San Jose Church of Christ

 Q: Isn't God just a giant old dude who sits on clouds up in the sky?

Not quite. Everything we believe about God we have learned from the Bible, and nowhere in the Bible is He described as being an old man or as living "up in the sky".

Q: If God isn't a person, then what is He?

Complicated questions like these deserve delicate answers. As far as our limited knowledge goes, God is an all-powerful spiritual being. There are certain characteristics that He displays or is even described as epitomizing. From the Bible we learn that:

God is omnipresent (present everywhere at once). (Psalm 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:23-24)
God is omniscient (possesses infinite knowledge). (Psalms 139:1-4; 147:4-5; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20)
God is omnipotent (all-powerful). (Psalm 139:13-18; Jeremiah 32:17; Matthew 19:26)
God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man (human), that he should change his mind. (Num 23:19)
God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deut. 4:24)
God is a merciful and forgiving God. (Deut. 4:31, Daniel 9:9)
God is faithful in keeping His promises/covenants to those who love Him and keep His commands. (Deut. 7:9)
God is mighty and awesome, and does not show favoritism or accept bribes. (Deut. 10:17)
God is eternal. (Deut. 33:27)
God is greater than all other "gods". (2 Chron. 2:5)
God is gracious and compassionate. (2 Chron. 30:9, Psalm 116:5)
God is a righteous judge. (Psalm 7:11)
God is an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
God is holy. (Psalm 99:9)
God is one, and there is no other but Him. (Deut. 6:4, Mark 12:32, Gal. 3:20)
God is a spirit. (John 4:24)
God is not a God of disorder, but peace. (1 Cor. 14:33)
God is light, and in Him is no darkness. (1 John 1:5)
God is love. (1 John 4:8, 16)
God does not live in houses made by men. (Acts 7:48)
God saves us from death. (Psalm 68:20)
God speaks flawlessly. (Proverbs 30:5)

Q: What is the "Trinity" and how does it relate to God?

The Trinity is one of the many mysteries of God and is often a difficult concept to come to terms with or describe. In Christian orthodoxy, God is one God in essence, authority, and power, and exists as three distinct co-equal parts. These parts are known as the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost). Please note that this does not mean that Christians believe in three gods. Rather, the doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is only one God, and He exists in three distinct parts, and all three share the same divine nature and essence.

Although limited, we might consider an analogy to help better present the idea of the Trinity. Consider the three physical states of water. Water is not only a liquid but also a solid (ice) and a gas (vapor), yet its chemical composition never changes during any one of its three forms. A water molecule is always composed of two Hydrogens and one Oxygen. This is a simple and limited analogy, but it might help in better understanding the concept of the Trinity.

Also keep in mind that the word Trinity is not found in the Bible, but its concept is. This word has been adopted by Christians and theologians to summarize the biblical concept of God, difficult as it is to understand.