UNITY AND PLURALITY OF GOD
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Questions concerning the Trinity:
Questions concerning the Trinity:
“The Father is Greater than I” - John 14:28
John 14:28 (ESV)
You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
2. “Nor the Son” knows when He will return - Mark 13:32, Matthew 24:36
Mark 13:32 (ESV)
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
3. “The only true God” - How can Jesus be God when He says…? - John 17:3
John 17:3 (ESV)
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:5 (ESV)
And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
4. “The firstborn of all creation” - Colossians 1:15
Colossians 1:15 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
5. “Before Abraham was…” - John 8:58
John 8:58 (ESV)
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
WHO IS THE WORD???
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
How is the Word God and With God at the same time???
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
LOGOS
*A Greek philosophical term denoting the intelligent force that orders and sustains the universe - making it accessible to the human mind.
*The Greeks also saw LOGOS as a creative power that had formed the Cosmos out of chaos.
*John says the Word (logos) is the agent through which the universe is created (Yet it is uncreated)
*Answers the question who created God!
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
THE DEFINITION OF THE TRINITY:
GOD IS ONE IN BEING AND THREE IN PERSON!
This is not a contradiction. If I said He is One in Being and three in Being that would be a contradiction!
Or if I said He is One in Person and three in Person that would also be a contradiction!
SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A “BEING” AND A “PERSON”?
*A being is that quality that makes you WHAT you are and a person is that quality that makes you WHO you are.
*So in the Trinity we have One WHAT and three WHO’s. Or, One Being and three centers of consciousness!
*Humans are one being and one person we have one Nature and are one Personality
*Jesus is one Person with two Natures (Human and Divine)
Let’s go back to the questions above:
John 14:28 (ESV)
You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
So, here is the answer: “greater” is a term relative to POSITION - The President of the United States is Greater than any of us by virtue of his office.
But nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say the Father is BETTER than Him, “better” is a term relative to NATURE!
THEY ARE BOTH EQUAL IN NATURE BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH YHWH - THUS TWO PERSONS OF THE TRINITY!
The Father is greater than the Son in terms of ROLES not in terms of Essence - Nature - Being! 1 Corinthians 15:28
1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV)
When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
THE TRINITY IN SALVATION - ROLES
FATHER PLANNED SALVATION - EPHESIANS 1:3-4
SON PURCHASED SALVATION - EPHESIANS 1:7
HOLY SPIRIT PROCESSED SALVATION - EPHESIANS 1:13
Jesus does not say God is Better than Me. It’s not about the BEING of the Trinity but the PERSONS of the Trinity!
Then in John 17:5 Jesus laid aside His Glory when He took on human nature He cloaked His Divinity with humanity in verses below:
Philippians 2:6–11 (ESV)
who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This comes from Isaiah 45:23 (Written 700 years before Jesus)
Isaiah 45:23 (ESV)
By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
THE TRINITY RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD!
*Father raised Jesus from the dead - Galatians 1:1
Galatians 1:1 (ESV)
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
*Jesus raised Himself from the dead - John 2:19-21
John 2:19–21 (ESV)
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
*Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead - Romans 8:11
Romans 8:11 (ESV)
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Jesus in the incarnation took on a human nature, Hebrews 2:17
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
IS JESUS YHWH - GOD OF THE OLD COVENANT?
The Gospel of Mark is the earliest of the four Gospels written around 60AD. Mark has specific verses that point to the Deity of Jesus. The major climax of Mark as to Jesus being God is:
Mark 14:61–62 (ESV)
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Where in the Old Testament is Jesus referring in this quote in Mark? Can anyone tell me?
Daniel 7:13 (ESV)
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man sixty-nine times in the Synoptic Gospels:
Mark 2:10 (ESV)
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—
(Two Persons of the Trinity spelled out in Daniel 7:13)
Only God comes on the clouds of heaven YHWH in the Old Testament.
Here the Son of Man is equated with YHWH - God! Coming on the Clouds of Heaven!
Daniel 7:14 (ESV)
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should SERVE him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
In this passage Father God is reserving the right of the Son of God = Son of Man the perogative to be SERVED - The Aramaic word “Pelach” means to “serve, worship, or pay reverence to” this is the same as the word “latruo” in the Greek Septuagint) by all the peoples, nations, and languages of the world! This word “Pelach” SERVED is used 130 times in the Bible and every single time it is used only of the Father in the Trinity EXCEPT IN DANIEL 7:14!
IT GETS EVEN BETTER IN Mark 14:61-62
Mark 14:61–62 (ESV)
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man SEATED at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
This is a reference to Psalm 110:1
Psalm 110:1 (ESV)
The Lord says to my Lord: “SIT at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
YHWH God in Jewish context is asking the Son of Man - Jesus - TO RULE THE UNIVERSE WITH HIM!!!
Moses stood next to God, Enoch stood next to God - BUT NO WAS SEATED NEXT TO GOD BUT JESUS!!!
This Doctrine of the Son of Man is found in every layer of Gospel History! ALL THE GOSPELS
Jesus Christ never asks anyone to define his position or to understand a creed, but “Who am I to you?” Jesus Christ makes the whole of human destiny depend on a man’s relationship to himself.
Oswald Chambers
The glory of Jesus and of the Father are so wrapped up together that the grace which magnifies the one magnifies the other.
Charles Spurgeon
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD
Acts 5:3–4 (ESV)
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT PERSONAL?
Acts 13:2 (ESV)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 10:19–20 (ESV)
And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
Mark 3:29 (ESV)
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— (perpetual unbelief)
Ephesians 4:30 (ESV)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (bring sorrow)
Hebrews 10:29 (ESV)
How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? (insulted)
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
There is One Being the NAME followed by three Persons. I believe the whole Bible!!!
People who disagree with the Trinity will jump from verse to verse pointing out that that God is a SOLITARY UNITY and avoid all the verses demonstrating God as a COMPOSITE UNITY in Persons.
DIVINE ATTRIBUTES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
GOD Acts 5:3-4
Acts 5:3–4 (ESV)
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
ETERNAL Hebrews 9:14
Hebrews 9:14 (ESV)
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
OMNIPRESENT Psalms 139:7-10
Psalm 139:7–10 (ESV)
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
OMNISCIENT 1 Corinthians 2:10
1 Corinthians 2:10 (ESV)
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
OMNIPOTENT 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-11
1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (ESV)
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
INSPIRES Ephesians 3:4-5
Ephesians 3:4–5 (ESV)
When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRINITY:
Why isn’t the word Trinity in the Bible?
1. The concept of the Trinity is found in the Bible.
Do you believe God is omnicient?
2. Jesus said “know the only true God”? How can He be God as well?
The Bible says the Word is God and the Father is God!out
3. Was God praying to God?
Jesus is God the Son praying to God the Father here.
That question is Tri-Theism NOT Trinitarian Theology.
4. How can Jesus be God if He is God’s Son?
This is the conundrum of the Being of God and the Persons of God. The Trinity answers this question.
Solitary Unity and Composit Unity!
5. Jesus was the firstborn creation of God?
Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Prototokos) Firstborn.
Psalm 89:27 (ESV)
And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
This is about the son of David not of physical birth chronology it means “King of Kings” over all other Kings.
Exodus 4:22 (ESV)
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, (pre-eminent) over all the Nations