PERSPECTIVE
THE TRINITY PART 2
THE TRINITY PART 2
PART 2: ALL THREE PERSONS IDENTIFIED AS GOD
There are places in the scriptures where each of the three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are identified God. There are only two conclusions we can come to about the nature of God when looking at these scriptures; either we have three Gods, or a those three persons are the one God.
GOD THE FATHER
II Peter 1:17
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This is one of the many verses where God is called "God the Father" See also John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 6:23, Philippians 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, 1 Peter 1:22, John 1:3, Jude 1:1
This term was present but not developed in the Old Testament, see Psalm 89:26. The idea that God was our Father and that we were a part of God's family was a new idea in the New Testament. We are spoken of being "in Christ" and being adopted into the family of God.
Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
See also Romans 12:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:6, Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5
The New Testament is not only a clarification of those things declared in the Old Testament, but a revelation of things that were previously unknown. Paul declares this relationship to be a mystery that has been hid from the ages.
Colossians 1:25-27
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
GOD THE FATHER
II Peter 1:17
For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
This is one of the many verses where God is called "God the Father" See also John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 6:23, Philippians 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, 1 Peter 1:22, John 1:3, Jude 1:1
This term was present but not developed in the Old Testament, see Psalm 89:26. The idea that God was our Father and that we were a part of God's family was a new idea in the New Testament. We are spoken of being "in Christ" and being adopted into the family of God.
Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
See also Romans 12:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:6, Romans 8:15, Ephesians 1:5
The New Testament is not only a clarification of those things declared in the Old Testament, but a revelation of things that were previously unknown. Paul declares this relationship to be a mystery that has been hid from the ages.
Colossians 1:25-27
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
WHAT DID JESUS SAY OF HIMSELF
It is clear from scripture that Jesus knew he was God, but he never declared it explicitly by saying "I am God". He also knew he was the Messiah and you cannot find anywhere where he stated emphatically, "I am the Messiah." He made both claims in ways that only those who wanted to know God would understand, and those who wanted to follow their own understanding and wills would not. This was not unusual for Jesus to do. See Matthew 13:14-15
I AM
We find one place in scripture where Jesus referred to himself as "I AM" this was the name that God used to identify himself to Moses, the "I AM that I AM"
John 8:53-58
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
By phrasing his answer in the way that he did Jesus was identifying himself as the same "I am" that was the God of Abraham. The reaction of the Jews further illustrates this point.
It is clear from scripture that Jesus knew he was God, but he never declared it explicitly by saying "I am God". He also knew he was the Messiah and you cannot find anywhere where he stated emphatically, "I am the Messiah." He made both claims in ways that only those who wanted to know God would understand, and those who wanted to follow their own understanding and wills would not. This was not unusual for Jesus to do. See Matthew 13:14-15
I AM
We find one place in scripture where Jesus referred to himself as "I AM" this was the name that God used to identify himself to Moses, the "I AM that I AM"
John 8:53-58
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
By phrasing his answer in the way that he did Jesus was identifying himself as the same "I am" that was the God of Abraham. The reaction of the Jews further illustrates this point.
John 8:59
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE
Consider the following passage. Jesus gives another undeniable statement of who he knew himself to be.
Consider the following passage. Jesus gives another undeniable statement of who he knew himself to be.
John 10:24-39
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
The key phrase we will be looking at is "I and the Father are one" This statement as well is a reference to a scripture from the law concerning the nature of God.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
The key phrase we will be looking at is "I and the Father are one" This statement as well is a reference to a scripture from the law concerning the nature of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Literally the passage says "YHWH your Elohim is one YHWH" The term Elohim is a plural form of the word for God "elowah" It is used to identify God over 2300 times in the Old Testament sometimes in combination with YHWH. The word Elohim is a plural intensive-singular meaning in which we see a hint of God's true nature, a singular plural, three persons that are the one God.
In John chapter ten the Jews asked Jesus to plainly declare if he was the Christ, they wanted him to say, "I am the Christ." But instead he says that he has told them and they didn't listen because they were not of his sheep. Then he indicates that his sheep are in his hand. Then he says the sheep are in his Father's hand, meaning both the Son and the Father are holding the same sheep in their hand together. The analogy suggests that the Father and the Son are the same. Jesus confirms this and leaves no doubt about what he meant when he says "I and the Father are one". The LORD our God is one LORD.
At this point the analogy is clear to the Jews, Jesus was saying that he is God, and they immediately judged him as a blasphemer. They say, "You, being a man, make yourself God." They understood exactly what he meant, but didn't believe it. They were ready to judge him.
So how does Jesus answer their accusation of blaspheme? Jesus does not declare that they understood him incorrectly, but his answer clearly shows us that their reaction, picking up stones to stone him was hypocritical. To understand the answer Jesus gives to this it is essential to understand the meaning of the psalm Jesus quotes. Please read Psalm 82.
The gods spoken of in the Psalm are the judges in Israel and it is clear that God is not declaring them to be lesser gods but false ones. These "gods" were ones that judge unjustly, ones that accept the wicked, ones that have not defended the poor and needy, the fatherless. These "gods" were ones that have not done justice to the afflicted and needy. They did not know, they did not understand, they walked in darkness. They are the "gods" Jesus was talking about and he was comparing these gods to the Jews who were ready to stone him.
This is how Jesus answered the Jews.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
What he was telling the Jews is that they are themselves in the place of those gods, and that their judgment of blaspheme was wrong. The only way Jesus would not have been committing blaspheme is if he was indeed God.
Jesus does not deny their perception that he had claimed to be God, but instead he adds: "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." His works testify to the truth of his statement. When understood properly this is a very clear statement that Jesus and God the Father were one and that meant that Jesus was God.
Literally the passage says "YHWH your Elohim is one YHWH" The term Elohim is a plural form of the word for God "elowah" It is used to identify God over 2300 times in the Old Testament sometimes in combination with YHWH. The word Elohim is a plural intensive-singular meaning in which we see a hint of God's true nature, a singular plural, three persons that are the one God.
In John chapter ten the Jews asked Jesus to plainly declare if he was the Christ, they wanted him to say, "I am the Christ." But instead he says that he has told them and they didn't listen because they were not of his sheep. Then he indicates that his sheep are in his hand. Then he says the sheep are in his Father's hand, meaning both the Son and the Father are holding the same sheep in their hand together. The analogy suggests that the Father and the Son are the same. Jesus confirms this and leaves no doubt about what he meant when he says "I and the Father are one". The LORD our God is one LORD.
At this point the analogy is clear to the Jews, Jesus was saying that he is God, and they immediately judged him as a blasphemer. They say, "You, being a man, make yourself God." They understood exactly what he meant, but didn't believe it. They were ready to judge him.
So how does Jesus answer their accusation of blaspheme? Jesus does not declare that they understood him incorrectly, but his answer clearly shows us that their reaction, picking up stones to stone him was hypocritical. To understand the answer Jesus gives to this it is essential to understand the meaning of the psalm Jesus quotes. Please read Psalm 82.
The gods spoken of in the Psalm are the judges in Israel and it is clear that God is not declaring them to be lesser gods but false ones. These "gods" were ones that judge unjustly, ones that accept the wicked, ones that have not defended the poor and needy, the fatherless. These "gods" were ones that have not done justice to the afflicted and needy. They did not know, they did not understand, they walked in darkness. They are the "gods" Jesus was talking about and he was comparing these gods to the Jews who were ready to stone him.
This is how Jesus answered the Jews.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
What he was telling the Jews is that they are themselves in the place of those gods, and that their judgment of blaspheme was wrong. The only way Jesus would not have been committing blaspheme is if he was indeed God.
Jesus does not deny their perception that he had claimed to be God, but instead he adds: "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." His works testify to the truth of his statement. When understood properly this is a very clear statement that Jesus and God the Father were one and that meant that Jesus was God.
THE ALPHA AND OMEGA
We often look only at the ministry of Jesus to see what he said and forget that the words of Jesus are also recorded in the last book of the Bible. The most striking evidence comes from the book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending is identified here as the Lord, the Almighty, but who is speaking. Read Revelation 1:11-18, the following are the key elements
…And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man… And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
We have here Alpha and Omega also called the first and the last. Jesus, one like unto the Son of Man, identifies himself as "the first and the last," one who was dead and is now alive forever. Jesus calls himself by the same title that the Lord God Almighty called himself.
We find this again in Revelation 22:12-16
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jesus declares that he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. But "the first and the last" was the title that God applied to himself in Isaiah.
Isaiah 44:6,
Thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Read also Isaiah 41:4 and Isaiah 48:12
Isaiah even tells us that there is no other God. So when we look at what Jesus said in Revelation, comparing it with what God declared in Isaiah we see very clearly that Jesus is God. Jesus' words are "I am the Alpha and Omega," "I am the first and the last." There are not two firsts and two lasts, there are not two beginnings and endings or two Alphas and Omegas. Jesus and the Father are one, Jesus is God.
We often look only at the ministry of Jesus to see what he said and forget that the words of Jesus are also recorded in the last book of the Bible. The most striking evidence comes from the book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending is identified here as the Lord, the Almighty, but who is speaking. Read Revelation 1:11-18, the following are the key elements
…And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man… And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
We have here Alpha and Omega also called the first and the last. Jesus, one like unto the Son of Man, identifies himself as "the first and the last," one who was dead and is now alive forever. Jesus calls himself by the same title that the Lord God Almighty called himself.
We find this again in Revelation 22:12-16
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Jesus declares that he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. But "the first and the last" was the title that God applied to himself in Isaiah.
Isaiah 44:6,
Thus saith the LORD (Jehovah) the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Read also Isaiah 41:4 and Isaiah 48:12
Isaiah even tells us that there is no other God. So when we look at what Jesus said in Revelation, comparing it with what God declared in Isaiah we see very clearly that Jesus is God. Jesus' words are "I am the Alpha and Omega," "I am the first and the last." There are not two firsts and two lasts, there are not two beginnings and endings or two Alphas and Omegas. Jesus and the Father are one, Jesus is God.
IS THE HOLY SPIRIT REFERRED TO AS GOD?
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The Holy Spirit is much harder to see as part of the trinity because the focus of the New Testament is Jesus. The Holy Spirit is always there but not in the foreground, he did not come to testify of himself. (John 16:13) There are still several evidences that the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The most direct verses that show the Holy Spirit to be God are found in Acts.
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The Holy Spirit is much harder to see as part of the trinity because the focus of the New Testament is Jesus. The Holy Spirit is always there but not in the foreground, he did not come to testify of himself. (John 16:13) There are still several evidences that the Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The most direct verses that show the Holy Spirit to be God are found in Acts.
Acts 5:1-4
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
You cannot lie to an inanimate object or an impersonal force or power. You can only lie to a person. Even so Peter identified the Holy Spirit as God when he said they lied to the Holy Ghost.
It is in Acts 13 that we find further evidence that the Holy Spirit is also God.
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
You cannot lie to an inanimate object or an impersonal force or power. You can only lie to a person. Even so Peter identified the Holy Spirit as God when he said they lied to the Holy Ghost.
It is in Acts 13 that we find further evidence that the Holy Spirit is also God.
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
The Holy Spirit identifies himself as the Lord by saying "I" have called them. The Holy Spirit is God.
The Holy Spirit identifies himself as the Lord by saying "I" have called them. The Holy Spirit is God.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deuteronomy 6:4
Deuteronomy 6:4
