Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Jesus God/God God still unclear | Matt 1:23 | Reformer Joe | 4951 | ||
I welcome you to the faith, JRM! The answer to your question has to with what is called the Trinity. The historic Christian faith has been Trinitarian, despite the fact that throughout the history of the churhc there have been cults, sects, and other aberrant groups which have distorted this central teaching of Scripture in one way or another. Since, as you say, you are a new believer, I assume that you did not spend years and years studying the Bible before trusting in Christ's sinless life and his death in our place as the payment for our sins. The word "Trinity," although not found in the Bible, is an accurate way to describe the nature of God as he is revealed to us in the pages of the New Testament. Basically, when reading the Scriptures, we come across the following things said about God: 1. There is only ONE God (you probably don't need much convincing of this one, but try reading the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament; starting at about chapter 40, he mentions this fact dozens of times). 2. God is also known as the Father (the book of John is one place to start studying the message of Jesus Christ, and he constantly refers to "the Father"). 3. However, Jesus is also referred to numerous times as God and/or the creator (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16, 17; Hebrews 1:8, and many other places). 4. The Holy Spirit (also called the Spirit of God in the Old Testament) is described as having personality and also God. So here is our "problem": ONE God, but the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are also called "God." There cannot be three Gods, but three different "persons" are identified as God. Some groups today hold that this is just a way to describe God working in three different "modes" (i.e. sometimes he is acting as Father, sometimes as the Son, sometimes as the Holy Spirit). The problem with this, however, is that one can clearly see from the New Testament that all trhee exist together at the same time, and that they even interact with one another, one praying to another, one sending another, the three persons speaking to each other, etc., etc. Therefore, it is clear that while the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all fully one God; the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father. So the plot thickens... So what is the solution? The early leaders of the church, in trying to grasp all of this teaching about the nature of God, could conclude only one thing: that while there is only one God, he has always existed in three distinct "persons." Each of these persons is fully God (i.e. Jesus is not 1/3 of God), and each displays the personality, power, and characteristics of God. All three, being the one God, are worthy of our praise, worship, and obedience. A bit complicated? I would assume as a new Christian that that would be an understatement. A good starting point to undertsanding this teaching that the church labelled the "trinity" almost 1700 years ago is a very fine book by James R. White entitled _The Forgotten Trinity._ He is the president of Alpha and Omega Ministries, which you can access on the Web at (www.aomin.org). To answer your question about "calling God God," most of the writers of the Old and New Testaments, unless there was some need to make a distinction between these three persons, usually used the term God to refer to God the Father. The fact that God is a being who has revealed himself to be one Being in three Persons is hard to comprehend, since we experience nothing in creation that bears resemblence to this unique quality of God. The important thing is not whether we can draw a picture of it or put the nature of God into some comfortable category for ourselves. What is important is that we take the time to understand what the Bible does say about God's nature and accept it. I certainly hope this answer helps. It was quite a bit longer than you expected, I am sure; but it is important for all of us to know who God is and what he is like. Despite many corruptions of all sorts that we have seen in the church over the centuries, the church has at least held onto the truth of the Trinity throughout its history. --Joe! |
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2 | Jesus God/God God still unclear | Matt 1:23 | Lionstrong | 4958 | ||
Dear Joe, I think your explanation of the Trinity is fine. I wish I could do half as well. But when you said, "The fact that God is a being who has revealed himself to be one Being in three Persons is hard to comprehend, since we experience nothing in creation that bears resemblence to this unique quality of God," I would say there is. When my Arian (sp?), i.e. Jehovah's Witnesse nieghbors come by I illustrate diversity in unity with the creation of man (Gen 1:27). God created man (unity, man -- one class, distinct from the rest of creation), male and female he created them (diversity, two persons); marriage (Gen 2:24) the man and wife (diversity, two persons) becoming one flesh (unity, united in marriage); the church is one loaf, one flock, one body with many members. You're right the oneness and plurality of God is unique, but He has given us things in creation which resemble that concept of diversity in unity. Lionstrong |
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3 | Jesus God/God God still unclear | Matt 1:23 | Reformer Joe | 4977 | ||
Thanks for the compliment on the explanation. We all must be careful, I contend, to present the truth without taking shortcuts that could lead to error. You spelled Arian right. :) The reason I do not use the analogies you gave is that like all anaologies, they fall short. Yes, the Bible does illustrate diversity in unity. The reason I think they do not apply to God is becuase while the church is indeed "one body with many members," The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are not "members" of God. They are each fully God. Same with marriage. My wife and I comprise a marriage, but I myself am not the marriage, nor is she. We may also be members of the same race, but the fullness of the human race does not dwell in me bodily. Therefore, that is why I am careful when using analogies to describe God. They will always break down when we consider His uniqueness. Thanks again for your comments! --Joe! |
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4 | Jesus God/God God still unclear | Matt 1:23 | Lionstrong | 4993 | ||
Thanks, Joe I agree; all analogies break down. That's why I capitalized on your "resemblence" and underscored your "unique." Lionstrong |
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