There are over 10,000 religions in the world, yet none of their founders are deity—though men may exalt them as such. Their writings are not infallible, for they were authored by mere mortals. None of them can provide an accurate account of creation or the origin of life.
Man was created with the nature to worship, yet many do not know who to worship. There are many gods, but only one true God. And there is no other name by which we must be saved except Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)
Some believe the universe came into existence by chance—through timeless evolution. But this is nothing more than dead knowledge, as lifeless as the devil himself. Worldly wisdom can never replace heavenly wisdom. Many worship the creation rather than the Creator. Idol worship is not new; from Genesis to Revelation we see God warning His people against it.
Religions and philosophies may offer convictions, but they cannot give eternal hope. There is only one true Faith. The Apostle Paul wrote:
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:4–7)
The God of the Bible is the only true and living God—omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. The Scriptures are infallible, authored by God Himself as He inspired holy men to write.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21)
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman, He confronted her false worship and revealed the truth. She had an open heart to listen, unlike many today who cling to preconceived ideas and refuse correction. Jesus told her plainly:
“Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:22–24)
Many worship, but they know not what.
Who Is God?
The Bible reveals that God is a Spirit. (John 4:24) He created the heavens, the earth, and everything within them. He made man in His image. Before creation, nothing existed but God alone. He was not called “God” in eternity past because there was nothing yet to worship Him. Yet in His eternal counsel, He purposed to have a family, and so creation began.
When we look at the vastness of the universe, the precision of the galaxies, the complexity of DNA and the human body, or the cycle of life in nature—we see divine intelligence at work. How could anyone worship anything or anyone else? To do so is ignorance of the highest order.
Satan, however, is cunning. He has always sought to imitate God, even animating lifeless objects to deceive men into worshiping him. (Exodus 7; Isaiah 14:12–14; Ezekiel 28:11–17; Revelation 12:7–9) But God alone is the Creator.
God in Three Manifestations
The doctrine of the Trinity describes God as three persons in one. Yet the Scriptures repeatedly affirm:
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
God is not three persons, but one God revealed in three manifestations:
As Father, the Eternal Spirit, above all;
As Son, God manifested in flesh;
As Holy Spirit, God dwelling in His Church today.
This is the mystery of godliness:
“God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)
The Word (Logos) that was with God in the beginning was not another person but God’s own self-revelation in a Spirit body. (John 1:1) That Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the man Christ Jesus. (John 1:14) Jesus was not another God but the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)
As the Shekinah Glory once filled the Tabernacle of Moses, so God tabernacled in Jesus Christ, the true Temple not made with hands. When Jesus ascended, the same Spirit was poured out upon the Church at Pentecost, making believers the temple of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:3–4; 1 Corinthians 6:19)
Thus, there are not three Gods, but one God who reveals Himself in three offices—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Knowing God
Education and theology alone cannot reveal God. The Pharisees knew the Scriptures, yet failed to recognize Jesus when He stood before them. True knowledge of God comes only by revelation through the new birth.
As Jesus said:
“I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” (Matthew 11:25)
To know God, one must be born again. The Holy Spirit, who authored the Scriptures, must also reveal them.
Final Word
Many worship, but they know not what. Let us seek to worship the one true God in Spirit and in truth. Let us pray for those trapped in false religions, as well as for Christians who worship in ignorance. May love and truth prevail, and may we represent Christ faithfully as His Body on earth.
Remember: You don’t join the true Church—you are born into it by the Spirit of God.
