What does "God is one" in Galatians 3:20 reveal about His nature? Text Under Study “Now a mediator is not for one party alone; but God is one.” What the Phrase “God is One” Announces • Singular deity—there is no second, rival god. • Perfect internal unity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share one essence and one will. • Undivided purpose—His redemptive plan has never changed from Abraham to Christ. • Immutable character—because He is one, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Scriptural Echoes of God’s Oneness • Deuteronomy 6:4 — “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” • James 2:19 — “You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” • 1 Timothy 2:5 — “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” • Ephesians 4:5-6 — “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Why Paul Mentions Oneness in a Passage about Mediation • A mediator normally stands between two estranged parties; the law served that role between God and Israel. • God, however, is “one,” so His promise to Abraham did not need an intermediary in the same way; it flowed directly from His unified, unchanging will. • Christ fulfills both motifs: He is the promised Seed (no mediator required) and the sole Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) who unites believers to the one God. Attributes Reflected in His Oneness • Simplicity—His attributes are never in conflict; justice and mercy harmonize at the cross. • Faithfulness—an undivided being cannot contradict Himself; His promises stand (Malachi 3:6). • Sovereignty—only one ultimate authority rules creation; everything else is contingent on Him. • Consistency—Galatians contrasts the shifting, conditional nature of law-keeping with the steady, unconditional promise rooted in God’s singular will. Implications for Daily Living • Worship Him alone—no divided loyalties, no syncretism. • Trust His promises—He cannot change or lie. • Seek unity in the Body—one God means one family of faith (John 17:22-23). • Rest in assurance—salvation depends on His one, finished work, not our fluctuating efforts. Summary “God is one” in Galatians 3:20 points to His exclusive deity, unified essence, and unwavering purpose, providing the foundation for a salvation that is secure, consistent, and available to all who believe in the promised Seed, Jesus Christ. |
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