While there are many "gods" worshipped across the world, is there one true God? Yes, I believe there is.
It is fascinating to observe how people from different ethnicities and religious groups hold to their own separate deities. Everyone claims their god is the correct one, but logically, there can only be one Creator who is above all. Therefore, the question remains: Who is the one true God?
In this article, I approach this topic from a Christian perspective, with the hope that we can come to a place of shared understanding.
Understanding The Shema: The Lord Our God Is One
God, as revealed in the biblical creation story, is more relational than religious. In the making of man, the revealed intention was to create a family: God and His people.
It is interesting how our differing beliefs have led to the formation of many religions, yet we must realize that connecting with the true God requires a relationship, not just a religion.
In Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB), Moses said to the people of Israel:
"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!"
This declaration is called the Shema (Hebrew: שְׁמַע). The word literally means 'Hear' or 'Listen.' The Shema is a prayer that calls for Israel to listen to the instruction that the 'Lord our God' is singular and absolute.
Historically, Moses had to deal with people worshipping and rendering services to other gods. This suggests that, aside from the God Moses referred to, there were other "gods" (idols or spiritual entities) vying for attention.
Many of those gods were carved images or ideas found within foreign cultures. In that passage, Moses was countering the influence of these foreigners while instructing the people to stay away from idolatry.
The Shema is an essential declaration of the Jewish faith. While there have been different interpretations of the verse, I believe Moses was tackling the "mindset of many gods" among the people.
The instruction "Hear, O Israel!" reaffirmed the absoluteness of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, differentiating Him from the idols the people were prone to worship. While it became customary to recite the Shema prayer (verses 4–9), the core event establishes the position that there is one true God amidst many false gods.
Who Is The One True God?
Apostle Paul, while addressing the issue of eating food offered to idols, revealed crucial information about the nature of God. Here is what he wrote:
"As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol, and their conscience being weak is defiled.”
— 1 Corinthians 8:5–7 (KJV)
While there are many interesting theological points here, I want to draw your attention to the specific definition Paul provides:
- The One God is the Father: He is the source of all things, including life itself.
- There is One Lord, Jesus Christ: Through Him, we have life.
- Our Relationship: We live for God the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The one true God is the Father, revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus Christ Himself said, "I and my Father are one."
The True God and Eternal Life
It is written in 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 (KJV) regarding reconciliation:
"...all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
Take note of the phrase “God was in Christ." It reveals that God was personally present with humanity, reconciling man to Himself in the person of Jesus, the Son of God.
In 1 John 5:20 (KJV), Apostle John concludes:
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
Personified, the Son of God has given believers, and the Faithful Today, an understanding. This understanding leads us to know the true God. We are in the true God because we are in Christ Jesus.
Conclusion
In essence, Jesus Christ is the revelation of the true God and eternal life to humanity. This knowledge is the product of understanding Christ. Having established this, John continues in the very next verse to warn us to keep ourselves from idols, false gods or anything that would take the place of God in our hearts.
While there are many "gods" and "lords" in the world, believers in Christ Jesus have one true God, the Father, and one true Lord, Jesus Christ. In Him, we have eternal life.
