God. People have been trying to describe Him, paint
Him and define Him from the very beginning. But who is He? Can all of these concepts on God be right? Are any of them right? Is it possible that the god you serve is false? Find out today on Face the Truth. Hello and welcome to Face the Truth, a program
brought to you by the Church of Christ. I am Brother Barry Thompson. Who is God? You know you'll not get a unified answer as to who God
is because there are various religions of the world each having different concepts of
God. For example, Hinduism of India regards the
whole universe as an incarnation of God and hence, everything in heaven and earth can
be worshipped as God. Modern Taoism, like Hinduism, has many gods. It has a god for almost everything. It worships the spirits of animate and inanimate
objects, the ancestors and great historical figures and a great number of stars. Then you have the Shinto religion, Confucianism,
Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam, who all have different concepts and beliefs about
God. However, did you know that even people who
are using the Bible as their basis of faith differ in their beliefs about who the God
of the Bible really is? Let's take a look at this. VO: Of the 3 billion people in the world today,
Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, monotheism, the belief in one god, is the cornerstone
of their faith. "We are praying to the same god, the one god,
the all-creating god." "Are we?" "The same god that is on the dollar bill..." Interview 1: Umm...not much. Interview 2: He loves everyone. Interview 3: Something like god exists, whether
it's a 'he' as we can understand it, we have no basis to judge. "But Moses drew near the thick darkness where
God was..." Yeah, it's called a 'volcanic plume’. Interview 3: He is the Alpha and the Omega. The first and the last. The beginning and the end. Interview4: He's 3 gods in one. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. “The God of the Bible is not the God of
the Hindus. The God of the Bible is not the God of the
Buddhists. The God of the Bible is not Allah. The God of the Bible is the Lord eternal,
God, who became man in Jesus Christ. You cannot call Him by all these different
names and say you're talking about the one god. That's biblical nonsense.” Now you would think that if they're using
the same book as the basis for their faith and beliefs, then they would all have the
same belief and teaching about God. But they don't. And there's a strong possibility that the
one whom you have been worshipping and serving your entire life is not the God taught by
the Bible. Now let's first look at the various beliefs
about God that the major groups in Christendom uphold. Modern Christianity is divided into 3 big
branches, namely: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. There's no doubt that they all believe in
God. But who is the God believed in by these Bible-professing
people? We'll find out when we return on Face the
Truth. Welcome back to Face the Truth. Now many would think, "If people are using
the same book as the basis for their beliefs, then they would have the same beliefs on God. But as far as modern Christianity goes, the
beliefs on God differ greatly. In fact, modern Christianity, as we mentioned
earlier, is divided into 3 big branches: Namely Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism and there is no doubt that they all believe in God. But who is the God believed in by these Bible-professing
people? Now we will examine first those groups that
have deviated from mainline thinking or idea of God in the so-called Christianity and then
we will examine those who are larger and have a longer history. Now let's first take a look at what the Church
of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints or commonly known as 'The Mormons' believe about
God and what we will be reading is taken from their various books. “Three separate personages - Father, Son,
and the Holy Ghost comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God, it is evident,
from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exists. To us speaking in the proper finite sense,
these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is a an infinite of
holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who passed onto exaltation and are
thus gods.” So notice that based on what we read, they
believe in a plurality of gods. In fact, they believe in an infinite number
of gods, so many gods. But, we're not done yet because they also
say this: “There is a sense of course, in which Adam
is a god. But so also, in the same sense, are Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob; Moses and all the ancient prophets; Peter, James, and John;
and all the righteous saints of all ages, including those both high and low degree.” So they're adding to those who they believe
to be god. Their plurality of gods include Adam, also
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the ancient prophets, also Peter, James, John, and all
the righteous saints. So they're continuing to add more and more. But we don't stop there. There's more. Taken from another one of their books, this
book is titled "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R. McConkie. It's stated on page 321 of that book like
this: “I am going to tell you how God came to
be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was
God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the
veil, so that you may see… It is the first principle of the gospel to
know for a certainty the character of God, and to know - that we may converse with him
as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself,
the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did;
and I will show it from the Bible.” So according to this book, he said that God
was once a man like us. "He dwelt on earth, the same as Jesus Christ
Himself did." So in other words, in summary, the Mormons
believe in many, many gods. They even believe that man himself can become
a god and God Himself was once a man. Now how about another well-known group who
are referred to as the Jehovah's Witness. What is their belief about God? They state this: “Christ is “referred to as a Mighty God,
but not the Almighty God, Jehovah.” So in summary, they believe in 2 gods. They believe in a 'Mighty God' who is Jesus
Christ and the Almighty God whom they call Jehovah. That's their belief. What about those who are Pentecostals? What is their view about God? We'll read from a reference book that mentions
their belief. “...denied that there were three persons
in the Godhead, asserting instead that there were three manifestations of one Person, namely
Jesus Christ.” So the Pentecostals don't believe 3 persons
make up the Godhead. They believe 1 person and is Jesus Christ
Himself and they believe Jesus Christ is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now so far, we've taken a look at what these
3 different well-known Christian faiths believe about God. Now as you can see, for each, the God they
believe in is different. Is that true for others as well? What about the Catholics and Protestants? What do they believe? Well, we'll find out what they believe when
we return on Face the Truth. Welcome back to Face the Truth. Earlier we took a look at what some various
religions under the banner of Christianity believe about who God is. Now we can't possibly cover all of the various
beliefs on God. We must discuss, however, what Catholics and
Protestants believe about God because they are ones who make up the greatest number of
those who call themselves Christians and have been around for the longest time, especially
the Catholic Church whose history dates back to the 2nd century. Not only do they make up the majority of those
who call themselves Christians but they also have the most widespread belief about God. Now Catholics and Protestants may differ in
their doctrinal positions concerning different things or certain things but they're united
in their belief about God. In fact, this is what Albert J. Sanders, who
wrote a small book entitled 'Evangelical and Roman Catholic beliefs compared'. He says this on page 5 of the introduction: “It needs to be stated at the outset that
there is a great body of truth in Catholicism which is also held by Evangelicals. In fact, some of the most fundamental doctrines
of the one Church are also held by the other. A number of these are:
-The belief in one true God, the Creator of all things. -The doctrine that God is a Trinity consisting
of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” So the Catholics and Protestants are united
in their view about God. They believe in a Trinity of persons. Now let's get a more detailed view of their
belief about God in a Catholic book entitled "The Question Box" written by Rev. Bertrand
Conway. Let's read what is stated on page 39. “In God there are three Persons in one Divine
Essence, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, really
distinct, equal and of one substance.” So according to this Catholic book, they believe
that in God, there are 3 persons in 1 divine essence. So you have the Father, you have the Son,
you have the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit. And they're equal and of one substance. Now, there's another book which mentions what
they believe. This is called/entitled "Things Catholics
are asked about" by Martin J Scott on page 10. I'm gonna be quoting from that book, it says
this: “The Incarnation, for example, is not understood
by any mortal intelligence. The incarnation means that God became man. How this was accomplished we do not know. But revelation states that God and Son, the
Second Person of the Trinity, became man. We believe it, and if necessary would die
for our belief, not because we understand this mystery, but because God has revealed
it to us.” So there you have it. The Catholics and Protestants believe that
God is composed of 3 persons namely the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who are all God
yet they are not 3 but 1, according to them. They call this the doctrine of the Trinity. Furthermore, they teach that the 2nd person
of the Trinity became a man. Now by now, you can see that there is a big
problem. All these groups, from the Mormons down to
Catholics and Protestants have different views on God though there are some similarities. Now if these various groups we mentioned are
using the Bible as they claim to be for the basis of their faith and beliefs, then it
must be evident to us that they can't all be correct. For either only 1 group is correct or none
of them are correct. They're all wrong. So who's right? Now is it possible that they all could be
wrong? Even graver, is it possible that the God they
worship is false? We'll find out when we return on Face the
Truth. Welcome back to Face the Truth. Now throughout our episode today, we have
combed over the beliefs of these major Christian religions to see who they believe God really
is. Now they all supposedly use the Bible as their
basis of faith. But for some reason, all of their beliefs
on God are different. Now who's right and who's wrong? Well, it behooves us then to go to the source
for the truth about God and that is the Bible or the Holy Scriptures. What does the Bible teach about God? Are there many true gods as some suppose? Or is there actually one true God? Is the true God composed of 3 divine persons
or is God absolutely one? As we can read, the Bible speaks of only 1
God. Not 2 or 3 Gods, but 1. The following biblical texts attest to this
fact: Malachi 2:10 tells us this: Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors
by being unfaithful to one another? What is another text? Let's go to Romans 3:29-30. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only
one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that
same faith. Let's get another verse, Galatians 3:20. The Apostle Paul says this: Now a mediator does not mediate for one only,
but God is one. So here, God is one. Let's get another one from the Apostle Paul,
Ephesians 4:4-6. This is stated: There is one body and one Spirit, just as
you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. What else? Let's get some more. I Timothy 2: Again, from the Apostle Paul: For there is one God and one Mediator between
God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Now you know, we can cite so many more verses. But the preceding quotations are sufficient
proofs that there is but one God. In fact, the whole Bible, that is from Genesis
to the book of Revelations, asserts the singularity of God. Thus, the Bible does not in any way subscribe
to polytheism, the belief that there is more than one true God. But what about the idea espoused by and propagated
by so many that God is one but has 3 divine persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit? What does the Bible mean when it says that
there is only one God? Now consider the following solemn declarations
of 2 renowned kings of Israel who were unquestionably men of faith as they prayed to the one true
God. Let's first hear from Hezekiah in II Kings
19:15. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord,
the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of
the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Let's now listen to King David in Psalms 86:6-10. This is what he says: Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for
mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you, because
you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and
worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God. So what does the Bible mean when it says that
God is one? It means that the one true God is alone. This word is defined in Webster's New Universal
Unabridged Dictionary p.51. I'm gonna quote from what that says, it says
like this: “1. single; solitary; separate from others or from the mass; without the presence or aid of another; by oneself;
as, he toiled alone and in the dark. 2. only; exclusively; sole; with no person
or thing else; as, he alone has the power to pardon. 3. unequaled in attributes or position; peerless;
as, among modern chemists, he stands alone.” Now any of these given lexical definitions
does not jive with the idea or the concept that God who is one consists of 3 persons. The word 'alone' simply but definitely indicates
the absolute oneness of God. In fact, God Himself declares this in Isaiah
46:9. Remember what happened long ago; acknowledge
that I alone am God and that there is no one else like me. You noticed what God said? "I alone am God." Not "We three are one God." "I alone am God." And He says, "There is no one else like Me." Thus, God and His words written in the Bible
could not be any clearer. Concepts or ideas such as 'Trinity', '3 in
1', '1 who is 3' which is upheld by Catholics and Protestants alike, 'Jesus is the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit and thus, one God' believed by the Pentecostals, or even a multiplicity
of gods like what is believed in by Mormons are all foreign doctrines, foreign teachings
to the Bible and only figments of people's imagination and misunderstanding of the Holy
Scriptures. Now, of course, this topic about the true
God, though clearly taught in the Bible, has become a subject of great controversy. And so over the next few episodes, we will
dig deeper to find out why so many people today have beliefs about God, which are vastly
different than what is written in the Bible though they're so popular. These teachings are not biblical, especially
the teaching, the very popular teaching about the Trinity. We will find out exactly why these doctrines
actually exist. However, the truth, though it may be painful
at first, but whether we accept it or not, whether we believe it or not, the truth is
something we all must face. Thanks for joining us on Face the Truth. See you again next time. 'Til then, take care and God bless.
