GOD
Monotheism is the teaching that there is only one God, and polytheism is the belief in many gods. There has always only been one God, and not a series of gods. “Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God” (Isaiah 44:8; see also Isaiah 43:10). The Mormons teach that we will become gods. (It is not wrong to name religious groups with error, as both Christ and Paul did in Matthew 16:6, 12; Acts 23:6–8; and Romans 16:17–18). But we will never become the creator and will always be the created. We will never become gods but will always be God’s servants. It was not God but the devil who said, “Ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:1–5).
God is not our good buddy, but He is to be revered and also feared: “Have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). God wants us to have a close intimate relationship with Him (James 4:8), but He is not our servant.
I have heard people who have different beliefs say, “There is only one God, so it does not matter what religion you go to.” There is only one God, and “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5), but many false gods and many false faiths. When someone uses the belief in only one God to justify a multitude of false beliefs, he should be told, “But there are many devils!”: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).
The attributes of God include omnipresence (everywhere present), omniscience (all knowing), and omnipotence (all powerful). God has no beginning: “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2; Micah 5:2). There is nowhere one can run from His presence (Psalm 139:7–13). The characteristics (attributes) of God include truth (John 14:6), love (1 John 4:8), and holiness (Isaiah 6:3; see TRINITY). God is immutable, or unchanging, and was not a man who became God (Hebrews 6:17–18; Hebrews 13:8). There are certain trick questions about God and His ability to do anything. When the Bible says that God can do anything, it is referring to good things, not sin or lying (Hebrews 6:18), and not foolish things, like making a rock so big He cannot lift it: “For God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
GODHEAD (Romans 1:20; see TRINITY)
GOLDEN RULE
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12; see also Luke 6:31).
GOOD WORKS
The Bible teaches that we are to be “a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14, 7, 3:8, 14). Good works are everything from honoring and taking care of our parents when they are old, to working at the church. But they do not save: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8–9). Good works can give a testimony of your faith in Christ or a lack of it: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16); “They may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12; see also Matthew 5:16). God also gives rewards for our good works (1 Corinthians 3:13–14; see REWARDS).
Monotheism is the teaching that there is only one God, and polytheism is the belief in many gods. There has always only been one God, and not a series of gods. “Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God” (Isaiah 44:8; see also Isaiah 43:10). The Mormons teach that we will become gods. (It is not wrong to name religious groups with error, as both Christ and Paul did in Matthew 16:6, 12; Acts 23:6–8; and Romans 16:17–18). But we will never become the creator and will always be the created. We will never become gods but will always be God’s servants. It was not God but the devil who said, “Ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:1–5).
God is not our good buddy, but He is to be revered and also feared: “Have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28). God wants us to have a close intimate relationship with Him (James 4:8), but He is not our servant.
I have heard people who have different beliefs say, “There is only one God, so it does not matter what religion you go to.” There is only one God, and “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5), but many false gods and many false faiths. When someone uses the belief in only one God to justify a multitude of false beliefs, he should be told, “But there are many devils!”: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).
The attributes of God include omnipresence (everywhere present), omniscience (all knowing), and omnipotence (all powerful). God has no beginning: “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2; Micah 5:2). There is nowhere one can run from His presence (Psalm 139:7–13). The characteristics (attributes) of God include truth (John 14:6), love (1 John 4:8), and holiness (Isaiah 6:3; see TRINITY). God is immutable, or unchanging, and was not a man who became God (Hebrews 6:17–18; Hebrews 13:8). There are certain trick questions about God and His ability to do anything. When the Bible says that God can do anything, it is referring to good things, not sin or lying (Hebrews 6:18), and not foolish things, like making a rock so big He cannot lift it: “For God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33)
GODHEAD (Romans 1:20; see TRINITY)
GOLDEN RULE
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12; see also Luke 6:31).
GOOD WORKS
The Bible teaches that we are to be “a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14, 7, 3:8, 14). Good works are everything from honoring and taking care of our parents when they are old, to working at the church. But they do not save: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8–9). Good works can give a testimony of your faith in Christ or a lack of it: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:16); “They may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12; see also Matthew 5:16). God also gives rewards for our good works (1 Corinthians 3:13–14; see REWARDS).
