Tuesday, March 16, 2004
The Trinity
Quite a difficult topic really but one which we need to get our heads around.
Here is what the Bible says about the trinity...
Firstly, lets establish what God himself is like.
God is a Spirit. (John 4:24, 1 Timothy 6:15-16) He cannot be depicted in any way and forbids it in the second commandment. God is not something rather he is someone. We can know God and have him as our friend. God is very great. He is not limited in any way; nothing can be compared to him. (Isaiah 40:18) He is everywhere. (Jeremiah 23:24) God is also eternal. (Habakkuk 1:12, Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 6:16) Everything owes its beginning to God but he was not created. God never changes. (James 1:17, Malachi 3:6) God knows everything. (Psalm 119:2-5, 1 John 3:20) He cannot be deceived. God is all powerful. He does whatever he chooses. (Daniel 4:35) He is holy and can never depart from what is true and right. Everything he purposes happens. (Ephesians 1:11)
God is unique. (1 John 1:5) God is perfect. He is different from all his creatures in this. (Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 99:3, Isaiah 40:23) He cannot look on wrong. (Habakkuk 1:13). God is righteous. (Psalm 145:17) He can never be blamed for anything for he is just. (Genesis 18:25). God is love. (Exodus 34:6). We see both love and justice at the cross. (1 John 3:16, 1 Peter 3:18). God is good. (Psalm 119:68) We are his enemies and yet he looks after us. (Acts 14:17, Psalm 86:5). God is wise. (Daniel 2:20, Romans 11:33-36).God is incomprehensible. Only God understands God. Our minds are too small. We can know the facts but we cannot explain "how".
So that is what the Bible says God is like. Next, we see that the bible clearly teaches that...
There is only one God. (Deuteronomy 4:35, 6:4, Isaiah 45:5-6, 46:6, James 2:19) He cannot be split up into separate entities. He is indivisible. Take one of his attributes away and he wouldn’t be God.
But, even though God is one... we are told that...
There are three persons in the God-head. Genesis 1:26-27 – Let us… (Isaiah 6:8). (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6) God sent his son, who is God himself. The Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 declare God three times holy.
The Father is God. He is the father of all. Often the Father represents the whole God head. (1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6). He is the father of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:6). God is the Father of Believers. (Matthew 5:45, 6:6, 8, 14, Romans 8:16). Adoption as sons of God is the epitome of privilege but only for the elect. (1 John 3:1) God is the Father of our Lord. (John 20:17) Jesus acknowledges this. This Fatherhood is different to that of Gods to ours. (John 1:14) The Father and the Son share the same glory and yet they are distinct. (John 1:18) People have seen God, but not God the Father. (John 10:30, 12:45, 14:9). The Father is God, Jesus is not an addition to God, rather part of the plurality of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, is God. Jesus life did not begin when he was born. He was in the beginning and all things were made by him. (John 1:1-3, 3:13, 6:62 16:28, 17:5 Colossians 1:15-18, 2 Corinthians 8:9) John 1:29-30 - John the Baptist came before him and positively identified Jesus as God. Luke 3:22 – The Son of God is God but not the Father. Matthew 16:16, John 6:68-69, Acts 9:20, Romans 8:3 – His disciples and the apostles knew he was the Son of God. Jesus is also God. His name suggests it. Lord translated into Greek is the same as Jehovah translated into Greek (kyrios). (Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, Isaiah 9:1-6, 2 Thessalonians 1:12, 1 John 5:20). Same Attributes. Jesus is eternal just as God is. Unchangeable (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). Omniscient (John 2:24-25), omnipresent (Matthew 28:20), omnipotent (Philippians 3:21). Jesus forgave sins (Colossians 3:13). John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17 – Jesus created the world. Jesus gave eternal life (John 10:28) and raised people from the dead. Only God can do these things.
The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is a person. John 14:17, 26, 15:26, 16:8, 13-14 – Jesus speaks of the Spirit as dwelling, teaching, bringing things to remembrance, testifying, convincing, guiding, hearing, speaking, showing and glorifying. The Holy Spirit is not just a force at work. He has intelligence (Romans 8:16), a will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and affections (Isaiah 63:10). Jesus is God and it would be surprising if the Person he sent to take His place were anything less. Hebrews 3:7-11, Acts 28:25-27 – Holy Spirit is called God. What is said of God alone is said of the Holy Spirit. Eternal (Hebrews 9:14), Holy, ever present (Psalm 139:7-10) all-knowing (Romans 15:19), all-powerful (1 Corinthians 12:11) etc. Psalm 104:30, Job 26:13, Matthew 12:28, Titus 3:5 etc. Holy Spirit is attributed Gods works. Matthew 28:19 – We are baptised in his name. We worship him as we worship God. Matthew 12:31-32, John 15:26 – Holy Spirit is a distinct person.
Three Distinct Persons. John 12:28 – Father is distinct there. John 17:4 – The Son says "I". Acts 13:2 – Holy Spirit says "I". Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – These three share the same substance power and glory but remain distinct persons. Jesus is the perfect expression of the Father (John 1:18), but it is also said that Christ was sent by the Father (John 5:23-24), came from him (16:28), returns to him (14:12), loves the Father (14:31) and is loved by the Father (3:35). So Jesus, the Son is God but also distinct from the Father. John 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:13-15 – the distinctness of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 – Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. By "persons" we mean that there are personal self distinctions within the divine.
There we go. Sorry that it doesn't flow nicely and probably isn't easy to read but it's something we need to get a grasp of. After all, it is basic Christian doctrine.
Here is what the Bible says about the trinity...
Firstly, lets establish what God himself is like.
God is a Spirit. (John 4:24, 1 Timothy 6:15-16) He cannot be depicted in any way and forbids it in the second commandment. God is not something rather he is someone. We can know God and have him as our friend. God is very great. He is not limited in any way; nothing can be compared to him. (Isaiah 40:18) He is everywhere. (Jeremiah 23:24) God is also eternal. (Habakkuk 1:12, Psalm 90:2, 1 Timothy 6:16) Everything owes its beginning to God but he was not created. God never changes. (James 1:17, Malachi 3:6) God knows everything. (Psalm 119:2-5, 1 John 3:20) He cannot be deceived. God is all powerful. He does whatever he chooses. (Daniel 4:35) He is holy and can never depart from what is true and right. Everything he purposes happens. (Ephesians 1:11)
God is unique. (1 John 1:5) God is perfect. He is different from all his creatures in this. (Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 99:3, Isaiah 40:23) He cannot look on wrong. (Habakkuk 1:13). God is righteous. (Psalm 145:17) He can never be blamed for anything for he is just. (Genesis 18:25). God is love. (Exodus 34:6). We see both love and justice at the cross. (1 John 3:16, 1 Peter 3:18). God is good. (Psalm 119:68) We are his enemies and yet he looks after us. (Acts 14:17, Psalm 86:5). God is wise. (Daniel 2:20, Romans 11:33-36).God is incomprehensible. Only God understands God. Our minds are too small. We can know the facts but we cannot explain "how".
So that is what the Bible says God is like. Next, we see that the bible clearly teaches that...
There is only one God. (Deuteronomy 4:35, 6:4, Isaiah 45:5-6, 46:6, James 2:19) He cannot be split up into separate entities. He is indivisible. Take one of his attributes away and he wouldn’t be God.
But, even though God is one... we are told that...
There are three persons in the God-head. Genesis 1:26-27 – Let us… (Isaiah 6:8). (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6) God sent his son, who is God himself. The Seraphim in Isaiah 6:3 declare God three times holy.
The Father is God. He is the father of all. Often the Father represents the whole God head. (1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:6). He is the father of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:6). God is the Father of Believers. (Matthew 5:45, 6:6, 8, 14, Romans 8:16). Adoption as sons of God is the epitome of privilege but only for the elect. (1 John 3:1) God is the Father of our Lord. (John 20:17) Jesus acknowledges this. This Fatherhood is different to that of Gods to ours. (John 1:14) The Father and the Son share the same glory and yet they are distinct. (John 1:18) People have seen God, but not God the Father. (John 10:30, 12:45, 14:9). The Father is God, Jesus is not an addition to God, rather part of the plurality of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son, is God. Jesus life did not begin when he was born. He was in the beginning and all things were made by him. (John 1:1-3, 3:13, 6:62 16:28, 17:5 Colossians 1:15-18, 2 Corinthians 8:9) John 1:29-30 - John the Baptist came before him and positively identified Jesus as God. Luke 3:22 – The Son of God is God but not the Father. Matthew 16:16, John 6:68-69, Acts 9:20, Romans 8:3 – His disciples and the apostles knew he was the Son of God. Jesus is also God. His name suggests it. Lord translated into Greek is the same as Jehovah translated into Greek (kyrios). (Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, Isaiah 9:1-6, 2 Thessalonians 1:12, 1 John 5:20). Same Attributes. Jesus is eternal just as God is. Unchangeable (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). Omniscient (John 2:24-25), omnipresent (Matthew 28:20), omnipotent (Philippians 3:21). Jesus forgave sins (Colossians 3:13). John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17 – Jesus created the world. Jesus gave eternal life (John 10:28) and raised people from the dead. Only God can do these things.
The Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is a person. John 14:17, 26, 15:26, 16:8, 13-14 – Jesus speaks of the Spirit as dwelling, teaching, bringing things to remembrance, testifying, convincing, guiding, hearing, speaking, showing and glorifying. The Holy Spirit is not just a force at work. He has intelligence (Romans 8:16), a will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and affections (Isaiah 63:10). Jesus is God and it would be surprising if the Person he sent to take His place were anything less. Hebrews 3:7-11, Acts 28:25-27 – Holy Spirit is called God. What is said of God alone is said of the Holy Spirit. Eternal (Hebrews 9:14), Holy, ever present (Psalm 139:7-10) all-knowing (Romans 15:19), all-powerful (1 Corinthians 12:11) etc. Psalm 104:30, Job 26:13, Matthew 12:28, Titus 3:5 etc. Holy Spirit is attributed Gods works. Matthew 28:19 – We are baptised in his name. We worship him as we worship God. Matthew 12:31-32, John 15:26 – Holy Spirit is a distinct person.
Three Distinct Persons. John 12:28 – Father is distinct there. John 17:4 – The Son says "I". Acts 13:2 – Holy Spirit says "I". Ephesians 4:4-6, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – These three share the same substance power and glory but remain distinct persons. Jesus is the perfect expression of the Father (John 1:18), but it is also said that Christ was sent by the Father (John 5:23-24), came from him (16:28), returns to him (14:12), loves the Father (14:31) and is loved by the Father (3:35). So Jesus, the Son is God but also distinct from the Father. John 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:13-15 – the distinctness of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 – Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. By "persons" we mean that there are personal self distinctions within the divine.
There we go. Sorry that it doesn't flow nicely and probably isn't easy to read but it's something we need to get a grasp of. After all, it is basic Christian doctrine.
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