When the Bible says that “God is one” (Galatians 3:20), What does it mean? Clearly, God wants us to have an understanding of this, at least to the extent that our finite minds can grasp what is the nature of the infinite God.

In this post then I will draw out from the Bible the many texts that seem to refer to this concept that God is one. Thus, we will come into possession of truths vital to understanding God’s plan for humanity’s eternal destiny.

Come along then for an in-depth look at God’s plan. Let’s go!

Who is God?

Here in considering who God is, we find that on reading the Bible, the words “God” (Genesis 1:1) and “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) are interchangeable names in the Bible for a divine Family made up of three Persons. So, is there a contradiction in the Bible? Are there three Gods or one God?

Well, there are absolutely no contradictions in the Bible. So, we must keep on praying, reading, and searching the Bible (the Scriptures), for the answer to what seems to be an unsolvable problem.

Now, the names of the three Persons in the Godhead are “the Father” (Matthew 11:27), “the Son” (Psalm 2:12) also called Christ (Matthew 1:1), and “the Holy Spirit.” Psalm 51:11.

And each Person in the Godhead, the divine Family, is “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Hebrews 7:3.

So then, with this initial understanding of who God is, we can answer the question is, Who is Jesus? Well, the name Jesus was given to Christ when He was born as a baby boy on earth over 2,000 years ago.

This concept of three members of the Godhead is known as the Trinity or, in other words, the Triune God.

Notwithstanding this, the Bible’s statement that “God is one” (Galatians 3:20) is also true. But how can this be that God is one and yet God is also three divine Persons? Read on and I will explain.

What is God’s Character Like?

Before we continue, since we now know that the members of the Godhead are Persons, we want to consider what God’s character is like.

As it is, God describes Himself in the Bible by saying that He is “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) and “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. That is to say, each of the three members of the Godhead has a character of love that is identical to the character of the others. In fact, God’s love is the only definition of true love in the universe.

Further, God says of Himself, “He [God] is in one mind.” Job 23:13. Thus, the members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time, that is, we can say that they speak with one voice. For there has never been nor ever will be any disagreement or contention among them. Therefore, from a relational point of view we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32.

Bible Quotation of Focus

In this post, our Bible quotation of focus is: “That which may be known of God is manifest [evident] in them [in the heart and conscience of every human being]; for God hath shewed [showed] it unto them. For the invisible things of him [of God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his [God’s] eternal power and Godhead; so that they [humanity] are without excuse [for not believing in and for not worshipping God].” Romans 1:19, 20.

It is clear from the above that, even though God is invisible, God has made Himself known on some conscious level to every person. Thus, God  says there is no excuse for unbelief in God.

What Can We Know About How God is One?

When it comes to how God is one, we should note that God says, “The secret things [of God] belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of…[God’s] law [of love].” Deuteronomy 29:29.

And God gives us a word of caution regarding His nature, saying, “Draw not nigh hither [near to here]: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5. This means that God would not have us seek to search out by enquiring curiously and improperly into what God has not revealed to us about Himself. For God condemns such efforts.

And God says, “I AM THAT I AM: and he [God says,]…Thus shalt thou say unto…[everyone who asks you, God is the] I AM.” Exodus 3:14.

You might be thinking at this point that God condemns our mission in this post to have an understanding of how is it that God is one. But God says, “All scripture [the whole Bible] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable [to every human being] for doctrine [for teachings], for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16.

So, then we will restrict our enquiry in this post to looking at what the Bible, which is “the word of God” (1 Samuel 9:27), reveals about the subject of how God is one.

God is One as Revealed by a Fruit

Now God has said that He, the invisible God, is revealed by the things that are made. So, for example, a fruit reveals how it is that God is one.

When we first look at a fruit, we see the outer skin (epicarp) which is usually attractive. This represents Christ who is “altogether lovely” (Song of Solomon 5:16), the One who attracts people to the Godhead.

Then beneath the outer skin of a fruit lies the fleshy, edible part (mesocarp) of the fruit. This represents “the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9), that is to say, the Holy Spirit.

He is “the Spirit of truth…[who] will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13. That is, the Holy Spirit, “he shall teach you all things” (John 14:26) in “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), which is the Bible.

Thus, the Holy Spirit feeds us the spiritual food of God’s words in the Bible of which it is said, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103.

Beneath the fleshy, edible part (mesocarp) of the fruit lies an inner layer (endocarp) around the seed of the fruit. This represents the Father “who…[is] dwelling in the light which no man [no human being] can approach unto; whom no man [no human being] hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:16.

Lastly, inside the inner layer (endocarp) of the fruit lies the seed representing the Godhead as one unit.

Thus, in a fruit we see the three individual divine Persons of the Godhead, namely, Christ, the Holy spirit, and the Father, represented as well as the Godhead itself as one.

All this, of course, is a mystery but we get a glimpse of how God is three divine Persons and yet one. And as we continue, in this post, to look at the various things the Bible teaches, some of what is now a total mystery will become clear. So, continue reading.

God is One as Revealed by a Seed

Again, if we look at a seed which is one entity, we see that it is made up of three main parts, namely, the embryo, the endosperm, and the seed coat.

We can think of the embryo, which is a young, multicellular organism that as it grows and develops emerges from the seed, as Christ. For Christ came to the earth as a visible representation of the one God just as the young plant emerges from the seed as a visible entity.

Also, we can think of the endosperm, which consists mainly of starches as a source of stored food for the developing plant, as the Holy Spirit. For “Christ…through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot [without sin, which is evil and wrongdoing,] to [the one] God?” Hebrews 9:14.

That is, the Holy Spirit gave moral strength to Christ, in whom was mysteriously blended the holy, divine nature with humanity’s sinful nature. Thus, the Holy Spirit provided spiritual food to Christ in whom the two natures were in constant conflict, so that Christ was victorious over the sinful nature.

Further, we can think of the seed coat, which encases the seed, as the Father. For Christ said, “The Son [Christ] can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth [shows] him all things that himself doeth.” John 5:19, 20.

Thus, Christ’s words and deeds while He was on earth was confined by the Father, just as the seed coat confines the one seed.

So then, the seed as one entity demonstrates how God is one even though there are three members of the Godhead.

God is One as Revealed by a Threefold Cord

When God created the first human being, a man named Adam, “the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet [a companion equal to him] for him.” Genesis 2:18. Thus, God created a second human being, a woman named Eve.

Likewise, we could say that, It is not good for God to be alone. Here is how the one God, in speaking of human beings, indirectly refers to this issue.

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10.

“Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:11, 12.

The one God is that threefold cord, united as one God yet consisting of three members.

God is One and the Uniqueness of Christ

Let us now consider God’s words which, speaking of Christ, says, “The LORD [God] possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” Proverbs 8:22, 23.

“Then I [Christ] was by him [God], as one brought up with him [God]: and I [Christ] was daily his [God’s] delight, rejoicing always before him [God].” Proverbs 8:30.

Here Christ speaks of His uniqueness with respect to the one God, in that, from everlasting, Christ was set apart in the Godhead for a special role. What is that special role? Continue reading and you will see.

The Visible Forms of God as Revealed by Water

We have established that Christ has a unique role within the Godhead. And, as recorded in the Bible, Christ has appeared to created, intelligent beings, which includes humanity, in a number of visible forms.

The one and only Christ has appeared in heaven as “Michael the archangel.” Jude 1:9.

“And the angel of the LORD [the one and only Christ Himself] appeared unto him [a man named Moses] in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he [Moses] looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” Exodus 3:2.

“And the LORD [the one and only Christ Himself] went before them [the people of ancient Israel] by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.” Exodus 13:21.

And a woman named Mary, “she…brought forth her firstborn son [the one and only Christ Himself in human form]: and…called his name JESUS.” Matthew 1:25.

Thus, we see God’s ability to take on many different visible forms without any change in His essential nature. Just like water in any of its three forms—ice, liquid water, steam—is still one and the same water. It has not changed.

TO BE CONTINUED…