God: the described Deity
As with many references in the Bible, it’s hard to pinpoint one good example. What I mean is how do you describe the Bible perfectly? How do you interpret Jesus correctly? It is by no means easier with the term “God.” What or who is God? I had a white, middle aged, woman ask me what is church. What exactly is God? In the past, North America might have been considered a Christian nation. Yet, this woman did not even have any reference to who God is.
In the Old Testament I believe we have two terms of God. The first is Yahweh. It literally means “to be.” The early Hebrews had such a fear and reverence for God that they did not even say his name Yahweh. Imagine Moses asking God his name. God turns around and says “I am.” The name is considered Yahweh. There Moses stood having to somehow relay the un-relayable to his people. There are many other names of God like Adonai (master) and El-Shaddai (God almighty). Each one gives an attribute to the God they encountered.
Jesus claims to be part of God. They call it the Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit. Three in one. This is not easy stuff to grasp. They also call God the “God head.” Three persons distinct from each other but equal as one God. God the Father is one part. God the Son is another. Then we have the Holy Spirit of God (his essence). It’s like this. You encounter Jesus then you encounter God. John 7:29 “but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” God is not just some white-haired old man on a throne in heaven. God is divine as a God. Yet, he is a complicated being. That is why there are hundreds of names of God. You can’t paint God into one thing. God is many, yet he is “I am.” Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
The second term for God I would like to explore is Emanuel. This name or title was given to a man who would fulfill two promises of God. One is to Abraham that his lineage would continue forever. That his son would bare offspring in the name of God. Secondly, God promised King David that an heir to him would rule forever. Isaiah 7:14 is a prophetic verse “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Emmanuel means literally “God is with us.”
Through the centuries people have wondered why Jesus was not called Emmanuel? Jesus means “God delivers.” Emmanuel is a term given to the Jewish savior or line of Abraham and David. He could also be called messiah or Christ. That is why Jesus is called the Christ or savior. Jesus appearance on earth means God delivered on his promise. God also delivered that promise himself in the Son of God part of the trinity. So, who and what is God?
To see the names of God will tell you a little about who God is. They describe a part of him. The Book of John gives plenty of examples of who the Holy Spirit is. Jesus is described as the Christ or Messiah. Those terms are described as councilor and prince of peace. All of these terms and names describe who God is. They say this God is eternal. He resides outside of time. 1 John 4:8 claims God is love.
Galatians 5 gives us a great picture of God. They call these attributes the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Although these attributes are given to Christians. They do describe God very well. In the beginning God said we are a reflection of him. Those fruits (attributes) above are what God is. If you’re with God then you will mirror God. If we put together all the names of God and all the descriptions of Jesus and combined them with the fruits of the Spirit, we get a small picture of what God is like.
Why is God invisible? That is convenient. Throughout the Bible God was seen in miracles and manifestations like a pillar of fire. It never made people believe. However, those that have experienced the invisible God seem to believe strongly. The Spirit of God, Jesus the Christ, and the Holy Spirit have made impacts on people. As creator, God wants to work deeper. He wants free will to fester devotion and love freely. Who is God? He is the invisible driving force that wants justice, freedom, and love to reign in a fallen world. That is my best shot at describing what and who God is.
