Who is God?
The identity of God has been a topic of debate for centuries. To this day not everyone understands or believes the God of the Bible. To some, God is whoever you want Him to be. He can be an animal one day and a tree the next. To others, God is a figment of our imagination. He has only existed as a tool of manipulation to control the vulnerable throughout history. Neither of these views nor any of their counterparts answer the question at hand. The Scriptures give us a definitive answer on who God is.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, New King James Version).
"Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'" (Isaiah 46:9-10, New King James Version).
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:8-9, New King James Version).
From these passages we learn that God is the creator of the universe. He is the source and originator of all that we see and understand. Additionally, He is a unique God. There is no one comparable to Him. He knows all and can do anything He desires. He is limitless in power, knowledge, and presence. He is also infinite in grace, mercy, compassion, and love. That is the God we believe in at the Madisonville church of Christ.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, New King James Version).
"Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'" (Isaiah 46:9-10, New King James Version).
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:8-9, New King James Version).
From these passages we learn that God is the creator of the universe. He is the source and originator of all that we see and understand. Additionally, He is a unique God. There is no one comparable to Him. He knows all and can do anything He desires. He is limitless in power, knowledge, and presence. He is also infinite in grace, mercy, compassion, and love. That is the God we believe in at the Madisonville church of Christ.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ was a real, historical person that lived in first century Judea. He was born of Mary, who was a virgin. He lived nearly all His years in the land of Judea under Roman control. It is not just His background or upbringing that makes Jesus unique, however. What truly makes Him unique is that He is God's Son. He repeatedly taught those who followed Him this fact about His identity.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, New King James Version).
In this regard Jesus is both fully human and fully God. When He took on the form of a human being, He relinquished His rank, not His deity. He was the exact representation of God's character in human form.
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they" (Hebrews 1:1-4, New King James Version).
Jesus Christ is also the Savior of humanity. Without Jesus, eternal life with God would be impossible. There would be no forgiveness without Jesus. It is only because of Him and His atoning sacrifice that any person can come before God and be pleasing to Him.
"He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:26-28, New King James Version).
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16, New King James Version).
In this regard Jesus is both fully human and fully God. When He took on the form of a human being, He relinquished His rank, not His deity. He was the exact representation of God's character in human form.
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they" (Hebrews 1:1-4, New King James Version).
Jesus Christ is also the Savior of humanity. Without Jesus, eternal life with God would be impossible. There would be no forgiveness without Jesus. It is only because of Him and His atoning sacrifice that any person can come before God and be pleasing to Him.
"He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation" (Hebrews 9:26-28, New King James Version).
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The character of the Holy Spirit is rife with controversy. Many view the Spirit as a mythical force that operates without warning or cause. There are even some that believe the Spirit can enter their bodies and cause them to speak or act in ways they otherwise could not. As with God and Jesus Christ, the Scriptures teach us about the Holy Spirit and His nature.
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-15, New King James Version).
From this teaching we learn that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles, Jesus' closest disciples, into all truth. The purpose of this guidance was to ensure the gospel was proclaimed across the world. This also meant that the apostles were God's spokespeople after the departure of Jesus. It was only because of the work of the Holy Spirit they could accomplish the tasks Jesus gave them to do.
We learn more about the Holy Spirit from other passages of Scripture. For instance, we learn that the Spirit executed God's will in creation (Genesis 1:2, New King James Version). We also know that He empowered Jesus and the apostles to carry out various miraculous gifts to confirm their teachings.
"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13-15, New King James Version).
From this teaching we learn that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles, Jesus' closest disciples, into all truth. The purpose of this guidance was to ensure the gospel was proclaimed across the world. This also meant that the apostles were God's spokespeople after the departure of Jesus. It was only because of the work of the Holy Spirit they could accomplish the tasks Jesus gave them to do.
We learn more about the Holy Spirit from other passages of Scripture. For instance, we learn that the Spirit executed God's will in creation (Genesis 1:2, New King James Version). We also know that He empowered Jesus and the apostles to carry out various miraculous gifts to confirm their teachings.