What is God & Who is God?

Topic 1:

GOD – What does it mean?

What does the word ‘GOD’ mean?                                                                                                                               

God is not a name. It is the first, the highest and the supreme realm in the existential order or hierarchy. God is also the title name for the occupant of the highest and the supreme realm in the existential order. There is no realm above or equal to the realm of God. It is the realm from which all things proceed from, for which all things exist and to which all things gives account. The realm of God which is the Most High and the Supreme realm in the existential order has the following characteristics:

(a) Self-existence, (b) Self-sufficiency
(c) All-sufficiency
(d) Infinite in existence,
(e) Cause of existence,
(f) Source of life, light and power
(g) Higher than all
(h) Omnipresence
(i) Omnipotent
(j) Omniscient.

The realm of God is the Supreme and the Most High realm because all existence begins and ends with it. The purpose of existence was established there and it is only known to the realm. We have other realms in the existential order like the realms of the spirit beings, the realm of gods, the realm of Angels, the realm of mankind which is the earth, etc. The Most High realm which is the realm of God is completely different from the realm of the gods who are spirit beings. There is only one God but there are other spirit beings who humans refers to as gods. These gods are spirit beings that either claimed to be gods to humans or were regarded by human beings as gods. The realm of God is occupied by one Supreme being who is all and in all things. 

The characteristics used to identify who is God are as follows:

Self-existent:  It means existing independently of any cause. It is to exist out of nothing, to exist of his own will or by his own making. The existence does not depend on anything or anybody – does not have components (Materials or parts that formed it). He is not created or formed. For example, man is not self-existent. He does not exist of his own will or by his own making. Man is a product of a creative event or a biological process. He was conceived and born; he needs the physical body as well as air, water, food and nutrients to exist.                                                                                                              

Self-sufficient: It is the ability to supply His own needs without external assistance. God is complete by himself, possessing all that he needs in himself and does not need help or helpers for whatever reason. For example, man is not self-sufficient, because man cannot exist and survive on his own without his environment. No human being can be able to provide out of himself all he needs by himself. Man have needs and do not have all his needs in himself. Man needs external help to satisfy his needs. Man cannot produce the oxygen he needs from inside of him. He needs the plants to supply him oxygen. The reason trade of goods and services is the most essential activities of man is because no single individual can have all that he needs in himself. God is complete by himself.                                                           

All-sufficient:  It is to lack nothing or to need nothing at all. Having all he needs and can ever need. He does not have any need at all that is required to be satisfied. Man is not all-sufficient. Man has needs and suffers lack as well. It is said that man’s want is insatiable. Man lacks most of his needs. He does not always have enough. The more he has, the more his need increases. More so, not all of man’s needs can be met even with external help.

Infinite in existence: This means to be everlasting, exist forever and does not come to an end. The word ‘infinite’ denotes something that goes on and on without end. It means someone who cannot be bounded or contained by space and whose existence cannot be measured by duration of time. In the case of God, there is no beginning and there is no end in his existence, position or authority. Whoever or whatever that will have a beginning and that will come to end is not God. For instance, Man is not infinite because first he has a beginning being a product of creative event and biological process. Man is conceived and born. He is contained in earth where he lives for a given time and comes to an end in death. Therefore, man has a beginning and an end in relation to space and time.                                                       

Cause of existence: He must be the originator of all that have existed, all that is in existence now and all that will come to be in existence after. A creator who out of nothing bring things, beings and realms into existence and is the reason they exist. One who cause things to happen out of nothing. From Him everything originated and by him all orders were established. One that is behind creation and pro-creation, who determines what exists and how what exists should exist. He brought everything into existence, defined their purpose and organized the existential order. Man is not the cause of existence because he was caused to exist (brought into existence) and knows neither his beginning nor his end.                                                                 

Source of life, light and power: The one from whom all the existing things and beings get life. Every existing things and beings needs him and he is able to live forever to sustain all things alive. Life, light and power are that three things that sustains creations and the source of these three is the Supreme being who sustains everything and determines their beginning and their end. He provides to all and does not receive from anyone.

Higher than all: The Supreme being should be the Most High who occupy the realm that is situated above all other realms and has no equal or comparison

Omnipresence: The Supreme being can be everywhere at the same time. He should not be someone or something that is limited by space and time.

Omnipotent: He can do all things and should have power over everything.

Omniscient: Should have complete and infinite knowledge of all things including things that were, things that are and things that shall be even to the infinity without consulting anything or anyone.

So, the word ‘GOD’ is a title for the Supreme and the Most High Being who is the creator, the originator, the source, the cause of all existence and for whom all creations exist.

We have seen what God is. In the next topic we will discuss about who is God?