I would bet that most of you have attended an event where the announcer gets the crowd all rowed up and then introduces a star performer with the following words, “Ladies and gentlemen, here comes ‘the one and only…’” Have you heard these words before? This phrase means preeminent beyond measure, completely above comparison, and supremely unique. That is why it is so ironic to realize that these words have been applied to so many people. They have been used to describe everyone from political leaders, Olympic athletes, super-models, musical artists, to circus performers and WWE wrestlers (which are about the same as circus performers)! They may be “the one and only” for a little while, but it is only a matter of time before someone better comes along.

            Today, we live in a world where everyone wants to be “the one and only” something. Our culture is obsessed with expressing our individuality and uniqueness! Even people who don’t have a lot of natural ability can manufacture their our uniqueness by dying their hair some crazy color, getting a big, bad, bold tattoo plastered on your…(well, I better not say), by piercing some part of your body that no one has ever pierced before, or by inventing a new style of song or dance. (Back in 2013, I was working on a new dance to express myself. I was going to call it “twerking,” but then that blasted Miley Cyrus stole it from me and took it mainstream before I had my chance. So much for her originality!)

            These ridiculous attempts at achieving uniqueness remind me of Margaret Mead’s famous oxymoronic quote, “Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everybody else!” She is absolutely right! We are all unique in our own way, but so is everyone else—therefore, we really aren’t that unique!

            If we were to be technical about the phrase “the one and only,” we would have to conclude that it can’t be used to describe any human being. It is a term that can only be used of God. He is the only “one and only!” He is the only one who is preeminent beyond measure, completely above comparison, and supremely unique!

            Therefore, at the outset of this sermon, I say to you, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the one and only God!” And I would like to do this by reflecting on the doctrine of the unity of God. When theologians refer to the unity of God, they usually either refer to the nature of the one true God verses the pantheon of false gods or explain that God is a unified being that is not divided into parts. In this sermon, I will do both!

God is the One and Only True God (Isaiah 46:5-10; I Corinthians 8:4-6)

            Let us begin by looking at a couple of biblical passages that declare that God is the only true God. In Isaiah 46, the prophet Isaiah compares the one true God to the idols of Babylon. The Babylonians worshiped many pagan gods, two of which were Bel and Nebo. They took precious metals and meted them down to form idols of these so called gods and then set them on carts to be pulled around and worshiped. In Isaiah 46:5-6, the one true God, the God of Israel, speaks and says, “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.” In these verses, God speaks to the absurdity of worshiping man made images that cannot move, think, feel, speak, or save people from their troubles.

            In verses 8-10, God reminds his rebellious people that he is the one true God and that there is no other; there is none like him. He knows everything from the past and everything in the future. He has the power and authority to do everything he pleases.

            The Apostle Paul echoes Isaiah’s declaration of the one true God in the New Testament. In I Corinthians 8:4-6, where he was discussing the controversial practice of Christians eating meat that was sacrificed to idols, he says: “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” Paul recognized that there were many pagan idols and so-called gods, but they were all false. Christians believe that there is only one God and only one Lord Jesus Christ, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe and everything in it. Therefore, we should worship and live for the Creator, not created things!

            It is startling to consider how many people today still bow down to man-made objects; they may not be images fashioned out of metal, wood, and stone, but they worship the great American idols of paper and plastic—that is, money and material possessions. It is the goal of so many people to become wealthy and to accumulate homes, cars, electronics, and other things. Other people worship intangible things like their education, career, family, or pleasure. I know many young people who drop out of church when they enroll in college! I know people who become so consumed by their work or career that they forsake God as a priority in their lives. I know parents who place their children above God. They don’t realize how tragic it is when they say, “My whole life revolves around my kids!” Still, other people’s lives are characterized by one pleasurable pursuit after another.

            How about you? Who or what do you worship? Do you worship the one and only true God who created the heavens and the earth or have you been worshiping the man-made idols? Who or what is the top priority of your life? If it is not God, then it is an idol! If you ever want to do a spiritual self check-up, just ask yourself this question: How do I spend my time and money? That will always tell you what is most important in your life. Let us make 2014 the year that we forsake our idols and refocus our lives on the one true God, the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, from whom all things came and for whom we live!

God is One Unified Being (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34)

            Now that we have seen the one true God against the pantheon of idols and false gods, let us take a closer look into the nature of God as a unified being. To do this, I would like us to consider two corresponding biblical passages. The first one is the great Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-9.The Shema is the central prayer in the Jewish prayer book and is often the first portion of Scripture that a Jewish child learns. During its recitation in the synagogue, Orthodox Jews pronounce each word very carefully and cover their eyes with their right hand. Many Jews recite the Shema at least twice daily: once in the morning and once in the evening.

            Moses wrote these words as the Israelites were about to take possession of the Promised Land. It was important for him to reaffirm the essential monotheistic nature of God as the Israelites entered a land that was dominated by polytheistic and pantheistic peoples. He wanted to remind them that there is only one God and that he cannot be divided into parts. All of his divine attributes are consistent with his character. Scripture never singles out one attribute of God as conflicting with another or as one being more important than all the rest. It assumes that every attribute is completely and eternally true of God’s character. God is a perfect unity of all of his divine attributes and therefore should be loved with “all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your strength.”

            Jesus quoted this very passage in Mark 12:28-34, when he outwitted the religious leaders who tried to trip him up in a theological trap. One of the teachers of the law asked him which of the Ten Commandments was the greatest, but instead of trying to prioritize them, Jesus simply quoted the great Shema, which summarizes and highlights the unity of God and the Commandments. This teacher of the law recognized the brilliance of Jesus’ response and affirmed its truth. To love the Lord God with all of your heart and all of your understanding and all of your strength is far more important than going through the motions of any religious rituals!

            God is a unity and must be worshiped as such! Today, people live in a “cut and paste world” where they like to pick and choose what they like, and unfortunately they try to apply this same principle to God. I have heard people say things like: “I like the God of the New Testament, but not the Old Testament!” “I really respect the teachings of Jesus, but I don’t like the Apostle Paul.” “I definitely believe in God’s love, but I don’t believe in his wrath!” “I enjoy hearing about God’s mercy and grace, but I’m not interested in his judgment or justice.” Do you ever say anything like this? Do you ever think this way?

            All of these comments completely miss the mark. To try to divide the nature of God is to commit idolatry. He is a perfect unity and that is why he must be loved and worshiped with our whole being. May 2014 be the year that we love the one true God, our only Lord, with all of our hearts and all of our souls and all of our strength!

            Allow me to conclude with the words to a hymn written by Martin Luther in 1525: