How Near or Far is God?
Immanence — God’s nearness
The Bible quotes God as saying that He fills heaven and earth or as other translations put it, he is everywhere.
"Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:24 NASB)
In Hebrew that phrase refers to filling everything. This is called God’s omnipresence, and is not the same as panentheism, which tends to blur the distinction between the creation and God. Luke expressed this idea another way, saying that he is not far from every one of us.
His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:27-28 NLT)
We live in God. We only exist, and move in God. He is as near as a heartbeat. God can also make himself known to human beings through a special appearance, called a theophany. Moses saw the burning bush.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. (Exodus 3:1-2 NKJV)
The people of the Exodus saw God’s presence in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:21-22 NIV)
On Mount Sinai God’s immanence was evident in thunder and lightning.
… All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently… (Exodus 19:16-25 NLT)
Jesus was called Immanuel.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23 KJV)
Emmanuel (from the Greek ?µµa?????) or Immanuel (from the Hebrew ???????????) means “God with us.” One of the most important ways that humanity experiences the immanence of God is in Jesus Christ. We also experience the immanence of God in the Holy Spirit.
While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.” (Luke 3:21-22 CEV)
Transcendence — God’s Supremacy
God declared through the prophet Isaiah that His thoughts and ours are far apart.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8 NIV)
God is high and lifted up, exalted above us, as Isaiah described what he saw in a vision.
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” ... (Isaiah 6:1-5 ESV)
The Psalmist asks the rhetorical question, who is like the Lord.
Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. (Psalm 113:5-6 NLT)
The obvious answer to the question, who is like the Lord our God, is “Nobody!” Yet, does not all creation reveal enough about Him to make those guilty who ignore the obvious forensic evidence for His existence?
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20 NASB)
Is God Really Three and One?
Oneness
There is only one God. His oneness is accepted by Jews and Christians alike. His oneness is described in two very important passages. The very beginning of the Ten Commandments includes the words:
“You shall have no other gods before me”. (Exodus 20:3 NIV)
The central prayer of Jewish prayer life is called the Shema Yisrael (??????? ???????????) after the first words in Hebrew, “Hear, O Israel.”
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV)
If God is one God, how do we get the Trinity? A clue might be in the word describing the union of Adam and Eve, two created to become one flesh in marriage.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24 ESV)
That is the same word in Hebrew as is used of God being one.
God as Father
The study of the masculine imagery for God is called both patriology and paterology. What purpose could God have in calling Himself a Father? Is it Old Testament patriarchalism, a term used to evoke unthinking negative reactions from moderns? If so, why is it mentioned far more often in the New Testament? God is referred to as a Father maybe only 15 times in the Hebrew Scriptures, but about 256 times in the New Testament.
Let’s look at a few examples and see what we can learn. We begin with David, not the favorite son of his earthly father, but very much beloved of his heavenly Father.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. (2 Samuel 7:14-15 KJV)
Even if we were to be disowned by family back to our ancestors, God is still our Father.
Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, Lord, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past. (Isaiah 63:16 NLT)
Some have had abusive fathers or mothers, yet God is pictured as a different kind of father, a father to orphans and a defender or protector of widows.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. (Psalm 68:5 NIV)
In ancient times a high rock was seen as a place of escape, a refuge from danger. In that sense then God, our Father is pictured as a rock for David.
He shall cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ (Psalm 89:26 NKJV)
For those who have had abusive parents, images of a heavenly Father may be difficult. Know that God understands, and intends that we get to know our compassionate Father in heaven.
Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. (Psalm 103:13 NASB)
God does not want to treat us as criminals or debtors paying off our debt to society or to a creditor, as slaves or indentured servants, but wants to adopt us as children, whereby we cry Abba Father, a tender term of great love to Him as Father.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15 NLT)
The feminine side is also widely used metaphorically in Scriptures. God uses femininity to describe such wonderful things as wisdom, comfort and Jerusalem above.
But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. (Galatians 4:26 NASB)
God the Son
Jesus did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, and God has again given him a name which is above every name.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself… (Philippians 2:5-11 ESV)
God made the world through his Son, the express image of his Person.
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8 NIV)
Thomas recognized who Jesus was.
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NIV)
We will discuss this in more detail in a study of Jesus, God the Son.
God the Holy Spirit
Most Christians recognize the Holy Spirit as God as a simply logical deduction from the many passages which describe the Holy Spirit’s personality. We will discuss that later, and offer only the briefest sketch here.
When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit … You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4 NIV)
The Holy Spirit is mentioned as an equal with God the Father and God the Son.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV)
Three in One
One of the most important passages regarding God’s triune nature is at the end of the Gospel of Matthew.
Go [having gone] therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB)
Christians are baptized in the ONE name of the three: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This gives us the Trinitarian formula of three in one.
This helps us to begin to understand other passages.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1-2 KJV)
As a footnote to this discussion, we need to take a look at one text which all experts agree is of doubtful origin.
For there are three that bear record [in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth,] the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 John 5:7-8 KJV)
This contains some words, in square brackets, that were added sometime around the 14th to 16th centuries. The earliest manuscripts read as follows:
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:7-8 NASB)
Trinity Theories
The church began with a simple view of the Trinity which was just as described in isolated Scriptures. As the church grew in grace and knowledge, so too did its understanding of the Holy Trinity.
One historical discussion of the Trinity asked the question if God could be one person with three names or modes of being. This “modalism” was soon rejected by most Christians because we see things such as Jesus praying to the Father. He would not have been praying to himself. It also seemed to give God a split personality, which would require him to be mentally ill, a wrong conclusion.
Another discussion centered on the idea of God being three gods, but this is “tritheism” and was also rejected because we know that the Bible clearly states that God is one.
Both modalism and tritheism are rejected by most Christians as heresy, meaning just plain bad logic, though a very small minority still persists in those ideas even to this day. In this two thousand year long discussion, the most logical conclusion is that the truth lies somewhere between the two extremes.
That right teaching is known as orthodoxy. In biblical Greek terms we could say that God is one ousia in three hypostases. Perhaps the best we can come up with in English is the very imperfect translation of one Godhead indivisible and yet three “Persons”.
Was God Creator?
Christians broadly agree that God created everything, all things. The Hebrew phrase “the heavens and the earth” is an idiom for everything.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NKJV)
While there are many, many theories as to how God did it, the fact of divine creation is universally accepted by Christians. Christians do not believe in a dualism in creation, whereby a devil created a parallel evil universe or kingdom. That idea comes from outside of Christianity.
Why was the universe created? One reason was simply as a testimony for us to God’s indescribable glory. The heavens are like an unlimited billboard advertising God’s greatness to puny humanity.
The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:1 NASB)
God also created the Angels.
Praise ye him, all his angels… for he commanded, and they were created. (Psalm 148:2-5 KJV)
Everything that is not God comes from him. The act of creation was unique. There is no description of God having another creation. When God created things originally, nothing was made evil.
How do Christians and science relate to each other? Historically, the conflict between faith and science was not as great as today. Theology was once called the queen of the sciences. Today, that has all changed and yet there is movement of the two camps coming closer together again.
There are no easy answers. Few people are experts in both biology and theology. Most Christians believe that there is no conflict between true science and true faith.
Theories of creation range between old earth creationism, young earth creationism, micro-evolution, macro-evolution, gap creationism, flood theory of geology, literal days theories, age-day theories, pictorial-day theories, polemic theories, progressive creationism, intelligent design and a host of other variations.
No matter the theories and discussions as to how God created everything, Christians are unified in believing that God is Creator.
Does God Provide?
All Christians believe that God preserves the creation and governs the universe in wisdom so that his purposes can come to pass. This is called God’s providence.
In his wisdom sin is not always prevented but it is limited so as not to destroy everything. God lovingly provides life even to people who hate him. We plant crops, but without God’s provision our efforts are useless.
We may ask for his special help. We call it prayer. When we ask, like any loving parent God may choose to provide, yet always what is best.
God also provides special interventions beyond his everyday provision. We call such special times miracles, intervention out of the ordinary divine providence.
Does God Have a Plan?
Many of the Psalms were songs of God’s provision, in delivering, covering, protecting, and answering the prayers of those who trust in him.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1 NIV)
While many people look to answers in this world’s institutions, the believer knows that the best help comes from God. He keeps and preserves us.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:2 NLT)
Unlike the weak promises of this world, God’s word is sure. God declares the end and beginning, His counsel will stand, and what He has purposed, He will also accomplish.
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. (Isaiah 46:10-11 NIV)
God made everything for a divine purpose.
The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. (Proverbs 16:4 NLT)
Unlike human plans, God’s purpose will stand.
Many plans are in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand. (Proverbs 19:21 NASB)
One of God’s purposes is the announcement of good news from heaven known as the Gospel, which will be preached to all nations.
And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic… For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:7-10 NLT)
Even the death of Christ on the cross was within God’s plan.
This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. (Acts 2:23 NIV)
All things that happen will be worked out according to God’s purposes.
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. (Ephesians 1:11-12 NLT)
We trust that God will eventually work all things out for our good.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NASB)
Discussion
How can we understand how great God is? How good is God? How near is God to us right now? How high above us is God? How is God one? Why does God use the imagery of a Father when that offends so many today? How is Jesus also God? How is the Holy Spirit God? What is modalism and why is it illogical? Why is tritheism illogical? How does the mainstream view of the Trinity help us understand God? What are God’s past and present roles in creation?
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society
King James Version (KJV) Public Domain
