Grace Bible Church

Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V.    THE TRIUNITY OF GOD

 

A.    Introduction

 

1.     The Trinity is one of the most fundamental doctrines in historical orthodox Christianity. We study the Trinity because we desire to accurately understand the nature of God. In addition, the Trinity is intricately related to other fundamental doctrines (deity of Christ, person and work of the Holy Spirit, etc.). In addition, the doctrine of the Trinity (Trinitarianism - one God in three Persons) distinguishes itself from all other Unitarian (one God in one Person) religions such as Judaism and Islam, as well as cults and heresies.

2.     It is interesting that in the study of the doctrine of the Trinity, the word, “Trinity” is never found in the Bible. That being the case however, the truths of the Trinity are clearly revealed in the Scriptures.

3.     The Trinity is understood by logically deducting propositional truths from Scripture regarding the essence of God and the Persons of God. When properly understood, the Trinity is not a contradiction because Christianity is not maintaining that there is one God while at the same time three Gods. But, in the sense of God’s essence He is one, and in the sense of His Persons there are three.

4.     The members of the Godhead are mentioned in the Old Testament but in somewhat of a shadowed sense. It is not until the New Testament that we are given the fuller revelation regarding the Trinity and the three distinct persons and their roles.

5.     In order to prevent misunderstanding with the term Trinity, some have suggested the use of Triunity.

 

B.    Definitions of The Triunity of God

 

1.     One God in three Persons.

2.     One God in three Persons, each being deity, and not contradictory nor inferior to the other.

3.     How many persons are there in the Godhead? A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. (Westminster Shorter Confession 6)

4.     We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Grace Bible Church)

5.     Within one essence of the Godhead we have to distinguish three “persons” who are neither three gods on the one side, not three parts or modes on the other, but coequally and coeternally God. (Bromily, Geoffrey, Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, p. 532-33).

6.     There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, in the same substance but distinct in subsistence. (Warfield, ISBE).

 

C.    Oneness of the Triunity (God is One - unity)

 

1.     The belief that God is one has been held by Judaism since its inception. Judaism’s monotheism (one-God) distinguished itself from all other poly-theistic (many-gods) religions.

2.     God has revealed Himself and instructed Israel that He is one God. In fact, Israel’s creed was the great Shema, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!” (Dt 6:4).

a)    However, even in the Hebrew word, “one” there is an allusion to the Trinity.

b)    “One” (echad) can be used for a unity of one. For example, it is used in Ge 2:24 for “they shall become ‘one’ flesh.” Husband and wife become a unity of “one” flesh.

3.     We see there is one Creator God in Ge 1:1 and Is 45:18. The name Elohim is used in both passages.

a)    However, Elohim is in its plural form. Some claim that it is plural in the sense of “plural majesty” of attributes.

b)    Others see an allusion to the Trinity, especially in light of the fact that in Ge 1:26, Elohim says, “Let us make man in our image.” Who is the “us” and “our?” It cannot be angels because they were not created in the image of God and they are creatures not Creator. Ge 1:26 is the first allusion to the Godhead (Trinity) who is one in essence but is three in persons.

4.     Monotheism’s great claim was that there are no other gods besides God (Dt 4:35; 1Ki 8:60; Is 45:5) therefore maintaining that God is one.

5.     The New Testament reiterates the same monotheistic theme.

a)    In 1Co 8:4, Paul makes reference to the Old Testament teaching that God is one. Yet in vs. six, Paul supports the Trinity mentioning Jesus Christ as Creator.

b)    Other NT passages clearly state that God is one (Ro 3:29-30; 1Ti 1:17, 2:5; Jm 2:19).

 

D.    Distinction of the Triunity (Three Distinct Persons)

 

1.     It is also clear from Scripture that there are three distinct persons in the Godhead. Even in the OT, there is ample evidence of such distinction.

a)    As was already mentioned, Gen 1:26 speaks of a plurality of persons.

b)    The Angel of the LORD (preincarnate Christ) is identified as God (Gen 16:13; 22:15-16; 31:11-13), but also is a distinct person (Zech 1:12-13).

c)     The LORD speaks to His distinct Son (Psa 2:7; Psa 45:6 cp. Heb 1:8).

d)    The Spirit of God was involved in creation (Gen 1:2) in addition to Elohim (Gen 1:1). A greater distinction is realized in NT (Ac 5:3-4; 13:2; He 3:7).

2.     The NT gives an even greater revelation regarding the distinctions of the three members of the Godhead.

a)    The designation of the first person of the Godhead is God the Father. He is the eternal Father of Christ and heavenly Father of believers (1Co 15:24; Ep 4:6; 1Pe 1:2; 2Pe 1:17 cf. Mt 6:9; Gal 1:4; Php 4:20)

b)    The designation of the second person of the Godhead is God the Son. He is the eternal Son of God and Savior of believers (Mat 16:16; 26:61-64; Joh 3:16; 20:31; Rom 1:4; Heb 1:8; 4:14 cf. Ti 1:4; 2:13; 2Pe 1:1).

c)     The designation of the third person of the Godhead is God the Holy Spirit. He is the eternal Spirit of God and indweller of believers (Joh 14:16; 15:26; 16:12-15; 1Co 2:10-14 cf. 1Co 3:16; Gal 4:6; Ep 1:13).

 

E.    Illustrations of the Triunity of God

 

1.     Human analogies inadequately portray the mystery of the Triunity of God (Sun, H20, egg, etc.) though at times can be helpful.

2.     However, the following illustration of simple propositions attempt to show the Godhead as one, yet showing each Person as God and also distinct. 

 

 

 

 

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd ·  PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516