Table Of ContentT h i r d E d i t i o n
“Paul David Washer’s study guide on the doctrine of God, The One True God, is the
best introductory work known to me. It sets out great truths in clear and balanced form.
Human authorities are not quoted but it is evident that the author is familiar with the
literature of historic Christianity and accordingly he misses the pitfalls into which others
might fall. Young Christians could scarcely spend their time better than working carefully
through these pages.”
– Iain H. Murray
Co-Founder and Editorial Director
for the Banner of Truth Trust
“The One True God will lead you through a profitable exercise in biblical and system-
atic theology. You will learn what the Bible says about the character and attributes of the
God who is truly like no other. This is a wonderful work that I pray will help many grow
in knowing God. Read it and be blessed. Read it and worship your God.”
– Daniel L. Akin
President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
“When my young son put on his first pair of glasses, he was shocked to find a world
of beautiful things to see out there. He could not keep his mouth shut about it. This
guided look at God’s disclosure of Himself will be like that for many nearsighted Chris-
tians. The study of the autobiography of God will not only manage our myopia, but will
unbolt our mouths! Like a skillful optometrist, I will use and recommend The One True
God often.”
– Jim Elliff
Christian Communicators Worldwide
www.ccwtoday.org
“In The One True God, Paul Washer has provided a sound, biblical, substantive theo-
logical study for those of us who have been longing for more. Anyone interested in bolster-
ing their understanding of the Doctrine of God will find this study immensely valuable.
Moreover, since The One True God is expositional in nature, it can also serve as a teaching
tool to give young believers a solid foundation, or to aid in evangelizing unbelievers.”
– Voddie Bauchum Jr.
Pastor, author of Family Driven Faith
Third edition
Pa u l D av i d Wa s h e r
Hannibal, Missouri
www.grantedministries.org
THE OnE TruE GOD
The One True God
Copyright © 2004 by Paul David Washer of HeartCry Missionary Society.
Published by Granted Ministries Press, A Division of Granted Ministries.
Publication History:
1st Edition printed in 2004.
2nd Edition printed in 2007.
3rd Edition, revised and expanded, published in 2009 by Granted Ministries Press.
Cover design and graphics by Jonathan Green and Scott Schaller.
For information or additional copies of The One True God and other
resources write:
Granted Ministries Press
P.O. Box 1348
Hannibal, MO 63401-1348 USA
www.grantedministries.org
orders at grantedministries dot org
All Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
ISBN 978-0-9817321-0-7
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, re-
cording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the
prior permission of the publisher. Subject to USA copyright law.
Printed in the United States of America
2009
TablE Of COnTEnTs
1 God is One 11
2 God is Spirit 19
3 God is Great and Perfect 31
4 God is Eternal, Self-Existent, and Immutable 41
5 God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient 53
6 God is Holy 67
7 God is Righteous 79
8 God is True and Truthful 89
9 God is Faithful 103
10 God is Love 113
11 God is Creator and Sustainer 127
12 God is Lord Over All 141
13 God is Lawgiver and Judge 155
14 The Names of God 173
aCknOWlEDGMEnTs
How can any man or angel write a workbook about God? It would be an
easier task to count every star in heaven. Knowing this, we acknowledge
that whatever is found to be “holy, righteous, and good” in these pages is
the result of the grace of God. Knowing something of the seriousness of the
subject matter, this workbook has been written with fear and trembling:
“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know
that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” James 3:1
I would like to thank my wife Charo who is growing to be “strong in the
Lord,” and my three children Ian, Evan, and Rowan who are able to pull
me away from my work with a glance. I would also like to thank the staff
at HeartCry who encouraged me to publish this work, and Pastor Charles
Leiter of Kirksville, Missouri, whose insights were invaluable.
vi
InTrODuCTIOn
Method of Study
The great goal of this study is for the student to have an encounter with
God through His Word. Founded upon the conviction that the Scriptures
are the inspired and infallible Word of God, this study has been designed in
such a way that it is literally impossible for the student to advance without
an open Bible before him or her. Our goal is to obey the exhortation of the
apostle Paul in II Timothy 2:15:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker
who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Each lesson deals with a specific doctrine of the attributes of God. The
student will complete each lesson by answering the questions according to
the Scriptures given. The student is encouraged to meditate upon each text
and write his or her thoughts. The benefit reaped from this study will de-
pend upon the student’s investment. If the student answers the questions by
thoughtlessly copying the text and without seeking to understand its mean-
ing, very little will be gained.
The student will find that this is primarily a Biblical study and does not
contain much in the way of colorful illustrations, quaint stories, or even
theological commentaries. It was our desire to provide a work that only
pointed the way to the Scriptures and allowed the Scriptures to speak for
themselves.
This book may be used by an individual, small group, or Sunday school
class. It is highly recommended that the student complete each chapter on
his or her own before meeting for discussion and questions with the group
or discipleship leader.
vii
Exhortation to the Student
Through the use of this book the student is encouraged to study biblical
doctrine and discover its exalted place in the Christian life. The true Chris-
tian cannot bear or even survive a divorce between the emotions and the
intellect, or between devotion to God and the doctrine of God. According
to the Scriptures, neither our emotions nor our experiences provide an ad-
equate foundation for the Christian life. Only the truths of Scripture, under-
stood with the mind and communicated through doctrine, can provide that
sure foundation upon which we should establish our beliefs and behavior as
well as determine the validity of our emotions and experiences. The mind
is not the enemy of the heart, and doctrine is not an obstacle to devotion. The two
are indispensable and should be inseparable. The Scriptures command us
to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all
our mind (Matthew 22:37), and to worship God in both spirit and in truth
(John 4:24).
The study of doctrine is both an intellectual and devotional discipline. It is a
passionate search for God that should always lead the student to greater
personal transformation, obedience, and heartfelt worship. Therefore, the
student should be on guard against the great error of seeking only imper-
sonal knowledge, and not the person of God. Neither mindless devotion nor
mere intellectual pursuits are profitable, for in either case, God is lost.
The New American Standard Version
While there are many good English translations of the Bible, this study
was developed for use with the New American Standard Version. This ver-
sion is not absolutely required to complete the study, but there may be times
when the student will notice a minor difference if they use a different trans-
lation (especially if they are using a less accurate, non-literal translation).
This translation of Scripture was chosen for the following reasons: (1) the
unwavering conviction of the translators that the Bible is the infallible Word
of God; and (2) its faithfulness to the original languages.
viii
“Hear O Israel! the lord is our God, the lord is one!”
– Deuteronomy 6:4 –
“The grace of the lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy spirit, be with you all.”
– II Corinthians 13:14 –
Description:“Paul David Washer's study guide on the doctrine of God, The One True God,
The study of the autobiography of God will not only manage our myopia, but will.
