Hey everyone! Have you ever wondered about God? What is God like? Is there more than one God? These are really big and important questions that people have thought about for thousands of years!
Let's explore what the Bible, especially the words of Jesus, tells us about God.
One God: The Most Important Rule!
The very first and most important thing to know about God in both Jewish and Christian faith is that there is only One God. This idea is called monotheism (say it: mono-thee-izm). "Mono" means "one." So, monotheism means "belief in one God."
Why is this so important? Because it tells us that there's one supreme Boss, one ultimate Creator, one loving Father who made everything and is in charge of everything. He doesn't have any equals.
The Old Testament, which is the first part of the Bible, shouts this truth all the time!
Deuteronomy 6:4 says something super famous called the Shema (Sheh-mah) in modern Eurasian Hebrew to English (from older Bible era Hebrew it is שמע = šmg = shamag, pronounced shu-mug): "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." It's like God is saying, "Listen up! I am the one and only!"
Isaiah 45:5 tells us, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no God."
So, right from the start, the Bible makes it super clear: God is one.
Question 1: What is the most important thing to know about God, according to both Jewish and Christian faith? Question 2: What does "monotheism" mean?
Jesus and His Father: Always Pointing Up
Now, what about Jesus? If you've been to church, you've probably heard about the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. This can sometimes sound like there are three Gods, right? But remember our most important rule: there is only one God!
Jesus himself taught us about God. He didn't come to change the idea of one God; he came to show us who that one God is and to bring us closer to Him.
Jesus always talked about "My Father." He showed us that God is like a perfect, loving Dad. And Jesus was clear that His Father was greater than He was.
Listen to these words directly from Jesus in the New Testament:
John 14:28: Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I."
Mark 10:18: Someone called Jesus "Good Teacher," and Jesus replied, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."
These verses are really important because they come straight from Jesus. He wasn't saying He wasn't special or divine, but he was teaching us that God the Father holds the highest place. He's the ultimate source of everything, even Jesus' own power and mission. Jesus always pointed up to His Father.
Imagine a really, really powerful superhero. He might have a mentor or a king he serves, who is the ultimate authority. Even though the superhero is super powerful, he still respects and serves that higher authority. Jesus is like that with His Father – he perfectly serves and honors the one, true God.
Question 3: According to Jesus, who is greater than him? Question 4: What famous Old Testament verse teaches us that God is one?
The Old Testament Agrees with Jesus
Does the Old Testament agree with Jesus about God the Father being the ultimate God? Absolutely! The whole Old Testament points to one supreme God.
God is called "Father" many times in the Old Testament, showing His caring and creating role (like in Isaiah 63:16: "For you are our Father...").
It always speaks of God as the ultimate King, the ultimate Judge, the ultimate Creator. No one is equal to Him.
So, when Jesus says "My Father is greater than I," he's not teaching something new and confusing. He's actually lining up perfectly with everything the Old Testament said about God being the one, supreme, all-powerful Creator and Father! He's helping us understand that this one amazing God is also His Father.
Question 5: How does the Old Testament support Jesus' teaching about God the Father being supreme?
Why This Matters for You
Understanding that there is one God, and that Jesus taught His Father is the ultimate, supreme God, helps us:
Focus our worship: We worship the one true God, the Father, through Jesus.
Understand Jesus' mission: Jesus came to reveal the Father to us and bring us back to Him.
Keep things simple: No need to get confused about three equal Gods. There's one ultimate God, who Jesus called "Father," and Jesus helps us know Him.
God is amazing, and learning about Him is the greatest adventure!
Questions the article answers:
What is the most important thing to know about God, according to both Jewish and Christian faith? (Answer: There is only One God.)
What does "monotheism" mean? (Answer: Belief in one God.)
According to Jesus, who is greater than him? (Answer: His Father.)
What famous Old Testament verse teaches us that God is one? (Answer: Deuteronomy 6:4, the Shema.)
How does the Old Testament support Jesus' teaching about God the Father being supreme? (Answer: It consistently speaks of God as the one ultimate King, Judge, and Creator, and calls God "Father.").
If you never depart from this teaching, you, like Jesus, will grow into unity with the truth that has become powerful to know among various confused cultures in the world.
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