God is Spirit, yet He possesses a tangible form and shape as revealed in Scripture. Though spirit is invisible like wind, it has real substance, distinct from earthly flesh and bone, and is governed by higher laws. God's body, composed of immortal, perfect spirit, is not omnipresent; He exists in one place at a time, such as heaven, while His influence is omnipresent through His Spirit. Created in His image and likeness, humans reflect His visible form and attributes. His presence is felt through relationship and union, not bodily nearness, and grows stronger through studying His word, which, as spirit and life, shapes us to become one with Him.

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Image and Likeness of God (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is Spirit, yet He has form and shape as He has revealed in His Word. The Bible, as God's written revelation to His children, clearly states that He possesses a visible form, contrary to assertions that He has no body or takes up no space. In Genesis 1:26-27, God declares that man is made in His image and likeness, implying a physical resemblance, not merely a spiritual or abstract concept. This is supported by numerous scriptures where terms like "tselem," "demooth," and "icon" are used to describe both God's form and human likeness, consistently indicating shape and appearance that can be perceived. Jesus Himself affirmed this in John 5:37, noting that God has a form visible to the eye and a voice audible to the ear. Throughout Scripture, there is no indication that God's body is temporary or vaporous; rather, He teaches that a spirit being's body, while not of earthly flesh and bone, is solid and tangible. God's own descriptions of Himself are clear and trustworthy, and to suggest otherwise is to question His honesty, as He is not a man that He would lie. Thus, we must accept what He reveals about His form and shape, recognizing that we are created in His image with the potential to be exactly like Him.

Image and Likeness of God (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The invisible things of God are clearly seen by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, which indicates His divine nature. This nature of God is revealed through creation as a constant and natural revelation, available to all who stop to consider it, allowing them to learn much about Him. God is Spirit, and while this is a statement of fact, it does not mean He lacks a body or substance. Spiritual substance is just as real as natural substance, though it is a higher type of matter governed by higher laws. God has revealed Himself in many ways, showing that He possesses a form with attributes like a head, hair, face, arms, fingers, hands, waist, eyes, ears, mouth, feet, and even a heart. He feels emotions, rests, eats, drinks, laughs, gets angry, speaks in a still small voice, and roars from Zion. As a Man, He wept, demonstrating that He is in His image and likeness with mankind. God moves from place to place in a body, rides in a vehicle, walks, plants, works, and lives in a spiritual place called heaven. He is a being, a person, an individual, located in one place at a time, with deep feelings, pained when people sin, showing that He is not a mere abstract power or universal mind but a tangible presence with substance.

Image and Likeness of God (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The concept of spirit, as derived from the Hebrew "ruach" and the Greek "pneuma," signifies an invisible force or power. Jesus Christ illustrates this with the example of wind, which, though unseen, moves objects and carries substance, demonstrating that spirit, like air, is real despite being invisible to the unaided eye. Spirit beings possess substance, yet human nature does not naturally grant the ability to perceive them; this capacity must be given, as shown in the account of Elisha and Gehazi, where Gehazi was enabled to see a vast army of spirit beings surrounding them. God's body is described as being composed of spirit, distinguishing Him from mankind, who are earthly flesh and bone. His body, though spirit, is immortal, perfect, and self-existent. This composition means God cannot be omnipresent in body; He exists in one place at a time, as depicted in scriptures showing Him sitting, standing, walking, talking, eating, drinking, commanding, and creating within specific locations. Yet, when we ask God to be present with us in gatherings, we refer to His presence in spirit, not in body, since He dwells in heaven, from where He will return. God's presence is not governed by bodily sight or nearness but by relationship and union. Through His Spirit, He can project Himself into multitudes of situations, being omnipresent in influence despite being in one location. This union with God grows stronger through studying His word, meditating on it, and sharing experiences with Him, allowing His mind and character to shape our lives. His words, described as spirit and life, become an invisible force working within us, drawing us closer to being one with Him as we apply them in our lives.

A Primer On Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God is Spirit, an immaterial and invisible essence, not bound by the physical characteristics of the material world. As declared in John 4:24, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth, emphasizing His composition as distinct from anything tangible. Though invisible, He possesses form and shape, as humans are made in His image, reflecting His likeness in our physical structure. This spiritual nature is further illuminated in II Corinthians 3:17, where the Lord is identified as the Spirit, signifying not only His essence but also the liberty found in His presence. The Spirit of God, first mentioned in Genesis 1:2 as hovering over the face of the waters, represents the thought processes emerging from His mind, planning and preparing creation through invisible power. This Spirit is an invisible force, a movement of air as suggested by the Hebrew "ruach" and Greek "pneuma," manifesting effects that can be witnessed externally or discerned internally through thought processes. Psalm 104:30 illustrates this creative power, as God sends forth His Spirit to create and renew the face of the earth, an invisible influence driving action. Moreover, God's Spirit is holy, setting it apart from all other spiritual influences. This holiness exudes purity, righteousness, and love, always aiming to liberate and produce life on the divine level, as seen in Galatians 5:22-23, where the fruit of the Spirit is described as love, joy, peace, and other virtuous qualities. Unlike other spirits that may manipulate or enslave, God's Spirit, emanating from the essence of His mind, offers thoughts, words, and character that are always clean and upbuilding. Through spending time with Him, imbibing His Spirit from His Book and through prayer, one grows in the quality and use of this holy influence, aligning with His divine nature.

Can Theology Define God's Nature?

Article by Earl L. Henn

God is Spirit, as revealed in John 4:24. This truth challenges the application of human reasoning to the nature of God, as the spirit world exists in a dimension beyond our understanding. We cannot apply the same type of logic to the spirit world that we use in the physical world, for none of us has ever experienced what it is like to be spirit. Our finite minds struggle to comprehend the infinite capabilities of God, and human logic only clouds the issue. The revealed Word of God remains the sole source of knowledge about His nature, emphasizing that our understanding must be rooted solely in what He has disclosed through Scripture.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is spirit. It does not say He is a spirit. There is no indefinite article in the Greek. What Jesus is saying is that God is invisible and immaterial. Both scriptures are saying that God is Spirit. In these two instances spirit is being used in the sense of composition. Just because They are spirit does not mean They have no form. They do have form. Physically we are in Their image. God is Spirit and He has a spirit. Even as the spirit in man is invisible immaterial and an immaterial element of his mind so also is the Spirit of God an invisible immaterial element of God's mind. God is Spirit and He has a spirit. Man is material and he has a spirit. The difference between the two is nothing and much. Nothing in the sense that they are both spirit and they are so much alike but the Spirit of God can be joined to the spirit of man and a begettal takes place. The law of biogenesis tells that kind reproduces after kind. Reproduction will not take place spiritually unless the Spirit of God and the spirit of man are capable of procreation and so between the two of them there is no difference. When God breathed into Adam the breath of life what did He breathe into him. It is that spirit that God breathed as it were into Adam that makes it possible for the Spirit of God to be joined with the spirit of man. There is no difference between the two except one God's is holy. The only difference is that God's is holy. Man's is foul spoiled rotten filthy dirty murderous adulterous evil in every sense. But still procreation can take place and nobody even sees it it happens in the mind. It is a spiritual thing a spiritual joining of what. Two minds.

God the Father (Part 1)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God is Spirit. He has no physical or measurable form and is therefore invisible. Jesus conveyed this truth to the woman of Samaria, declaring that the hour had come when true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such worshipers. Because God is Spirit, He cannot be confined to one place or conceived of as a material being. He cannot be represented adequately by an abstract concept or by an idol, since He is not material. God is without a physical body and is not composed of material parts. Consequently, He does not dwell in temples made with hands and is not worshiped with human hands, as though He needed anything, for He gives life and breath to all. Although God is Spirit and normally invisible to human eyes, visions such as Daniel's have revealed that He possesses form and shape in the spiritual realm. This attribute of God as Spirit underscores the requirement for pure, holy, and spiritual worship offered in truth rather than according to human reasoning or tradition.

The Source of Church Characteristics (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. This declaration clarifies that God cannot be confined to physical locations such as mountains or temples, nor can He be identified with stone, wood, a man, or an animal. God differs entirely from ordinary human conceptions of deity, remaining invisible and immaterial yet possessing form and shape. Because He is Spirit, worship must occur through the same spiritual essence rather than through external rituals or places, allowing access to Him at any time and in any location. This truth connects directly to the process by which the Father and the Son create the church's unique characteristics. Humans belong to a different kind than God and therefore require a measure of His Holy Spirit to bridge the gap, enabling genuine communication and understanding of spiritual matters. The Spirit supplies the power to grasp truth, repent, and cooperate voluntarily in the transformation of the heart from enmity against God to alignment with His will. Without this gift, no one can produce the spiritual qualities the Builder intends for His church. The same Spirit forms believers into a new creation, fostering unity with the Father and the Son that mirrors Their oneness. This spiritual makeup distinguishes the church from all other institutions, ensuring that its members follow the Lamb wherever He leads and prepare for an everlasting purpose beyond the present age.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God is Spirit, a description of the invisible substance composing His being rather than a separate person added to the Godhead. This understanding emerges from the consistent biblical portrayal of spirit as an unseen force or power whose effects alone are observable, whether as wind, breath, courage, or the empowering quality enabling understanding and artistry. Both the Hebrew ruach and Greek pneuma convey this root idea, with meaning always determined by context. Jesus Himself identifies the Holy Spirit as power from on high, and the manifestations at Pentecost, such as languages and fire, reveal only the results of that power rather than the force itself. When Scripture states that God is Spirit, it refers to the very composition of the Father and the Son, who together possess this holy nature of pure, righteous attitude and conduct. Because both are spirit and holy, both are Holy Spirit, with the Spirit of truth identified as the Spirit of Jesus Christ proceeding from the Father. This oneness between the Father and the Son, perfectly unified in purpose, extends to believers through the indwelling of that same Spirit, enabling them to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law and overcome the world. The absence of any throne, worship, or independent relationship attributed to a supposed third person confirms that the Holy Spirit is not a co-equal being but the invisible power by which the one Supreme God and His Son carry out Their plan.

Defining Logos (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God is a Spirit, an invisible, immaterial, but powerful Being. This revelation appears first in Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God hovers over the face of the waters, conveying that He surveys, designs, plans, thinks, and organizes prior to creation. The same truth resurfaces in John 1:1-18, where the Word is declared to be with God and to be God, establishing that He shares the identical spiritual nature. Although the point remains implied rather than stated outright, the figures of light that cannot be overcome, the life inherent in Him, and the references to His fullness of glory all confirm that only a spirit possesses such attributes. John emphasizes that the Word existed as spirit before becoming flesh, underscoring the magnitude of what He relinquished. This spiritual identity links directly to the other four revelations of God: pre-existence, creation of all things, reasoned intellect, and the power of speech that brings reality into being. Because the Word is of the same spiritual essence as the Father, every action and word of Jesus during His human life expresses the Father exactly. The Word therefore functions as the perfect revealer, making known the Father's sovereignty, holiness, and good will through both speech and works.

Born Again or Begotten? (Part Three)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The teaching that "God is Spirit," drawn from John 4:24, forms a crucial link in Jesus' explanation of the new birth in John 3, particularly in verses 7-8 concerning wind and Spirit. Nicodemus, like many since, misunderstood Christ's spiritual symbolism by taking it literally, and this confusion extended to the nature of God's Spirit itself. Jesus corrects the false teaching Nicodemus had been schooled in by explaining that being born again is not a moral duty a person must perform, but something that must happen to him through an act of the Father's will. This connects directly to the truth that God is spirit: because He is spirit, His work in producing spiritual birth is invisible, sovereign, and beyond human control, just as wind cannot be directed or controlled by man. In John 3:8, the Greek word underlying both "wind" and "spirit" is the same, pneuma, and this shared meaning illuminates how the invisible Spirit operates. Wind and spirit are alike in that neither can be seen directly, yet both produce visible, discernible effects—wind through swaying trees and moving clouds, and Spirit through the transformation of a person's character from sinful to holy, from immoral to moral, from stubborn to gentle and helpful. The definite article before "Spirit" in this verse indicates that Jesus is not speaking generally, but specifically of the Father, who Himself is spirit and holy, and who alone causes spiritual birth. Because He is spirit, no one can order Him about or direct the course of His actions; He acts sovereignly, granting regeneration, repentance, and spiritual growth to whomever He wills and at the times and in the ways that please Him. This understanding of God as Spirit underscores the broader message that salvation is entirely God's gift and initiative, not a human achievement. Just as Jacob's calling was determined by God's sovereign choice before he had done anything to earn or merit it, so too does the Father, being spirit, personally and directly implant His Spirit in a person's heart to bring about the new birth, with the individual essentially passive in that moment. Nicodemus, steeped in Pharisaic tradition, had never conceived of a relationship with the Creator God that was this personal, intimate, and continuous—a relationship made possible only because God, as spirit, works invisibly yet powerfully within the human heart. This theme of God's spiritual, sovereign nature also safeguards against wrongly assuming that spiritual birth must wait until the resurrection, when believers will be composed of spirit like wind. Such an assumption contradicts clear scriptures like Colossians 1:13, which affirm that believers already possess spiritual life. Because God is spirit and His Spirit's effects, though invisible in origin, are evident in a transformed life, the born-again believer can know that this change has already occurred, even while still in physical, mortal existence. Thus, the doctrine that God is spirit reinforces the entire framework of John 3: spiritual birth is a present, sovereign, divine act, not a future physical event tied to bodily resurrection.

Defining Logos (Part One)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Greek word 'logos' has been negatively loaded with unbiblical meanings. Its basic meaning is 'word' or 'saying,' yet it is really more complex.

John (Part Eight)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The woman of Samaria is like each of us, initially hardened, self-willed and skeptical when called, but afterwards zealous when enlightened by the truth.

Sincerity and Truth (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In contrast to the world's embracing of fraud and deceit, God's called-out ones are obligated to eat the bread of sincerity and truth all our lives.