1. The Affirmation "One God" is Christian Too

One indispensable Old Testament proof of monotheism is the Shema, a passage repeated by devout Jews twice daily in prayer. It is the first portion of Scripture taught to Jewish children when they are old enough to speak. The Shema unequivocally affirms that there is one God and it is the fundamental Jewish affirmation of monothesim.

Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. Love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

But, we ask: “Does this monotheistic faith belong only to the Jews, or is it also a Christian Truth?” To answer this question, we must find out whether the New Testament Christians were monotheists or not.

Were New Testament Christians of the same monotheistic faith as the Old Testament Jews? Anyone who studies the New Testament must respond with a resounding “Yes!” Observe how the New Testament authors echoed the Shema at least eight times:

... the Lord is one (Mark 12:29).

... God is one and there is no other but him (Mark 12:32).

... there is only one God (Romans 3:30).

There is no God but one (1 Corinthians 8:4).

... there is but one God (1 Corinthians 8:6).

... God is one (Galatians 3:20).

... there is one God (1 Timothy 2:5).

... there is one God (James 2:19).

The expression “God is one” has a clear enough meaning: There is only one singular God. There’s not much difficulty in interpreting it. That means precisely that if someone asks you who God is, you must reply by naming just one—not two or three beings. To respond by naming more than one being is to outrightly deny that God is one. It would be a denial of monotheism.

So, you who call yourself Christian, what's your response? Who is the one God? Is your one God the same God as the God of the Jews--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Yes, he is--and that's a basic Truth every Christian should be able to affirm without deferral, delay, or doubt.