Who Is The God Of The Universe?

The question of "Who Is God" must start with the understanding of "What the definition of "God" as used, explained and understood in the Bible means. To keep things simple the term "God" Biblically is a title, and that title is primarily used to represents the being with whom is regarded as the Creator of all things and the one who possesses the Highest Authority & Power. This being known as God in the Bible is namely, The God Of Abraham, Issac & Jacob, The Father of Jesus Christ formally known as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah". 

Here are some biblical examples to consider: At Exodus 3:15 God said to Moses “Say to the Israelites, ‘Yahweh, ^d the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ At John 8:54 Jesus said “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me." At John 20:17 Jesus said “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’" At John 17:2-3 Jesus prayed "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." And at 1 Corinthians 8:6 the Apostle Paul teaching the congregation at Corinth stated "Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

Notice in those 5 chapters a few things were established.

1. God declares his name as "Yahweh" the God of Abraham, Issac & Jacob

2.  Jesus Christ declared His Father as His "God" & The "God" Of The Jews.

3. Jesus Christ described His Father as "The Only True God"

4. The Apostles taught that "God" The Father of Jesus Christ is their Only God.

All of this is just to emphasize the point that biblically the being known as "God" in the bible is primarily applied to "The Father" of Jesus Christ formally known as "Yahweh", "Jehovah" who is recognized as the source of creation and the one with Highest Power & Authority.

With that established the term "God" in the bible is applied to other beings but in different and special contexts. For example Jesus Christ, even though he refers to his Father as the Only True God, is referred to in a few other scriptures based on his High Authority & Power with the title "God".

For example John 1:1 says " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God and at Hebrews1: 8-9  Yahweh said about His Son Jesus "But about the Son he says, Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

Notice that the Bible calls Jesus "The Word" that was With God & Was God and notice Jesus's Father also calls his Son "God" but calls himself The God of Jesus Christ. So from this we have seen 2 beings that the scripture refers the Title "God" to, God The Father & Jesus Christ His Son. At John 10:30-36 Jesus Christ was chastised & accused of blasphemy for his claims of being One with his Father. The problem the Jews had with Jesus's words was that they thought his statement of "Oneness" with His Father was himself claiming an existence & state like Gods, though to them he was only a Man and they know of Only One God. The Jews did not understand Jesus's Divine Heritage, Authority and relationship with The God of Abraham, Issac & Jacob as his Only begotton Son and the broader application of what the term "God" represents. Jesus however explained through scripture not only what the term "God" means by its application, but also clarified his status and relationship with God as His Son.

The scriptures reads as followed 

John 10:30-36 " I and the Father are one.” Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, ³² but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’^[d]? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—  what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?" 

Jesus's answer to the Jews was very powerful and simple. He referenced Psalms 82:6 where Yahweh, His Father declared “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’". In this particular chapter the human rulers at the time who had the responsibility of rendering justice among the people were being scolded by God for their corrupt decisions and failure to protect the weak and vulnerable, Psalms 82:2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?". These rulers or judges were called metaphorically "gods" because they held positions of power & authority given or allowed to them by God.

So when Jesus quoted that scripture, he was saying that if the judges at the time were called "gods" and "sons of the Most High" more so he himself, who has far more authority and power than they did and who The Father has set apart as his very own "Son" assume a similar title. In simple words "If they were called "gods", how much more should i, coming from God, being his literal Son claim a similar title?" So Jesus made it clear that the term "god" has metaphorical representation to positions of rulership and authority to persons who "God The Father" "The Only True God" , gives it to. Jesus concluded his explanation by making it clear "Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?". 

Lastly Satan the devil himself is called a "god" by the Apostle Paul when speaking about his influence over the world. 2 Corinthians 4:4 " The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

This is Paul simply pointing to the devils current authority and position of power in this current world that is allowed by God for a time. This scripture highlights even further the metaphorical applications of the title "god" as representing authority and power in the Bible. There are other applications of the term "god" being applied to idols also but the scripture makes it clear those are false human made "gods" Deuteronomy 32:17.

In concluding, Who is God? As stated in the beginning and by Jesus Christ himself and His Apostles the True God of the Bible is "Yahweh", "Jehovah" The God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, The God & Father of Jesus Christ and the one whom the Apostle Paul said we live for. Jesus Christ when teaching his disciples to pray started by saying, Matthew 6:9-10 “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Jesus taught his disciples to Love, Pray & Worship His & their God & Father, in his name and through that come to gain Gods Ultimate Provision Of Love In Eternal Life.

Reflect On This Scripture

1 Corinthians 8:6

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

 

-Bible Based Disciples