God Is Three

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Though there is only one God, He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God is one, but He exists in three distinct Persons. We call this the Trinity, a contraction of “tri-unity,” meaning “three in one.” The word Trinity doesn’t appear in the Bible, but God’s existence as three Persons in one God is clear from Scripture.

Old Testament evidence of God’s plurality can be found in the very first verse: “In the beginning God . . .” (Gen. 1:1). The Hebrew word used for God is Elohim, which is a plural noun. Isaiah 42:1 speaks of the Messiah: “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” The Messiah says in Isaiah 48:16, “The Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit.”

The New Testament is more explicit about God’s triune nature. After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit of God descended upon Him as a dove, and the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt. 3:17). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are together in the same scene.

Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). Paul closes 2 Corinthians by saying, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all” (13:14). Peter declares that believers are chosen “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2).

So God is one, but God is three. This is a profound mystery that no human illustration can adequately describe and no scientific explanation can prove. The Trinity is something we have to take on faith, because God has taught it in Scripture.

Praise God that He is so far above our finite understanding, yet has chosen to reveal Himself to us.

What does Jesus teach about His relationship with the Father and the Spirit? What do you learn here about the different functions or ministries of each member of the Trinity?

It's something people take on blind faith, because the religious Establishment teaches confusion and 'believe it or else'. Challenges are typically met with the true nature of those teaching the falsehood.

God is one. That's plainly written in the text. No confusion.

For something supposedly so obvious (complete with catchy proof texts), how many trillions of words have been written as attempted explanations? Moses saw a burning bush that was not consumed, that we really do know from the plain text. That's why there are not trillions of words to defend the existence of the burning bush. No need, even though it's not something that makes sense according to the normally perceived laws of physics.

Elijah was carried off to heaven in a whirlwind. We really do know from the plain text. That's why there are not trillions of words to defend the scene of Elijah being carried off to heaven in a whirlwind. No need, even though it's not something that makes sense according to the normally perceived laws of physics.

Etc.

The doctrine of the trinity is declared a mystery, so it can be claimed as true, established, and settled and therefore too big to fail. Nobody dare question it, or else bad things will happen to the 'heretics'. That should be a huge red flag right there. The proof texts are like brochures written and distributed by those selling the products in the brochures.

And another thing, 'proof' also relies heavily on the same people who did not understand Jesus' words, the ones repeatedly attempting to tangle him in this speech, flattering him for a trap, and so forth. Might as well trust CNN for proof of anything.

The Scripture reads plainly. Here's an example of a settled belief of those 'in the know', with Jesus' attempt at stimulating logical thought falling upon deaf ears, as it is today:

Matthew 9

1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Stimulating a logical thought process:

A faker can make any fuzzy, unprovable claim (e.g. 'your sins are forgiven').. who would know otherwise. A faker can't, however, tell a crippled man to get up and walk, because he would be outed immediately when nothing happens. (Not that there haven't been fake cripples with fake healings).

Therefore, it is easier to say 'your sins are forgiven' than it is to say, "Arise and walk".

Now, that you may know that the son of man (a human) has the power on earth to forgive sins (the easier statement because it is nebulous), he did that which is much more difficult. He said, "Arise and walk", to a cripple, who then got up and walked.

You figure that if a man knows how to solve a quadratic equation, he can perform all of the simple operations inherent within it. He did the harder thing so that you may know he could perform that which is easier.

"See, but it says he knew their thoughts! Proof of omniscience!" Well, who around here doesn't know the hearts of others with whom they spend any amount of time? Or the evil that oozes from the heart of the political Establishment? It's not that complicated.

Luke 5

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Ugh. Come on folks, break out of the bondage. The truth will set you free, especially from all of the bickering and vitriol euphemistically called, "contending for the faith."

Time is kinda short.

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