God the Father
God the Father is the first person of the Holy Trinity. He, like Jesus, is fully God. Interesting enough, in the very first verse of the Bible we read, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1). The word "God" is Elohim in Hebrew, which speaks of a plurality of God. If it was speaking of God in the singular, then the Hebrew word El would have been used.
What becomes confusing to many is that Deuteronomy 6:4 says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" That seems to indicate that there is only one God and yet we have seen Jesus is God, the Father is God, and in our next study we will see that the Holy Spirit is God. That seems to indicate three God’s which contradict the Scriptures.
Let me explain. The word "LORD" is YAHWEH, which speaks of God’s name, and it is singular. But the word "God" is the Hebrew word Elohim which again speaks of the plurality of God. We then see this passage in Dueteronomy close with the word "one" which makesthings very confusing once again.
The Hebrew word that is used for "one" is Echad, which literally means a "united one." The same word for "one" is used in Genesis 11:6, which says, "And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.’ " In this verse we see the idea of separate people that are viewed as being unified as "one". It does not mean that they are physically united into a single being but these individuals still retain their personal identity and distinct personage. Thus, here and in Deuteronomy 6:4 the word "one" implies a "compound unity".
Now if the writer of Deuteronomy wanted to speak of one and only one, he would use the Hebrew word Yachiyd. This word means "only one" or "solitary one". Thus, we see God in three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All three are God and yet they exist as one being and function in perfect harmony. Think of it this way:
No matter what form it is in it is still the same substance!
1. What does John 4:23-24 say regarding the Father?
2. If God is spirit, then what do the following verses tell us? See John 10:30 and John 14:9.
3. How does the Father show His great love for us according to John 3:16?
4. According to Deuteronomy 8:5 and Proverbs 3:11-12, why does God chasten us?
5. Another reason God chastens us is spoken of in Jeremiah 3:22. Expound on this verse.
6. What does Paul tell us has happened in our life when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior according to Galatians 4:6-7?
7. According to Matthew 6:9, who can pray to the Father?
8. According to Ephesians 1:3, what has the Father given to us and what is that likened to?
9. According to Genesis 1:26 and Matthew 3:16-17, does the Bible speak of God being a trinity?