God's Attributes
Unity
Unity is the quality or state of oneness, that is, of not being multiple. Unity is, thus, a condition of harmony or a continuation without deviation or change. Thus, Israel is told that their God is one!
Deuteronomy 6:4 (ESV)
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
In the New Testament this concept is carried forward by Jesus who explains His relationship with the Father as a unity.
John 14:9-11 (ESV)
9 Jesus said to him, "Have
I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us
the Father"? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to
you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that
I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves."
This unity of the Godhead may be found in other passages as well, including those which deal with the Holy Spirit (Deut 4:39; 6:4; Isa 44:6, 8; 45:18, 21;Mark 12:29; John 10:30; 17:3; 1Co 8:4, 6; Eph 4:6; 1Ti 2:5; 1 John 5:7). Unity is seen in God's great and wonderous works, His being the Only God, His being the only Savior, and His providence and sovereignty. This is not a complete list of actions and events attributed to God's unity.
Scripture provides that God's unity is one of the basis for exclusive obedience (Deut 4:39, 40), as well as grounds for supremely loving Him (Deut 6:4, 5; Mark 12:29, 30). Interestingly enough, Scripture uses God's unity as a basis for the fact that all should know and acknowledge God (Deut 4:35; Psalm 83:18), even those who are not saved (James 2:19, 20).
