The Doctrine of God & the Holy Trinity
Who God Is
There is only one true and living God, who is infinite in every perfection. He is a pure spirit, without a body or human-like passions, and He is unchanging, eternal, and all-powerful. He is perfectly wise, holy, and free, working all things for His own glory while also being loving, gracious, merciful, and just.
Belgic Confession: Art. 1, 8, 9, 11; Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 26; Westminster Larger Catechism: Q&A 7, 8; Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q&A 4, 5
Genesis 17:1; Exodus 3:14, 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 4:15-16, 6:4; 1 Kings 8:27; Nehemiah 9:32-33; Job 11:7-9, 26:14; Psalm 5:5-6, 90:2, 115:3, 145:3; Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 6:3; Jeremiah 10:10, 23:23-24; Nahum 1:2-3; Malachi 3:6; Luke 24:39; John 4:24; Acts 14:11,15; Romans 11:36, 16:27; 1 Corinthians 8:4,6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:17; James 1:17; 1 John 4:8,16; Revelation 4:8
God’s Relationship to Creation
God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of Himself and is completely self-sufficient. He doesn’t need anything from His creation but instead manifests His own glory through it. He is the source of all existence, has sovereign rule over everything, and knows all things perfectly and infallibly.
Belgic Confession: Art. 1, 13; Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 27; Westminster Larger Catechism: Q&A 7; Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q&A 4
Job 22:2-3; Psalm 119:68, 145:17, 147:5; Daniel 4:25,35; Ezekiel 11:5; John 5:26; Acts 7:2, 15:18, 17:24-25; Romans 7:12, 9:5, 11:33-34,36; 1 Timothy 6:15; Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 4:11, 5:12-14
The Holy Trinity
Within the one Godhead, there are three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are of one substance, power, and eternity. The Father is unbegotten, the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Belgic Confession: Art. 8, 9; Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 25; Westminster Larger Catechism: Q&A 9, 10, 11; Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q&A 6
Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; John 1:14,18, 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 5:7