Who Is God in Christianity and How Can You Begin to Know Him?

In Christianity, "God" means the one eternal God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three persons in one divine being. Jesus is not a separate god or a mere teacher; Christians understand him as God become human, who died for sin and rose again. You do not need to have everything figured out before you start: reading the Bible, praying honestly, and joining a congregation's worship and small groups are the ordinary ways people begin. First Presbyterian Church of Dallas (FPC Dallas), for example, states plainly, "You don't have to have it all figured out to walk through our doors. Come as you are. Bring your questions."

Who "God" Refers To

Christianity is not polytheism, and it is not the worship of an abstract force. The historic Christian claim is that there is one God who has revealed himself in three persons:

This is why Christians can speak of "loving God and our neighbors together," as FPC Dallas puts it—God is personal, not a distant energy, so a relationship with him is the goal rather than merely believing a fact.

How Jesus Relates to God

The Christian answer to "who is God?" runs directly through Jesus. The claim is that in Jesus, God did not stay remote but became human, lived a sinless life, died to deal with human sin, and rose from the dead. That is why the church's language centers on being "Transformed By Love"—the change is understood as God's action, not something a person earns.

Two practical consequences follow:

• You approach God through Jesus, not through a ladder of personal achievement.
• Grace comes before effort. Forgiveness is described as a gift received by faith, not a wage paid by good behavior.

Why Christians Say People Need Reconciliation

Christian teaching holds that sin—self-rule, wrongdoing, and indifference toward God—separates people from God, and that this separation is not closed by being a decent person. The terms that matter here:

• Grace — God's unearned favor.
• Faith — trusting God's promise rather than your own record.
• Repentance — a genuine turn, not just regret.

A useful example: someone who has spent years assuming church is for people who already have their lives together may find the actual message is the reverse—that the door is open precisely because no one has it together. FPC Dallas frames its welcome as "The doors are wide open for all God's people."

How to Begin Knowing God

These are ordinary, repeatable steps rather than a one-time event.

1. Read the Bible. Start with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) to meet Jesus directly. Expected result: a clearer picture of what Christians claim about God, and questions of your own.
2. Pray honestly. Talk to God as you actually are—doubt, anger, and confusion included. Expected result: prayer becomes a habit rather than a performance.
3. Attend worship. FPC Dallas holds Sunday services at 8:30AM, 10AM, and 11AM, with childcare and programs for children and youth every Sunday. Expected result: you hear Scripture taught and see how a community practices faith.
4. Join a smaller group. FPC Dallas lists Home Groups and Young Adults among its ministries. Expected result: space to ask the questions you would not raise in a crowd.
5. Ask someone. The congregation lists pastors, elders, and deacons, and a "Connect" path for newcomers. Expected result: a real person to talk with instead of guessing.

If You Want to Visit

FPC Dallas is located at 1835 Young St., Dallas, TX 75201, in Downtown Dallas, and also offers online worship. Note that the church office is closed July 3–4 for Independence Day, so plan around that if you need to call or stop by the office. The site lists a "Plan Your Visit" page and an "I'm New" section under Connect—useful first stops before a Sunday.

Common Misunderstandings

• "God is just an impersonal force." Christian teaching describes God as personal—able to be addressed, trusted, and loved.
• "I have to be good enough first." The stated order is grace then change, not change then acceptance.
• "I must resolve every doubt before I come." FPC Dallas explicitly invites people to "Bring your questions," which suggests questions are expected, not disqualifying.
• "Church is only for insiders." The congregation describes itself as "open and affirming" and welcomes newcomers through a dedicated path.

What to Do Next

If you want to move from reading to doing: pick one Gospel and read a chapter a day, pray for a few minutes in your own words, then attend a Sunday service—FPC Dallas at 8:30AM, 10AM, or 11AM, or online—and follow up through the Connect or Plan Your Visit pages. Bring your questions with you; according to the congregation's own invitation, that is exactly what they expect.