Defining God

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16

Our understanding of God is so important. If we were to poll our American culture and ask them to define who God is, I think we might be surprised at the results. If I were to say, “God loves you,” only a slight majority would agree that I am referring to the God of the Bible. One-third of Americans say they do not believe in the God of the Bible, but they do believe there is some other higher power or spiritual force in the universe. One-in-ten do not believe in any higher power or spiritual force whatsoever. 

But this is not a new problem. Jesus asked His disciples how He was defined by the culture of His day, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Nobody got it right. They said, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked those closest to Him, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered for all of us when he said, “You are the Messiah, Son of the Living God.” 

Every attribute of God the Father is found in Christ the Son. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He was there when the world was created and he will be there when the sun sets for the last time. Jesus is all knowing, all powerful and ever present. He is our Rock, our Fortress, and our Redeemer. 

Jesus is not our higher power or a spiritual force. The Bible says He is the Messiah, the anointed One, the Son of the living God. Who do you say He is?