Understanding who God is according to the Bible is a profound journey that spans the entirety of the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible presents God as the central figure of all its narratives, and its depiction of Him is rich, multifaceted, and deeply compelling. To grasp the biblical portrayal of God, we must explore His nature, attributes, and actions as revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
The Bible begins with a powerful declaration in Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This opening statement establishes God as the Creator, the origin of all that exists. The Hebrew word for God here is "Elohim," which, interestingly, is a plural form, hinting at the complexity of God's nature even as it affirms His singularity. This complexity is further unraveled throughout the Scriptures.
God's nature is revealed as both transcendent and immanent. He is transcendent, meaning He exists beyond and independent from the created universe. Isaiah 55:8-9 captures this transcendence: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." God is not confined by time, space, or matter; He is eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent.
Yet, God is also immanent, meaning He is present and active within His creation. This immanence is beautifully portrayed in Psalm 139:7-10: "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me." God is intimately involved in the lives of His people, guiding, sustaining, and caring for them.
One of the most significant revelations of God's nature in the Old Testament is His covenant relationship with His people. In Exodus 3:14, God reveals His name to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM" (Yahweh). This name signifies God's self-existence, eternal presence, and unchanging nature. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who makes covenants with His people, promising to be their God and they His people (Genesis 17:7).
God's attributes are further revealed through His actions and interactions with humanity. He is holy, as seen in Isaiah's vision of the Lord in Isaiah 6:3, where the seraphim call out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" God's holiness signifies His absolute purity, moral perfection, and separation from sin. He is righteous and just, as Psalm 89:14 declares, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you."
God is also depicted as loving and merciful. One of the most profound expressions of God's love is found in the New Testament, in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." This verse encapsulates the essence of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ, His Son. God's love is sacrificial, unconditional, and aimed at the salvation of humanity.
The New Testament continues to reveal the nature of God through the person of Jesus Christ. In John 1:1-3, we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." Here, Jesus (the Word) is identified as God, co-eternal with the Father, and active in creation. This passage introduces the concept of the Trinity, which, though not explicitly named in the Bible, is a doctrine derived from the totality of Scripture.
The Trinity describes God as one Being in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God, sharing the same divine essence, yet distinct in their relational roles. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 reflects this triune nature: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The Trinity is a mystery that surpasses human comprehension, yet it is foundational to understanding the fullness of God's revelation in the Bible.
Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Trinity, embodies the fullness of God in human form. Colossians 2:9 affirms, "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." Through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, Jesus reveals God's character, will, and redemptive plan. He is the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), making the invisible God known to humanity. Jesus' teachings, miracles, and sacrificial love provide a tangible and personal understanding of who God is.
The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, continues the work of God in the world and in the lives of believers. Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." The Holy Spirit empowers, guides, convicts, and comforts believers, making God's presence and power real in their daily lives.
The Bible also portrays God as sovereign, reigning over all creation with supreme authority and control. Ephesians 1:11 speaks of God as "him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." God's sovereignty assures us that nothing happens outside His knowledge and permission, and He is actively working all things for His glory and the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
Moreover, God's faithfulness is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. Lamentations 3:22-23 proclaims, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." God's faithfulness means He is reliable, trustworthy, and true to His promises. He remains constant and unchanging, providing a firm foundation for our faith and hope.
In addition to His attributes, God's actions in history reveal His character and purposes. The Bible recounts numerous instances of God's intervention in human affairs, demonstrating His power, justice, mercy, and love. From the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt to the sending of His Son for the salvation of the world, God's actions testify to His active involvement in His creation.
The ultimate revelation of God comes through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1-3 declares, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." Jesus is the definitive revelation of God, making known His nature, will, and redemptive plan.
In summary, the Bible presents God as the Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all things. He is transcendent and immanent, holy and loving, just and merciful. He reveals Himself as a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each Person fully God, yet distinct in their relational roles. Through His actions in history and the ultimate revelation in Jesus Christ, God makes Himself known to humanity, inviting us into a covenant relationship with Him. This relationship is characterized by faith, love, and obedience, as we respond to the God who is both infinitely majestic and intimately personal.
