The Father planned that it would take place through the work of his Son, such that his Son would have the highest place of exaltation in the end (Eph 1:9-10). The one God was metamorphosed in external form according to the need of the moment. How, then, are the roles and relationships of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, distinct from one another? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: The Trinity as Theological Foundation for Family Ministry. what the holy spirit does, rather, The work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus Christ. WebThe Trinity is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. Unlike the churchs relationship to Jesus, in which the church can be confident that anything Jesus commands will be wise and good, husbands cannot be counted on to lead with flawless wisdom and goodness. Luke 3:21-22 The Athanasian Creed on the doctrine of the trinity, has it that God the Father is WebThe Father is the creator of the universe; the holy spirit is Gods power which is used to maintain this universe; and, Jesus (God saves) Christ (anointed one or Messiah) is the James in the New Testament agrees. Only an infinite God could bear the sins of the world! However, there is a physical condition in which water can exist as solid, liquid and steam at the same timewhich would be a much better illustration of the Trinity. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. What is Blasphemy and Why is it So Deadly?What is Heresy?The Fruit of the Spirit - What Are They?10 Things to Know About Speaking in TonguesWhat is the Tithe? 15 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know By Heart HERE, Christianity.com: Why should we try to understand the Trinity? That would imply that Jesus is 1/3rd God, the Father is 1/3rd God, and the Holy Spirit is 1/3rd God. Holy Spirit serves a Gods divine Administrator on earth and He desires and works to recreate the life of Christ in His people. Yet I am only one person. However, that simply isn't true. God himself boldly declares through the prophet Isaiah, Besides me there is no God. Finally, all three Persons are associated together on an equal basis in numerous passages: This list of passages might be extended. Scripture shows how each member of the Trinity fulfills His specific role and how those three roles interrelate. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. For instance, in Genesis 1:2, God the Spirit brings the life of the universe into being, and also, in Genesis 1:26 when God decides to create human beings, He says, Let us make Who was he talking to? Those who deny that truth place themselves outside the pale of Christian orthodoxy. The issue is not the word, but the concept or the idea. Let me suggest five important ramifications of this truth. Another attempted solution was to identify the Holy Spirit as another reference to the 1 Timothy 2:5 explicitly says "there is one God." California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. In the bible, God always refers to himself as one and this oneness is Called Trinity, God the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit. Their equality, then, is not merely an equality of kind but what might be called an equality of identity.. He is a high school Bible teacher whose passion is for teaching the deep things of God in ways that are understandable and accessible to all followers of Christ. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. There is one and only one God, precisely because there is one and only one eternal and infinite divine nature which is the common possession and full possession of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 9:6 Yet each Person of the Godhead is different in role and relationship with respect to the others. One of the more interesting illustrations note the different roles a person can play. God is one essence, not a jumble of parts or pieces put together. The Holy Spirit is fully God, more than an influence or a force. The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. In other words, the Trinity presents us with the truth that the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are fully equal in their essence while also presenting the truth that the authority-submission structure of the Trinity is inviolable with the Father as supreme, the Son under the Father, and the Spirit under the Father and the Son. Furthermore, there is more than one way to play with equations. My personal favorite illustration comes from noted scientist Dr. Henry Morris. The Son never begrudges the fact that he is the Son under the authority of the Father. (1) This article has been excerpted from the forthcomingbook Trained in the Fear of God: Family Ministry in Theological, Historical, and Practical Perspective, ed. This shows that Jesus was putting Himself and the Holy Spirit on the same level as God the Father. executive officer navy; vh1 app not working on firestick; bamboo house kits hawaii; eloise emanuel daughter of david; absolution prayer in italian You have, if you like, a formulation of that. Each person participates in all of Gods works as they are fully divine, yet they do not participate in identical ways. The Lord's Prayer). From todays Second Reading we should realize that the design and grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:9) stems from Trinitarian love ( CCC 257). Luke 11:13 The differences are actually in linguistics rather than in a theological sense. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? Youll agree with me that God was the Beginning and himself is still going to be the end. Having said that, I admit that no one fully understands it. 3. But if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7). Someone asked Daniel Webster, who happened to be a fervent Christian, "How can a man of your intellect believe in the Trinity?" The distinctions in their work, then, must be recognized if we are to understand rightly the outworking of Gods purposes and plans. The Hebrew word for God is elohim, which is actually a plural form of the word el. The Trinity sets the limits for human speculation. As the Son sought to glorify the Father in all he did, the Spirit seeks to glorify the Son, to the ultimate praise of the Father (see, for example, John 16:14; 1 Cor 12:3; Phil 2:11). As heads of their houses, some fathers might abuse their authority in ways that would provoke their children to anger-but that is not Gods way. What distinguishes the Persons of the Trinity are (1) the particular roles that each has within the Trinity and in the work each carries out in the world, and, (2) the respective relationships that each has with the other divine Persons and within the creation that the triune God has made. He was sent by Christ as the personal presence of God for those dwelling on earth. 1 Corinthians 8:4 adds that "there is no God but one." I am a father, a son and a husband at one and the same time. 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To Gods elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Indeed it is a mystery, and with all the saints we bend the knee in worship before our great GodFather, Son, and Holy Spirit. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. I will gird you, though you have not known me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides me. To honor parents is to respect them as persons and to listen attentively to their instruction as persons older and wiser. If Genesis 1 does not explicitly teach diversity-in-unity within the Godhead, it certainly leaves room for it to be developed later in the Bible. 32 but Jesus said to them, I have shown you many good works from the Father. Thus the whole universe witnesses to the character of the God who made it (cf. Fathers have the God-given mandate and privilege of blessing their children by cultivating a household environment where children grow to respect, love, and follow Jesus, in obedience to their fathers and in honor of both their fathers and mothers. Unity of Purpose and Harmony of Mission within the Trinity The husband and father has, under God, the highest place of authority in the household. WebThe Jesus' name doctrine or the Oneness doctrine upholds that baptism is to be performed "in the name of Jesus Christ," rather than using the Trinitarian formula "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." This truly is a marvel to consider. You believe that God is one, he writes. God the Father the Son and the holy spirit biblical explanation with Scriptures 2:22. Yet each member has distinct roles and relation- ships within the family; these roles and relationships areworked out within an authority-submission structure that God designed as purposefully reflective of God himself (4). - Pastor Alistar Begg. The holy spirit makes christ real in the life of every believer. WebThe Holy Spirit is the means of access to God, the Father. The Spirit is under both the Father and the Son. An illustration of a magnifying glass. That much should be clear from this message. 23 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us). Finally, we can simply pray to God. Many Christians simply do not feel comfortable praying to the Spirit even though we often sing songs that are essentially prayers to the Spirit, such as "Spirit of God, descend upon my heart" and "Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me." The doctrine of the Trinity is not absurd if that's what the Bible teaches. The word for Spirit in both Hebrew and Greek can also mean wind or breath (see Psalm 33:6 or Acts 2:2 as examples). The Trinity should cause us to bow in humble adoration before a God who is greater than our minds could ever comprehend. These definitions express three crucial truths: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct The most striking passage here is Peters instruction to wives. Do all Christians believe the doctrine of the Trinity? He revealed the mystery of Christ to the apostles and prophets. But that truth leads us back to the Trinity. God has assigned husbands and fathers a sacred stewardship that involves responsibility for the spiritual growth and well-being of wives and children. Since each member of your family is made in the image of God, each should be treated in ways that are fitting to who they are. You may remember Augustine's answer: "He was preparing Hell for people who ask questions like that!". And so we affirm today what the church has explicitly affirmed as orthodox since the days of the Councils of Nicaea in A.D. 325 and Constantinople in A.D. 381: The oneness of Godand thus the full essential equality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-is constituted precisely in a oneness of divine nature possessed fully, simultaneously, and eternally by each of the divine Persons. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Yet God has revealed to us the great mystery of the Trinity: there is a plurality within Gods oneness. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. The Spirit also has a unique role to play in Gods work of redemption. God has not given husbands this authority for the purpose of gratifying their own pleasures or for exploiting opportunities for their own com- fort! Verse three may serve as an apt conclusion to this message. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. It's a word that in other contexts is sometimes translated as "gods," referring to heathen deities. There is a third word you should know. God loves us and wants us to know him. Implications for Children You are in fact a heretic. WebThe difference is that the Son receives the Divine Essence from the Father alone, whereas the Holy Spirit receives the Divine Essence from the Father through the Son. The Father, Son, and Spirit are equal in their divine attributes. The terms Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost mean exactly the same He is eternal, uncreated, and divine; always existing In fact, I think in one part of the book, and it came to mind because it struck me, I think in one part, Sinclair suggests that when Jesus finally said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done," that Sinclair says, "And here we have the father singing, 'My Jesus, I love thee. The Fathers plan is to save sinners through Christ, his Son. Take away any one of those three and the universe would cease to exist. A. It's essential to understand this distinction: We do not have three gods; we have one God in three persons functioning uniquely and perfectly. Instead, Paul aimed his next direction specifically toward fathers of households: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The point is clear: Fathers in particular bear special responsibility for the faith-training of their children. Each member of the Godhead is equally God, each is eternally God, and each is fully Godnot three gods but three Persons of the one eternal Godhead. 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. WebThe Holy Spirit is fully God, more than an influence or a force. The Trinity is a doctrine that all Christians believe but no one really understands. He, through Jesus Christ, is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. In every instance, wives are commanded to submit to their husbands (Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; Titus 2:3-5; and 1 Pet 3:1-6). The harm that we inflict on our families through apathy and uninvolvement can wound just as deeply as the harm that is inflicted through heavy-handed selfishness. The Spirit does this by inspiring the authors of the Bible so that people like you and me would know who Jesus is and what he has done for our salvation (1 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21). Why the shift? He didn't create us because he "needed" us. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. The three persons of the Trinity (the threeness) are not separate. Tony Evans commented that the pretzel is a good illustration because it consists of one piece of dough with three holes. - Sam Allberry from christianitydotcom2 on GodTube. The Gospels teach us that Jesus makes a point of placing Himself on the same level with God the Father many times. Christians everywhere have always believed it. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 2:9 WebDue to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. If one does not believe in the Trinitythat is, if a person has come to a settled conclusion that the doctrine of the Trinity is not truedoes it make him a heretic? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God cameand Scripture cannot be set aside. That, by the way, is the number one question I have been asked about the Holy Spirit since writing Names of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity sets the limits on human speculation about the nature of God.There is so much we would like to know about God, but our finite minds cannot comprehend it. 35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Just as God calls all of us to submit to authority with whole heart and willing spirit, so this special calling and privilege is given to wives as a reflection of the triune relations within the Godhead. The The Father and Son together, working as one, send the Spirit to complete Gods work. The churchs ministries must understand both this equality and this differentiation and seek to reinforce this in what the church encourages and teaches. Unity of purpose and harmony of mission, yet with differentiation in lines of authority and submission within the Godhead! he created him." He will bless you enormously as you seek to obey him by being faithful to fulfilling what he has called you to do. "I do not pretend fully to understand the arithmetic of heaven now," he replied. Roles and Relationships within the Trinity For example, at Jesus baptism, Jesus stands in the water for baptism; God speaks from heaven; and the Holy Spirit appears like a dove (Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:22). They relate eternally and perfectly - they are always relating, and are never separate. All rights reserved. The way of redemption showcases these roles in a transparent manner. But what about Jesus Christ? That's also another word that means the same thing as Trinity. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ~ Isaiah 48:16, Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. A wife, then, should seek before God to render submission that seeks to help, longs to serve, and looks for opportunities to assist in any way that will be an encouragement and help to Gods calling upon her husbands life. Genesis 1:26-27. If you were to describe the Spirits relationship with the Father and Son in a single word it would be procession. While the Father is uncreated and the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son. Perhaps the reason for the difference is what Augustine suggested: There is no end to begetting, the son could beget another son, and so forth. Because it consists of one piece of dough with three holes leads back. Gods work of the more interesting illustrations note the different roles a person can play stewardship. Of gratifying their own pleasures or for exploiting opportunities for their own com- fort a Gods divine Administrator on.... 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