Tag: Monotheism

We Believe in One God…

Encore Post: “All religions believe the same thing, right?” well-meaning people often say to me. They probably know deep down that it isn’t true, but just want everyone to get along. The easiest way to show it is not correct is to explain how various religions answer the question: “How many gods are there?”

Hindus and other eastern religions believe all things and people are a part of god. Mormons believe all gods used to be people who worked their way to godhood and that we, too, can become gods. Judaism, Islam and Christianity believe there is only one God.

The Bible describes the Triune God as the only true God. Moses writes: “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4) God himself says: “I am the First, I am the Last! Besides me there is no god … Is there a god besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6-8) St. Paul tells us that all other things people call gods are not real; There only is one God. (1 Corinthians 8:4-6) Jesus sums it up when he says in prayer that the Father is the only true God. (John 17:3)

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©2018 Robert E. Smith. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy, share and display freely for non-commercial purposes. Direct all other rights and permissions inquiries to cosmithb@gmail.com

And There’s None Other God

Encore Post: The word “Trinity” is old — it was first used in second century AD. (100-200 AD) Yet, it is not a term used by the Bible. Christian theologians use it to sum up what the Scripture says about the nature of God. It helps to look at the passages that brought the Church to talk about God in this way.

The first truth that the Word of God reveals to us about God is that he is unique. There is only one God. On this point, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Jehovah’s Witnesses and a number of other religions agree. Here is how the Holy Spirit talks about the number of gods and the unity of God.

Judaism uses Deuteronomy 6:4 as its creed: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Jesus and Paul agree. (Mark 12:29, Romans 3:30, Galatians 3:20). Other passages emphasize that there is one God. (Ephesians 4:61 Timothy 2:5, James 2:19).

There are no other Gods besides the Lord. (Isaiah 45:21, 1 Corinthians 8:4) None of the so-called gods of the nations are like him. (Isaiah 46:8-9) None of the false gods can bring rain (Jeremiah 14:22) Since they are not real, they cannot help, much less save.

From these, and many other passages, the Church concluded and still believes that there is only one God. It is this God that we fear, love and trust as our own.

See also: One God in Three Persons

©2018 Robert E. Smith. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy, share and display freely for non-commercial purposes. Direct all other rights and permissions inquiries to cosmithb@gmail.com.