Theism: Belief in the One True God

Behind every religion and worldview is a claim about the divine. Theism is the belief that a deity or divine being exists — and how people understand that being shapes everything else they believe about life, purpose and destiny.

The Main Forms of Theism

This is the belief in a deity or divine being. Monotheism is the belief there is only one God, which the Christian faith adheres to. Polytheism is the belief in and worship of more than one god, such as practiced by the Hindus. Henotheism considers there are many lesser gods under a supreme leader. Pantheism sees God in everything, blurring the distinction between the Creator and His creation. Non-theism is not believing in a god or gods. These views cannot all be true at once, for they make conflicting claims about the same reality — whereas Scripture presents the one true God as utterly distinct from the idols of human imagination (1 Cor 8:4-6).

The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God' – Psalm 14:1

The God Revealed in Scripture

Christian theism is not a vague belief in "something up there". The Bible reveals one personal God — the Creator of heaven and earth — who is separate from His creation yet intimately involved with it. He is not an impersonal force to be merged with, as pantheism teaches, nor a crowd of competing deities, as polytheism imagines, but a God who speaks, acts, judges and loves. Israel's daily confession declared it plainly: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart" (Deut 6:4-5). Through Christ He has made Himself knowable, so that faith in Him becomes a living relationship rather than a dry philosophy (Jn 17:3).

Living Before the Living God

Believing that God exists is only the beginning. True theism is not just a head knowledge or belief that He exists, but rather a heart relationship with Him — one that is outworked in love and obedience. It bows before its object: it trusts God, worships Him and obeys Him. Mere intellectual assent is not enough, for even the demons believe — and tremble (Jas 2:19). This relationship grows as God is known through His word and prayer, and it shows itself in the ordinary stuff of life: choices made to please Him, forgiveness extended to others, and a conscience kept tender before Him. Saving faith takes God at His word, receives His forgiveness through Christ, and expresses itself in a daily walk of dependence, gratitude and obedience before the one with whom we have to do.

Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists – Hebrews 11:6

Reflection and Application

Which of the world's views of God — polytheism, pantheism, henotheism or non-theism — has most influenced my thinking, and how does the Bible's revelation of one true God challenge it?
Do I relate to God as a personal, knowable Father, or have I drifted toward treating Him as a distant force?
Where do my daily decisions, speech and priorities practically acknowledge that God is real and central?
What is one step I can take this week to move from knowing about God to diligently seeking Him?