Wrong Beliefs Concerning God

There are several wrong beliefs about God. These beliefs are:

1. Atheism.
2. Agnosticism.
3. Pantheism.
4. Polytheism.
5. Dualism.
6. Deism.

Atheism is the belief that there is no God. The Bible says, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good." Psalm 14:1.

Agnosticism is the belief that no one knows whether or not there is a God. Hebrews 1:1,2 says, "God who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds." Therefore, men know there is a God because of Jesus Christ.

Pantheism is the belief that the universe is the manifestation of God. According to this belief, God and the universe are one and the same. Since the universe includes nature, under this belief, God and nature are one and the same. Examples of this belief are: God is a tree and a tree is God. God is the moon and the moon is God. God is the sun and the sun is God. The Bible says, "To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?.…To whom will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal? Says the Holy One." Isaiah 40:18,25 God is not the universe. God made the universe. (Colossians 1:16,17; Acts 14:15; 17:24)

Polytheism is the belief in many gods. (Acts 14:11) This is idolatry. The Bible says, "Hear, O Israel: 'The Lord our God is one!'" Deuteronomy 6:4 The Bible also says, "…you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all things that are in them." Acts 14:15b. (Also see Exodus 20:3) There is only one God.

Dualism is the belief in two supreme opposing forces, Good and Evil. The god of Good is limited in power and constantly changing. The god of Good is doing the best he can in the world and will eventually overthrow Evil. Man should help the god of Good to overthrow Evil. The Bible says, "I am Almighty God." Genesis 17:1 "For I am the Lord, I do not change." Malachi 3:6 The Bible also says, "Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel and who instructed Him and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?" Isaiah 40:13,14. "Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth…And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:7,8a,9b,10

The scriptures above given in the paragraph on "Dualism" reveal

1. God has all power.
2. God does not change.
3. God does not need man's help to overthrow evil.

Deism is the belief that God exists apart from the material world, but is not present everywhere. Deism also does not believe in miracles, prophecy, Jesus Christ, the Scriptures or the personal testimony of men about God. The Bible says, "Where can I go from Your presence? If I ascend into the heaven You are there; if I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me and even there Your right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10. The Bible also says, "Now all these things happened to them [the children of Israel] as examples and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." 1 Corinthians 10:11 (God parted the Red Sea, brought water out of a rock and fed the children of Israel with manna from heaven. All these things were miracles.) It also says in 2 Timothy 3:16,17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work". Revelation 12:11 says, "And they overcame him [the devil] by he blood of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death."

The scriptures mentioned above in the paragraph on "Deism" reveal

1. God is everywhere.
2. God performs miracles.
3. Prophecies of the Bible are true.
4. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God.
5. Personal testimonies of men about God are true and a means of overcoming evil.