Who is God? 11 Facts You Need to Know

Who is God? Is there a difference in knowing God and knowing about God? Is God just a crutch for weak people? Is God a fictional character like Santa or the Easter Bunny? I’m busy; does knowing God even matter? Let’s find out…

In short, the answers to the above questions are: yes, yes, no, no, and yes!

The long answer is found in the actual character of God. Bible verses are used herein to verify attributes of God. They tell of personal experiences of people, including Jesus, of who God is and what He has done.

How Do I Know the Bible is True?

Need proof of the validity of the Bible and Jesus? There is a whole study of Christian Apologetics which gives a rational look at faith, religious beliefs, and the validity of scripture. Two sources of information were written by atheists who then became believers of Christ after their attempts to disprove the Bible convinced themselves of it’s truth. The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel is written by an atheist journalist who attempted to disproved his wife’s Christian faith. The book was also made into a movie.

Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh and Sean McDowell provides an in depth look at the validity of Christianity. Specifically, “Part I discusses the trustworthiness of the Bible; Part II offers historical evidence and supporting attestations for Jesus’ claim to God; Part III addresses ‘radical Christian criticism” of the Bible; Part IV is devoted to quelling the voice of numerous skeptics, including “a defense for the existence of miracles” and “answers to divergent worldview.'”

God chooses to love us and move on our behalf for our greatest good (not our greatest wants). No other religion points to a God who is personally involved in loving and providing for His people. God knows us personally and His love is personal too.

The following 11 facts about God speak volumes about our need for a loving, sovereign God who is absolutely trustworthy, Holy, good, faithful, and as near as the air we breathe.

1. God is Righteous

God is righteous, just, pure and holy. Therefore, God cannot ignore our sinful nature. His actions come from the fact that He is all-knowing with knowledge of the end from the beginning. Because God is righteous and holy, there are consequences for sin. Knowing we are sinful, God designed a plan from the beginning so that we could be with Him.

Our sins cannot be too great for God to abandon us. Even with our sin, He still wants a close relationship even though sin separates us from His holiness. A relationship is possible through Jesus. We can’t earn our way into this relationship. We must accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us to have this close relationship.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

2. God is Always Good

God is always good. His thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways. Although we may misunderstand God because we think of Him with regard to human characteristics. He is holy, sovereign, and omnipotent. Our human nature can make the notion of holiness difficult to fathom.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV

The Bible tells us that God is good. His motives are good too.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10, NIV

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” James 1:13, NIV

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17, NIV

3. God is Holy

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we begin a journey to live like Jesus who was righteous and holy—like God.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—” –Colossians 1:21-22, NIV

4. God is Loving

God does not change His mind about us. We have God’s love always. He knows us and His love is personal.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“…neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39, NIV

5. God Allows Us to Know Him

The Bible tells us God’s character, allowing us to know Him. Why would so many people in Biblical times as well as people around the world today, face death in order to tell others about Him? How would so many people claim to know God if it were not true?

Before Jesus was even born, Isaiah prophesied the following Old Testament words from God:

“I publicly proclaim bold promises.
    I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.
I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me
    if I could not be found.
I, the Lord, speak only what is true
    and declare only what is right.” – Isaiah 45:19, NLT

Yes, we can know God. He can be found. He is truthful. We can trust Him.

In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Her Dutch family sheltered Jews during the Holocaust. Corrie Ten Boom was eventually sent to a concentration camp along with her sister. She was released just two weeks after her sister died there.

6. God is Truthful & Trustworthy

Yes, God is truthful and trustworthy! Jesus is God’s son and gave us truths from His Father. In Hebrews 13:8, we learn that Jesus, and therefore His Father, is the same today, yesterday, and will be the same tomorrow. His truth does not change.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8, NIV

“in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,” Titus 1:2, NIV

“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” Revelations 21:5

7. God is Faithful

Since God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He is faithful and always with us. He is always available to comfort and guide through His Holy Spirit. No matter what we are going through, God is here with us in our pain, sorrow, and loss. We can count on His strength to provide us with wisdom, peace, and joy through His Holy Spirit.

TobyMac wrote the song, “Faithfully,” after the death of his son. He spoke in an interview of God’s faithfulness through his family’s overwhelming sorrow.

8. God Comforts & Provides

When we pray, we enter into communication and relationship with God. He comforts and provides through the power of His Holy Spirit, moving on our behalf.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27, NIV

“ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,” 2 Corinthians 1:3, NIV

9. God is Here

In spite of our doubts, our past, or an incredibly busy life, God is present. His Holy Spirit is with us if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. To accept Jesus right now, pray the following prayer:

Lord, I know I have sinned and therefore I am far from Your holy, glorious being. I know Jesus died to take my place since I am a sinner. Thank You that You made a way for me to have a relationship with You through Jesus. I need Jesus. Please forgive me and teach me Your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6, NIV

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5, NIV

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10, NIV

10. God is Worthy of Praise

Why praise God? The Bible tells us to. Also, we praise God because of His holiness and the sacrifice of His son. Yes, He is worthy of praise! But wait, there’s more…God also made a way for us to commune with Him and receive His comfort, guidance, and wisdom through His Holy Spirit.

“Lord, you are my God;
    I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
    you have done wonderful things,
    things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1, NIV

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
    and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7, NIV

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV

11. God Wins

Not only is our sovereign God victorious over Satan, God knows all the details and works them together perfectly for His purpose.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:29-30, NIV

Satan loses. God made sure of it! We have authority over Satan’s lies, accusations, and schemes.

“I write to you, dear children,
    because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God lives in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:14, NIV

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11, NIV

Summary

We can absolutely trust a personal, sovereign God who knows us. God does not provide an impersonal philosophy or theory about how to live. Instead, He gives us proof of His loving righteous character throughout generations in the Bible. He shows us His intimate involvement in our lives and how He planned for our relationship with Him from the start through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through the Old Testament prophecies as fulfilled in the New Testament, God shows us His vigilant presence and longing for us, even though we sin. No other god has the omnipotent power of The Almighty God.

For Further Study

The Blue Letter Bible – includes different versions of the Bible, numerous study tools, origins, and commentaries that explain passages. An app is also available for this rich source of information.

Bible Hub – provides a wealth of information to study word origins, Strong’s Concordance and different versions of the Bible. An app is available.