Knowing God Part 6: The Unity of the Godhead

Christianity is one of three major monotheistic religions on the planet. The others are Judaism, and Islam. All three trace their roots, at least as far as Abraham (Islam), Judaism and Christianity both use the same ancient Scriptures and go back to the very beginning of creation. All three claim to believe in the same God, but none truly agree that the others do. However, where the three truly diverge is on the belief in the Trinity of the Godhead.

While Judaism (at lease some) and Christianity accept the Triunity of God, Muslims outright reject the possibility of their god sharing any of his attributes. I wonder where their image of God comes from? Many other religions in the world and many non-religious people claim that Christianity is not monotheistic, but polytheistic because of our acceptance of the Trinity. No doubt you have heard this argument from a JW? In fact it was the doctrine of the Trinity that drove Charles Tazze Russell to depart from traditional faith in the Bible and start his cult. He couldn’t understand the Trinity, couldn’t justify it, and therefore he denied it. What is the Trinity? That is the topic of our study this evening. Let’s begin with a question:

What is Involved in the Godhead?

The unity of the Godhead involves His existence as only ONE substance or essence.

Even though God exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

This means that each of these three persons are as much God as the others!

Examples:

Deuteronomy 4:35 “35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.”

Deuteronomy 4:39 “39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”

1 Kings 8:60 “60 That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.”

Isaiah 44:6–8 “6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, And his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; And beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, And shall declare it, and set it in order for me, Since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: Have not I told thee from that time, And have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any.”

Isaiah 45:5–6 “5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, There is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, That there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.”

1 Corinthians 8:4 “4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.”

1 Timothy 2:5 “5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Just to Clarify...

John 10:30 “30 I and my Father are one.”

The word “one” in this verse is not in the masculine, but in the neuter referring to the unity of God, and not a singular person. Meaning what? Jesus is not saying He is the Father, but that He and the Father are the same. Both God, both eternal, both holy, etc.

By Way of Illustration...

The Unity of God may be illustrated in many ways...

In nature:

Genesis 1:5 “5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”

We see that one day is made up of two parts: Morning, and evening. The sun comes up, we call it day, the sun goes down we call it night, but we also clarify that it is the same “day”.

Another illustration:

Marriage:

Genesis 2:24 “24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Marriage is spoken of as a compound unit

The husband and the wife

Both are distinct individuals, but both are considered “one flesh” - one person.

What about...

Many people being of one purpose? (for good or for ill?)

Genesis 11:6 “6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”

The Tower of Babel

They all spoke the same language, had the same desires, worked on the same task, were all punished in the same way, but they were all distinct individuals.

Consider this verses...

Deuteronomy 6:4 “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:”

The noun “God” is plural - while God exists in three persons, He is just ONE God in essence. The Bible is clear, He is ONE LORD.

Take Away

Next week we will look specifically at the Trinity, this week I simply wanted to lay the foundation that we serve one God, not three. If you’re confused, don’t fret, don’t fear. Remember:

You’re in good company. The Unity of God has boggled the minds of men for centuries. God doesn’t expect us to fully understand it, just to accept it.

A few warnings before we leave however:

This is an important doctrine because misunderstanding of God’s unity has given rise to many cults.

Disbelief in the unity of God has created many unbelievers.

You may be wondering: “Why should we even talk about this?”

Because we are told to “…Sanctify the Lord Go in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”

I encourage you to come back next week as we continue to build on this foundation, looking at the Trinity of the Godhead.