Who is God?
This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.
Isaiah 44:6 (CSB)
God is our Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler. Yes, the Lord is not limited to these titles, but these titles provide a broad understanding of who God is and what God does. These titles offer encouragement as we engage in a personal relationship with God. Consider how each title strengthens your faith and encourages your hope.
CREATOR
God is the uncreated Creator, eternal and the source of all things. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each participated in creation. God alone can create from nothing. He made male and female in His image. As the Creator, God alone deserves our obedience and loyalty. He is our Creator, and we are His creation.
REDEEMER
God is the Redeemer. Only God can redeem creation. God the Father initiated the plan of redemption. God the Son accomplished that plan. God the Holy Spirit guides people toward redemption. As Redeemer, the Creator alone has the ability to redeem. God is the kinsman Redeemer. He is the Redeemer who personally paid the necessary price to offer reconciliation, forgiveness, and redemption to humanity.
PRESERVER
God sustains us as His children. He provides us strength in our weakness and certainty in the face of uncertainty. The apostle Paul noted that in Christ, all things are held together (Colossians 1:17). The Psalmist points out that God desires to aid us in times of trouble (Psalm 55:22). He upholds the entire universe (Hebrews 1:3). We can trust in the Lord because His strength never fails (1 Corinthians 1:25). The Lord holds His own in His hand, and nothing can snatch them from Him (John 10:28). God, as Preserver, should encourage our walk with Him. How is the Lord allowing you to experience His sustaining work?
RULER OF THE UNIVERSE
As Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and the first and last, the Lord has complete reign and authority over all creation. He is the one true King. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Him as King (Philippians 2:10-11). Nothing escapes the rule of God. He is before all things and the Creator of all things. When we recognize the Lord as Ruler of the universe, our lives become centered on obeying His Word, following His leading, and walking in His ways.
QUESTIONS
How do you describe God as being both Redeemer and Ruler?
How does the holiness of God reveals His unique perfected nature?
