Is God a person?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Yes, God is a person—eternal, self-aware, and active in our lives today, though He is not a human being. Throughout the Bible, God is revealed as a personal, relational Being with a mind, will, and emotions. The Old Testament describes God metaphorically with eyes that search (2 Chronicles 16:9), arms that deliver (Deuteronomy 26:8), and a voice that thunders (Psalm 29:3–4). He teaches, guides, strengthens, and responds with compassion to His people. The New Testament clarifies that God is spirit (John 4:24) and exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each possessing mind, will, and emotions. The Trinity works in perfect unity to accomplish God’s will (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus, God the Son, took on human flesh to reveal God personally and to offer salvation to all who believe (John 1:29; 3:16–18). God desires relationship with us, to live in us and free us from sin through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:5; Romans 8:10–17).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Metaphorically, God has eyes to see. He is said to search the earth to strengthen the faithful (2 Chronicles 16:9).
• God is described as having hands and arms to deliver and save (Deuteronomy 26:8) and a voice to speak His word (Psalm 29:3–4).
• God sees, hears, and responds to human suffering (Exodus 3:7–8).
• God rescues His people with power and signs (Deuteronomy 26:8).
• God's voice is powerful and majestic (Psalm 29:3–4).
• God teaches His people (Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 2:3).
• God strengthens and upholds His people (Isaiah 41:10).
• God leads and guides His people (Psalm 73:23–24; Proverbs 3:5–6).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• God is spirit (John 4:24).
• God the Father has a mind (1 Corinthians 2:16), will (1 Thessalonians 5:18), and emotions (Hebrews 3:9–11).
• Jesus has a mind (Luke 2:52), will (Luke 22:42), and emotions (John 11:35).
• The Holy Spirt has a mind (Romans 8:27), will (Romans 8:5), and emotions (Ephesians 4:30).
• God’s thoughts are beyond human understanding (Romans 11:34).
• God comforts us in our troubles (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).
• We are invited to pray and receive peace from God (Philippians 4:6–7).
• Jesus says His followers hear His voice (John 10:27).
• Jesus speaks of the Father and the Holy Spirit as separate Beings (John 6:38; 14:26; Luke 11:13).
• The Trinity is revealed in Jesus’ baptism and the Great Commission (Matthew 3:16–17; 28:18–20).
• The grace of Jesus, love of the Father, and fellowship of the Spirit are all active in believers' lives (2 Corinthians 13:14).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Some theologians have defined personhood as "an individual being with a mind, emotions, and a will." God certainly meets this definition as referred in the Scriptures above. God is a person, but He is not a human being type of person like us. God is in a category all by Himself. He is an eternal, self-aware, self-sufficient rational Being with a personality. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work together in perfect agreement to accomplish the will of God (Hebrews 9:14). Most notably, the good news of the gospel is that God the Father sent God the Son, Jesus, to save the world from sin and death. Jesus took on flesh as a human being (John 1:14) to save sinners by taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Through His sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus offers eternal life and forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes in Him (John 3:16–18; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Ephesians 2:1–10). All who trust in Jesus become children of God (John 1:12). They are fully forgiven of their sin and given the indwelling Holy Spirit who is a seal of their salvation (Romans 8; Ephesians 1:3–14). The Holy Spirit is with them continually, transforming them to be more and more like Christ (Romans 8:29–30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:12–13). The Holy Spirit helps believers know, love, and obey God. As a person, God wants to have fellowship with you (John 17:20–26). God wants to abide in you and set you free from the power of sin, helping you live in righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15:5; Romans 6:11–13; 8:10–14). If you are in Christ, then God is with you now and one day you will fully dwell with Him and all who belong to Him (Revelation 21—22).

UNDERSTAND

• God is a person, though not a human.
• God exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each fully God and each with distinct personal attributes.
• God desires a personal relationship with us, made possible by trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.

REFLECT

• How does understanding God as a person impact your relationship with Him?
• How have you experienced God as a personal God, and how does this influence your trust in Him?
• Reflect on the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). How does recognizing the unity as well as the distinct roles within the Trinity deepen your understanding of God’s presence and work in your life?

ENGAGE

• How does God being a personal being influence the way we pray and communicate with Him?
• How can the idea that God is not a human person, but that He exists in three distinct persons, challenge or expand our understanding of His nature and relationship with us?
• What implications does the reality of God as a personal Being have for how we live out our faith in everyday life?