Topical Study - THE ONLY TRUE GOD
THE ONLY TRUE GOD
1)The One And Only True God
There are many records in the Old and the New Testament, to show that God is only or one Lord. Examples are in Deuteronomy 6:4, Zechariah 14:9, Mark 12:29, John 17:3, Romans 16:27, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Timothy 1:17, Jude 4, 24. All are recorded as such, meaning that there is only one true God, the only Lord. Why then is there the Saviour Lord Jesus and later the Comforter who is the Holy Spirit? Does this contradict the meaning of “only” but imply three instead?
If we acknowledge that God is one, does this mean that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is not God? It is because of this that believers of many Christian churches are confused, causing many doubtful questions and debates. The conclusion of the debates was the concept of “Trinity”. Their understanding of “Trinity” is, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have the same glory and power, each having His authority and status, as if each stands separately. Some even say that the Father’s power is still slightly greater. Nevertheless, they still disagree with the concept of tri-theism, considering it groundless. Although they say that God is only one, yet they do not realize that, by acknowledging that three hold the same glory and power, they are actually professing tri-theism.
Although Jesus Christ came and the Holy Spirit was poured down, nevertheless one remains one and is not affected to become many.
Although the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are called differently and have different workings, yet ultimately and truly, He is only one God. Nevertheless, due to different periods and workings, He is called differently. Take for instance, the underlying substance of ice, water and steam are the same, despite their different names and functions.
During the time of creation and law, God is called the Father, Jehovah; during the period of grace, He is called the Son, Jesus Christ; during the last days, the period during which man is reborn and receives life, He is called the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Because of the different workings and periods, He is called differently.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one Spirit. In conclusion, He is the one and only true God. There is no such thing as “Trinity”, much less tri-theism.
2)The Father is the Son
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1; 14)
The Word was God and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore, God became flesh and dwelt among us. After God became flesh and dwelt among us, He was called the Son Jesus Christ. Thus we can see that Jesus Christ was formed from God the Father. The time the Word became flesh, was the time the Father became the Son or begot the Son. It is more appropriate to say that the Father became the Son, than that the Father begot the Son.
Although it is recorded in the Bible that “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,” begotten here refers to that of the Word, not “begotten” in the fleshly or physical sense. If it is according to the fleshly or physical sense, then it requires being born of woman. In the Bible it records of the heavenly Father, but not the heavenly Mother, how then is Jesus Christ “begotten”? Many misunderstand the relationship between Jesus Christ and God, thinking that it is the same as the relationship between a father and a son in a physical way, and that the Son’s authority is lower than the Father’s. This is because they stress too much on the definition of the word “begotten”. It is more appropriate to understand “begotten” as “become”, then there won’t be differences in power and authority. Jesus Christ came into the world, that is, God came to live with men, to fulfill the salvation plan. (1 Timothy 3:16) God was manifest in the flesh, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23) Immanuel prefigures Jesus Christ, thus Jesus Christ coming into the world is the same as God coming to live or dwell with us. This thus proves that God the Father can become the Son Jesus Christ.
3)The Son is the Father
The Lord Jesus calls himself the Son of Man in the world. We are all familiar from the Bible concerning what the Son of Man did and who He is, thus there is no need to give related examples here, but Jesus Christ also occasionally referred to Himself as God the heavenly Father.
“Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:8-9)
“Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me.” (John 12:44-45)
“I and my Father are one. The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” (John 10:30, 33)
From these Bible verses, The Lord Jesus Christ clearly explained that He Himself is the heavenly Father and God, such as in “he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me” and “I and my Father are one”. Apparently the Son is also the Father.
4)The Holy Spirit is the Father and the Son
“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” (1 John 3:24)
“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13)
How do we know that God lives in us? It is through the Holy Spirit that He gives us. We receiving the Holy Spirit is proof that God lives in us. Thus by saying that the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are also saying that God lives in us.
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans 8:9)
In the above verse, there are three different records of the same Spirit, that is, God’s Spirit (“the Spirit which He hath given us”), the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Christ. With God’s Spirit, we belong to the Holy Spirit; with the Holy Spirit, we belong to Christ. Thus we can see that God’s Spirit and the Holy Spirit is the same. The Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ is also the same. Therefore, the Holy Spirit also includes the Father and the Son.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:15-16)
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)
In the above verses, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of two points. Firstly, He said that if a man loves Him and keeps His commandments, the Father will give him the Comforter who is the Holy Spirit to abide with him. Secondly, He said that if a man loves Him and keeps His commandments, He and the Father will come to him and abide with him. The first portion says that the Comforter the Holy Spirit, will abide with him; the latter portion says that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father will abide with him. So is it the Comforter, or the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father that abides with him? This proves that the Comforter is the Son Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. To say that the Holy Spirit dwells in us is the same as saying that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father dwells in us. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God the Father and the Son Lord Jesus Christ.
5)The Son is the Father
The Lord Jesus Christ has referred to Himself as God the Father, saying “I and the Father are one”, that “he that has seen Him has seen the Father”, as mentioned above. To get a clearer understanding, let us study what John has said:-
“If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” (1 John 2:24)
If we can keep the Word which we have heard from the beginning with a strong faith and endure to the end, then we shall abide in the Son, and at the same time, abide in the Father. Thus we can see that the Father and the Son are one.
“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (1 John 2:23)
“He that hateth me hateth my Father also.” (John 15:23)
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 9)
Although the Son and the Father are called differently, They are one in the Spirit. He who acknowledges the Son acknowledges the Father also; he who denies the Son, the same has not the Father. When the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, the Jews thought that they already knew God, that they were already serving Him. Yet they were unwilling to know the Lord Jesus Christ or believe in Him, not knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ and God are actually one, that he who denies the Lord Jesus Christ has not the Father.
Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ told them that they did not know whom they were worshipping. (John 4:22) From this point of view, although the Jews worshipped zealously, sacrificing much money and effort, their efforts were in vain. Today, the downpouring of the Holy Spirit is Christ living in our hearts, which fulfills the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ that He will be with us until the end. The Holy Spirit is the embodiment of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God. He who denies the Lord Jesus Christ does not have God; how about he who denies the Holy Spirit? This can be a warning to “the Jews of today”. “The Jews of today” can be referred to the believers of the various Christian denominations. They think that by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and worshipping God, they have already fulfilled their duties and are contented, and that they will be saved. Moreover, whether or not the Holy Spirit is being poured down or whether or not they have the Holy Spirit, they are unwilling to thirst for and seek after Him; neither are they willing to accept Him. This is just like the Jews at that time, who thought that they knew God, that having worshipped God, it was enough for them. They were not concerned who the Lord Jesus Christ or Christ was, not knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ was the embodiment of God at that time. Therefore among the believers of today’s churches, who knows that the Holy Spirit is the embodiment of God and the Lord Jesus Christ? And that he who does not receive the Holy Spirit has not the Father and the Son? If they are willing to study sincerely, to humbly receive the Holy Spirit, then after having the Holy Spirit, they would also have the Father and the Son. This is the only reliable way to salvation.
6)The Son is the Holy Spirit
The Son is the Holy Spirit. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)
After the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, the form He took when He was with the disciples was that of the Holy Spirit during the downpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. In other words, the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of the disciples, is actually the Lord Jesus Christ dwelling with the disciples.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16)
Thus the Holy Spirit abides with us forever, meaning the Lord Jesus Christ is with us until the end of the world. The Bible frequently records that Christ lives in the hearts of men. (2 Corinthians 13:5, Romans 8:10, Galatians 4:19) It also records that the Holy Spirit also lives in the hearts of men.
Therefore, is it Christ or the Holy Spirit that lives in the hearts of men? In actual fact, Christ is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is Christ.
More clearly, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one; God is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is God and the Lord Jesus Christ; one as three and three as one, there can be no division. Below are some quotes for evidence:
7)The image of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
An image is concrete and visible. It is recorded in the Bible, God is Spirit. A spirit is abstract and invisible. Therefore God or the Holy Spirit does not have an image, since He is invisible.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God who became flesh and dwelled among us; man could see Him when they saw the Lord Jesus Christ, they were also seeing God and the Holy Spirit, since the Lord Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ said, “he that has seen Him has seen the Father,” and how then is there another Father to show? John said, “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)
Therefore, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who manifests God who cannot be seen by man. “Who (the Father’s dear Son) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15)
“Who (the Lord Jesus Christ) being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, …” (Hebrews 1:3U.P.)
After reading these verses, we can clearly understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the express image of God, that the Lord Jesus Christ is God. It is thus proven that God is only one. In conclusion, God is the everlasting one God; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are called differently due to His different workings, but it is ultimately one God who exercises His authority.
Appendix of Questions and Answers:
1. Since the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and God dwelled among men, thus when the Lord Jesus Christ was in the world, shouldn’t there be no God up in heaven?
Ans: God is Spirit, He fills the universe and is omnipresent. The Lord Jesus Christ’ coming into the world is God working only a part of His spiritual power. The Lord Jesus Christ coming into the world does not affect the presence of God in heaven. Take for instance, since there is one Holy Spirit, therefore does it mean that when I receive this Holy Spirit, there is no more Holy Spirit in heaven, or that no one else can receive the Holy Spirit? No, it is not so; by receiving the Holy Spirit, I have received the same Holy Spirit. Thousands can receive the same Holy Spirit, yet the power or presence of the Holy Spirit is not reduced because of the number of people receiving the Holy Spirit.
2. If we say that the Lord Jesus Christ is God, why does He still need to pray to God when He was in the world? Shouldn’t there be a God greater than the Lord Jesus Christ? Did not the Lord Jesus Christ also say that the Father is greater than He? (John 14:28)
Ans: Since the Lord Jesus Christ is a part of God’s power, then He must seek the help of the greater part of God’s power, because a part of God’s power is smaller, for when the Lord Jesus Christ was in the world as the Son of Man, He was made a little lower than the angels. (Hebrews 2:9, 5:7-8)
That is why the Lord Jesus Christ said that the Father is greater than He. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for strength frequently and earnestly. When the Lord Jesus Christ was about to be crucified, He was also afraid that He might not be strong enough to face the sufferings. Thus when He prayed, His sweat was as it were as great drops of blood falling down to the ground and He exhibited weakness in the flesh saying, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” (Luke 22:42-44)
Since the Lord Jesus Christ became flesh and blood, His power was limited. It was after His body was crucified and He was resurrected to take on God’s form, that He was united with God as one. His power and authority was then much greater than that when He was still in the flesh. Therefore after He was resurrected, He told the disciples, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) Apparently, His power was limited before He was resurrected, thus there was a need for prayer.
Just as we who have already received the Holy Spirit, we still need to pray for the infilling and help of the Holy Spirit.
3. When Stephen was attacked, he saw the heavens open and the Lord Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:56) Does this not mean that God is God by Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord Jesus Christ by Himself?
Ans: What Stephen saw was a vision, not a true image. During his time of trouble, God showed him a vision to strengthen him, lest he be disheartened. If that is a true image, then it is not in agreement with the Scriptures. The Bible says that no one has seen the Father, and mentions concerning “the invisible God”. (1 Timothy 1:17) Many other verses record that God the Father is invisible. It is also mentioned earlier that God does not have an image. Since there is no image, what Stephen saw was not real.
4. Since the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, why did Paul always say, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ?” Does this not mean that there are three?
Ans: These are the greetings of Paul to the people. God’s work can be divided into three periods, each with His grace.
5. When the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” At that moment, didn’t the Father, Son and Holy Spirit each appear? Does this not prove the presence of three?
Ans: This is God manifesting His power and workings to prove that Jesus is the Christ, that John the Baptist might know and understand. Therefore three forms were manifested. Nevertheless to the almighty God, a manifestation of thousands of forms simultaneously would also not be considered difficult.
6. In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul said, “One Spirit, One Lord, One God”. Therefore shouldn’t there be three?
Ans: If we speak of each separately, the Sun is an object, so are its light and its heat. But if we speak in conclusion, there is only one Sun. God is Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the glory of God, the Holy Spirit is the power worked by God. Therefore if we speak of each separately, there is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but if we speak in conclusion, there is only one God.
7. When the Lord Jesus Christ was about to ascend to heaven, He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19) Did not the Lord Jesus Christ here declare that there are three?
Ans: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not a name; “Jesus” is the name of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the Father and the Holy Spirit, He is the express image of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The apostles at that time understood this and therefore only said, “In the name of the Lord Jesus” when baptizing the people. It is so recorded in the Bible, as in the following verses: Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5. It is not recorded that the apostles baptized “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Because it is done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father and Holy Spirit is also included. To fulfill His salvation plan, God gave only the name the Lord Jesus Christ, thus the Bible records, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Baptizing is for the remission of one’s sins, thus it must be done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
