THE TRINITY
Hebrews 4:15-16
"For we have not a high priest (Hebrews 2:17) which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us..."
An Analogy
By
Ann Sullivan
How could I communicate to beings that are like ants without scaring them? They could not reach my height know matter how hard they tried. How could I reach out to them in a way that they could RELATE ? I could put my big hand in front of them. They may think that another natural calamity has happened and start building under and around it. I could write in the sand. They may not know for sure where it came from or if it is the truth. I could speak, and they may think it is nature speaking to them; never comprehending who I AM. I could cause them to worship me. How can they relate to me in a CHOSEN relationship where real love is found? I could meet their needs. They may reason it out as a natural phenomenon or just think they are getting what they deserve because of their hard work.
The best way for them to understand my message is to become one of them. Not only would I be communicating with them in a way they could understand; as one of them they would know I have walked in their shoes. By lowering myself to human form I will suffer as humans suffer.
They will reject who I AM. I will show them THEE TRUTH. Like Satan they may want to be their own god never facing the reality of what they are in comparison to the creator. They will deserve to be destroyed. How can I help them understand the seriousness of sin? By reaching down and suffering on the cross for their salvation, some will see how much I do understand and love them.
An Analogy by Matthew Slick, "Basic Christian Doctrine"
www.carm,org/basicdoc.htm
Let's look at TIME (past, present, future) to illustrate the Trinity. Is the "past" plus the "present" plus the "future" a total of three times? Not at all. It is simply a representation of three distinct aspects of the nature of time: past, present, and future. Likewise the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit are not three separate beings or entities, but three distinct persons in the one nature of the Godhead. Let's take 'present' and add to it human nature. Present, then, would have two natures; time and man. If 'present' were truly human then he would be able to communicate with us, tell us much and we could see and touch him. But, because he is also 'time' by nature he would be able to tell us both the past and the future as he manifested the ''time'' nature within him. If 'present' then, communicated with the past and the future, it would not mean he was communicating with himself, but with the distinctions known as the past and the future. This is only an analogy by the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry,
www.carm.org
The word "trinity" is not found in the Bible. This does not mean that the concept is not taught. The words omniscience (all knowing), omnipotence (all powerful) and omnipresences (present ever where) are not found in the Bible either. But, we use these words to describe the attributes of God.
We are talking about the Almighty God who can be in more than one place at a time. A man can be a father, husband, and a business man. But he can not be playing ball with his son and be at the office at the same time. With God all things are possible!
God relates to humans in three persons. The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are of one substance, but different in their function. Our body has different functions. The mind, its ideas, and the expression of these ideas into words are limited as a human. Jesus took on human form and became a servant. The difference in position does not mean difference in nature. Jesus said, "O, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was" John 17:5.
The trinity goes beyond reason but not against it. Man can not completely comprehend the Trinity.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55: 8-9.
Questions
E-mail me your questions
How can Jesus be equal with God, when He said in John 14: 28, "The Father is greater than I"?
The word "greater" in the text is a term of position. When Jesus entered the world he became a human being. Saying my Father is greater than I is not saying "My Father is better than I". "Better" is the term of nature. Greater means higher in position. Jesus humbled Himself.
In the book Answering Islam , The Crescent in Light of the Cross, By NORMAN L. GEISLER AND ABDUL SALEEB says:
When Jesus said, "My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28) Jesus meant only that the Father is greater in OFFICE. When Jesus spoke of the Father being "greater" it was in the context of his "going to the Father". But this functional difference of his role as Son in the very next verse reveals that it was not to be used to diminish the fact that Jesus was equal to the Father in nature and glory.
Where Jesus said of his disciples, "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us." H.M. Baagil argues on the basis of this that if Jesus is God because he is in God, why are the disciples not God, as they are like Jesus also in God? Jesus is speaking relationally not essentially. This is, we can have an intimate relationship with God as Jesus did. But we cannot be of the same essence of God as Jesus was, for he shared God's eternal glory "before the world was" (v.3). Jesus is in God because he is God. However, we are not in God because we are God, but only because we have a relationship with him.
Answering Islam, The Crescent in Light of the Cross, second edition, Norman L. Geisler and Abdul Saleeb, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49516, 1993-20002. As you can see from the review above, I encourage you to buy the book. www.bakerbooks.com.
DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST?
Knowing about Jesus and knowing Him personally is different. Have you
prayed to our Lord and accepted Jesus' sacrifice for your salvation? Jesus
has showed His love for you. I hope you do not reject Him. If you do not
accept someone, you have rejected that one. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
ONE.
