One God and Father of All

By Dan Bailey In Ephesians 4:4-6 we have seven ones listed, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Just as there is one Lord, and one Spirit, so there is one God, the Father. The Bible is very clear that there is one God or Deity. "Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Even though there is one God or Deity, there are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.     The God and Father of all is the one to whom Jesus taught us to pray. "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name"(Matthew 6:9). He is the one who Paul praised in Il Corinthians 1:3: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." Jesus was sent by the Father, loved the Father, and obeyed the Father in everything. He said: "...My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself"(John 7:16-17).     In the prayer of Jesus in John 17:1-26, our Lord specifically addressed the Father six times. He refers to God the Father as "Holy Father" and "righteous Father" (John 17:11; 17:25). We can never thank our heavenly Father enough for sending His Son to die for us on the cruel cross of Calvary! "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (Il Corinthians 9:15).     Surely, every honest person is able to understand that just as there is one God - the Father, and one God - the Son, and one God - the Holy Spirit, so there is one body, one hope, one faith and one baptism. This does not really describe the disorder in the religious world today. There are so many "churches" or denominations, so many different doctrines, and so many different creeds. Something is wrong, but the Bible is right! "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth" (Psalm 33:4). "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104). "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way"(Psalm 119:128).   One God And Father Of All There is one God - the Father who dwells up above. Who sent His dear Son, with all of His love — To suffer and die on the old rugged tree, To save poor lost sinners like you and like me The Father of mercies and Father of light, Who answers our prayers each day and each night. All honor and praise to our Father of glory, Who gave us His Son and redemption's sweet story. Dan C Bailey

- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.thelordsway.com/statestreetchurchofchrist/framedindex.asp?Group=Home