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The God of the Bible

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 14.

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The God of the Bible

By L. D. Santee

L. D. SANTEE
In considering this all-important subject, we realize that it lies at the foundation of hope. There are three positions taken on this subject: First, no God; second, pantheism; third, a living, personal God, and this is what the Bible teaches. The Christian rests his hope on the God of the Bible, a real, personal being, who is in heaven, and who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This belief commends itself to our reason. We can not be satisfied with anything less. Said the eminent Charles Spurgeon, “No heart can rest without a personal God.” Mr. Gladstone, the “grand old man” of England, was asked, “What is the greatest hope for the future?” and his answer was, “A living faith in a personal God.” This satisfies the longing of the soul. We must be able to say, “I know whom I have believed.”
We have not the time, in this short article, to consider the first position. The Bible speaks of those holding such a belief in regard to the Deity, and the life that they lead. It declares that they are “fools,” and with that we leave it.
The second position is in many ways more pernicious than infidelity. To a certain extent, it disarms prejudice; and still, it is equally at variance with Christianity. Pantheism is defined thus: “The universe, as a whole, is god; the doctrine that there is no god but the combined forces and laws which are manifested in the existing universe.” Let us examine this monster evil that leaves the world without a pilot. Men talk flippantly about “God, or nature,” when they mean only the forces or laws of nature; but all “forces” or “laws” are immaterial, inorganic, and therefore necessarily unconscious, insensible, and unintelligent. Such is the god of pantheism. He has neither consciousness, sensibility, nor intelligence.
Dr. James McCosh says, “He [God] hears me. It would be cold and comfortless if I had to speak to one who had no ears to hear, nor heart to feel.”
The heart of the Christian clings lovingly to the promise found in Revelation, that in the new heaven and new earth and in the New Jerusalem “God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible contains the intelligent revelation of a personal God. God, in the first chapter of Genesis, strikes a death-blow to pantheism: “So God created man in his own image.” Verse 27.
John Milton says: “God either is or is not such as he represents himself to be. If he really is such, why should we think otherwise of him?”—“Christian Doctrine.” Rt. Rev. Robert Balgarnie says, “We are driven to the conclusion that there was a form of God, from all eternity, and that man was created in the image and likeness of that form divine.” Says Dr. A. J. Gordon: “If I know not that God is a person, I know not that I am a person.” Says Professor Garbett, “It is clear that anything which does not possess personality must be inferior to ourselves.” Bear in mind that the god of the pantheist, being inorganic, can not possess intelligence, while the Bible, given by intelligence, is not simply the work of a principle that exists in all nature.
In the Bible, God is spoken of thirty times as “the living God.” There is nothing in all nature to promise a resurrection, and yet the hope of the world hangs on that event. In fact, without the advent, there would be no resurrection. The cause of the resurrection is “the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” John 5: 28. Every personal being must have a location and a dwelling-place. The same is true of the Creator. “Hear thou in heaven, thy dwelling-place.” 1 Kings 8: 30. “Then hear thou in heaven.” Verse 34. “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” Ps. 115: 16.
One objection that is sometimes urged against the personality of God, is his omnipresence. But it would not be difficult for a personal God to send his Spirit wheresoever he desired. “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” Ps. 139: 7-10. As the rays of the sun give light upon the earth, though the sun is far distant, so God by his Spirit can reach all parts of his dominion without being personally there. The Spirit of God is spoken of as “proceeding from the Father.” Thus the Bible makes it plain
that while our Heavenly Father and his Son, our Saviour, are in heaven, with the holy angels, yet by means of his Holy Spirit he is present with all his saints on earth, comforting and strengthening them in their Christian warfare.
After the resurrection of Jesus, he sent word to the brethren by Mary, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” Again, Mark 16: 19: “So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” In harmony with this is the testimony of Stephen. “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Acts 7: 56.
From the Scriptures it must be apparent that God is a living, personal Being; that his dwelling-place is in heaven; that Christ is there with him; that he executes his will in all places by means of his Spirit; that a god that is only a principle must be lacking in mind and in intelligence; that pantheism is a dangerous form of infidelity; that the Bible everywhere recognizes a living, personal God as its author. The sun-worshipper worships the sun, mistaking the creature for the Creator. The pantheist, equally unwise, loses sight of the great Life-giver, and sees only the life emanating from him. Reverently we say, as we worship the living, personal God of the Bible, “From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” Ps. 90: 2.
Moline, Ill.