Take this Quiz
What is God like? That’s a good question. Different theistic religious movements answer in various ways. Mormons, for instance, say God the Father is a glorified human being with a physical body who was once a man who lived on a planet like ours. Jesus was the firstborn “Son of the Father” – a sort of lesser god. The “Holy Ghost” is a third god. All good Mormon men want to also become gods themselves.
Jehovah’s Witnesses say that Jehovah God is the creator, yet he has a spiritual body that exists in space and time. To them, Jesus is not God; he was Jehovah’s first created being, originally named Michael the Archangel. John 1:1 is translated in the JWs Bible, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, as…”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” (All other translations read … “and the Word was God.”)
Oneness Pentecostals argue that God is totally found in the one person of Jesus Christ. In other words, the Father and the Son are one and the same person, and the Holy Spirit is not God at all. This presents some difficult questions however, When Jesus prayed, who was He talking to, Himself? And when Jesus was baptized, if they were the same person, how did the Father’s voice come from heaven and how did the Holy Spirit appear as a dove?
Muslims believe Allah is the one creator of the universe, but is far removed from it. Allah only communicated his will to mankind through angels who dictated the Qur’an to the prophet Muhammad. Jesus was also a prophet, but less important than Muhammad. We believe God communicated directly through the prophets, in His written Word the Bible, and, above all, in the person of Jesus Christ. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)
Judaism says God is the creator of the universe and is involved in His world and in history, especially through His chosen people. His revelation is found only in the Torah (Old Testament). Jesus was perhaps a good teacher or prophet, but not the Messiah or God.
So, just what is God like according to the Bible and Christianity? In this two part quiz we are testing your knowledge of two critical questions about God. In part one we posed questions on the topic, “Does God exist?” We supplied biblical and logical answers as to why we believe He does exist. In this part two, we delve into what the Bible says God is like.
Ready to take the quiz? Answers are found below.
Part 2 – What Is God Like?
The Bible teaches that there are attributes that are true about God. (You may first want to look up the Bible passages for clues to the answers.)
1. There is only ________ God. (Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4; Isaiah 43:15; 44:6-8; 45:5,6; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6)
2. God is _________. (John 4:24)
3. God is __________. (2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:24-25)
4. God is __________. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 41:13; 90:1-4; 93:2; 102:12f; Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; Habakkuk 1:12; Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 3:8; Revelation 10:6)
5. God has revealed to us that He exists eternally as a ________ (one in three) Being. We call this the Holy _________. They are:
“_________ (Psalm 89:26; Matthew 6:9; 7:11; Romans 8:15; 1 Peter 1:2,17)
“_______ (John 1:1; 20:28; Acts 5:3-4; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:9,10; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 3:14)
“_______ _______ (John 14:25-26; 16:7-14; Acts 5:3-4)
There is One God in Three _____________. (Matthew 6:9; 28:19; John 8:36; 14:26; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 12;4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2)
6. Other Divine Attributes – Can you define them?
Omniscience
Omnipresence
Omnipotence
Transcendence
Sovereignty
Answers for Part 2 – What Is God Like?
We need to keep in mind that God actually is not “like” anything we can even imagine. Nonetheless, He has revealed to us through the Scriptures, and in Jesus Christ, essential facts and attributes about who He is and what He is like. Let’s see how you did.
The Bible teaches that there are attributes that are true about God.
1. There is only One God. This is the essence of Judeo-Christian monotheism. Christians affirm that only One God exists. He created the entire universe (all time, space, matter, and energy) out of nothing (see the answer to question 2 in Part 1 of this series). (Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4; Isaiah 43:15; 44:6-8; 45:5,6; John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:6)
2. God is spirit. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that God the Father is essentially a spirit being. He has no physical or finite spiritual body. (John 4:24)
3. God is Infinite. God is not limited by anything. His existence is what we call Transcendent. That means He is over and above all of the created order. As we discussed in Part One, the universe had a beginning and, though it is unimaginably immense, it is finite. Yes, there is a point in far space beyond which totally nothing exists (time, space, matter, or energy). It is what I call Nothing nothing! Despite what Buzz Lightyear says (“To infinity and beyond!”), there actually is no “infinity or beyond” in the universe. Only God exists without beginning or end and without boundaries. (2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:24-25)
4. God is Eternal. God’s existence is not limited even by time (He created it). He is, therefore, an eternal (or non-temporal) being who exists over and above time, though He does work with humans in real temporal history. Examples include: the creation of man; the Exodus; the Hebrew kings and prophets; the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus; and the early church. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 41:13; 90:1-4; 93:2; 102:12f; Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; Habakkuk 1:12; Romans 1:20; 2 Peter 3:8; Revelation 10:6)
5. God has revealed to us that He exists eternally as a Triune (one in three) Being. We call this the Holy Trinity. They are:
“Father
Psalm 89:26 – “He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’”
I Peter 1:2 “ … who have been chosen according to foreknowledge of God the Father.”
See also: Matthew 6:9; 7-11; Romans 8:15; I Peter 1:17
“Son
John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 20:28: Thomas said … “My Lord and my God.”
See also: Titus 2:13; John 1:18; Philippians 2:6-7; 2 Peter 1:1; Hebrews 1:8-10
“Holy Spirit
Acts 5:3-4: “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit? … You have not lied to men but to God.” See also: Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 139:7-13; Job 33:4; Matthew 28:19; Luke 1:35 ; John 3:5-6; Acts 16:6-7,10; Romans 1:4; 15:19; I Corinthians 2:10; et. al
The Three Persons of the Trinity Are Separate
“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17 NASB (See also Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:31-34; 14-17.)
There is One God in Three Persons. A person is a seat of consciousness or mind who interacts with other persons. (Matthew 6:9; 28:19; John 8:36; 14:26; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2)
The reason Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, and some other supposedly Bible believing religious adherents cannot accept the Trinity is not because it is not biblical. It surely must be true simply because either the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit are all God or the New Testament makes no sense (see also 1 Cor. 8:6; 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2). The problem, rather, lies with the fact that those adherents do not understand the infinitude and eternality of God.
Granted, the Trinity is a difficult concept to understand, and even harder to explain. Some critics argue that it is logically impossible since 1+1+1= 3, not 1. That is true, but, as some theologians have suggested, maybe it is better said as 1 x 1 x 1= 1. That does make some sense. I personally prefer this mathematical formula: Infinity (God the Father) + Infinity (God the Son) + Infinity (God the Holy Spirit) = Infinity (One Infinite God).
Thus, we assert that the one Infinite and Eternal Being is the One and Only Deity. That being said, the Bible teaches that, in some way, God exists infinitely and eternally in three personal seats of distinct consciousness (minds or personalities). He has revealed to them us by the designations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see above Scriptures). They are all infinite and they are all eternal. Three infinities and three eternities equals only one infinity and one eternity. Thus, God is One Infinite and Eternal God in Three Infinite and Eternal Persons. The Son (Jesus), however, at a specific point divested Himself of His Infinite and Eternal nature. He entered time and space to be born as a man on earth to bring salvation to humanity. Listen to the Apostle Paul’s recitation. (This is especially relevant to remember at Christmas time.)
6 (Jesus) “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; 7 rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:6-11 NIV)
The truth is, of course, that no mathematical or logical formula can ever adequately define the Trinity. We take it on faith and biblical revelation. In any case, the Trinity is important for several reasons. It magnifies the personal nature of God. It magnifies the preeminent character of God’s love since the Three Persons have loved one another eternally. It resolves the paradox of unity in diversity (eg.: “the forest and the trees”). And it has important implications for mankind as made in “God’s image” (Gen. 1:26).
6. Other Divine Attributes – Can you define them?
“Omniscience – God’s infinite knowledge. He knows everything. His mind created the laws of physics, biology, chemistry, etc., so nothing is beyond His comprehension.
“Omnipresence – God’s immediate presence is at all times and in all places. There is no place or no time, in or outside of the universe, where or when God is not there.
“Omnipotence – God possesses infinite power, yet He chooses not always to utilize it. Three specific events are the greatest demonstrations of this attribute, the creation of the universe, the creation of life, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
“Transcendence – God’s existence as over and above all of the created order (see above).
“Sovereignty – God has complete rule over all the universe. His will is absolute. Nonetheless, He allows humans free will to follow Him or not.
So how did you do? I hope these two quizzes have sparked in your mind a desire to learn more about how we can know God exists, and comprehend what He is like. Most important, I hope it has increased your faith and trust in Him and in Jesus Christ! Remember what He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV).
© 2017 Tal Davis