Who Is God?

 
HOW would you answer that question? Some feel that they know God well—that he is a close friend. Others view God more as a distant relative. They believe that he exists but know little about him. If you believe in God, how would you answer the questions listed below?
 
1. Is God a real person?
 

Common answers:
 
▪ “He is everywhere, in everything. He is like the wind.”
 
▪ “He is an indefinable intelligence, an abstract force.”
 
What did Jesus say?
 
▪ “In the house of my Father there are many abodes.” (John 14:2) Jesus spoke of God as having a figurative house, or dwelling place.
 
▪ “I came out from the Father and have come into the world. Further, I am leaving the world and am going my way to the Father.” (John 16:28) Jesus believed that God is an actual Person living in a specific location.
 
JESUS never referred to God as some abstract force. On the contrary, he talked to God and prayed to him. He often called Jehovah his heavenly Father, a term revealing his deep intimacy with God.—John 8:19, 38, 54.
 
It is true that “no man has seen God at any time” and that “God is a Spirit.” (John 1:18; 4:24) But this does not mean that he is without any type of body or form. The Bible tells us: “If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one.” (1 Corinthians 15:44) So does Jehovah have a spiritual body?
 
Yes. When Jesus was resurrected, he “entered . . . into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for us.” (Hebrews 9:24) This teaches us two important facts about God. First, he has a place of dwelling. Second, he is a Person, not simply an indefinable force that resides everywhere.
 
How, then, can God’s influence be felt everywhere? God can send his holy spirit, or power in action, to any place in the universe. Like a father who extends his hand to console and support his children, God extends his holy spirit to accomplish his purpose.—Psalm 104:30; 139:7.
 
Because God is a Person, he also has a personality with likes and dislikes—even feelings. The Bible tells us that he loves his people, rejoices in his works, hates idolatry, and feels hurt over wickedness. (Genesis 6:6; Deuteronomy 16:22; 1 Kings 10:9; Psalm 104:31) At 1 Timothy 1:11, he is called “the happy God.” No wonder Jesus said that we can learn to love this God with our whole heart!—Mark 12:30.

2. Does God have a name?
 
Common answers:
 
▪ “His name is the Lord.”
 
▪ “He doesn’t have a personal name.”
 
What did Jesus say?
 
▪ “You must pray, then, this way: ‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.’” (Matthew 6:9) 

Jesus believed that God has a name.
 
▪ “I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in union with them.” (John 17:26) Jesus made God’s name known.
 
▪ “You will by no means see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah’s name.’” (Luke 13:35; Psalm 118:26) Jesus used God’s name.
 
GOD himself tells us his name. He is recorded as saying: “I am Jehovah, that is my name.” (Isaiah 42:8, American Standard Version) The name Jehovah is the best-known English form of the Hebrew name God gave himself. It may surprise you that this unique Hebrew name appears thousands of times in ancient Bible manuscripts. In fact, it appears more often than any other name mentioned in the Bible.
 
Some may answer the question, “What is God’s name?” by saying, “the Lord.” Really, though, that is no more informative than it would be to answer the question, “Who won the election?” by saying, “the candidate.” Neither provides a clear answer, since “Lord” and “candidate” are not names.
 
Why did God reveal his name to us? He did it so that we can come to know him better. To illustrate, a person may be called Sir, Boss, Dad, or Grandpa, depending on the circumstances. These titles reveal something about him. But the name of the person reminds us of everything we know about him. Likewise, titles such as 

Lord, Almighty, Father, and Creator call attention to different facets of God’s activities. But only his personal name, Jehovah, reminds us of everything we know about him. How can you really know God without knowing his name?
 
It is important not only to know but also to use that name. Why? Because the Bible tells us: “Everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”—Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32.

3. Is Jesus Almighty God?
 
 Common answers:
 
▪ “Yes, Jesus is God Almighty.”
 
▪ “Jesus was the manifestation of God in the flesh.”
 
What did Jesus say?
 
▪ “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.” (John 14:28) Jesus acknowledged that he and his Father are not equals.
 
▪ “I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God.” (John 20:17) Jesus did not speak of himself as God but spoke of God as a separate Person.
 
▪ “I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak.” (John 12:49) Jesus’ teachings did not come from him; they came from the Father.
 
JESUS claimed to be the Son of God, not Almighty God. If Jesus were God, to whom was he praying while here on earth? (Matthew 14:23; 26:26-29) Surely Jesus was not just pretending to talk to someone else!
 
When two of Jesus’ disciples asked him for special positions in his Kingdom, he answered: “This sitting down at my right hand and at my left is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” (Matthew 20:23) Was Jesus telling them a lie when he stated that he did not have the authority to grant their request? Hardly! Rather, he humbly acknowledged that only God has the authority to make such decisions. Jesus even explained that there were some things that neither he nor the angels knew but that were known only by his Father.—Mark 13:32.
 
Was Jesus lower than God only while he was a man here on earth? No. Even after his death and resurrection, 

Jesus is described in the Bible as being subordinate to God. The apostle Paul reminds us that “God is supreme over Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:3, Today’s English Version) The Bible says that in the future “when all things have been placed under Christ’s rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.”—1 Corinthians 15:28, TEV.
 
Clearly, Jesus is not God Almighty. That is why he spoke of his Father as “my God.”—Revelation 3:2, 12; 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4.

4. Does God care about me?
 


Common answers:
 
▪ “God is too important to be worried about my problems.”
 
▪ “I don’t think that he is concerned about me.”
 
What did Jesus say?
 
▪ “Five sparrows sell for two coins of small value, do they not? Yet not one of them goes forgotten before God. But even the hairs of your heads are all numbered. Have no fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6, 7) Undoubtedly, Jesus taught that God cares about us.
 
▪ “Never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to put on?’ For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. For your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:31, 32) Jesus believed that God knows our personal needs.
 
THE Bible definitely states that God cares about us. (Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7) If he does, then why do we experience so much suffering today? If God is loving and all-powerful, why does he not do something to end suffering?
 
The answer involves a little-known fact—Satan the Devil is the ruler of this wicked world. When tempting Jesus, Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world, saying: “I will give you all this authority and the glory of them, because it has been delivered to me, and to whomever I wish I give it.”—Luke 4:5-7.
 
Who made Satan the ruler of the world? When our first parents, Adam and Eve, obeyed Satan and turned their backs on God, they, in effect, chose Satan as their ruler. Since that rebellion, Jehovah God has patiently allowed time to show that Satan’s rulership is a miserable failure. Jehovah has not forced people to serve him, but he has opened the way for us to return to him.—Romans 5:10.
 
Because God cares for us, he has made arrangements for Jesus to deliver us from Satan’s rule. In the near future, Jesus will “bring to nothing the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.” (Hebrews 2:14) In doing so, he will “break up the works of the Devil.”—1 John 3:8.
 
Paradise will be restored to this earth. At that time, God “will wipe out every tear from [people’s] eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things [will] have passed away.”—Revelation 21:4, 5.

5. Does God accept all forms of worship?
 

Common answers:
 
▪ “All religions are paths leading to God.”
 
▪ “It doesn’t matter what you believe if you are sincere.”
 
What did Jesus say?
 
▪ “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.” (Matthew 7:13, 14) Jesus did not believe that all roads lead to God.
 
▪ “Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:22, 23) Jesus does not accept all those who claim to follow him.
 
MANY religious people treasure their own beliefs and traditions. But what happens if these teachings are not in harmony with what is found in God’s Word, the Bible? Jesus showed the danger of following man-made traditions when he said to the religious leaders of his day: “You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition.” He then went on to quote these words of God: “This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.”—Matthew 15:1-9; Isaiah 29:13.
 
Conduct is also important, not just beliefs. The Bible says of some who claim to worship God: “They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works.” (Titus 1:16) In fact, the Bible says of those living in our time: “Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. Even though they will make a show of being religious, their religion won’t be real. Don’t have anything to do with such people.”—2 Timothy 3:4, 5, Contemporary English Version.
 
Sincerity is required, but more is needed. Why? Because a person can be sincerely wrong. So accurate knowledge about God is vital. (Romans 10:2, 3) Taking in this knowledge and acting in harmony with what the Bible says will enable us to be pleasing to God. (Matthew 7:21) Really, then, right religion involves right motive, right belief, and right action. And right action means doing the will of God daily!—1 John 2:17.

If you ask others to answer these questions, you will likely receive an astonishing array of responses. Little wonder, then, that myths and wrong perceptions have developed concerning God.
 
Why the Answers Matter
 
While speaking with a religious woman he met at a well, Jesus Christ emphasized the need to know the truth about God. This woman, a Samaritan, acknowledged that Jesus was a prophet. But something bothered her. 

Jesus’ religion was different from hers. When she expressed this concern, Jesus plainly said to her: “You worship what you do not know.” (John 4:19-22) Obviously, Jesus felt that not all religious people truly know God.
 
Does Jesus’ statement mean that no one can really know God? No. Jesus went on to say to this woman: “True worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.” (John 4:23) Are you among those who worship God “with spirit and truth”?
 
It is of utmost importance for you to make sure of the answer to that question. Why? Jesus highlighted the need for accurate knowledge when he prayed: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Yes, your very prospects for future life are closely connected with your knowing the truth about God!
 
Is it really possible to know the truth about God? Yes, it is! How, then, can you find it? Jesus said this about himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) 
He also stated: “Who the Father is, no one knows but the Son, and he to whom the Son is willing to reveal him.”—Luke 10:22.
 
So the key to knowing God is found in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In fact, Jesus promises us: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:31, 32, The Holy Bible—New International Version.
 
How, then, would Jesus answer the five questions raised earlier?