Dear brethren,
Most of the Christian denominations pretend that they know the true God, but do we really have the whole knowledge about God’s nature? Do we take for granted what the leadership is teaching?
Did we really prove all things?
For us who are or were part of the Churches of God, we must be honest and admit that the whole doctrine about God’s Family rests mainly on 1 verse, that is Genesis 1:26, where we read that.
“God said…Let us make man in our image…”
It’s true that the word God (Elohim) is plural and can involves more than one Being. But how many? 3, 2 or 1?
But from this verse only, can we testify or prove that the word God (Elohim) involves only The Father and Christ or that God (Elohim) is a Triune God?
God’s name, which was unknown to the patriarchs, had a specific meaning and hence also a purpose. The name Yehovah is coupled with the name Elohim and refers to an Elohim and El in Psalm 83:1.
Elohim can in fact be a plural word which is dependent upon its usage. It can mean both God and gods. It can also apply to more than one being. So, in Genesis 1:26, because of the wording itself, it can also refers to unknown multiples beings or God can address to a crowd.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: (KJV)
Are the term Elohim then automatically confined to one or two Elohim or entities?
The answer is no. The Psalms show absolutely that the word Elohim could also be a council.
The Elohim judges among the Elohim (Ps. 82:1). This rank is to be extended to humans (Ps. 82:6; Zech. 12:8).
He (God the Father) is greater than the other Elohim (Ps. 86:8).
God is a great king above all Elohim (Ps. 95:3) and is to be feared above all Elohim (Ps. 96:4).
God is to be worshipped by the Elohim (Ps. 97:7) above whom He is exalted (Ps. 97:9).
Ps. 97:7 Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods (Elohim).
Above all, the plurality of Elohim can also be a Majestic Plurality…
So, to summarize, these scriptures are telling us that ONLY The Lord God is one LORD. (Deut.6:4)
Let’s see now how the words Elohim (Hebrew) and Theos (Greek) for God(s) have, according to the context, different meanings.
(From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) Examples; God, god, divine being or divinity, Strong #2316
- Theos is used as a general appellation of deities or divinities.
- Theos is used of Christ
- Theos is used when speaking of the only and true God.
- Theos is used of whatever can in any respect be likened to God, or resembles Him in any way: Hebraisticaly i.q. God’s representative or vicegerent, of magistrates and judges,
In the same way, in the Old Testament the word Elohim is being used.
Eloah is singular and only used for God the Father.
Elohim is applied to any being within the Godhead which, of course, also includes God the Father who is The True Almighty God.
- It is used of God the Father (Deut. 4:35; Ps. 45:6-7).
- It is used of Christ (Ps. 45:7).
- It is used of anyone appointed to specific positions by God, like Moses (Ex. 7:1) and the judges (Ex. 22:8).
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT WAYS THE WORD “THEOS” IN GREEK IS BEING USED (Strong’s Ref. Number 2316).
- John 10:34 in your law, you are gods (Theos)
- 1Cor. 8:4-6 …and that there is no God (Theos) but one. For even if they are so-called gods (Theos), whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many gods (Theos) and many lords), yet for us there is but one God (Theos), the Father… and one Lord, Jesus-Christ.
- 2 Cor. 4:4 The god (Theos) of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (Theos)
The word Elohim (h430), is used the same way in the Old Testament.
PS. 82:1, God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods (h430).
PS. 82:6, I said, ”You are gods(h430), and you are all children of the Most High…
The point is that in Gen. 1:26, the word Elohim (h430) can, and seems to refer only to the Father, but the statement involves in fact a collective work. We also know that Christ as the Wisdom was at work with the father in the beginning assisting God in the Creation. In fact, we know that God created all things through Jesus.
Proverb 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him (kjvr) even I was a workman at His side (mkjv)
Coming now to the God’s Family doctrine, the point is that we cannot take Gen. 1:26 and create a whole doctrine based on somebody’s else comprehension.
Look for yourself, nowhere in the Bible we are going to find that the word God is a family (name). It’s always referring to BEINGS. Nevertheless, we are going to find that God, in fact, has a family (sons).
Rev. 21:3 – And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Verse 7- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be my son.
So, we see that the concept of worshiping God still exists among His Sons.
God has a family, and His sons, including our brother Christ, will worship HIM (the Almighty God), whom alone is the Father.
Apoc. 15:3- And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works,; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
1 Cor.8:6 is also pretty clear.
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him;
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Certainly, Jesus Christ knew perfectly who the True God was. He gives us the answer in John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
And from God’s revelation, Peter said in Mat 16:16 – And Simon Peter answered and said, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
These are core verses examples on which we should build the True Doctrine about the true God.
Afterward, we build on the concepts that Christ was and is still God’s servant, His messenger (the Angel of the Lord), His High Priest and He is God’s Son.
Jesus receives his authority from His God and Father. He is our brother, and we all are sons of the Almighty God.
Only God the Father has Supreme authority, and He shares it with His sons. He shares it first with Jesus Christ, and Christ will share it with us at the resurrection. So all of us (including Christ) will worship the Only True God, whom is the Father.
Now, as we are coming closer to Jesus’s Return, it has become evident that Jesus, like He promised, is now in the process of restoring all truths in His Church. Please, don’t be mistaken, all truths are not fully finished to be restored yet. Some doctrines need to be changed, some need to be revised and some to be polished.
The Lord is now revealing His secrets and mysteries to His servants and is passing them to His Church. It is, afterward, the responsibility of the ministers and teachers to search for the truth, to repent from errors and to teach the truth.
As we are walking toward Christ’s Return, God will give us more Knowledge and understanding about Himself At this point, I will say,
Don’t believe me! Prove all things!, like the Bible commands us to do.
Now I would like to share with you the way God revealed to me this awesome Knowledge about Himself and about His Son Jesus Christ. You’ll find it in the About me section of this website.
May God bless you in your journey!
