Basics: Who is God the Father?

Let’s talk about God. Who is He? You might think the answer is simple. You might be wrong.

Most of the time, when people say “God,” they’re specifically speaking of God the Father. But there’s more to Him than that. For starters, God refers to Himself as being triune. That doesn’t mean He’s schizophrenic to the third degree. It doesn’t mean that there are three parts that make up God. It especially doesn’t mean there are three gods. He means that He’s simultaneously singular (Deuteronomy 6:4, James 2:19), plural (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:16-17), and equal within Himself (Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 139:7, John 1:1-2, 2 Corinthians 13:14).

With that said, it’s likely that you’ve heard blasphemous things about Him. You may have been told that He’s not triune. Maybe you were taught that He’s a glorified man. Perhaps you’ve heard that He doesn’t exist at all, but that He’s just a part of people’s imaginations as they seek to explain the universe.

Let’s scratch all that out of your mind.

The Father had no beginning (Genesis 1:1) and He has no end (Exodus 3:14-15). He is Creator (Genesis 1:31, Exodus 20:11) and He is outside and over all of creation (Psalm 97:9, Acts 17:25). Amazingly, the Father is also knowable (Isaiah 55:6) and men and women can be adopted as His sons and daughters (Matthew 6:6, Galatians 4:4-6). He doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6), He’s indivisible (James 2:19), and He’s immaterial (John 4:24). He is all-powerful (Nahum 1:5-6), all-knowing (Matthew 11:21, Romans 11:33), and all-present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24).    

In Genesis 18, various attributes of the Father collide. Abraham, interceding for Sodom, asks God if He would destroy the city even if just ten righteous men lived there. The Father’s response: “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it,” (v. 32). Abraham rightly acknowledged God as Judge, knowing that He is perfectly just (v. 25). Not only is the Father just, but He’s also full of grace. Abraham started by asking God about fifty righteous men, then forty-five, then thirty, then twenty, then, finally, ten. God’s servant knew he was taking dangerous liberties. Twice he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry [with me],” (v. 30, 32), and, remarkably, the Father wasn’t. He graciously conversed with Abraham.

In Job 38, the Father speaks to Job, asking him hypothetical questions that reveal his weakness in light of God’s power. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” He asked (v. 4). “Have you comprehended the expanse of the Earth? Declare, if you know all this,” (v. 18). The point He was making is that He is far greater than man. Job understood this, as he responded, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand on my mouth,” (40:4).

The Father chooses to love (Deuteronomy 7:7-8) and show grace (Matthew 5:45b); He’s full of mercy (2 Samuel 24:13-14), humility (Philippians 2:5-8), and wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-7). He’s peaceful (1 Corinthians14:33) and jealous for those who are made in His image (Exodus 20:4-6). The Father determined all things from before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians1:4) and none of His plans can be thwarted (Job 42:2). According to 1 Timothy1:17, He is the immortal, invisible King, worthy of honor and glory forevermore. 

The Father is your Maker. He sees all, knows all, and judges all. You were made in His image and likeness and His will is for you to know Him. There is none greater than Him and none could ever match His glory.

He is God.