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The Doctrine of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy SpiritA mark of a false cult is that they deny the Trinity. That is the doctrine that God is one, yet manifested in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is God and yet there are not three Gods but one. How can we understand this? We cannot fully understand God or we would be greater than God. It is therefore not surprising if we cannot fully understand this Biblical idea. However, an illustration from nature may help. Ice, liquid water and steam are all water and have the same chemical formula. Yet they manifest differently, although than can all exist at the same time (at 4%C). Like this the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all God, yet may manifest differently yet at the same time. A good example of this is found in the story of the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3.16-17. Jesus, the Son of God is baptised, the Spirit descends as a dove, and the Father speaks "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Bible reveals that God is one (Dt 6.4). But Jesus said, "I and My Father are One." John 10.30. Christians are not worshippers of many Gods, as some Muslims may claim. But with God there is plurality in unity. Just as we are spirits, have souls and live in a body and yet are not three individuals but one (1 Thess. 5.23), so God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and yet One. In fact the word for "one" in Hebrew does mean a plurality in unity. Then God said, "Let US make man in OUR image..." (Gen 1:26). Man is a three part unity just as God is three-in-one. God is revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt 28.19). Clearly the Father is God. (Eph 1.2, 1 Cor. 8.6). But from the Bible revelation we can also say that Jesus is God. He is not just the Son of God as seen in Lk 22.70 and Matthew 16.16. He is fully God because all of God dwells in Him bodily. For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Col. 2.9) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:1,14) Jesus accepted worship (Mt 8.2; Mt 28.9) but He Himself said to worship only God (Mt. 4.10). What could this mean but that He knew Himself to be God? God's angels will not accept worship. Rev. 22:8-9. That is why Jesus is not an archangel as some false cults like Jehovah’s Witnesses claim. They say Jesus is just a “mighty god” when shown the passage in Isaiah 9:6. But this passage also calls Jesus, Everlasting Father. That is because all of the Father dwells in Him. Jesus is not created. He is the firstborn over creation (Col. 1:15) which in Greek means that He is inheritor and Lord over Creation. Not surprising, since through Him all things were made. (John 1:3). He is the eternal Wisdom of God. Although He submits to the Father within the Godhead, as does the Holy Spirit, He is not less than God. Jesus said, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." (Jn 14.9). Jesus' life revealed the Father heart of God to man. We should also know that the Holy Spirit is God. The Holy Spirit is not a force or a power. He is a person. Acts 5.3,4 reveals that the Holy Spirit is God, since lying to the Holy Spirit is called lying to God. He speaks (Acts 13.2; Jn 16.13). He guides. He has a mind (Rom 8.26,27) which searches even the deep things of God. He has feelings. He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30). A force or power does not have these properties. Next - Love and the Nature of God |
Other Lessons The Bible Spirit, Soul and Body |
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