1) One God
The foundation of biblical monotheism - Why we believe in one true God
Before we study the Trinity, we must establish a starting point: there is only one true God. Christianity is a monotheistic religion: we believe in one God, not three gods. This is the foundation for understanding correctly the doctrine of the Trinity.
Biblical Monotheism
How many gods exist according to the Bible?
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Answer: The Lord our God is the only Lord
Deuteronomy 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
The Shema (“Hear, Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord”) is the fundamental declaration of Judeo-Christian faith. Israel was called to be monotheistic in a polytheistic world, where each nation had its own gods.
What does God declare about the existence of other gods?
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Answer: I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God
Isaiah 45:5: "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:"
God affirms He is the only true God and categorically denies the existence of any other. The “gods” of the nations are lifeless idols, human creations, or demons in disguise, but they are not true gods.
“There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present.” — Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Beliefs, Belief 2.
The Contrast with Idols
What distinguishes the true God from the idols of the nations?
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Answer: Idols are of silver and gold, made by human hands, they cannot see, hear, or speak
Psalms 115:4-7: "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat."
The Bible ridicules idols. While the “gods” of the nations are dead statues, the God of Israel is alive: He sees, hears, speaks and acts in history. The difference is absolute.
Who is the Creator of all things?
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Answer: The Lord, who alone made all things
Isaiah 44:24: "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;"
“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate, a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34, par. 1.
When Isaiah says that the Lord alone made all things, he excludes any rival god. The New Testament reveals that the Father created through the Son. Therefore, it was not many gods who created the world, but the one God acting in perfect unity.
Jesus Confirmed Monotheism
What did Jesus answer when asked about the greatest commandment?
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Answer: The Lord our God is the only Lord
Mark 12:29: "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:"
Jesus, being Jewish, fully affirmed monotheism. He quoted the Shema as the foundation of the greatest commandment. And this is important: the doctrine of the Trinity does not contradict monotheism: it explains it more deeply.
How does Jesus refer to the Father in John 17:3?
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Answer: As the only true God
John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
When Jesus calls the Father the “only true God,” He is contrasting the God of Israel with the false gods of paganism, not denying His own divinity or that of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostles and Monotheism
What did Paul affirm about the many 'gods' of the pagan world?
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Answer: There is one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things
1 Corinthians 8:4-6: "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."
Notice how Paul affirms monotheism while including both the Father and Jesus Christ in the definition of the one God. This is precisely the mystery that the doctrine of the Trinity seeks to explain.
“The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight. … The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. … The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead.” — Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 614-615.
What does James affirm that even demons believe?
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Answer: That God is one — and they tremble
James 2:19: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
Why This Matters?
Monotheism carries practical implications:
- Total dedication: Since there is only one God, He deserves all our love and loyalty. Our worship cannot be divided.
- Unity of truth: If there is one God, there is one truth. There are no multiple equally valid “truths.”
- Universal purpose: The one God is the Creator and Lord of all, not just one nation or group.
- Foundation for the Trinity: The Trinity reveals one God in three persons, rather than three separate gods (tritheism).
“There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized.” — Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 615.
And Now?
Understanding monotheism is the first step to understanding the Trinity:
- We do not believe in three gods: The Trinity is one God in three persons, not three gods.
- We reject polytheism: Any doctrine that results in multiple gods is wrong.
- We worship only God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equally worthy of worship because they are the one God.
- We are ready to advance: With this foundation, we can examine how the Bible reveals the three divine persons.
My Decision
I believe there is one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth. I reject all false gods and idols, and commit myself to worship only the Lord. I desire to know better the nature of this one God.