God is spirit

In opposition to Mormonism, which depicts God as having a material body, the true faith of the Church is focused on God who is pure Spirit. Though the Bible uses anthropomorphisms and anthropopathetic language, these cannot be construed as teaching literally that God has eyes, ears, etc. Otherwise Scripture would be in contradiction to itself, for Jesus affirmed in simple language, "God is Spirit."

God appeared to Abraham and other persons in the Old Testament but such occasions were loving condescensions in order to make himself known and communicate his purposes and truth. Isaiah experienced a vision of God in the temple; it was a vision, communicating truth as far as it goes, for no man can see God and live, i.e., in his essential being no (sinful) man can endure seeing God.

When Moses requested God to show him his glory, God responded by declaring who and what kind of God he is (making mention of his attributes) but "my face cannot be seen." Moses saw his back, that is, was simply given a faint idea of God's majesty. Solomon knew God as spiritual: "Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built."

Even in the New Testament, when the Son of God became incarnate and tabernacled among us, his direct witnesses could see him "in the form of a servant." We beheld his glory, said John; he came to know him in his words, actions, death and resurrection. Thus he explained or expounded God.

Elizabeth calls Mary "the mother of my Lord," confessing her faith in Christ's full deity, but Mary was obviously the mother of Jesus "according to the flesh."

The fact that God is spirit refutes various forms of false teaching.

1. "If everything had a beginning then God too must have had a beginning."

This is negated by his spirituality; God has no parts and therefore is totally independent. God is self-sufficient and does not need any part of his creation.

2. "God is not perfect."

Since God is in no way dependent on Matter or on any creature, he cannot fall short of perfection. Whatever is finite is limited, and therefore governed and controlled by rules and regulations imposed upon him. Any violation of these rules is sin; a defection from goodness. But God is above all limitations; he is the law-giver and therefore above all law.

3. "We can make representations of God."

But God is invisible because he is pure spirit, and a spirit has not bones and flesh, that is, he is not tangible. But a representation is tangible, three-dimensional, thus it speaks a lie about God. It tells us that the Unseen can be somehow seen. Because he is spiritual, God challenges would-be idolaters with this questions, "To whom then can you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare unto him?" (Isaiah 40:18) obviously referring to statues. For in the Bible God is likened to a Shepherd, a Judge, a Potter, using literary means, never visual means.

4. "God can degenerate."

Being pure spirit, without any corporeal substance, he cannot be defiled or come in contact with any defilement. He is untouched and untouchable. Nothing can touch a pure spirit.

5. "I can find my fulfilment in the created order."

Temporarily and to a certain extent, maybe. But man continues to exist even after death and man's yearning after transcendence can be satisfied only by God, both in the here and now and in the hereafter. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And having thee, I desire nothing upon earth (David). "Thou hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee" (Augustine).

True rest for the human spirit is experienced only in the Father of spirits, who is himself Spirit.