One God – Part 2

By Clifton Angel     There is "One God” (Ephesians 4:6). Last week, we considered how that "God" is not a name, but a description, or designation. It refers to God’s position and authority. Second, we considered how the “One God” is a nature only possessed by three: the Father (Ephesians 4:6), the Son (John 1:1, 14), and the Spirit (Acts 5:3–4). Furthermore, let us consider the unity referenced by the reality of “One God.”     "One God" or "One LORD" in many passages refers to the unity and exclusivity of the Godhood, not the quantity of Beings which possess It. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4, KJV). In the ASV, this passage is translated more literally: "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." Furthermore, in the ASV, there is a footnote that provides other ways to translate this passage in the English: "Or, Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one Or, Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one Or, Jehovah is our God, Jehovah alone."     Why did Moses have to give this message to the children of Israel? First, they were once under bondage to a people—the Egyptians—who idolized earthly things and beings as if these had God-nature. Second, the Israelites were about to enter a land flowing with milk and honey, which was inhabited by people—the Canaanites, et. al.—who idolized earthly things and beings as if these had God-nature. In our English Bibles, they are often called "other gods." Notice the words of the prophet Jeremiah, "Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?" (Jeremiah 16:20, ASV). Furthermore, consider Paul's words to the churches of Galatia: "When ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods" (Galatians 4:8). "No gods" in those passages could also be translated "not God." They do not have God-nature, nor are they even living beings. They are purely manufactures of the mind of man. Furthermore, I encourage you to notice how much disunity and contradiction there is within systems of idolatry. Many "gods" of man's manufacture are beings which fight each other, contradict each other, and are quite limited in their abilities. Such is not the case with the one, true, almighty, and eternal God of heaven.     The reality, exclusivity, and unity of our God should cause us to want to know Him, grow closer to Him, communicate with Him, and serve Him, and be united with Him. There is "One God" (Ephesians 4:6). Is He the God that you serve (cf. Joshua 24:15).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/