The Shema

We might ask, what is a primary reason that people come to different conclusions on the nature of God? It is because they begin with different premises. Since almost all major doctrines seem to have at least two sets of scriptures which we might label “pro and con”, it is not always clear what our premise should be. As an example, if one begins the doctrine of the soul with Mat. 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also Rev. 6:9 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.” It would be reasonably clear that we have an immortal soul.

However, if one begins with other scriptures, one draws a different conclusion. Notice these verses. Eccl. 9:5 “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ezek. 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

With the teaching of the nature of God, some start with the premise that Christ always existed as God, perhaps based on John 1, or Col. 1, thus concluding there are two Gods. Therefore, all scriptures referring to “Only One God” are given a meaning contrary to an “Only One God” meaning. The Monotheist begins with the premise that there is only One God, thus Christ cannot be an uncreated being. Of course the scriptures advance this as well. Most people seem oblivious to this notion.

As we will see in this article, the Bible clearly points out for us the premise for the nature of God teaching. With which scripture do we begin? We read in Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” As was customary, this was probably the first scripture Jesus had memorized. In the Hebrew, this scripture was not confusing. But Christian Theologians must defend church doctrine and therefore interpret the words contrary to their meaning.

Jesus was approached by a scribe with a profound question, “which is the preeminent commandment?” (Mark 12:28). Mark records Jesus’ reply from the Greek translated Septuagint from Deut. 6:4-5. “And Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.” (Mark 12:29). “God is one Lord” can only be properly understood as God is only one being. Incredibly, some will contend that it means “there are two Lords and two Gods.” If words may not be understood by their meanings, then how can language be used to communicate?

After Jesus’ opening statement, which set the stage to properly answer the question, he answered it directly. “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31).

Do we see that Jesus is teaching that the reason this is the preeminent commandment is because of the fact that God is only one person, the Father? The first part of that commandment is only valid if there is only one God. Matthew gives us an additional point concerning these two commandments. “On these two commandments hang (or sums up) all the law and the prophets.” (Mat. 22:40).

Even after reading Jesus’ answer, people will still argue that maybe it isn’t clear that this is referring to only one God. As we know, the scribes were an educated class. How did this scribe understand Jesus’ statement? Let’s notice. “And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, you have said the truth: (So we can take Jesus’ declaration as fact) for there is one God; and there is none other but he: (Can it be any clearer?) And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more that all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:32-33). It is abundantly clear that the scribe understood that Jesus agreed with him that God was only one person.

Did Jesus confirm the scribe’s conclusions? Apparently it is so important to believe that there is only one God that Jesus tells the scribe something very profound because of his correct understanding. “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that dared ask him any question.” (Mark 12:34).

Why would Jesus say to the scribe he was not far from the Kingdom of God for believing that there was only one God? The answer may be found in a statement Jesus made later. “And this is eternal life, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3). Here Jesus makes a connection between believing that the Father is the only true God and eternal life.

In answering the scribe, Jesus clearly gave the core and foundational scripture for this very important doctrine. All the law and the prophets hang on the two commandments to love God and our fellow man, which is based on the fact that there is only one God, who is the Father. Any one having done his homework can establish that it is a fact of history that the Jews which Jesus encountered were strict monotheist, a teaching which Jesus never disputed. Yea, he confirmed it.

Mel Hershberger