Even so, after Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to receive the law from God, the Israelites clamored for gods. Aaron, Moses brother and also the Israelite high priest, molded a calf of gold and set a day for them to worship it. Before coming into the Promised Land, Israel was charged not to worship or serve the gods of the land they would be conquering. They were to destroy images to other gods. Moses knew that after he died, Israel would turn away from God. He therefore composed a song for them to sing to remind them to be faithful to God. Before his death, Joshua challenged Israel not to serve other gods. Although they promised to serve the one and only true God, they did not keep their promise.
Peter 2
By New Testament times, the concept of only one God was firmly held within Jewish culture, although idolatry existed abundantly among the Gentiles. New Testament writers also affirmed that there is but only one true God.
A significant fact about the one true God of the Bible should be noted and underscored. Although there is but one true God, that one God consists of three personalities – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That there are not three true Gods of the Bible but only one may be demonstrated in several ways.
First, a Hebrew name for God is “Elohim.” The word is plural but applied to both the one true God and to foreign gods. Whenever the term is used regarding foreign gods in the Bible it uses plural verbs, but whenever used to describe the true God it always uses singular verbs, thereby indicating that there is a plurality of persons in the Trinity. That the ancient Israelites saw no contradiction in the concept of the one God and the plural name Elohim to describe him may be illustrated by two passages. “Then God [Elohim] said, ‘Let us make man in our own image’”. Also, “The Lord our God is one God [Elohim]”.
The term God is applied to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Moreover, many divine attributes are equally ascribed to each person of the Godhead. Only a few examples can be given. The Father is all powerful, and so also is the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father is everywhere, and so also is the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father is
Peter 3
all knowing, and so also is the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father is everlasting, and so also is the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Finally, the oneness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit may be observed by noting their unity on occasions when they achieved divine objectives together. Some of these were at the announcement of Jesus’ birth, at Jesus’ baptism, when Jesus taught about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, at Jesus’ commission to baptize.
Since there is only one true God, who is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere, and unchanging, and since he requires our allegiance, should we not obey and serve him. If we serve him we will receive his blessings, but if we disobey him we will reap his wrath.
