as the God of the Father. The Father is however the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17)

The Bible clearly makes the distinction between the Supreme being in the universe, and His only begotten Son. How many Gods are there? “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of ¹⁵³⁷ [out of, from] whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6)

As you may have figured out by now, the testimony from the Scriptures about God, completely disproves the doctrine of the trinity. This doctrine, as stated by most denominations, teaches that there are three co-equal (equal in every respect), co-eternal (the same age), omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful) gods, who are not three gods, but one. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this idea makes no sense at all, therefore the propagators of this doctrine tag it with the word mystery, stating that we will never be able to understand it. In this way, Satan has tricked many people into believing this falsehood without checking it out for themselves. We must

be as the noble Bereans who Paul talked about. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

The Bible clearly reveals the character and many of the attributes of God, the Father, and of His Son Jesus Christ. Whatever is revealed in Scripture we are free, and required, to examine thoroughly. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20) We are without excuse if we neglect such plain teachings from the Word of God.

Let us not become one of those who reject knowledge, for the Scriptures plainly state that if we do this, then God will reject us. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)

With the idea of three gods in one, the plan of redemption is thwarted with many needless contradictions. The fact that God so loved us that He gave up His only born Son for us means nothing at all if Christ was not liable to sin under any circumstance, and therefore God the Father never risked anything by giving up His Son. Also, if this doctrine were true, since God cannot die, Christ was never liable to die under any circumstance. “I am He that liveth, and was dead.” (Revelation 1:18) If Christ did not die, then our faith is in vain. “And if Christ be not raised [from the dead], your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

God so loved us that He yielded up His only begotten Son, so that we could be reconciled back to Him. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) Those who hold to the doctrine of the trinity are as surely worshipping another God as were the servants of Baal. By doing this they are, possibly ignorantly, breaking the first of the ten commandments.

Lynnford Beachy

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

If you would like written Bible studies that cover these subjects in detail, please contact Lynnford Beachy at the address below. Please let me know how this book has affected your life.

Lynnford Beachy

HC 64  Box 128 B

Welch, West Virginia 24801

Phone: (304) 732-9204

E-mail: berean@smyrna.org