by Pastor Abel Villanueva, Ph.d

Deuteronomy 6:1-5
These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life… 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

When the people of God, who had been living in the desert for approximately 40 years, were about to enter the Promised Land, God intentionally began to reveal himself so that God’s people would know him more. One of those amazing revelations was the fact that the Lord our God is one. Remember, Israel had only known the practices of Egypt, which included the worship of many gods. God is not revealing himself as the Lord is one.

God is a God of Revelation

We would not know anything about God unless he chose to reveal himself to us. God has chosen the Holy Scriptures as his primary method of revealing himself. We would not know that God is a creator unless we read in Genesis that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. In regards to revealing his oneness, let’s read:

  • Isaiah 43:10-12 — “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior. 12 I have declared and saved; I have proclaimed.

What does oneness theology reveal about the nature of God?

When we say the nature of God, we are referring to that which makes God so unique and different from everyone else. God reveals himself through what we call attributes. Some of the more common ones are:

  1. Holy – God is “other,” different from anything else, separate and sacred
  2. Omnipotence – God is all-powerful
  3. Omniscience – God is all-knowing – past, present, and future
  4. Omnipresence – God is present everywhere
  5. Omnibenevolence – God is all good/all loving

Therefore, in oneness theology, God chooses to reveal himself as the only one who is truly holy. In Jesus, we find all of these attributes fulfilled, thus revealing himself as the one true God.

Scripture Reveals the Oneness of God

The Bible is the written story of God and his long-running relationship with mankind. The Bible is God’s revelation of himself and his purposes throughout history. Jesus taught us in Luke 24:27 (And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself) that the Scriptures reveal who he is. When we read the following Scriptures carefully and prayerfully, we will receive the revelation that the Bible reveals the oneness of God and that Jesus himself is God manifested in the flesh

  • Isaiah 44:6 – “This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.
  • John 1:1,14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…
  • 1 Timothy 3:16 – And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
  • Colossians 2:9 – For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
  • Titus 2:13 – Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Today, we read that Scripture lays the foundation of oneness theology. God desires to reveal himself and make himself known to us, his people. Throughout the whole Bible, we constantly see a thread where God reveals himself, and many times, he does it by revealing his name to his people. In Philippians 2:9-11 we see that Jesus is Lord and that he has received the name which is above every name. It is in and at the name of Jesus that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord.

You and I are blessed to know that God is a God of revelation. He has revealed himself to us, and we know in who we are as we read in 1 John 5:20 — And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Small Group Study Guide

This five-part small group Bible study series explores the rich landscape and biblical foundations of Oneness Theology.

About the Author

Pastor Abel Villanueva is the senior pastor of God’s House/Casa de Dios, where he serves alongside his wife and family. A graduate of Biola University and Fuller Theological Seminary, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role. Pastor Villanueva has actively contributed to Christian education within the Apostolic Assembly, creating instructional videos for the Christian Education Department. His dedication to ministry and passion for education underscore his commitment to serving his congregation and community.