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The Trinity and the Gospel

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There is a lot of buzz on the Internet these days about the Trinitarian nature of Christianity. Is the doctrine of the Trinity true? Is it important? Is it essential? For many Christians, the doctrine of the Trinity is given very little thought. We affirm it to be true, but we fail to recognize its importance and its implications for the gospel and all of life.

However, Don Stewart reminds us:

It is important that people have a correct understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity since it is an explanation of the nature of God. The Christian needs to know exactly who God is in order to have a proper understanding of the one they serve.

Fred Sanders, associate professor of theology at Biola University, adds further comment: “Our beliefs and practices all presuppose the Trinity, but that presupposition has for too long been left unexpressed . . . and taken for granted rather than celebrated and taught” (The Deep Things of God, Crossway 2010)

The doctrine of the Trinity is crucial because it reveals who our God is and is revealed in the pages of Scripture to show the inner workings of God’s nature, attributes, and personhood.

Here are a few examples:

The Father sends the Son

God the Father sends God the Son into the world as a propitiatory sacrifice on the cross. This means that he absorbed and appeased the Father’s just wrath against sin and extends mercy to repentant sinners.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:23-26 NKJV)

On that note,

The Incarnate Son is the God-man

The reason that the Son is able to provide this substitutionary atonement is because He is both God at man. Only the God-man can conquer sin, Satan, death, and the powers of darkness. In His glorious resurrection, we have new life.

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Romans 10:9 NKJV)

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily
(Colossians 2:9 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit and the New Birth

The Holy Spirit is given to us through Christ and is actively responsible for the sinner’s new birth in Christ (regeneration) and life journey unto holiness (sanctification).

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit
(Titus 3:5 NKJV)

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you…”
(John 16:7 NKJV – Jesus speaks of sending the Spirit)

The Trinity and the Gospel

Therefore, the Biblical gospel message of God’s grace toward sinners is initiated by God the Father, accomplished through God the Son, and is applied by God the Holy Spirit. There is no work of salvation apart from our Triune God. This Triune nature does not bring confusion but clarity to the gospel that we believe and proclaim. Rather than be a source of controversy it should, when properly understood, fill us with joy.

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(Galatians 4:4-7 NKJV)

More resources on the doctrine of the Trinity:

Comments

  1. I often find myself meditating “overly” on JESUS. Does this mean I see God as only God-man, not enough Holy Spirit and Father?

    Please explain.

    • God has revealed Himself to us in a tri-une manner , but the three are one. The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New. So when we meditate on or pray to Jesus we are not leaving out the Father or the Holy Spirit! I was so blessed when I came to this understanding of the Godhead.

    • Dennis,

      Our God, who is love, a wonderful loving holy spirit, all knowing, all powerful, everwhere present and who totally loves you and I created a human being in the womb of the virgin Mary that was named Jesus.

      Jesus like you and I grew up and learned about life and was perfected by things that he suffered ( Hebrews 5:8 “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”)

      You and I are fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12)and our faith and belief in God are growing as we overcome the trials and testing we face.

      The man Jesus was indwelt by the same God that dwells in you and I and we, like Jesus who is the pattern son (1 Tim 1:16), are growing into the image and likeness of God as we submit ourselves to him.

      Let us be like Jesus who prayed to our God in the garden and request that His will be done in our lives not ours.

      Jesus was only a man who hungered, (Luke 4:2), who thirsted (John 19:28), and who prayed (Matt 26:36)

      The man Jesus had a body (Matt 26:36), a soul (Matt 26:38), and a spirit (John 19:30) like you and I have and our Father, the Almighty God) dwelled within him (John 14:10).

      When you pray Dennis, pray to our Father the Almighty God, Yahweh or Jehovah, is his name and when you pray and think on Him pray in the name of Jesus (Col 3:17).

      God Bless you dear brother!
      Much Agape,
      ABob

        • Thank you Sister Debi!

          I hope you fall in love with our God and Father and with his woderful Son!

          Keep seeking, keep knocking and keep asking for the churches to shake sleep, be delivered from lethargy for we shall overcome by the blood of the lamb (Jesus) and by the word of our testimony and we will not love our lives even unto the death.

          God Bless and Agape you and your loved ones!
          Abob

  2. Dennis this might help. The father said to the son thy throne oh God. So the father calls the son God. The father is a spirit and we cannot see him for we all dwell in him the universe and all but it is said that he put his fullness in his son. Jesus also said unto the disciples when you see me you see the Father. One of them said show us the father and he said have I been with you so long and you don’t know when you see me you see the father. The Holy Spirit is the spirit that was in the son and is the father and they are all one not separate. Jesus prayed that we would be one even as he was one with the father. Jesus also said that he came in the name of the father. You also can see that the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because they knew who the father and the son and holy spirit were it is all in Jesus Christ for there is no other name under heaven were men can be saved. The fullness is in the son.

    • Also there is nowhere in scripture that the word trinity is used. For trinity means three persons. To me it is confusing and bring in a little leaven as it separates not unites. No where do you see Jesus not unite the three as they are not and not three but there must be heresies among us. Even as people like to add and take away from the book.

  3. This article is a great example as to how you can (mis)use the scriptures to make them say anything you want. I have been a Christian for many years, I love My Father God, and I love My Saviour, the MAN, Jesus Christ. I know may others who feel this way and I belive the Bible is very clear on this.

  4. The Hebrew understand of God is that he is ONE. Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Isreal, the Lord thy God, the Lord is one.They compare him to a large “Stone”. It makes no differance if I refer to Him as Father, Son or Spirit, He is still “ONE”. If I take a large stone and break it into 3 parts I still have stone. God has reviled Himself to us in many different ways. Christianty refers to “the Spirit” but Rev. says that there are 7 spirits of God at the Throne.

  5. God is my Father, Jesus is my Brother, I am born again of God’s seed, which is Holy Spirit.

  6. the word trinity doesnt bring in leaven, neither does it add or take away from the word of God, but as Don Stewart says in his book (Bible Basics, An Introduction To Christian Beliefs pg.64 point 3),

    “Systematic theology is not adding to, or improving upon, what God has revealed to humanity. It is merely taking what has already been revealed and placing these truths into understandable categories for further study and reflection. It is doing what the Bible commands us to do – study God’s truths.”

    The trinity is a fascinating study, which leads really to an argument of words not doctrine. Its not on-going revelation nor is it additional revelation, but like Don Stewart said, ‘what has already been revealed and placing these truths into understandable categories for further study and reflection.” Early case for the trinity is found in Genesis 1:1,

    “In the Beginning God…” The word God is in the plural (Strongs H430) an allusion to the trinity. Dont you just love that? We serve a supreme God who is actively involved in the details of our life, and the details of our faith. Blessed is the Name of the LORD and worthy of all our praise!

  7. I have studied at length the scriptures to try and figure out who God is and who Jesus is and I have concluded that there is only one God just as He said in the Bible and there is the man Christ Jesus who is our mediator. 1 Tim 2:5 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus”

    Jesus was a man indwelt by our Father God whose name is Yahweh or Jehovah.
    Moses asked for his name in Exodus 3:13-14 “And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

    When the man Jesus died on the cross God did not die because God is eternal and can not die. But the man Christ Jesus died for our sins. Duet 33:27 “The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms…” hence God is eternal.

    When the man Jesus was tempted to sin by the Devil/Satan in the wilderness it was the man Jesus being tempted not God because God can not be tempted nor does he tempt any man. James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”

    The miracles that Jesus did and the words he spoke was our Father the Almighty God in him doing the work. John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

    It is very simple to learn the many attributes of God… Here are a few.

    1. God is love. 1 John 4:8, 16
    2. God is eternal Deut 33:27, Isa 40:28
    3. God is all powerful. Rev 19:6
    4. God is all knowing. 1 John 3:20
    5. God is one. Duet 6:4, Mark 12:29, Gal 3:20
    6. God is the creator. Isa 40:28, 1 Peter 4:19
    7. God is not a man. Num 23:19
    8. God is our healer. Exodus 15:26
    9. God is a Spirit. John 4:24

    There are many more attributes about our God our Father. When you learn them you need to ask yourself do these attributes from the Bible line up with the doctrine of the trinity or do they cause illogical conclusions and misunderstanding?

    I have learned that the man Jesus Christ was a man born of a virgin woman (Mary) (so he did not pre-exist) was tempted like any other men are but did not sin (God cannot be tempted), died for my sins (God cannot die) arose from the dead (God raised him the man Jesus)and is sitting at the right hand of God as our mediator.

    God Bless you my Brothers and Sisters!
    Agape,
    ABob

    • It is so easy to apply human logic to scripture. Yet, not totally understand the mystery of the gospel of our God. To try to declare our logic as superior to the fact that Christ was and always has been is illogical in and of itself John 1:1. When we pray we pray to the Father through the name that allows us access to the throne room “for the veil was torn in an instant” and the comforter has come (the Holy Spirit). Are they all one or not? Can someone be a Father, a brother, a son? He is the great “I Am”. And what does that really mean? All this to say, The Lord God in Heaven rules, He reigns, and is worthy of all praise. Let His Name be glorified.

    • Thanks for the great comments, especially on God’s character. I will add, however, that since Jesus Christ and God the father are one, that He also is the “eternal pre-existant one” as is God the father. This is not a divisive thought, since it further “cements” the ONENESS of Jesus and the father Jehovah God.

      John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (KJV)

      Col 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (KJV)

      Mic 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (KJV)

      • Brother,

        Note: The following is only a very brief explanation. Much more could and should be said. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

        It is an assumption on many peoples part that God and Jesus are one in substance instead of one in unity of purpose and heart. Since Jesus always did what his Father showed him to do and completed the work that God gave him to do and always did what pleased his heavenly Father and brought glory to His name, the scriptures indicate Jesus was one in will, purpose, and heart with our Father Yahweh the one almighty God.
        Nothing in the Bible indicates Jesus was one in substance. In fact Jesus said the Father was greater than him. How can Jesus be one in substance if the Father is greater than he is? Jesus said he could do nothing apart from his Father; then how is he one in substance or co-equal as the apostle’s creed describes?

        1) In John 8:58 we have to ask ourselves who was speaking, the man Christ Jesus or the almighty God?
        Often times, God spoke directly through Christ like when Jesus said destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up and we know from Gal 1:1 that it was God the Father who raised Christ from the dead, so obviously it was God speaking through Jesus Christ.

        God was speaking through Jesus just like God spoke through the Old Testament prophets and was identifying to the Jews that the Spirit that dwelt in the man Jesus Christ and that manifested in him was non other than Yahweh, the I AM Himself of the Old Testament.

        He who was manifesting in and through the man Jesus Christ was before Abraham and who stood before Moses at the burning bush. God was identifying Himself as being “IN” Jesus Christ to give Jesus credence and authority as God’s son. The context shows the unbelieving Jews were doubting his authority or his claim to whom he said he was.

        Other times God either told Jesus what to say or put in his mind what to teach and Jesus used his own words to teach what his heavenly Father wanted him to teach, thus always doing God’s will.

        The whole context of John chapter 8 is Jesus was proving that he was what he claimed to be and that his Father, the almighty God, had sent him into the mesianic ministery, and that his Father was witnessing through him and that he was who he claimed to be. Jesus was bringing glory to our Father by being perfectly obedient. How was God witnessing through Christ? Answer: by the many miracles He did through Christ.

        (Joh 5:36 KJV) “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.”

        Jesus said his Father testified of him that he was who he claimed to be. Who did Jesus claim to be? Over and over again he claimed to be the son of God, the son of man, the Messiah to come that was revealed to Peter but no where did he ever claim to be God or God the Son (non-Biblical term).

        Jesus said he only spoke what this Father told him to speak, then if Jesus said before Abraham was I am, he spoke what the father gave him to speak (John 7:17; John 8:21, 26; John 12:49; and John 15:15)

        Since Jesus was born as a man, he could not have existed prior to this time. No one can exist before he exists, that is none sensical. No man ever existed before he existed and Jesus was a man with a body, soul, and spirit. Jesus never claimed to be God nor did anyone ever call him God.

        And finally: Mat 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Generation = 1078 γένεσις genesis {ghen’-es-is} Meaning: 1) source, origin 1a) a book of one’s lineage, i.e. in which his ancestry or progeny are enumerated, 2) used of birth, nativity, 3) of that which follows origin, viz. existence, life, 3a) the wheel of life (Jas 3:6), other explain it, the wheel of human origin which as soon as men are born begins to run, i.e. its course of life (Strongs)

        This means this was the source, origin, or existence of Jesus Christ, which means he did not exist before this time, contrary to the teachings of men’s councils of the 4-5th centuries.

        Jesus Christ was a man (see 1 Tim 2:5; Ro 5:15); and he referred to himself as the son of man many times (Jo 6:27) and he was called the son of God (John 20:3). Not one scripture in the Bible calls Jesus God.

        (Rom 5:15 KJV) “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Adam and Jesus both men)

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

        2) Col 1:17 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

        This verse is further explaining verse Col 1:16.

        Before = 4253 pro, pro {pro} = literally, before or in front of

        Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says this preposition is used:

        1) Of place (standing before an object)

        Example in James 5:9 (KJV) “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”

        2) Of time (before these days)

        Acts 21:38 (KJV) “Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?”

        3) Of superiority or pre-eminence or first place above all things… (this is a clear definition.)

        1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) “And above all things have fervent charity (agape) among yourselves: for charity (agape) shall cover the multitude of sins.

        Since Christ didn’t exist before he was born, pro has to refer to Christ’s preeminence or importance or value (verse 18).

        Christ is before (superior or pre-eminent or first place) in all things. Because Jesus loved God to the full and obeyed Him perfectly even unto the death on the cross and became one with Him in will and purpose and became like him as to God’s character and His heart and pleased Him completely, he fulfilled the reason why God created the universe. He is the reason for the whole creation (V16). Therefore, to God, he is the most important, greatest value, superior to all else, first palce, or preeminent. Also because God has highly exalted him and given him a name above every name and put him over the church, he has pre-eminence in all things.

        Also in the sense of time (in a secondary sense) Christ was before God in all things in the sense he was in the mind and plan of God from the very beginning. Christ was the main reason God created every thing. He was the most important, superior, and pre-eminent. So He was also before all things in the mind of God (John 1:1)

        “…and in him all things hold together.”

        In him, that is, in the sphere of Christ, meaning in consideration of him or in the foreknowledge of him or because of him or on occasion of him.

        All things are held together in the plan and purpose of God in Christ. He is the reason why the earth is continuing on. God would have no need of planet earth if it were not for Christ and those who are found in Christ. The reason God blessed nations is because of the Christians in those nations. We, Christians, are holding the whole world together. We are presently holding back the judgment of God upon the world but after the Rapture, God pours out His judgement on the wicked in the earth. We are truly the salt of the earth, to preserve it.

        In this text of scripture the Apostle Paul is magnifying the position and the superiority of Christ in God’s plan over all creation. Everything depends on Christ! Christ is above all things and everything else in creation is dependant on, or subject to the plan of God in Christ. Christ is the apex, center point, goal, and purpose.

        3) Mic 5:2 whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (KJV)

        The KJ Scholars translated everlasting in order to agree with their theology that Jesus was God.

        Everlasting is a possible translation of the Hebrew Word “Olam” when used with the Hebrew word “Yom” (day).

        A better translation that captures the true sense of this verse is as the NIV (Mic 5:2 NIV) whose origins are from of old, “from ancient times”.

        Meaning Christ descent was from the ancient times of David through Mary (Ro 1:3), and all the way back to Genesis all the prophecies and types from ancient times have pointed to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the reason God created the Heavens and universe Col 1:16 (NS 1971)

        “For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Greek text of Col 1:26).

        Christ was prophesied of by the prophets through out the Old Testament and all the types and shadows from the very beginning all the way back to Genesis up through Malachi have pointed to Jesus Christ (whose going forth have been of old form ancient times.

        There is not reason to translate this verse as everlasting unless one is forcing their preconceived preexistent Christ teachings into the verse.

        One Important finial note:

        The above 3 verse are rather ambiguous and can be interpreted different ways and have been by Bible Commentators.
        It takes a revelation of God’s holy Spirit to understand the true interpretation of these verses, and I believe the interpretation I have given is the correct and better one because it is Bible based.
        One principal of Hermeneutics is not to form a doctrine from difficult hard to understand ambiguous passages of scripture. One should use clear understandable scriptures to clearly prove that Jesus is eternally preexistent but there are none.
        There is no scriptures that clearly teach Jesus is eternal preexistent. People have gotten this idea from tradition and the creeds of men that were developed in the church councils of men from the 4-5th centuries AD (Church Councils of Nicean & Chalcedon)
        Another note to consider in understanding who God is and who Jesus is… The Bible clearly teaches and uses these exact words that no one can miss understand: (Gal 3:20 KJV) Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Also Ja 2:19; Ro 3:20; Mk 12:25 & 32; and Duet 6:4 all say God is one according to the Greek/Hebrew texts. God is one as to his being, meaning He is one being, not three beings.

        No where does the Bible say these exact words: God is three, yet the Bible clearly say these exact words: God is one. If one is to believe the Bible, he must believe God is one, not three.

        Again let us be honest with ourselves and answere the following questions:
        Where are the clear scriptures that show Jesus is eternally preexistent and that shows God is three?
        How can one be eternally preexistent before he is always preexisting and never arrives to a state of existence? This is illogical and nonsensical and impossible to anser . One can never be eternally preexisting and one does not equal three.

        I hope you recieve this in love because I did not want to share it with the wrong spirit but I wanted to appeal to your sense of honesty and integrity. My heart is to share the truth of the Bible and when I now read the Bible without the teachings of the early church councils I can see clearly that Jesus was a man and that God, Yahweh, is the one and true God of the Bible.

        When you read the Gospels ask yourself is God speaking through Jesus or is Jesus himself (the man) speaking, or praying.

        Much Agape,
        ABob

        • Dear Abob,
          According to John 8:58 it says, “AND JESUS SAID TO THEM…” I dont know how you can come to a conclusion on saying that it was God speaking to them when the bible (which is immutable and inherent) clearly says that it was Jesus speaking to them. The only time God the Father makes His voice audible is in the baptism of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11 and Luke 3:22. You are taking scripture to fit your beliefs instead of placing in the light of what scripture says. You are replacing sound doctrine for false doctrine. You are well versed in scripture, very knowledgeable, but you are missing the truth of the Word of God, you are missing the truth of the Gospel that Jesus brought concerning the world and concerning Himself. Get back to absolute truth and remain in it. Excel still more. Please understand in context and in accuracy what the word of God declares. He who has ears let him hear

          For the sake of TRUTH,
          Josh

    • To my brother in Christ ABob

      Here’s the problem though, lets read from scripture and look at some key verses in the bible,

      Matthew 2:11, “…They fell to the ground and worshiped Him.”

      Matthew 14:33, “And those who were in the boat worshiped Him saying, “You are certainly Gods Son!””

      Matthew 28:9, “And behold Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”

      Matthew 28:17, “When they saw him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.”

      John 9:38, “And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped Him.”

      If Jesus Christ wasn’t God in flesh, then how can He receive worship when only God is worthy of all our worship? Do you see the problem we have here? Lets say Jesus is not God for sake of conversation, therefore if He is not God in flesh than that would mean that God the Father is encouraging idolatry, the very thing he shunned and hated. That would make God the Father a flake, it would make him a God who compromises. But we know without a doubt that our Father in heaven is none of those. You cannot ignore what scripture declares who He is, not what mane declares who He is. In John 1:14 we have a radical statement, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

      There are so much deep things we can draw from this verse but lets look at one word here, the word became. We don’t even need to look at the Greek meaning of this word to understand it because the word became means there must have been something that existed before. But for sake of learning the Greek word is ‘ginomai’ which means to come into existence, He came into flesh and dwelt among men. There is so much to learn from scripture, from Gods written Word. We must be a berean and examine it for ourselves. I hope this encourages you to dive for truth. You have my prayers brother!

      All for Christ,
      Josh

  8. An article I once wrote on the Trinity.

    One day something clicked in my mind about the Trinity, thought I would share it. Of course, many will argue the word “Trinity” is not in the bible, therefore it doesn’t exist. Most of us have heard that! To which I love to throw them a curve and say, “the word “grapejuice” isnt in the bible either, too bad it doesn’t exist, I really like grapejuice”.

    This is one of the best illustrations I’ve ever seen for the Trinity and I didn’t see it until 15 years after I was saved.

    The Bible says, well some Bibles anyway, in 1Jo 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”(or in unity rather) I think the phrase “three are one” is what really throws people. Then it clicked in my mind, “The United States government”, one government, three branches. Three as one!! If you define each branch it even resembles the Trinty exactly. The Executive(Father), The Legislative(The Word)and The Judicial(The Holy Spirit). “No Virginia there is no Santa Claus but God did set up the US govt”.

    Even further, every human being operates within Trinitarian principles. What is that exactly? Every function in life, and I mean every one, involves three things: Decision, knowledge, and action. Think about it! This again resembles the three persons of the Godhead. “No Virginia there is no Easter bunny, but we truly were made in Gods image.

    And finally, who was God talking to when He said, “Let (US) make man in (OUR) image” if there is no such thing as the TRINITY?!!

    .

    • Newjar1997,

      1 John 5:7 is from altered Greek manuscripts. Most theologians agree and the better Bible translations do not include “the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And we have three witnesses on earth.”
      The correct reading is, “So we have these three witnesses”

      The King James Version of the Bible has this verse as you’ve quoted it because when it was created in 1611 it used these later Greek manuscripts. A few very late manuscripts add in heaven—the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And we have three witnesses on earth.”

      This has caused a lot of us Christians to think it refers to the trinity but we have been misled.

      Thanks for the reply my Brother!
      Much Agape,
      ABob

    • Newjar1997,

      Concerning Genesis 1:26-27 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
      So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ”

      One should not assume this refers to the trinity, the pre-existent Christ, etc. One needs to look at what the text says here. God states let “us” make man in our image and likeness but when we read in verse 27 we see He only created man in His image but not His likeness.
      A man or woman over time grows into the likeness of God. When I first got saved I was not like God the way I am today. More loving, more humble, more righteous etc.

      Let us think about who God could be talking to in Genesis 1:26-27:

      – The Angles… God uses angels both good ones and bad ones to make man into his image and likeness. Good angles save, protect, give revelation while bad angels (demons) tempt and test man to not follow God and His word.

      – A Prophetic Statement to Jesus and the ministers of God… The Bible is full of prophecy and this statement, “Let us make man into our image and likeness” is a prophetic statement to Jesus and the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to have them work with God to help perfect the saints of God to make them into His likeness.

      I hope you can consider these things and not assume that it refers to a trinity of beings.

      Thanks again for the reply my Brother!
      Much Agape,
      ABob

      • @ Abob

        It seems like that you my brother are against the word trinity, three in one substance. It was at first an argument of words but now it is an argument of doctrine. I have one question for you. If the trinity is not true then why has God created man in 3 parts? Deuteronomy 6:5 says,

        “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

        Jesus even reiterated that in Matthew 22:37. This is just to show you how accurate the bible is and how infallible, immutable, inherent the Word of God is. God said in Genesis 1:26-27,

        “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth. And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

        The Bible says that God created man according to His likeness. How are God and man alike? They are alike as they are both 3 in one. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, three unique beings in one substance. Now lets loot at man, Heart, Soul, Mind. It doesn’t get more simpler than that.

        For the sake of TRUTH,
        Joshua

  9. Basically, it’s my understanding that God the Father is sort of like the CEO, the Admin guy in His office up in Heaven running things.
    Jesus is kind of like the field rep getting down with the people.
    So how can Isaiah say in 9:6 that Jesus is the Father? I’ve never understood that.

    • To understand the meaning of “Eternal Father” in Isaiah 9:6 one must go to the Hebrew word used in that passage. Strong’s concordance (#3205) lists the definition of father as “yalad; a primary root; to bear, bring forth, beget”. The prophetic word concerning our Savior points to the fact that He is/was the Co-Creator/Originator of eternity (c.f. 1 Cor. 8:6). Always remember, what is true of one member of the Godhead (Trinity) is true of every member, as They are all of one nature: God.

  10. Jesus is 100% man and 100% God. All things were made by Him and through Him. Colossians 1:16. It is 3 persons 1 God. John the beloved explains the diety of Christ John 1:1-3 John explains that Jesus is the word. Then in John 1:14 The word became flesh. Jesus is God He is The Creator.

  11. Let there be no doubt concerning the existence and activity of the Tr1-une, Trinitarian and three-in-one God in the believer’s life. Scripture clearly states: “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 NASB).