Who is God?
Theological reflections by Philip G. Roets STL, SSL
God as Creator
From the very first verse of Genesis — "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" — Scripture reveals God as the source and sustainer of all that exists. Creation is not an accident but a gift, flowing from the overflowing love of God.
God as Father
Jesus consistently addressed God as "Abba" — an intimate Aramaic word for father. This reveals a God who is not distant or indifferent, but personally involved in the lives of his children, caring for each one with tenderness and compassion.
God as Redeemer
Throughout the Old Testament, God acts to save his people — from Egypt, from exile, from sin. This saving action reaches its fullness in Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection accomplish the definitive redemption of humanity.
The Holy Trinity
Christian faith professes one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This mystery, revealed in the New Testament and defined by the early Church councils, is the central truth of Christian theology.
God is Love
The First Letter of John states simply: "God is love." This is not merely a description of what God does, but of who God is. All of God's actions — creation, redemption, sanctification — flow from this inexhaustible divine love.