Who is God?
The question Who is God? stands at the center of Scripture’s testimony and defines the foundation of the Christian faith. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible portrays God as the unique, incomparable Creator of all things, the sovereign Lord who rules heaven and earth with majesty, mercy, and unfailing purpose. God is not simply a projection of human imagination or a distant force but the living, personal, holy God who reveals Himself through His words, His actions, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. The biblical view of God affirms His oneness, His authority, His compassion, and His saving intent for the world. Understanding who God is means receiving the Bible’s revelation of Him as the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and King.
1. God is the one true God who stands alone as Creator and Lord
Scripture presents God as the exclusive deity of ancient Israel, in contrast to the many gods of surrounding nations. The Shema declares, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). This exclusive monotheism is foundational: God alone created the universe (Genesis 1:1), sustains all things by His word (Hebrews 1:3), and governs the world with unmatched sovereignty (Psalm 103:19).
He is called:
the Creator (Isaiah 40:28),
the Almighty (Genesis 17:1),
the Most High (Psalm 47:2),
the great King of all the earth (Psalm 47:7).
The Bible consistently affirms that God made all things, owns all things, and rules all things. He is not a regional deity bound to a particular land or shrine; He is the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). His authority extends over nations, kings, and empires. No rival can challenge Him.
2. God’s character is fundamentally oriented toward blessing, mercy, and peace
While many assume the Bible’s God is defined primarily by wrath, the biblical portrait emphasizes His goodness. God reveals Himself as “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love” (Exodus 34:6). Judgment in Scripture is never God’s first desire; it arises only when His purposes of love are resisted (Isaiah 65:2).
God’s intentions toward humanity are bent toward blessing (Genesis 1:28; Jeremiah 29:11). He acts in history to bring life, flourishing, and reconciliation. Even His discipline has restorative aims (Hebrews 12:6). He is “the God of peace” who raised Jesus from the dead (Hebrews 13:20). His ultimate purpose is not destruction but redemption: He works so that humanity may live in fellowship with Him, sharing in the life He gives.
Thus, to ask Who is God? is to discover a God whose posture toward the world is overwhelmingly gracious.
3. God reveals Himself through His word, His actions, and His presence
God is not silent. He created the world by His word (Psalm 33:6), spoke to the patriarchs and prophets (Hebrews 1:1), and inscribed His revelation in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). Through these words, God makes His character, will, and promises known.
The Bible also teaches that God reveals Himself through His mighty deeds:
creating the world (Genesis 1:1),
choosing Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6–8),
delivering His people (Exodus 14:21–31),
raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24).
He leads His people with His presence, symbolically portrayed in the cloud and fire (Exodus 13:21), the temple (1 Kings 8:10–11), and ultimately through the Spirit who dwells in believers (Romans 8:9).
Yet God remains mysterious. He cannot be contained in temples (Acts 17:24), defined by human images (Deuteronomy 4:15–16), or reduced to simplistic descriptions. His greatness exceeds human comprehension (Romans 11:33). Even so, He draws near in covenant, making Himself known without ever ceasing to be the infinite, holy God.
4. God is personal, relational, and cannot be reduced to an impersonal force
The biblical view of God rejects any notion of a depersonalized deity. God is not an energy field, abstraction, or distant “higher power.” He is relational—He speaks (Isaiah 45:19), hears prayer (Psalm 34:15), loves (John 3:16), makes covenants (Genesis 17:7), and responds to His people (Psalm 50:15). The living God is “the Father of spirits” (Hebrews 12:9) and the One who walks with His people (Genesis 5:24).
Because God is personal:
He commands love (Deuteronomy 6:5),
forgives sin (Psalm 103:12),
disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:6),
and invites worship (Psalm 95:6–7).
Scripture’s portrayal of God is always personal and covenantal. A God stripped of personality would not be the God of Abraham, of Israel, or of the New Testament. To know God is to enter a genuine relationship—a relationship grounded in His initiative and sustained by His faithfulness.
5. God reveals Himself fully through Jesus Christ
The New Testament presents Jesus as the definitive revelation of God’s identity. Jesus does not merely speak about God; He embodies and displays Him. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus reveals God’s compassion (Matthew 9:36), His holiness (Mark 1:24), His authority (Matthew 28:18), and His saving purpose (Luke 19:10).
Jesus represents God’s new act of revelation, fulfillment, and salvation. He speaks God’s words (John 12:49–50), performs God’s works (John 5:19), and accomplishes God’s mission (John 4:34). Through His death and resurrection, God reconciles the world to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). The God who revealed Himself in creation and covenant makes Himself fully known in Christ.
Therefore, answering Who is God? ultimately means looking to Jesus, the one through whom God is seen, known, and worshiped.
Conclusion
According to Scripture, God is the one true Creator, the sovereign Lord over all nations, the God whose character is marked by mercy and blessing, and the One who reveals Himself personally through His word, His actions, and ultimately through Jesus Christ. He cannot be reduced to an impersonal force or confined to any earthly system. He speaks, acts, judges, saves, and reigns. He is both near and exalted, both personal and infinite. To know who God is, the Bible insists, is to encounter Him as the living, holy, gracious Lord who made the world, sustains it, governs it, and reveals Himself in His Son.
Bible Verses About Who God Is
“The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“The Lord is gracious and merciful.” (Psalm 145:8)
“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens.” (Psalm 103:19)
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” (Psalm 145:3)
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:3)
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
“The God of peace… brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.” (Hebrews 13:20)
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33)
