Genesis 101
Lesson Two

"God"

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

"God"

During our last lesson we looked at what "in the beginning" meant, and discovered that we really don't know for sure because God did not make an issue of that. He primarily wanted us to understand that there was a beginning and that He was the one that created it all. Today we are going to look at the "God" of creation. 

The first thing we see is that the word "God" is Plural of H433;  

"gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God" (From Strongs Dictionary).

Many have made a huge issue out of the fact that "God" in the original is a plural form of the word "el-o-ah" which is the singular form. Those who believe in the doctrine of the Trinity (God in three persons) like to point to this and declare that the first verse in the Bible teaches the trinity of God because it is in the plural form. However, this is not necessarily the truth. The singular form of the word is hardly used in Scripture, but is used in reference to God several times. The plural form as found here is used hundreds of times. This does not mean that there are multiple God's nor does it necessarily teach the doctrine of the trinity. The usage of the plural form of "God" is, in fact, just the common usage of the word.

 We do the same thing with words today... A pair of pants (plural) when in fact we only have one pant, or how about the word "glasses". We obviously don't wear multiple glasses, but it is still spoken of as plural. On the other hand we speak of things as singular sometimes when in fact we are actually talking plural.... "My hair". Obviously I'm not talking about one single strand of hair, but of all the hair on my head. So likewise in the Bible, "God", in the original language can be used in the plural sense or in the singular without really teaching anything else other then the fact it was "God" who created everything... not a big bang, or billions of years of evolution, or anything else....just simply God.

The fact is, Scripture clearly teaches that there is only ONE God.  Consider the following..

Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

These verses as well as many others CLEARLY teach that there is only ONE God.  

The second thing we learn, although not specifically from this verse, is that Jesus was the one who did the creating. Let us look at a few (of many) verses.

Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

"Lord" in this verse is "yeh-ho-vaw the self existent or eternal one", and refers to the Almighty God, our Heavenly Father. It teaches that He did the creating, and that He did it all by himself.

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

This verse, referring to Jesus Christ Himself, says that Jesus did the creating and He alone did it.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Again, speaking of Jesus Himself we read once again that Jesus created all things.

How do we justify these verses? Does the Bible contradict itself, or is it teaching that Jesus is the one and only true God of all creation? Let us look at the Almighty God's Words from the Old Testament.

Malachi  3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Notice in this verse that the LORD of host (yeh-ho-vaw the self existent one) is telling us that He will send a messenger (John the Baptist) who will "prepare the way before me". Notice He did not say "prepare the way before my son", or "prepare the way before my saviour". He said, "prepare the way before ME". And then He goes on to say that when He comes, the Lord ( sovereign one...Saviour) "whom ye seek" will come. Who is this "Sovereign" one who they were seeking? Obviously the promised Messiah...the Saviour. The LORD God of the Old Testament is telling us that HE HIMSELF will come after His messenger "prepared the way" before Him, and HE HIMSELF was the promised Messiah...the coming Saviour.

Well, who was it that appeared after John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Lord? It was Jesus Christ Himself. And when Jesus was born it was said of Him....

Matthew 1:23 - 釘ehold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.

Here it is said of Jesus....

"God with us"

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Here it is said of Jesus...

"Might God", "Everlasting Father"

Jesus Himself said...

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

In these verses, Jesus plainly tells us that He is the Father... that He is God.

So, from the Old Testament writers, Jehovah God Himself, the New Testament writers, and Jesus Christ himself, we learn that Jehovah God the creator and Jesus Christ the Saviour are the same person. Not multiple God's, not a new God, and no contradictions in Scripture. Just simply the Old Testament God manifesting Himself to us as His Son, born of man, and yet truly all God in the flesh. The very same God who created Heaven and Earth in Genesis 1:1