"Who is God?" This is perhaps the most fundamental question any human being can ask. Our answer shapes everything—how we understand ourselves, how we interpret reality, what gives life meaning, and where we find hope. Throughout history, humanity has wrestled with this question, constructing countless theories, philosophies, and religions attempting to explain the divine.

Yet God has not left us to speculation. He has revealed Himself through creation, through Scripture, and supremely through His Son Jesus Christ. This comprehensive exploration will examine who God is according to His own self-revelation, exploring His nature, attributes, and character as disclosed in the Bible. We'll discover that the God of Scripture is far greater, more glorious, and more wonderful than anything human imagination could conceive.

God Is the Eternal Creator

The Bible's very first verse introduces God as Creator: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Before anything else existed, God was. Before time began, God existed eternally.

God's Eternal Existence

God has no beginning and no end. Psalm 90:2 declares: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." From eternity past to eternity future, God simply is.

When Moses asked God's name, He responded: "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:14). This name emphasizes God's eternal, self-existent nature. He doesn't become or develop—He eternally is. He doesn't depend on anything or anyone for His existence—He exists by the necessity of His own nature.

Revelation 1:8 describes Him as "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." He encompasses all time—past, present, and future. He existed before the first moment and will exist after the last. Time doesn't constrain God because He created time and exists outside it.

This eternal nature means God never changes. Malachi 3:6 states: "For I am the LORD, I change not." Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." The God who was is the God who is and will be. His character, promises, and purposes remain constant across all ages.

God's Creative Power

As Creator, God brought the universe into existence from nothing by the power of His word. Genesis 1 repeatedly says "And God said... and it was so." He spoke, and reality obeyed. Psalm 33:6, 9 affirms: "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth... For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."

Hebrews 11:3 explains: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." God didn't fashion the universe from pre-existing material—He created ex nihilo (out of nothing). Where there was nothing, God's word brought everything into being.

The scope of God's creation is staggering. He made the vast cosmos—billions of galaxies containing trillions of stars spanning unimaginable distances. He formed Earth with its intricate ecosystems, diverse life forms, and delicate balances. He created humanity in His own image (Genesis 1:27). All of this displays His infinite power, wisdom, and creativity.

Isaiah 40:26 marvels: "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth." God not only created countless stars but knows each one by name. His power sustains every atom in existence. Colossians 1:17 says of Christ: "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Without God's sustaining power, the universe would cease to exist.

God's Sovereign Rule

As Creator, God possesses absolute authority over His creation. Psalm 103:19 declares: "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all." He reigns supreme over every nation, every power, every circumstance.

Daniel 4:35 testifies: "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" God's will cannot be thwarted. His purposes will be accomplished. No human authority, spiritual power, or circumstance can override His sovereign plan.

This sovereignty provides tremendous comfort to believers. Romans 8:28 promises: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Because God reigns sovereignly over all things, even life's difficulties and tragedies serve His ultimate purposes for our good and His glory.

God Is Infinite in His Attributes

God possesses attributes that set Him infinitely apart from His creation. Theologians call these "incommunicable attributes"—characteristics that belong to God alone and cannot be fully shared with creatures.

God Is Omnipotent - All-Powerful

God possesses unlimited power to accomplish anything consistent with His nature and will. Genesis 18:14 asks: "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?" The implied answer is a resounding no. Nothing exceeds God's ability.

Jeremiah 32:17 declares: "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." The God who created the universe from nothing has infinite power to accomplish His purposes.

Jesus affirmed: "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). What's impossible for humans is effortless for God. He parts seas (Exodus 14), makes the sun stand still (Joshua 10:12-13), shuts lions' mouths (Daniel 6), raises the dead (John 11), and conquers death itself through Christ's resurrection.

This doesn't mean God can do absurdities like make square circles or create rocks too heavy for Him to lift—these are logical impossibilities, not limitations on God's power. Rather, it means God possesses infinite power to accomplish anything that's actually possible. As Revelation 19:6 proclaims: "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

God Is Omniscient - All-Knowing

God knows everything—past, present, and future. Nothing is hidden from His sight. Psalm 147:5 says: "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." God's knowledge has no limits.

1 John 3:20 affirms: "God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." He knows every fact, every possibility, every secret thought, every hidden motive. Hebrews 4:13 declares: "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

God knows the future with certainty. Isaiah 46:9-10 says: "I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." He declares the end from the beginning because He knows the future as clearly as the past.

This omniscience means God understands you completely. Psalm 139:1-4 testifies: "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether." Before you speak a word, God knows it. Before you think a thought, He understands it. He knows you better than you know yourself.

God Is Omnipresent - Everywhere Present

God is simultaneously present everywhere. There's no place where God is not. Jeremiah 23:23-24 asks: "Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD."

Psalm 139:7-10 explores this truth: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Whether in heaven's heights or hell's depths, the remotest corners of the earth or the farthest reaches of space, God is there.

This doesn't mean God is diffused throughout space like a gas. Rather, God's essence is present everywhere in its fullness. He's not more present in church than in your home, more available on Sunday than Monday. He's fully present everywhere, all the time.

For believers, this truth provides comfort. You're never alone. God is always with you, regardless of circumstances. Jesus promised: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). For unbelievers, this truth warns that escape is impossible. You cannot hide from God or avoid His judgment.

God Is Eternal and Immutable

As discussed earlier, God is eternal—without beginning or end, existing outside time. Related to this is His immutability—He never changes. James 1:17 says: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Unlike creation that constantly changes, God remains the same. His character doesn't evolve. His purposes don't shift. His promises don't expire. Numbers 23:19 affirms: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

This immutability means God's love for you never wanes, His faithfulness never fails, His promises never become void. The God who loved you yesterday loves you today and will love you forever. The God who promised salvation to all who believe will fulfill that promise. Psalm 102:27 declares: "But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end."

God Is Holy and Righteous

Perhaps God's most fundamental moral attribute is holiness—absolute purity, complete separation from sin, and transcendent perfection.

God's Perfect Holiness

When Isaiah saw a vision of God's throne, he heard angels crying: "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3). The threefold repetition emphasizes the superlative degree of God's holiness. He's not merely holy—He's holy, holy, holy!

God's holiness means He's utterly pure, completely separate from sin, morally perfect in every way. 1 John 1:5 declares: "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." No trace of evil, no hint of impurity, no shadow of wrongdoing exists in God. Habakkuk 1:13 says: "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Sin is so contrary to God's nature that He cannot tolerate it.

This holiness sets God apart from creation. He's not just quantitatively different (bigger, stronger, smarter)—He's qualitatively different, existing on an entirely different plane. 1 Samuel 2:2 proclaims: "There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God."

God calls His people to holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 commands: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." While we can never be holy to the degree God is, we're to pursue holiness in every area of life, being set apart for God's purposes and growing in moral purity through the Holy Spirit's power.

God's Perfect Righteousness

Closely related to holiness is righteousness—God always does what's right. Psalm 145:17 says: "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." God never acts unjustly, unfairly, or wrongly. Everything He does conforms perfectly to His righteous character.

Deuteronomy 32:4 declares: "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." God's judgments are always just. His decisions are always right. His ways are always perfect, even when we don't understand them.

This righteousness means God must judge sin. His holy nature cannot overlook evil or compromise with wickedness. Psalm 5:4-5 states: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." God's righteousness demands that sin be punished.

Yet God's righteousness is also the basis for our salvation. Romans 3:26 says God demonstrated His righteousness "that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." At the cross, God upheld His righteousness by punishing sin (in Jesus) while justifying sinners (who trust in Jesus). Justice was satisfied, and mercy was extended. This is the glorious wisdom of God's righteous plan of salvation.

God Is Love and Mercy

Alongside His holiness and righteousness, God is love—not merely loving but love itself in essence.

God's Infinite Love

1 John 4:8, 16 declares twice: "God is love." This doesn't mean love is God (making love the object of worship) but that love is essential to God's nature. He cannot act contrary to love any more than He can act contrary to holiness.

God's love is demonstrated supremely in salvation. John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Romans 5:8 emphasizes: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

This love is unconditional—not based on our worthiness but on God's nature. It's sacrificial—giving His Son to die for sinners. It's universal in offer—"whosoever" may come. It's eternal—having loved His own, He loves them "unto the end" (John 13:1). It's unfailing—"the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" can never be broken (Romans 8:38-39).

Ephesians 2:4-5 celebrates: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." God's love motivated Him to save us when we were spiritually dead, unable to save ourselves.

God's Abundant Mercy

Mercy is God withholding the punishment we deserve. Lamentations 3:22-23 testifies: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." We deserve judgment, but God extends mercy.

Ephesians 2:4 calls God "rich in mercy." His mercy is abundant, overflowing, inexhaustible. Psalm 103:8 describes Him: "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." He doesn't eagerly condemn but patiently extends opportunities for repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 explains: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God delays judgment because He desires all to repent. His mercy provides space for salvation.

Titus 3:5 says: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Our works don't save us—His mercy does. This is the heart of the gospel: God's mercy triumphs over judgment for those who trust Christ (James 2:13).

God's Gracious Provision

Grace goes beyond mercy. While mercy withholds deserved punishment, grace gives undeserved blessing. Ephesians 2:8 says: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Salvation is grace—God giving us what we don't deserve (eternal life) instead of what we do deserve (judgment).

Romans 5:20 celebrates: "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." No matter how great your sin, God's grace is greater. No matter how far you've fallen, His grace can reach you. No matter how unworthy you feel, His grace is sufficient.

2 Corinthians 12:9 records Jesus' words: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." God's grace doesn't just save you; it sustains you. It's sufficient for every trial, every temptation, every challenge. His grace empowers you to live for Him, serve Him, and glorify Him.

God Is Triune - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

One of Christianity's most distinctive doctrines is the Trinity—one God eternally existing as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

One God in Three Persons

Scripture clearly teaches there is only one God. Deuteronomy 6:4 declares: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." Isaiah 44:6 affirms: "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Christianity is emphatically monotheistic—there's only one God.

Yet Scripture also reveals this one God exists eternally as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 commands baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Notice it's singular "name" (not names), yet three Persons are identified.

2 Corinthians 13:14 pronounces: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." Three distinct Persons are mentioned, yet they're the one God.

The Trinity isn't three gods (that's tritheism) or one person wearing three masks (that's modalism). It's one God eternally existing as three co-equal, co-eternal Persons who share the same divine essence while remaining distinct in personhood. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God—yet there's only one God.

God the Father

The Father is the first Person of the Trinity. Jesus taught us to pray "Our Father which art in heaven" (Matthew 6:9). Paul wrote: "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" (1 Corinthians 8:6).

The Father is the source of the Trinity's works. Ephesians 1:3-5 says the Father "hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings," "hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world," and "having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ." The Father planned salvation, sent the Son, and gives believers to the Son (John 6:37).

Jesus repeatedly spoke of His relationship with the Father, calling Him "my Father" (John 20:17) and saying "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). Believers become children of God the Father through faith in Christ: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1).

God the Son - Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity—fully God and fully man. John 1:1, 14 declares: "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." Jesus is the eternal Word who became flesh.

Jesus possessed all divine attributes. He's omnipotent—calming storms (Mark 4:39), healing diseases (Matthew 8:16), and raising the dead (John 11:43-44). He's omniscient—knowing people's thoughts (Luke 6:8) and future events (John 13:1-3). He forgave sins—something only God can do (Mark 2:5-7). He accepted worship—which would be idolatry if He weren't God (Matthew 14:33; John 20:28).

Jesus explicitly claimed deity. He said: "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). He told Philip: "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:9). He used God's divine name "I AM" for Himself (John 8:58), causing the Jews to attempt stoning Him for blasphemy.

As the God-man, Jesus is the mediator between God and humanity. 1 Timothy 2:5 says: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Through His incarnation, sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily resurrection, Jesus provided salvation for all who trust Him.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity—fully God, not merely an impersonal force. Acts 5:3-4 equates lying to the Holy Spirit with lying to God: "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?... thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

The Spirit possesses divine attributes. He's omniscient—knowing even "the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). He's omnipresent—David asked: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit?" (Psalm 139:7). He's eternal—called "the eternal Spirit" (Hebrews 9:14). He's omnipotent—Jesus said believers would "receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8).

The Spirit performs divine works. He was active in creation (Genesis 1:2). He inspired Scripture (2 Peter 1:21). He convicts of sin (John 16:8). He regenerates believers (John 3:5-6). He indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19). He sanctifies believers (1 Peter 1:2). He empowers believers for service (Acts 1:8). He produces spiritual fruit in believers (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus promised: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth" (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit is believers' constant companion, teacher, guide, and helper. He applies Christ's work to our lives, transforming us into Christ's image.

How to Know God Personally

Understanding who God is intellectually is important, but the greatest privilege is knowing Him personally through relationship.

You Must Be Born Again

Jesus told Nicodemus: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Natural birth produces physical life; spiritual birth produces spiritual life. To know God, you must be born again through faith in Christ.

John 1:12 promises: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." When you receive Christ by faith, you're born into God's family. You become His child with direct access to the Father.

This new birth comes through repentance and faith. Acts 20:21 speaks of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Repentance means turning from sin; faith means trusting Christ alone for salvation. When you genuinely repent and believe, the Holy Spirit regenerates you, giving you spiritual life and making you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus Is the Only Way to the Father

Jesus declared: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). There's no other path to God except through Jesus Christ. Peter preached: "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).

Why is Jesus the exclusive way? Because He's the only one who lived a sinless life and could serve as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He's the only one who died and rose again, conquering death. He's the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Every other religion offers salvation through human effort, but Christianity offers salvation through Christ's finished work received by faith.

This exclusivity isn't narrow-minded bigotry—it's the gracious provision of a holy God who made a way for sinners to be reconciled to Himself. The invitation is universal: "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Anyone can come—but they must come through Christ.

Grow in Your Knowledge of God

Once you're born again, continue growing in your knowledge of God. 2 Peter 3:18 urges: "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." This growth occurs through several means:

First, read and study God's Word. The Bible is God's primary revelation of Himself. As you read it, pray for the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth and help you understand. Meditate on what you read, letting it shape your thinking and living.

Second, spend time in prayer. Prayer is conversation with God—talking to Him and listening for His voice. Jesus modeled this, often withdrawing to pray (Luke 5:16). Through prayer, you maintain intimacy with God, receive guidance, find strength, and experience His presence.

Third, fellowship with other believers. Hebrews 10:25 warns against "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." Find a Bible-believing church where you can worship, learn, serve, and build relationships. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17) as believers encourage and challenge one another.

Fourth, obey what God reveals. Jesus said: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17). Obedience opens the door for further revelation. As you obey what you know, God reveals more.

Fifth, cultivate awareness of God's presence. Practice living consciously in God's presence throughout each day. "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) doesn't mean constant verbal prayer but maintaining an attitude of prayer—staying aware of God and communing with Him continually.

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