Who is God? A Simple Guide to the Creator and His Character

The question, "Who is God?" has captivated humanity for all of history. While we can't fully contain God, the Bible reveals His essential existence and character.

• God is the Creator: He made all things out of nothing—light, earth, animals, and humanity. He created man and woman in His own image and called everything "good."

• God Just Is: God is not a product of man's mind. He is the Uncaused Cause—the One who simply exists. Every person and thing needs a cause, but God is the eternal Being who was not created and is responsible for everything else.

“First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see.” (Genesis 1:1)

4 Essential Traits of God’s Character

In a world that is always changing, God is the solid foundation. We can trust Him completely because of His fundamental nature:

1. God is Unchanging: While everything around us is unstable, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This stability is our anchor and a source of peace in an uncertain life.

2. God is Faithful: The Bible proves that even when humanity fails to keep promises, God remains true. He will never abandon you or stop loving you, even when you make mistakes.

3. God is Knowable: God does not want to be distant; He wants a personal relationship with you. We learn about Him by reading the Bible, following Jesus, and listening to the Holy Spirit.

4. God is Love: First and foremost, God is love. His greatest act of love was sending Jesus to make reconciliation possible.

The Big Three: God’s Power and Presence

The Bible uses specific terms to describe God’s unlimited power. This is what it means for you:

• Omnipotence (All-Powerful): God is free to do whatever He wishes. He has control over all of nature, physics, and science.

• Omniscience (All-Knowing): God is aware of the past, present, and future. Nothing catches Him by surprise, and He knows exactly what you need.

• Omnipresence (All-Present): God exists in every place at the same time. You can never go anywhere that His divine presence is not with you.

The Mystery of the Holy Trinity

While there is only One God, He is revealed in three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

• The Analogy: Think of the Trinity as one being with three distinct personalities.

• The Unity: All three are one substance, in complete harmony: they are Co-eternal, Co-equal, and Co-powerful.

• The Roles: While acting in perfect unity, they have distinct roles—the Father chooses who will be saved, the Son redeems them, and the Holy Spirit empowers and guides them.

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

If God is good and all-powerful, why is there pain and evil in the world?

• It Started in Eden: The Bible tells us that life started in the Garden of Eden—a place of perfect bliss, where Adam and Eve walked daily with God.

• Man's Choice: Sin (man's rebellion against God) is the cause of all death, disease, and suffering. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought both good and evil into the world.

• The Purpose: God allowed the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because He wanted humanity to choose to love Him—not be forced to. This choice, while bringing suffering, gives us the hope and anticipation for the day when God will restore all things.

“I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)