Trinity / Godhead
The Bible does not affirm, nor argue for the existence of the Trinity but through solid study, the nature of God is revealed to the disciple of Christ. Jesus is the light that helps us to fully understand the Old Testament. John 1:9-13,17
The Jews did not, could not understand the concept of the Trinity, though it is seen in the Old Testament, a person needs to know Christ to understand the teachings of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is like a dark room in which you can barely identify what some of the objects are and with most, you make a guess but once Christ, the True Light enters your life now you can see clearly what the objects are and represent. 1 Corinthians 13:12
So let us discover the truth of the Godhead by reasoning with the scriptures.
There is but One God – Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Mark 12:29; Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Timothy 2:5
The Father is God – John 6:27; 11:41; 20:17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 1:1; Philippians 1:2; 2:11
Jesus is God – Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3; John 1:1; 10:30; Romans 9:5; John 20:28; 1 John 5:20
The Holy Spirit is God – Acts 5:3-4; Matthew 28:19; John 14:6; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Corinthians 3:16
So from the New Testament texts we see God is 3 distinct personalities and each has a separate role to play in the working with mankind.
Genesis 1:26; Gods / Us / Our – all 3 are plural, Why? (Genesis 3:22; 11:7) Hebrew word for God is ELOHIM which is plural but translated singular. In an age when men struggled with polytheism, why use plural forms? Why not use singular forms so the people would not be confused? The Bible is all about Truth, not deception nor manipulation, therefore God is plural in His nature, and we are created in that image 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Isaiah 43:10-11; 45:5-6; 46:9; Explain – Isaiah 48:12; (Revelation 1:17) Isaiah 48:16; To understand one must believe in the Trinity to make sense of vs.16 See Matthew 22:41-46; explanation is to realize the Messiah existed before David and was born miraculously after David.
Scriptures proving distinction between Father and Son:
John 5:23,26; John 4:34; 6:38; John 6:39; 10:29; John 15:1; John 8:54; John 20:17; John 10:36; John 14:28; Luke 23:46; Matthew 16:16-17; Romans 10;9-10; John 8:16-18; John 5:31-37; 2 John 9
1 Corinthians 12:4-6; all three mentioned
2 Corinthians 13:14; prayer addressed to all three.
1 Peter 1:2; Peter identifies all three in His introduction.
Scriptures showing all Three at one time:
Mary’s conception Luke 1:30-35
Jesus baptism Matthew 3:16-17
Stephens stoning Acts 7:55-59
God dwells in His children 1 John 4:15-16
The Father dwells in us John 14:23
Jesus dwells in us
Romans 6:11; 8:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17;
Galatians 2:20; 3:26; Ephesians 1:1; 3:16
The Holy Spirit dwells in us
Acts 2:38; 5:32; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19;
2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6
Indwelling follows our belief and obedience to the Word. Acts 2:38; Because we are children of God Galatians 4:6; not to become children of God. We are His children because we have obeyed.
Matthew 28:19; in the name of… NAME is singular, why?
Into the name of means:
– to get into a relationship and communion with all “Three”.
– to be dependent upon and subject to all “Three”.
If Jesus is God, why is the Father greater than Him?
John 14:28; Matthew 24:36
Jesus laid down His godly attributes to take on form of a man.
Philippians 2:5-8; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 20:28; John 1:14
After His resurrection, all power and authority were restored to Him Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:9-11; Colossians 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:21-22
Scriptures proving distinction between Holy Spirit and Jesus
Matthew 12:28,32; John 5:36; 15:26; 16:13,14; John 14:18 (1 Peter 1:11; Philippians 1:19; Acts 16:6-7; Matthew 28:20)
I believe that H2O the water molecule best illustrates the Trinity of God. Water comes in three states – solid, liquid, gas but all three are water.
1. Solid – Jesus is the physical manifestation of God,
2. Liquid – The Father is everywhere, always in control.
3. Gas – the holy Spirit cannot be seen but His influence can.
Important – all three are water but the solid is never liquid and never gas. Three distict states, three distinct personalities, with three distinct roles. No illstration can perfectly explain the Trinity since god involves 4 demensions and we live in a three dimensioanl world. Length, width, height. When one adds depth to the equation I think one becomes spiritual in their thinking. Depth seems to be a projection into the unknown based on the known.
I can know God whom I cannot experience with my senses because His Word invites me to see into the spiritual realm, and through His Son I can become a part of that realm, even today.