Bible Question:

Aren't the gods of every nation and religion the same god? I think there must be a god for every nation. But it is still the same god for everyone. What do do you think? I think god is in everyone, but no one can see Him.

Bible Answer:

The answer to your question is “No!”

Are All Gods The Same?

The holy scriptures are very clear that there is one and only one God. The God of the Bible calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6). He is also called Jehovah. He tells us that He is the only God and there is no other. That is, the God of the Bible has answered your question. There are no other gods. He is the only one in existence.

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me . . .” (NASB) Is. 44:6

. . . Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none. (NASB) Isa. 44:8

I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. (NASB) Is. 45:5

. . . Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. (NASB) Isa. 45:21

For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me . . . (NASB) Isa. 46:9

Throughout the Old Testament and New Testament the scriptures make it clear that the so-called gods of the other nations are not real gods.

Paul and the Gods of Asia

The book of Acts tells us that throughout the nations of Asia, the apostle Paul had warned people in different ways that their gods were not real gods.

You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. (NASB) Acts 19:26

In the city of Athens, Paul observed that some of them were worshipping an unknown god. In fact, the people of Athens and most of Asia were worshipping many gods.

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” (NASB) Acts 17:22-23

After this statement Paul announced that there was only one God and He made everything.

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ (NASB) Acts 17:24-28

Now why would Paul tell them that about the God who made the world if they were already worshipping the true God but by another name?

Elijah and Baal

Why would the prophet Elijah challenge the followers of Baal to forsake or abandon their god if their god was really the same as the God the nation of Israel worshipped? Listen to the prophet’s challenge.

Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. (NASB) 1 Kings 18:21

Elijah knew that they were not worshipping the true God. We would encourage you to read 1 Kings 18:20-40. It tells us that Elijah challenged the followers of the god Baal to call upon their god to destroy a burnt offering and a pile of water soaked wood with fire. But after many requests and ritual nothing happened. Then Elijah prayed and God immediately destroyed it with fire from heaven.

Commands Not To Worship Any Other God

The following verses make it clear that the God of the Bible does not want us worshipping any other so-called gods. We are not to worship the gods of other nations or religions.

You shall have no other gods before Me. (NASB) Deuteronomy 5:7

Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth. (NASB) Exodus 23:13

. . . do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. (NASB) Deut. 28:14

If the gods of the other nations are really the same god, then why does God warn us to not follow them? Why are we encouraged to not even say their name or seek to understand more about them? We are not to read books about them or investigate them. The answer is found in the following passage.

No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. (NASB) 1 Cor. 10:20

The gods of the other nations are actually demons. They are brilliant, deceptive, and cunning. They seek to pull us away from the true God. The so-called gods of other religions are being impersonated and empowered by demons. And the chief demon, who is called Satan, pretends to be an angel of light. He is the power and force behind all false religion.

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (NASB) 2 Cor. 11:14

Satan seeks to pull every man and woman away from God. Right now he is succeeding very well. It will only get worse in the future.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons . . . (NASB) 1 Tim. 4:1

God In Us

Lastly, God is not in each one of us. He is holy and we are not holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). If He were in each one of us, then we would be holy too! But, we are not holy. We are sinners (Gal. 3:22).

Conclusion:

The true God is Jesus Christ. He has promised to return again some day and when He does, Satan and his demons will be defeated. That is the message of the following,

. . . looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus . . . (NASB) Titus 2:13

There are no other gods. Jesus Christ is the only true God and there is no other.

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (NASB) Acts 4:12

No other God can help you because there are no other gods. Would you like to know the one and only true God? We would encourage you to read “Searching For God” and the “Rescue!

Suggested Links:

Searching For God
Who Is God?
Jesus Our Savior
Rescue!
Prophecy of the Future