Who is God?

Chapter 35—A True Knowledge of God

Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in
character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in
order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as
He reveals Himself.

A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real
safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the
knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of
character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right
knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.
(MH 409.3)

In rejecting the truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority
of the Law-giver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of
wood or stone. By misrepresenting the attributes of God, Satan leads men to conceive of Him in a false
character. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as
He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few. Thousands
deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the
Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The God of many
professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists—the God of polished fashionable
circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions—is little better than Baal,
the sun-god of Phoenicia. (GC 583.1)

  Acts 17:   Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Ex 20: Ex 20: 1 And God spake all these words, saying,  2 I [am] the Lord thy God, which have brought
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

  Deut 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God [is] one Lord:

  Jer 10:10 But the Lord [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the
earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Mk 12: 28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that
he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered
him, The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

1Cor 8: 4 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. 5 For though
there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6
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. 7 Howbeit [there is] not in every man that knowledge:
……..

Jn 8:   41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have
one Father, [even] God.42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I
proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 54 Jesus answered, If I
honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your
God:

  Rom 15: 6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus

  2Cor 1:2 Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.  3 Blessed
[be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

  Jn 2017 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.

Jn 17: 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come;
glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.  3 And this is life eternal, that they might
know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent..

1Thes 1: 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom
he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Whom do man say I’m ?

  Mt 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying,
Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Why important to know This truth?   Mt 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou
be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.4 But he answered and said, It is
written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of God.5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the
temple,6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He
shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at
any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

  Jn 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
thou hast sent.

So who did Jesus claim to be ?

  Jn 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou
blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
What did God says about Jesus ?

  Mt 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the
heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting
upon him:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.

  Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out
of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

What about the disciples says about Jesus?

  Mt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood
hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

  Mt 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art
the Son of God.

  Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

How is Christ the Son of God?

  1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

  Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

To be Begotten is not to be created see what Jesus says about Him being begotten of God

  Jn 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth
and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

What E G White says about being begotten

The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who
was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved
mankind. He is willing to do more, “more than we can ask or think.” An inspired writer asks a question
which should sink deep into every heart: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Shall not every believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ say, “Since God has done so much for us, how shall we not, for Christ’s sake, show our love to him
by obedience to his commandments, by being doers of his word, by unreservedly consecrating ourselves
to his service?

A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”—
not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son
begotten in the express image of the Father's person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory,
one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily (ST 30.05.1985)

When did He begotten of God?

  Mic 5:2 But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
[yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth
[have been] from of old, from everlasting.

The Scriptures declare that Christ is “the only begotten son of God.” He is begotten, not created. As to
when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told. The
prophet Micah tells us all that we can know about it in these words, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is
to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2,
margin. There was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God, from the bosom of the
Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite
comprehension it is practically without beginning.(CHR 21)

  Prov 8:22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.23 I was
set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.24 When [there were] no
depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.25 Before the
mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:26 While as yet he had not made the
earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.27 When he prepared the
heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:28 When he
established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:29 When he gave
to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the
foundations of the earth:30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily
[his] delight, rejoicing always before him;

Before Bethlehem He was referred as the Son of God

  Prov 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his
fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth?
what [is] his name, and what [is] his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

  Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and
they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Conclusion

We have to believe that Jesus is the real and literal Son of God.

  Jn 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I
came out from God.
  Jn 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye might have life through his name.