1 + 1 + 1 = 3

Let’s consider how the New Testament speaks of the One God. The expression One God means that there is only one God in the Universe. There is no other.

If someone asks you who he is, you are not allowed to respond with three different names or refer to three beings. That would be evasive. Worse off, you'd be ignoring the Scriptures. They are very clear on the question of who the One God is. In fact, even the demons know that there is One God.

You believe that there is One God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder (James 2:19).

If you affirm that there is One God, and someone asks you who he is, you must be rational, logical, and coherent. You must be fair and answer the question with one name. You must respond by naming just one being—the one who is the One God.

Do a survey and you'll find out that about 80% of modern-day Christians answer the question of "Who is the One God?" by saying that he is Jesus. They're wrong. They're very wrong.

The term One God is never used for Jesus in the Bible. It’s never used for the Holy Spirit either. It’s exclusively and only and solitarily used for the Father.

Although the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus are central to Christian belief and their greatness is among the unnegotiable Truths we believe--realities that hold the Universe together--we cannot say that the One God is anybody but the Father.

[There is]... one Spirit… one Hope… one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism; One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not the One God. Nor are they "part of" the One God.

So, one plus one plus one equals three. One plus one plus one does not equal one. And the One we're speaking of cannot be divided. The One God is the Father.

Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit should ever be incorporated into a definition of the One God. In fact, it’s heresy to say that they are part of the One God. If you say so, you're denying the Father his rightful place in the Universe. His name is "the God."

The God Means the One God

There are numerous verses of the Bible where in the Greek the Father is called "the God," but since it doesn't translate well into English, translators drop the direct article the and just call him God. This unfaithful rendering of the name of God lacks integrity. Rather than dropping the the, why not supplement the words the God with the word One so that it says "the [One] God"--because that's what is implied!

Here are a few examples:

Then the End will come, when he [Jesus] hands over the Kingdom to the [One] God and Father (1 Corinthians 15:24).

... the Son himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under him, so that the [One] God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).

... we know, brothers and sisters loved by the [One] God, that he has chosen you (1 Thessalonians 1:4).

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the [One] God, and the Word was God. This one was in the beginning with the [One] God (John 1:1-2; LEB).

Don't Go Too Far

It's heresy to teach that Jesus or the Holy Spirit somehow constitute part of the One God. You've been warned. Do not, in an empty attempt to glorify Jesus, displease Jesus with your heresies. He doesn't need you to say more about him than what the Scriptures already say. Do not transgress.

Whoever transgresses [goes ahead] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son (2 John 1:9; NKJV).

Jesus and the Holy Spirit figure on the same list of the unity of the spirit with the One God, so we know that they are of highest esteem and glory. However, only the Father should ever be referred to as the One God. Do not contradict basic Bible truths, or you'll be deemed a heretic.

Jesus’ Words

Don’t take our word for it. Listen to Jesus. He never used the term One God to refer to himself. On the contrary, he always used it to refer to his Father.

The Lord is One

Notice that when our Lord Jesus spoke of the greatest commandment, he included himself among those whose duty it is to love God—an that's because Jesus loves God too. Jesus called God our God, which means that he includes himself in the group of people whose duty it is to love God—our God.

“The most important one [commandment],” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God…” (Mark 12:29-30)

Serve Him Only

Jesus didn’t appreciate it when the Devil tried to tempt him to worship someone other than the One God. Jesus responded to the temptation by saying that he would only worship God, and that he would serve him only.

Again, the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the World and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:8-10).

Jesus Worships the Father

Additionally, Jesus told the Samaritan woman that he and his Jewish compatriots would only worship God.

‘Woman,’ Jesus replied, ‘believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews’ (John 4:21-22).

Do you worship a God who you know? Or, like the Samaritans, do you worship a God who you do not know, a mystery God? Jesus counted himself among those who worship the God who is known.

God Alone is Good

Don’t forget that Jesus was not happy when people tried to put him on the same level as God. So then, why do you do it? Why do you insist that Jesus should be called the One God or somehow made part of the One God? Jesus distinguished himself from the One God.

A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone’ (Luke 18:18-19)

The Only God

The Pharisees were not able to patiently wait for God to glorify them. Instead, they tried to grab glory for themselves. Such impatience proved that they didn’t really love God.

Because of that, Jesus confronted the Pharisees. He directed them to the only source of glory: to the One he called the Only God. Was Jesus talking about himself?

I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts... How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the Only God (John 5:41-42, 44)?

Jesus gave us an example of seeking the glory that comes from the One God. That's why he prayed '... now, O Father, glorify me together with yourself' (John 17:5; NKJV).

Sent by the Only True God

In the next passage we see that Jesus considered that it was the Only True God who sent him. Now, it stands to reason that the one who sends is greater than the one who is sent. Jesus made that clear.

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him (John 13:16).

Jesus said numerous times that the Father was the one who sent him. And to demonstrate that he was speaking of two different beings when he mentioned God and himself in the next passage, Jesus uses the conjunction and.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3).

Apostolic Affirmation

The apostles affirmed Jesus’ teaching on the One God. In like manner, they were clear that the Father is the One God. They never confused or conflated Jesus with the One True God in their writings. Rather, they consistently made distinctions between the two.

For the Apostles, the One God is the Father, while the One Lord is Jesus. This is the distinction they lay out for Christians to believe. Do you believe it? If you do, then why don't you defend it? Why don't you stand firmly on the Truth that there is One God, the Father?

Fear of rejection? Fear of not fitting in? Wanting the approval of people?

No God But One / There is One God

Consider whether you believe these two texts from Paul:

There is no God but One... for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live (1 Corinthians 8:4,6).

For there is One God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

If you believe them, then share them with other believers!

The Only Lord God

Let’s look at Jude who called God the Only Lord God, and he said it in comparison with Jesus, not confusing the two. Note that Jude went on to say of the One God that he alone is wise.

For certain men have crept in unnoticed... who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the Only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ...

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling... God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen (Jude 4,24-25; NKJV).

The Only Wise God

Who alone is wise? The Father. He is called the Only Wise God in the Book of Romans. If we take this passage and the others that complement it, we must conclude with the New Testament authors that the Father is the One God. There is no other way to interpret the Scriptures!

… to the Only Wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Romans 16:27).

The Only God... Who Alone is Immortal

Do you believe that there is Only One God? We hope so.

Is the One God immortal? Yes. In fact, since Jesus died, the One God is the Only Immortal--that is, the only one who can never die. If there is One God, then to him be the glory and honor forever!

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the Only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17).

God, the blessed and Only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen (1 Timothy 6:15-16).

To Him Be Glory in the Church

This glorification of the Father as the Only True God has to happen in the Church. He was glorified in Christ Jesus. That is, Jesus glorified God as the One God, won't we? If you are in God's Church, then glorify God there. Don't let others continue in their ignorance. Jesus prayed that we might know the Only True God!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).