BC 1.1

1.1. The Only God

We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God- eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good.

Proof texts

• Rom. 10:10 — [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
• Deut. 6:4 — [4] “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
• 1 Cor. 8:4, 6 — [4] Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” [6] yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
• 1 Tim. 2:5 — [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
• John 4:24 — [24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
• Ps. 90:2 — [2] Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
• Rom. 11:33 — [33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
• Col. 1:15 — [15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
• 1 Tim. 6:16 — [16] who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
• Jas. 1:17 — [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
• 1 Kings 8:27 — [27] “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
• Jer. 23:24 — [24] Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.
• Gen. 17:1 — [1] When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,
• Matt. 19:26 — [26] But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
• Rev. 1:8 — [8] “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
• Rom. 16:27 — [27] to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
• Rom. 3:25-26 — [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
• Rom. 9:14 — [14] What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
• Rev. 16:5, 7 — [5] And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. [7] And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”
• Matt. 19:17 — [17] And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
• Jas. 1:17 — [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Rom. 10:10 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 21 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. HC Q1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

HC Q1 · HC Q2