Understanding God’s Nature: The Foundation of the Gospel

“In the beginning God . . .” (Genesis 1:1).

The story of redemption begins not with man, but with God Himself. When preaching the gospel, we must start at the right place—acknowledging the character, authority, and holiness of God. Without this foundation, the message of salvation is easily distorted into something man-centered rather than God-centered.

Why the Gospel Must Begin with God

It is not necessary to give an exhaustive discourse on every attribute of God before someone can understand the gospel. Even the most mature believer cannot fully comprehend the infinite majesty of God. However, it is impossible to faithfully present the gospel without addressing who God is and correcting the false ideas about Him that dominate the world.

Many today craft a god out of their own imagination—a god of sentimentality, personal preference, or cultural convenience. But this is idolatry. Just as no one can rewrite the law of gravity, no one can redefine the eternal and unchanging God. Scripture affirms His unchanging nature: “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6). He demands worship and reverence on His own terms, not ours.

The God of Scripture

God declares in His Word, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5). He is the one true God who has revealed Himself as triune—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

The Trinity is beyond human comprehension, yet the Bible reveals it as undeniable truth. As John MacArthur explains:

Though the fullness of the Trinity is far beyond human comprehension, it is unquestionably how God has revealed Himself in Scripture—as one God eternally existing in three Persons. Scripture is clear that the Father, Son, and Spirit are each God, and yet they are not three gods but one.

Deuteronomy 6:4 proclaims God’s oneness, while passages like John 10:30–33, 1 Corinthians 3:16, and Romans 8:9 affirm the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Furthermore, John 14 demonstrates the indivisible relationship of the triune God.

This doctrine is not merely theological theory. In salvation, each Person of the Trinity plays a unique role: the Father elects (Ephesians 1:3–6), the Son redeems (Ephesians 1:7–12), and the Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:8), regenerates (Titus 3:5), and seals believers (Ephesians 1:13–14). Without the Trinity, the gospel itself collapses.

God as Creator and Judge

Genesis 1 reveals the triune God as the Creator of all things, including mankind. As Creator, He has rightful ownership of His creation: “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). Therefore, He alone is worthy of worship (Exodus 20:2–5; Matthew 4:10).

But humanity has rebelled. Instead of worshiping the Creator, we worship the created. As a result, the relationship between God and man is fractured, replaced by enmity and divine wrath (Psalm 5:5). While the wrath of God may seem offensive to modern ears, it is a necessary truth that awakens sinners to their desperate condition.

Hebrews 9:27 warns that every person will one day stand before God’s judgment seat. The gospel makes no sense without first grasping that God is Judge, holy and just, who cannot leave sin unpunished (Exodus 34:7).

The Holiness of God

Above all, Scripture emphasizes God’s holiness: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). As Paul Washer notes, holiness is not simply one attribute of God but the context in which all other attributes exist. His love is holy love. His justice is holy justice. His mercy is holy mercy.

The Hebrew word qadosh means “set apart” or “other.” God’s holiness highlights His complete uniqueness and transcendence above creation. Nothing compares to Him in purity, majesty, and perfection.

Why emphasize His holiness in evangelism? Because it reveals our greatest problem: we are sinful, the very opposite of everything God is. He commands, “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44–45; 1 Peter 1:16). Without holiness, “no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). God hates sin because He is holy, and His holiness demands judgment.

Correcting a Man-Centered Gospel

In modern evangelism, there is often a tendency to emphasize God’s love and mercy while neglecting His holiness, justice, and sovereignty. This creates a man-centered gospel, presenting God as a rescuer of our plans rather than the holy Judge of all creation.

John MacArthur warns against this error:

Much of contemporary evangelism aims to arouse anything but fear of God in the mind of sinners. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” is the common opening line, but Scripture says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10).

A faithful gospel must put God in His rightful place—at the center. Sinners are under His wrath because they have violated His holy law. The good news is not simply that God rescues us, but that God Himself provides salvation from His own just judgment. Jesus Christ bore that wrath on the cross so that those who believe may be forgiven and reconciled to the holy God.

Conclusion

When presenting the gospel, we must proclaim God as He is: holy, sovereign, triune, Creator, and Judge. Only when sinners see the greatness of God and the depth of their sin will they understand their desperate need for a Savior.

Evangelism that begins with God—not man—leads to a gospel that magnifies His glory and grace. As we declare His holiness, justice, and mercy, we point people not to a god of their imagination but to the true and living God who saves.

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“Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made heaven and earth” (Revelation 14:7).