Selasa, 02 Maret 2021

 

TRINITARIANISM

(STUDY OF ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS)


INTRODUCTION

 

Man has been searching God for a long long time.  Who is God?  Does He really exist? (Job 11:7; Acts 17:27).  How has man been searching God? By intuition, reason, tradition, and revelation (the only way to know God).  

 God Himself has revealed Himself in 4 main ways:  -Creation (the general revelation, Psalm 19:1, Rome 1:19-20),  -the Bible (special revelation),  -Jesus (John 1:18),  -our experience of salvation (ILS: The late Evangelist Billy Graham was asked how he knew that God existed, he answered, "This morning I talked to Him").

 And God reveals Himself as God Trinity.  The triune Being of the Godhead, one God in three Persons, is a mystery beyond explanation and a truth beyond comprehension. But it is a fact of divine revelation. Christians accept it by faith! 

The Trinity. 

Is the doctrine of the Trinity biblical? 

When the whole text of Scripture is taken seriously, the doctrine of the Trinity emerges. The doctrine is implicitly taught within the Old and New Testament. It teaches clearly that God is one and is unique, that He is the only God that is true and exists. It teaches, either directly or indirectly, that there are three Persons who are fully divine, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And it also teaches, indirectly and by implication, that these three are one.  Three-in-oneness of God.

 

The Bible does not mention the word “Trinity”.

So how can Christians defend the notion of a Triune God? 

Although the word “Trinity” does not occur in the Bible, the doctrine of One God in Three Persons is clear from many verses.

All three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are called God in different places in the Bible.  Examples are: Father in Galatians 1:1; Son in John 20:28; Spirit in Acts 5:3-4.

All three Persons are mentioned close together on an equal basis in many places.

For example, in Matthew 28:19 we are commanded to baptize in one Name but three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Another example is “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” (1 Peter 1:2).

It is interesting to note that God sometimes refers to Himself as “us” (e.g. Genesis 1:26).

We’re lead to the inevitable conclusion that the doctrine is, in fact, biblical.

God Trinity is one of the most confusing doctrines in all the Christian faith.

But it’s also among the most crucial.  It cannot be fully understood, yet, it can be fully believed. Why?  Because it is clearly taught in the Bible.

If this strange-appearing doctrine is taught in the Bible, either explicitly or implicitly, we must accept it, or at least take it very seriously.  If, on the other hand, the Bible does not assert such a teaching we may not be required to believe it.

Without the doctrine of the Trinity, there is nothing that truly distinguishes Christianity from other religions.  The doctrine of the Trinity completely debunks the simplistic and superficial assumption that the Triune Christian God is the same God as the Allah of a certain religion. 

Christianity is distinguished from strict monotheistic religions such as Judaism and Islam.  But also from polytheistic, pantheistic and panentheistic religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism.  None of these religious beliefs contain anything quite like the doctrine of the Trinity!

The doctrine of the Trinity, which had already been articulated by the apostles, was established at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and ratified at the Council of Constantinople (381 AD).


The mysteries of God Trinity

By investigating some divine mysteries,  we hope to be able to delve
a little deeper into the existence of a deeply triune God.

However, what we will discuss together, can only touch the surface or its skin from the greatness of so great God!   My prayer is that through this simple message God helps all of us to get to know Him, our Creator and Savior, and make us love Him more.


I. The Essence of God

 

*What is God? The Bible reveals something of what God is, but only God knows Himself fully. We must rely on what is written in the Holy Scriptures for any understanding of what God is like.

1. Scripture Designation

    - God is Spirit (John 4:24) → the essence or substance of the divine nature.

      *What is spirit?  Something that doesn't have material body (Luk 24:39).

    - God is light (1 John 1:5) → absolute perfection of the divine nature                                                                     (i.e.holiness)

    - God is love (1 John 4:8) → God's attribute.

    - God is invisible (Deut 4:15; John 1:18) → man is forbidden to make an idol or

       likeness.

2. Theological Definition (man trying to describe God!)

    "God is Spirit, infinite eternal, unchangeable in His Being, wisdom, power,                holiness, justice, goodness, truth, and love."

In other words, the essence of God is,  "God is Spirit, invisible, without body, yet He is a Person (He has will, mind, and emotion); He is not created by someone else because He is eternal self-existence."

 

 

 II. The Oneness of God


*God is One God.

The unity (oneness) of God is seen in:

1. The great confession of Israel (Deutronomy 6:4)

Hear, O Israel: The Lord (JHVH) our God (elohim: God, God, God), the Lord (JHVH) is one.”   à as God,  JHVH is the “plural” One!

Note: 

Three noble titles for God in the original language of the Old Testament Bible are: 

elohim (the strong One, plural noun used in singular verb)  à English: God. 

adonai (ruler, owner, master, the One who has absolute authority over us)  à                                                                                                              English: Lord.

- JHVH (the self-existent One, God's personal name)  à English: GOD or LORD.

 

2. Grammatical construction (Genesis 1:1)

 In the beginning God (elohim) created the heavens and the earth.

The word elohim or 'elohiym (ʼĕlôhîym) is a grammatically plural noun for "gods" or "deities" in Biblical Hebrew.

However, when referring to the Jewish God, Elohim is usually understood to be

grammatically singular (i.e. it governs a singular verb or adjective). 

In other words, elohim is a plural noun used in singular (verb). 

God is one → He cannot be divided,  His divine essence cannot be divided.

Yet, He is One God with three Persons → this is NOT three gods in One but,

one God  in three !

  

The One God in three Persons (Indonesian: pribadi, oknum, pelaku),  but NOT three individuals (Indonesian: orang) → God is not separated in three individuals.

ILS: Matt. 28:19 → a name, NOT names; meaning, NOT three Gods (God A + God B + God C) in One, but One God in three.

Cf. Mr. Robet Robot Ribut (one person’s name) is not  Mr. Robet + Mr. Robot + Mr.Ribut  (three people’s names).


III. The Trinity of God

 

*God is One in essence, but three in persons.

The Godhead is composed of three Persons ... (Matt 28:19;  2 Cor.13:13)

God Trinity → One God in three Persons!  (The one God is plural).
Triune God means "one God consisting of three persons: Father, Son 
and the Holy Spirit".

Although the term Trinity is not found in the Bible, but the material is clearly taught in the Bible (Gen 1: 1; Deut 6: 4; Luke 1:35; John 14:26; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor.1: 21-22; Eph 2:18; Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 1: 2).

Tertullian from North Africa in 197 popularized the term Trinity.  It is easier to say it than constantly having to declare the long sentences.


What is the TRINITY?

Trinity is NOT three manifestations, NOT three functions, NOT three gods!

ILS:  A Bible school in Lawang, Indonesia is confused about Trinity. They teach that

         "the OT God manifestated Himself as Father, God in the 4 Gospels as Son, and

          the NT God as Holy Spirit."

         A church denomination's baptism certificates are also in total confusion.  It says,

         "... has been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that

          is the Lord Jesus Christ."

The two examples of confusion above are a wrong concept of Trinity.   Why?

 

Look at the illustration of ONE GOD in THREE PERSONS below that could help us to see the true concept of TRINITY as taught in the Bible:




In the fourth century, St Augustine of Hippo attempted to demonstrate that the fundamental logic of the doctrine of the Trinity can be stated in seven statements:

1.    The Father is God.

2.    The Son is God.

3.    The Holy Spirit is God.

4.    The Father is not the Son.

5.    The Son is not the Holy Spirit.

6.    The Holy Spirit is not the Father.

7.    There is only one God.


Unity (oneness of God):

the Father is called God  (John 6:27; Rom 1:7; 1 Pet 1:2)

-  the Son is called God  (John 1:1,18; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:8)

the Holy Spirit is called God   (Acts 5:3-4)


Trinity (three persons of God):  

In Jesus' baptism (Matt.3:16-17):   

-  voice → Father

-  Jesus→ Son

-  dove  → Holy Spirit

In the apostle Paul’s benediction (2 Cor.13:13).


Notes:

i. The first Person is called Father → This is a wonderful name, the One who

    provides, protects, and plans our future.  Jesus refers God as our heavenly Father

    (Matt.6:9,32; Luk.11:2).

ii. The second Person is called Son (Jesus) → The only name in which we are

    saved, the One who redeems us from our sins (Matt 1:21; Luk 1:31-32; Acts 2:21,

     4:12; Rom 10:13).

iii. The third Person is called the Holy Spirit → the One who regenerates, dwells,

     baptizes, seals, and fills believers.  Jesus calls Him our Helper, Comforter, the Spirit

     of Truth (John 14:16-17; 16:7).


The Trinity of God:   One (God) in three (Persons) à  Three Persons, yet One essence/substance (Three in ONENESS of God).

The true One God consists of three Persons (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit), yet, God is undivided. The full name (not names) of Godhead is "Father, Son, the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19).

ILS:  The closest examples to the understanding of the Triune God is look at 
      God's creation itself, for example:
      - 1 space consists of length x width x height 
      - 1 person consists of body, soul, spirit → humans are actually 
       "trinity" creatures who are created in the "image" of the triune God. 

Trinity is NOT:  1+1+1=3 gods

Trinity IS:          1x1x1=1 god


The relationship of the Persons in Trinity

The Bible describes the three Persons of Trinity as distinct in persons, but not as

individuals and not in power, attributes, and glory.

The three Persons of the Godhead are distinct from one another, yet, they are not

independent of each other.   They are related to each other & co-equal in:

  i) power:  - in creation (Gen 1:1-3)

 ii) attributes:  - eternal (Heb 9:14; 13:8; James 1:17)

iii) glory:  - the Father (John 5:23; 6:27), the Son (John 5:23; Heb.1:8), the

                  Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor 13:13), all of them are called God.


The acts of the Persons in Trinity: 

The three Persons of the Godhead act together as one essence.

But the order the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit shows what they do (1 Cor 8:6;

Eph 2:18) :

- The Father          → in heaven ... the Giver, Designer             )     Of the Father,

- The Son              → on earth ... the Redeemer, Doer               )     through the Son,

- The Holy Spirit  → within believers ... the Helper, Finisher   )     by the Holy Spirit.

It’s clear that the three Persons in the Godhead work together & have the same power, character, and glory. As the Triune God: Father is the planner, Son is the executor, the Holy Spirit perfects our salvation.

A correct understanding of the Trinity makes the atonement make sense

It might be more accurate to describe the atonement as “the Son, on behalf of the Trinity, sacrificially offers His life to the Father, who accepts it on behalf of the Trinity. There is surely nothing immoral or unethical about such an act”.

The incarnation didn’t remove the Son’s status as being equal with God.  He just added humanity to Himself to live and die on our behalf.

App:  When we pray, we pray to the Father, in the Name of the Son, by the Holy Spirit. 

           (cf. Matt. 6:9; Luk 11:2; John 16:23-24; Rom. 8:26-27).

Bottom Line:  There’s a lot that could be discussed about trinitarianism.  But here’s the bottom line.   While a perfect understanding of the Trinity is out of reach for all of us, growing in our understanding of this doctrine does greatly enrich our spiritual lives as we grow in our relationship with the God who is both three and one (i.e. three Persons, one Substance).

We begin to understand that God is truly sufficient in Himself.  God is not simply a narcissist.  In Trinity we see a model for submission and service. And we see just how distinct Christianity truly is.


CONCLUSION

 

-  One God in three Persons.

-  In essence God is One, in Persons God is three.

- The essence can’t be divided, the Persons must be distinguised... (Matt. 28:19).

We are not able to explain God fully → God is unlimited and as His creation we are very limited.  However, we can know God and love Him and have fellowship with Him in Jesus Christ our beloved Savior and Lord! 

“The mind of man cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity.  He who has tried to understand the mystery fully will lose his mind; but he who would deny the Trinity will lose his soul.”                    - A Handbook of Christian Truth (Westwood, NJ: F. H. Revell), 1953.


A warning:

The dangers of rejecting God Trinity:

- rejecting the Father → punishment in hell (Rev 21:8)

- rejecting the Holy Spirit → no forgiveness (Matt 12:31-32)

- rejecting the Son → God's wrath (John 3:36 )

 <> 

Trinitarianism Studies, BST

at "PBI Loft"

Malang, 12 October 2020