THE ONE TRUE GOD
FAITH IS MORE THAN PROFESSION

Moses was a prophet of God. God sent Moses to Egypt to bring Israel out of Egypt. Moses taught them many important truths. He taught the truth about creation when he said, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen. 1: l). Then he taught them the truth about God Himself saying, "Hear 0 Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is ONE" (Deut. 6:4). These same truths are taught in the NT (1 Cor. 8:5-6; Col. 1:15-16). The following are three practical applications of this truth about the One True God that we are to live out in our lives.

If there is only ONE God, we must not worship any other nods. God said, "you will have no other gods before Me" (Ex. 20:3). In America, just as in Rome, there are many gods. The god of wine, the god of sex, the god of money, the god of physical beauty, the god of self esteem, the god of science. The Bible is absolutely intolerant of any other god (Matthew 6:24). If you want to become a Christian, you not only have to decide there is only ONE God and that all others are not really gods at all, but more practical still, you cannot serve these other gods. If you do, James tells us, "You believe God is one, you do well, the demons also believe and tremble. But are you willing to recognize you foolish fellow that faith without works is dead, being alone." (2:19). To worship any other god in conjunction with the one true God, is to have a dead faith.

If there is only one God, there is only ONE standard of moral behavior. Ephesians 4:4-6 Paul said, "There is ONE Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all..." The number "ONE" is exclusive. If there is ONE God, there are not TWO. If there is ONE faith, there is not another. Yet our nation accepts many faiths. We are proud of our diversity and open. mindedness. The Bible knows ONLY ONE. John 14:6 "I am the way, THE TRUTH..." And Jesus said in John 8:32, You shall know the TRUTH ... Pilate scoffed at this idea, he said "what is truth"? Our nation accepts many standards, many faiths (even homosexual faith). In our nation truth is relative, fluid, but with God there is only ONE TRUTH. It may be difficult at times with some situations as to how we are to act, but there is no confusion as to the lifestyle we are to pursue. There is ONE God, so there is ONE Truth.

If there is only ONE God, then ALL men are made in his image. One God created all men. Gen. 1:26. And every man is made in God's own Image. This is practical: Racism is condemned because God is ONE, therefore, every person, Mexican, Asian, African, Brazilian, American, is made in His image (Gen. 6:9 ). This not only applies with race distinctions, but class distinctions. Christians were scolded because they showed favoritism in class distinctions (James 2:1-4; 3:9). The Truth that there is ONE God unifies all humanity. Even all the nations came from ONE God (Acts 17:24-26). Therefore every man and woman should be treated equally, rich/poor/educated/simple/black/white. If we show favoritism and partiality, then our profession that there is ONE true God will stand to condemn us in the end not acquit us.

The real foe of the doctrine of the ONE TRUE GOD is not the idea or theory that there is more than one God - it's the practice. Faith is what people live not what they talk about. You can say all day long - God is ONE, but do you live it?

Mike