A belief in deity has pervaded every society since the beginning of time. All of creation testifies to the existence of a Creator. The Bible clearly sets forth the substance and the essence of the one true God, who is as unique as every part of His creation.

1. I believe God reveals His existence in His creation and His personality in the Bible, the inspired Word of God. Rom. 1:19-20; Ps. 86:15; Ex. 20:5

2. I believe God is the uncaused Cause, the Creator of the universe, and the Sustainer of His creation, also sovereignly ruling over it. Before anything was spoken into existence, God determined all things that would be and the entire singular course of history, though He is not responsible for sin. Acts 17:24-25; Col. 1:16-17; Eph. 3:11; 2 Tim. 1:9

3. I believe God is one unit consisting of three Persons who are co-equal and identically the same in substance and essence, distinguished only by their functions and positions. These three are identified in the New Testament as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Deut. 6:4; Phil. 2:5-6; Jn. 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; Jn. 16:7; Matt. 28:19

4. I believe the Person of God the Father exerts fatherhood over all creation in as much as He is the Maker of all things. He relates to the nation of Israel as a father to his firstborn son; His relation to the Son of God illustrates their eternal relationship as the perfect or ideal father and son and points to their sameness in substance. God the Father becomes our Father when we have become born again by the Holy Spirit. Eph. 4:6; Deut. 32:6; Jn. 10:30; Rom. 8:14-16; 2 Cor. 6:18

5.a. I believe God in all three Persons is all spirit (immaterial), having existed eternally, infinite, able to be present anywhere at any time, all powerful (being able to accomplish all that He purposes to do), able to know anything at any time, completely sovereign, and unchanging. These are characteristics only true of God, and in fact, they must be true of God for Him to truly be God. Jn 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 139:7-10; Eph. 3:11; Ps. 139:1-4; Dan. 5:21; Heb. 6:17-18

5.b. I believe God in all three Persons is totally separate from evil and wholly good, loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, just, and truthful. These characteristics are in part communicable to humans but are found as perfections in the character of God. 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Lk. 18:19; Rom. 5:8; Neh. 9:31; Deut. 4:31; 2 Pet. 3:9; Deut. 32:4; Isa. 65:16