Article II, Section 1

Section 1 under our Fundamental Beliefs article is about God. What do we need to say here about which everybody in the congregation needs to agree? Here is a suggestion. What do you think?

A. God is an eternal, infinite, personal, unchanging Spirit of one essence existing in three Persons who is and acts in perfect, harmonious truth, goodness, and beauty. He created all existence apart from Himself and sustains all existence.

1. Creator – Genesis 1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 134:3; Colossians 1:16
2. Sustainer – Psalm 36:6; 55:22; Colossians 1:17
3. Eternal – Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Romans 1:20; 16:26; Hebrews 9:14
4. Infinite – 1 Kings 8:27; Job 11:7; Psalm 139:7-12; 147:5; Jeremiah 23:23-24
5. Personal – Genesis 3; Exodus 3:6, 14; Psalm 20
6. Spirit – John 4:24; Acts 17:24; I Timothy 1:17
7. One Essence – Deuteronomy 6; Ephesians 4:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6
8. Three Persons - Father (Matthew 6:9, 26, 30-32; Mark 8:38; Revelation 3:21), Son (Matthew 26:63-64; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1-3), Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:2)
9. 9. Truth – Psalm 19:7-9; Jeremiah 9:24; Romans 1:16-17
10. 10. Goodness – Psalm 118:1, 29; John 3:16; Romans 8:28
11. 11. Harmonious essence and existence – God is and acts in harmony of attributes. Thus, He acts in righteousness (including justice) in accord with His love. His love likewise does not violate His righteousness.

B. God alone is worthy of worship, and each Person of the Godhead is worthy of worship.

1. The Father – Deuteronomy 26:10; Psalm 29:2; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 4:10
2. The Son – Philippians 2:10; Revelation 5:13-14
3. The Spirit – Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 6:19