In the Word: God is One

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be pouring over Scripture with the goal of knowing God increasingly as He truly is. As we study together, we encourage you to use the comments as a place to dialogue with us about what you are learning and share your answers to the questions below. We pray that you hearts will be encouraged as you study these names of God along with us! 

Knowing Our Glorious God

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one”
Deut. 6:4

READ:

There is one unified God—one essence in three Persons. The Father is fully God, the Son is fully God, and the Spirit is fully God. What can it mean that each Person of the Trinity is fully God than that each Person of the Trinity is all of who God is? Though much more could be written about the oneness of God, I would like to focus here on a common misconception about God as it relates to this topic.

The idea seems to prevail that the God of the Old Testament (typically referring to the Father) is wrathful and the God of the New Testament (typically referring to Jesus) is loving. Enough examples of God’s love in the Old Testament and judgment in the New Testament could provide correction. But further, this thought seems to be an affront to the doctrine of God’s unity or oneness.

If we have decided to follow God and seek to know Him as He is, that precludes us from selecting “parts” of God to love. Jesus is not the “more loving” Person in the Trinity, and the Father the “more wrathful”—for that would negate that Jesus and the Father are one in essence as God. Therefore, we cannot be worshipers of the “God of the New Testament” without being worshipers of the “God of the Old Testament.” God has indicated what kind of worship He requires: truthful worship (Jn. 4:24).

God “is love” (1 Jn. 4:8), “is light” (1 Jn. 1:5), and “is a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24)—and more. And in His perfection, He is never conflicted about how to act or accomplish His purposes. Think of the cross, where Jesus met death willingly. There I see God’s love and justice displayed. Jesus knew that, in His mission, the only way to joy was through satisfying the justice of God (Heb. 12:2). And God knew that the only way for Jesus to accomplish His mission of being the justifier was for Him to be just (Rom. 3:26)—punishing the sins imputed to Jesus so that all who have faith in Him can be free (2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:10). What incomprehensible love and true righteousness in One!

Due to an understanding of God’s oneness, I do not dismiss the relevance of His justice to my life. And that has incalculably informed the way that I grieve. I know the level of suffering that is justly mine—if it were not for Christ. So, I am not caught in worldly thinking that makes much of self—much of what I deserve. Instead, I contemplate that Jesus is worthy, but took upon Himself in great love what He was not worthy of—my sins. Through this, I can praise Him in gratitude throughout my earthly suffering that eternal suffering will not be mine, but rather that I have gained freedom forever through Him. In turn, this truth only grows my view of His love.

REFLECT:

• Read 1 John 4:10. Reflect upon the truths of God’s love and justice displayed at the cross. Are there any ways I can grow to see the “God of the Old Testament” and the “God of the New Testament” as One? If so, how can my grief become filled with more truth through a more unified understanding of God?
• The book of Revelation is rich with description and praise for who God is. For an overview, take some time to read 1:5-8; 4:8-11; 7:14-17; 11:17-18; 15:3-4; 16:5-7; 19:1-5; 21:3-8. List the characteristics/attributes of God evident in these passages. How can this book of the Bible inform a more whole theology of God, especially with view to His oneness? Do any of my observations change the light in which I see my grief and suffering?

PRAYER AND PRAISE:

I worship You, my God, for the greatness and majesty that are Yours alone. I cannot fully comprehend the perfection of Your character, Your attributes, and Your essence. I also cannot fully fathom a holiness like Yours. And therefore, I cannot fully fathom a love like Yours. But I know—and am grateful—that my perceptions never change or separate You, for You are One. Coming to know You more and to contemplate the cross in light of Your oneness is rich and beautiful to me, directing my heart and mind to gratitude. And in suffering, biblical gratitude is sustaining for me; thank You for leading me to it.

QUOTE FROM SOURCES CONSULTED¹:

It is the same God who is omniscient, who is omnipresent. It is the same God who is glorious and wonderful. It is the same God who is love and compassion and mercy. We must not divide these things, though we distinguish them for the purposes of thought and understanding. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, God the Father, God the Son).

¹Sources consulted for this series: D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, God the Father, God the Son; Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology; Paul Enns, Moody Handbook of Theology; John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion; J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs

Lianna (@liannadavis) is wed to Tyler and mom of two dear daughters. She is author of Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss (Hope Mommies, 2019). More of her writing can be found at her website.

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