Various Scriptures - The Doctrine of the Trinity

I Timothy 1:17 - Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 

Titus 2:1 - But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 

Isaiah 55:8 - For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. 

John 10:30 - I and the Father are one. 

What the Lord is Saying: Tabletalk now takes a moment in this months lessons to speak more of the Trinity. 

"Many people believe the doctrine (of the Trinity) is a contradiction because it refers to both a oneness and a threeness in God....but the way in which God is one is not the same as the way in which God is three. It (is true that it) would be a logical contradiction to say that there is one God and there are three Gods or that God is one in essence and three in essence. However, the doctrine of the Trinity asserts neither option. Instead, it says there is only one God in whom are three personal subsistence or that God is one in essence and three in person - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." 

Subsistence is an interesting word. To define it, the Webster dictionary states, "as in existence or the fact of being or being real." In a sentence...believes in the subsistence of a soul as a separate entity from the body. A human being is one person and yet has a soul and body and each is a subsistence. Another definition of subsistence is an individual instance of a divine essence. 

The Westminster Confession 2.3 states, "In the Unity of the God-head there be three persons, of one substance, power and eternity, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding: The Son is eternally begotten of the Father: the Holy Ghost is eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son."

Trinitarian personhood is not human personhood. “Person” carries with it the linguistic baggage of human personhood connected to human essence. There is a personal property of each that distinguishes Him from another person. And yet in this distinguishing this does not result in three gods. John 1:18 states, "No one has seen God (the Father) at any time; the only begotten God (Jesus/Son), who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained/declared."  They still have the same essence (Incomparable or "no one like thee (2 Samuel 7:22)", Inscrutable (impossible to understand-Isaiah 40:28), etc.). 

Monotheistic religions (Islam, Judaism, Christianity) have a common belief that there is only one God, but differ in defining the person of God, in other words, there are differences in defining the essence of God as it relates to persons. Christianity does not teach that there are multiple divine essences, but that this divine essence belongs equally to three distinct divine persons. The Father, Son and Spirit are fully equal, and none is more or less God than the other. Each person of the Trinity does not have His own unique mind, will, or power. They all have the same mind, will, and power; thus, all of the same essence "homoousios". 

Psalm 110 is an interesting text. It reads in verse 1, "The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” Looking at the words for Lord and their Hebrew word meanings, it reads the "Lord" (Yahweh) and my "Lord" (Adonai) and this points us in the direction of the Trinity. Jesus quotes this as recorded in Matt. 22:41-46 as He speaks to His opponents, letting them know He is more than a mere human. 

2 Corinthians 13:14 is another text in the New Testament that implies that all three persons of the Trinity God are divine - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 

We can have a clearer understanding of the Trinity when looking at some alternate beliefs (heresies). God is simultaneously Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Modalism is a heresy that says that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God and one person. The Holy Spirit is God in action, Jesus is Savior and God the Father is creator. Thus, God reveals Himself in different ways or modes. Another alternate idea is Arianism with the idea that Jesus Christ is not equal to the Father by nature, but He is the first creation of God. One prevalent group believing in Arianism today are Jehovah Witnesses. 

I must admit, I have a hard time concluding this study. I feel like I could go on a lifetime trying to study it and understand it. I could look at all of the names of God and compare them one to another. I could look at all of the different attributes of God, again comparing them one to another. And yet, I need to conclude this and continue with my study of other material and then as I do, I will discover more of this subject and what it means. 

Summary: The Trinity is the understanding that God's essence or the way we describe Him is one. But it is explained further in the expression of 3 persons - Father, Son, and Spirit. Each has the same divine essence. The Father is not the Son nor either the Spirit. They are distinct and yet of the same attributes. Let me continue to discover and understand this. 

Promise: Even though we do not fully understand the Trinity, we can still affirm it. It is taught so we can still believe in as we are still comprehending it. God is one in essence and there in person. We do not know fully how that can be; nevertheless, it is the only formula that allows us to affirm everything that scripture says about God. In other words, our Bible sets us up to conclude in a trinity. So it is not something we just force to believe, but the way the Words of God are written cause us to conclude this. And yet we still seek to understand it more fully.

Prayer: Lord, you are good and Holy. Your ways are true and right. I need You every day in every way. I want to know You as You really are. And yet I know that is impossible. So I strive to know you to the best of my ability. There is a little bit of joy that every day I get to know you better and more. I thank you for all the people that have come before me to learn of You and know You and that they have written down their understandings for me to learn from as well. I thank you for the people that you have placed in my path today that are writing today of these subjects of You. Lord, it saddens me that we often don't give you the praise and glory throughout our lives that you deserve. Help me to balance out my days in such a way that will honor You and yet doing things that I enjoy. Sometimes Lord, I just want to do nothing but study and yet you have placed people in my life that I can encourage and even help educate with Your word. Lord, strike the balance in my life so that I know when to keep studying and when to get busy applying and get busy living. 

John 5:25-29 - Life From Father and Son

John 5:25-29

25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live. 26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, 29 and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. 

Message: Life from Father and Son

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus in the previous lesson I did and verses I read spoke of why He does what He does and that is He is doing what the Father is doing. I studied Jesus and the Father and how He (Jesus) and the Father are one and carry out the same purpose. But also the statement that to believe in Jesus is to have salvation, to be in the kingdom of God and to have eternal life. 

As I continue to study, these passages are in red letter in my Bible and yet they often seem instead like the words of John or his commentary on Jesus. And yet verse 19 records Jesus speaking and Jesus does consistently refer to himself as the Son or the Son of God. But it has always baffled me how Jesus speaks when he speaks of himself. But perhaps he does this when he is referring to himself as deity rather than as merely a man. We know he was sent to earth to live like a man and yet he continued to have the characteristics of God. 

Jesus states in verse 25 that people that have died previously, when they hear the voice of the Son of God (Jesus) they will shall live. Jesus pronounces his authority and that His voice causes people to live. I think also of John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." I love that verse because it really speaks of the fact of Jesus and His people and the special bond between the two. 

This is significant as I also consider texts from the old testament that speak of the Lord being the author of life.  In Genesis 2:7 the Lord says he made Adam a living creature ("Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."). Psalm 90:2 says that God is from everlasting to everlasting ("Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God."). Often, I am asked questions about the trinity, and so when I read that Jesus raises the dead to life and gives eternal life to all who believe in Him, and there is an understanding that he is creator as well in the beginning (John 1:3), then as creator, and the one who gives life, I can conclude that Jesus and the Father are of the same substance. In other words, God. And yet, I realize there are many that study the Bible and don't come to this same conclusion. 

It is noteworthy in this passage of a transfer or giving of life from the Father to the Son. As such there is a difference or distinctiveness between the two or the idea that while God they (Father, Son, Spirit) are distinct and separate. Verse 26 records that the Father has life in himself and gave the Son to have life in Himself. So the Father and Son both are keepers of life - creation and resurrection. Augustine wrote, "The Father has life in himself, which none gave him, while the Son has life in himself which the Father gave him." 

Jesus has authority to judge. The Father gave him this authority. These passages seem to speak of those who have died, are in the tomb (28) and upon hearing the name of Jesus, they shall live. 

In all these verses the granting of life or the calling forth of life is as a gift. There is not any mention of it being earned or in exchange for works of righteousness. 

Verse 29 is a little perplexing at first ready for it almost gives the idea that those who upon hearing Jesus (and here in verse 28 and 29 it gives notice that all will hear him, though saved or not) but that those who hear his voice and have done good deeds will result in resurrection of life while those who did evil deeds will result in resurrection of judgment. 

Charles Ellicott, a Church of England 19th theologian wrote about this and i thought it was interesting:

Those who, working out the truth, come to the light now, that their deeds may be manifested, because they are wrought in God, shall in the final testing, when the secrets of every heart shall be revealed, rise unto the resurrection of life, to dwell in eternal light. Those who, practicing evil, choose the darkness now, shall in that final testing, when whatsoever has been spoken in the darkness shall be heard in the light, rise unto the resurrection of condemnation (Acts 24:15), bound in chains of darkness, and be cast into outer darkness. 

I like how this is described. People will come to the light. I think of John 3:20-21, "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” The person in the Light has deeds that are wrought (made) in God. Ellicott infers an initial test and final test.  Initially, a person comes to the light and then have deeds that follow (Eph. 2:10) and those deeds occur because they are made in God. With God in us, deeds will follow. And yet there is final testing in which the secrets of every person revealed. 

This reminds me of Romans 2:5-8: 

5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

Once again, these verses speak of this final test or judgment when all of our deeds will be judged. Those who did good because the Light was in them and therefore the good they do is from Him, then those will have a result of the resurrection. Each person will be rendered according to their deeds. Eternal life or Wrath, indignation, judgment. 

Whatever one thinks of hell, what we know for sure is that there is a wrath or judgement that is coming for all. 

Summary: The Father has life in himself while the Son has life in himself which the Father gave him. This eternal life given to those in the light results in deeds of righteousness and one day all of our deeds will be judged ultimately resulting in eternal life or judgement. 

Promise: John Calvin writes, "The faith which justifies us is accompanied by an earnest desire to live well and righteously." As such works show who we are in Christ and whether we are authentic. 

Prayer: O Lord, my Lord, How Majestic is your name in all of the earth. You are eternal God and have granted me life through the gift of Jesus and granting him life. I have this eternal life because of my belief in You Jesus and that my deeds follow - to show Love and truth and compassion and forgiveness to others. Thank you for Your Word and the richness of it and the time it take me to understand and study it. Stamp it on me Lord, helping me to defend my faith and encourage others. Thank you for granting me eternal life, the assurance now, but also the reality which will come at your judgment. Gather more into your flock. Thank you for gathering those in my family, but gather more, like Derek and my Dad, as well as each person that crosses my path. Selfishly I desire all to come to know you. I do not want to be away from any for eternity. I praise You and glorify Your name always. 

 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 5:19-24 - Father and Son Together

John 5:19-24

Jesus therefore answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing, and greater works than these will He show Him, that you may marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father, He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, Truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 

Message: Father and Son Together

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: [Note: Well, I've done it again and that is it has taken me a while to get to the next lesson, not yet getting to a message now for the month of September. I was asked to give the message in Sunday School and it had me focused every day for the last 7 days on that message and preparing for it. I did it on Psalm 23. Before that, had computer issues in the house and couldn't log on to the internet and had work troubles in the morning with us not meeting lineup and trying to understand that. Always something. So now I am back to the lessons.]

In my Open Bible (NAS), this section (v.19-30) is called "Equality with God in Power." This has been an interesting chapter for me. Reading Chapters 3 and 4, the main idea I saw was the promise of eternal life that we have for believing in Him, Jesus Christ. And then in chapter 5, after Jesus heals a man with paralysis, the Jews are watching Jesus and commenting on what he is doing and what they are not liking.  It is interesting because as I study this passage it doesn't seem like we even really know the salvation of the man who Jesus has healed. Granted Jesus does try to get the man to focus on his sinful life, even stating that sin causes destruction upon man (v. 14). 

I sort of think at first, how did we get here that Jesus would need to share these words. In verse 16, after Jesus has been doing these things, this healing of the man on the Sabbath, but also that the man was walking around with his pallet on the Sabbath - the Jews of the day don't like it and begin to persecute Jesus or come against Him. Jesus defends himself with the fact that Father God and himself are working in the same way at the same times. 

And then Jesus continues to expand on this. 

Jesus does what the Father does. Jesus sees the Father work and He does the same. 

The Father loves His Son.

The Father raises the dead and gives life. The Son does the same. 

All judgment is given to the Son. 

The same honor given to the Father is given to the Son. 

Eternal life is given to those that believe Jesus has been sent by God. 

This passage appears to be a great basis for the view of Trinitarianism and inseparable operations. The premise of this doctrine of inseparable operations is that the Father and Jesus and the Spirit are not working separately from one another but are working together. Jesus is not another agent or another active agent, instead the work of the three persons of the trinity are works together. They flow from the Father, through the Son, and then in the power of the Holy Spirit. If they were separate, then scripture would take on an entirely different meaning. 

I think what is often difficult about the Trinity for us is how we see ourselves - separate human bodies, each person taking on a role. We want to see three different forms doing three different things. But this is not the Trinity. The sacrificial love shown by the Son is the love of the Father, and the same love the Spirit pours into our hearts. 

A father and mother may love their child, but those loves are distinct. They may appear to be the same but they are not the same love because they are coming from two different persons. But the persons of the Trinity are the same and so the love is the same love. I think of water is maybe a parallel idea. Water is a substance we know, but this water can be born in 3 different forms - liquid, ice, and steam. The water is the same, but it manifests itself differently. The only difference in this analogy is these three can't work in tandem. So there is still a difference between that and the Trinity. God the Father loves us, the son carries out that love through sacrificing Himself on the Cross, and the truth of that love is communicated to us by the Spirit. 

And so this passage speaks clearly of the Father and the Son and what they do is of the same substance - activity, judgment, miracles, honor - and yet separate, but together, and of the same kind. Another way of saying this is every work of God is from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Salvation comes to us from the Father through the mediation of the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Augustine of Hippo says in a sermon on this passage that the Father does "every work whatsoever by the Son; so that not any works are done by the Father without the Son, or by the Son without the Father." 

Summary: Every work of God is from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. 

Promise: We can never achieve the same kind of unity with our Creator that Jesus has, but we can ask God to give us a heart that wants to do only what He calls us in His Word to do. 

Prayer: O Lord, I come before you and speak to you my Heavenly Father and yet acknowledge that the work of Jesus and the Spirit is the same and thank you for your equality and the same work that is being done in creation and even in my life. You are Holy and True. Thank you for staying faithful. And being faithful to me always. Give me strength this day to glorify You always in all ways, in everything I do. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Matthew 28:18-20 - The Institution of Baptism

Matthew 28:18-20 - 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Message: The Institution of Baptism

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria, written by Matthew, the former tax collector, and one of the 12 disciples or apostles. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying: During the Reformation, as the Protestants studied scripture they believed that the churches only sacraments are to be the Lord's Supper and Baptism. The defining factor was that they had been instituted by Christ. 

As Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven He spoke of the great commission, the giving of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people and in the process of seeing people coming to faith and becoming His disciples He stated that baptism should occur among people in the name of the triune God: Father, Son and Spirit. Therefore, churches today need to prioritize baptism and as we do this we need to be clear in it being in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

Baptism allows us time to teach of the importance of God in three persons. John Calvin comments on Matthew 28:18-20, "We perceive that God cannot be truly known, unless our faith distinctly conceived of Three Persons in one essence; and that the fruit and efficacy of baptism proceed form God the Father adopting us through His Son, and after having cleansed us from the pollutions of the flesh through the Spirit, creating us anew to righteousness." 

Also, the Greek word for baptism does not give mention of a specific mode for baptism - as such immersion, dipping, pouring, sprinkling, or any other means of applying water are lawful. 

In my life I have always been in churches that upheld immersion baptism. And this baptism often occurred at the request of the individual as part of their obedience. I think these churches believe this is the only way and I think this is fine to have these convictions. And yet it is also possible I think for others to have different convictions about other ways people are baptized. 

I was baptized after attending a Disciple Now (a weekend church retreat for youth in which 10-15 young people gathered in a person's home for bible study and fellowship) that occurred after I became a Christian in 1982. I think my baptism occurred in 1984 or 1985. I don't remember, but I remember who performed it: a man by the name of Jim Brooks who led a retreat I attended that weekend not far from my house. My regret in life was not letting my mother know that the baptism was occurring and she showed up for church after it had happened. That is one of many regrets I have in regards to my mom and my failure to include her and be included in her life. 

Summary: Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. 

Promise: If a baptism is not administered in the triune name of God, it is invalid. This is a new covenant baptism. 

Prayer: O Father God, you are Holy and good and true. Your Name is above all other names. You have given us baptism as a command. We witnessed you Jesus being baptized and now we are to do the same and also do it in the name of God, Son, and Spirit. Thank you for placing me in environments that have always prioritized this and I pray your Church would continue to uphold this. Work in me continually Lord to strengthen the Body of Christ and encourage this as well. 

Jude 5 - The Trinity and Redemption

Jude 5
Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.

Message: The Trinity and Redemption

Time: Jude, half-brother of Jesus, not the apostle Jude. His full name is Judas though shortened to Jude due to the problem with the name Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus). Jude placed his faith in Jesus after the resurrection and ascension. The book was probably written between AD 67 and 80, though it is difficult to date. Jude in his writing wants to expose false teachers in the Christian Community and encourage followers to stand firm in their faith.

What the Lord is Saying:

I must admit, these concepts at times are a little difficult to understand and write about and I'm not sure I'm doing a very good job at explaining. As a believer of 51, having trusted in Christ 1 month shy of my 15 birthday I'm discovering now in these lessons some doctrinal understandings I never knew. I'm still piecing them together. But, it is good for there are things about God and my understanding of Him that I know I haven't delved into much. I suppose there is a tendency in life to focus on those things that one is most comfortable understanding. Even as I try to understand this it is somewhat non understandable. There is a mystery to it. But that doesn't mean that faith is blind, just more intellectual than we often give it credit.

The primary subject of late is one of the doctrine of inseparable operations. This doctrine says that each person of the Trinity has the same divine attributes, but each person acts in a manner fitting to His unique personal properties. Unbegottenness is the unique personal property of the Father, begottenness is the unique personal property of the Son, and procession is the unique personal property of the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead existed at the same time and has always existed at the same time. Thus there is a unity of essence among the persons of the triune God. Every act of God is from the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. There is togetherness, unity, yet personal.

The doctrine of redemption - God redeeming or saving or rescuing His people - is the thrust of salvation for each person. For me to say that God has saved me is to mean that prior to my salvation, I was in bondage to living a life apart from God, not of God, not pleasing to God, but pleasing to self and sin. And I'm seeing more and more that this idea of redemption or a need to be found is being weeded out more and more in society. I firmly believe that this societal focus on tolerance has made us all think that whatever one thinks about themselves and their own desires, they are fine to think this and we should all move to accept everyone for the way they seem to be. And yet fear and anxiety and depression remain a part of defining many people as there are extreme societal pressures to achieve and succeed.

The statement that every act of God is from the Father though the Son and in the Holy Spirit - is a compelling statement. This verse from Jude 5 will show that the act of God saving His people from Egypt is here spoken of something Jesus had done. The verse states the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt. The Lord is the Greek word Iēsous which means Jesus or Jehovah is salvation. Thus, Jude states the act of saving a people out of the land of Egypt is something that Jesus did. Deuteronomy 5:6 says - ‘I am the Lord (Yahweh) your God (Elohim) who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.' Thus, in these verses the Lord Yahweh and Jesus are saving people from the land of Egypt. God works from the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. The act of redemption or sanctification is subscribed also to the Holy Spirit like In 2 Thessalonians 2:13 - But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. The work therefore of saving and redeeming God's people is performed by God, the triune God.

Promise: God loves his people. But we come to Him in need, not already complete. God saves us through the work of the Father though the Son by the Spirit.

Prayer: God, I praise you for loving me and knowing what I need. You have saved me and I thank you for helping me see my need for you. I'm saddened by the state of our world and how we often think we don't need you. Lord, change hearts and help people to see their sin. Give me patience with people everywhere. Work through the lives of my children. Keep them safe and draw them each to yourself.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

John 14:8-11 - Perichoresis

John 14:8-11
8 Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

Message: Perichoresis or the relationship of the three persons of the triune God.

Time:  While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

It seems that the doctrine of God is really the doctrine of the trinity as the trinity has been the focus so far this month in the passages selected from Tabletalk Magazine. It remains a little bit of a challenge for me to study the Bible like this, using selected passages. This is the way our church now presents messages, doing series rather than books. I prefer book preaching.

But the Trinity is emphasized here probably because it is a doctrine central to Christianity as other religions have been started based upon a different definition of God. The word trinity was first used to explain the Father, Son, and Spirit as persons by a Latin theologian, Tertullian, in the 3rd Century. Today, we look at a Greek term scholars have used to describe the relationship among these three persons and has come about from a study of the Book of John and chapters 14-17.

We go back to the subject of modalism which at times can be what we think of the Trinity.
- seeing God like a man who holds three different roles depending on the context he is in and whom he is relating
- it collapses the distinctions between the three persons proclaiming that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are identical both in essence and in person
- God is like one person who wears different masks or hats at different times in history
Tritheism is another erroneous view of the Trinity that views God as a collection of individual, separable persons united by a common purpose.

Therefore, the term Perichoresis is used to refer to the mutual indwelling of the three persons of the Godhead. It means that the Father is in the Son is in the Spirit. Again, as discussed earlier, the Father is not the Son and not the Spirit. Jesus speaks of this in John 14:10 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? Thus, we can distinguish them but we cannot pull them apart. God created and it is not that God created with 3 persons. God created and because the Scripture mentions that God and Jesus created the creation happened at once, not each one have a separate role but it occurring once at the same time and all were present at that happening. The essence is one and cannot be divided or pulled apart.

In this passage Philip *said to Him as Philip comes to Jesus in the same way Thomas came to Him wanting more of an explanation of who Jesus was. We must be thankful that these men had questions of Jesus for because of that we have answers from Jesus. Man has questioned Jesus throughout all time and man will continue to do this. But it is important always to go back to the word of God for explanations. The problem is when we don't do this and instead invent extra-biblical definitions rather than accepting the Word of God. And so he says “Lord, show us the Father, as this in response to Jesus words in verse 7 that says If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. Philip says then make us understand what you mean and it is enough for us.” Thus, we will be content and satisfied.

Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? Though we appreciate questions, Jesus thinks that the disciples should have a better understanding of Him already. Philip has been present with Jesus for some time and so their is still a tone of sadness from Jesus that Philip does not know Jesus as well as he should. Jesus further states - He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Seen is not a visual term because we know God to be a spirit and here we see that the essence of Jesus and the Father are the same. In other words, Jesus is saying, if you know God, you know Me and if you know Me, then you know the Father. We are united; we are one; we are the same.

Jesus then speaks to Philip with a question of almost, "why is this being asked." Jesus has already spoken words and done things many times that only God can do and yet he still says, "Lord, show us the Father." And Jesus says sort of, "What do you think I have been doing all this time with you?" "Why can't you put one and one together." how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Our conclusion of him should be clear and yet it is not. And yet we have many religions coming forth with different conclusions still to this day.

All the words here are meant to say that Jesus is having to appeal to the Father because everyone agrees that the Father is divine. There is no question that the Father is divine but He knows that there is a question as to whether He is divine. In my study of Mark, Mark does not go here to these words. It is as if Mark is stating (from Peter) that Jesus said it and as God it needs no more discussion. Yet, John gives us the words that many thought. Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

Two things testify of Jesus being God - His words and His works. We have both, if you struggle with one, then look at the other. There is ample evidence. Jesus and His words are enough, but if we still, if they still, have doubt then look to my words. Earlier Jesus said, "I am the way and no one comes to the Father except through me." In other words, you cannot know the Father if you reject me.

And Jesus says, "Believe Me." The words are simple and yet he still knows that many will not so he says, look to my works as well.

Promise: One cannot pull apart the persons of the Trinity. They are all united and the same essence and all one and seeing one is seeing all. We cannot love God and yet not love the Son. Jesus says that seeing Him is seeing God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for thinking many times that to understand you is to dance around certain facets of you in the hope that if people can simply see one part then all will make sense to them. Yet, you clearly state that the Word of God testifies that You Jesus are God. Your Words have said it but Your life also testified of it. Lord, help me continue to be a student of Your word and point people to You through these words. Help me to not ever back down but to trust You as You are. You are Holy. You are true. You are God.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

John 1:2 - Not the Father

John 1:2
He was in the beginning with God.

Message: Not the Father

Time: While John does not admit to have written this gospel, there is ample evidence from others that he did. It was most likely written in Ephesus around 85-95 AD and is the fourth gospel. John provides a Jesus more clearly as the Son of God. John cites Jesus' seven "I Am" statements, mentions many miracles of Jesus, signifying Him as God's Son. He is the Son of Man and atoned for our sins and the Son of God with eternal implications in rising from the dead.

What the Lord is Saying:

Tabletalk generally takes a year to do a particular study. In 2014 it was a study of the book of Romans; 2015 was a study of the wisdom literature of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and 2016 was a study of the Gospel of Mark. Now the focus is on the biblical doctrines emphasized anew or recovered by the Reformers in 2017. The Reformation period or the Protestant Reformation took place in the 16th century (thus about 5 centuries from today), chiefly in the year 1517 was when Luther posted his Ninety-Five Thesis; thus, 500 years ago. Leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, though there were many others, saw a problem with the church of the day which was the Roman Catholic Church. The concern they raised was that the church had become too intertwined with the affairs of the government and political life in Europe. However, the Catholic Church continued to provide a lot of comfort to people, but there had been some things that were of concern. There was concern among many of the imitation of Christ and it not being followed and the doctrines of grace and redemption not being a central focus.

The doctrine of the Trinity continues to be a difficult doctrine for many to wrap their heads around and it seems to remain that way today. Granted, society here in America seems to me to becoming more and more secularized or more focused on appealing to the World and its ways. This doctrine of the Trinity is one that needs to be more clearly understood and taught.

One of the key ideas is there is separation between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. They are three separate persons of the Godhead. John here in these early passages of John 1 speaks of a distinction between God the Father and God the Son. Both are equally God and yet the Father is not the Son.

To me that one of the struggling things about faith is there remains in it a shroud of mystery. While there are attempts to explain it the explanations don't always look exactly at what it is. We can know about God, but we cannot know everything about Him and I think this is something that people don't like. In my mind, this is why groups such as Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints are more popular because there doctrines are tight and have answers to every question that is asked. But in traditional Christianity there is still mystery. We believe God and we are confident in Him but we are still getting to know Him. There is still mystery in Him.

So even as we talk about the person of the Godhead there are difficulties in making this translation because our view of a person is not the same as the persons of God. We are all tangible creatures we can touch and feel, but we have only so far seen Jesus and the rest are Spirits. Jesus was given a human body for earth and this helps us put a face to God, but this idea of a Spirit is harder for us to understand at times. I think sometimes by having Jesus in human form we struggle with understanding all three.

But the key in this passage is to show that three are not the same in form, thus they are hypostasis and yet all three are homoousios or of the same essence. Those are Greek words that the Reformers used to describe the differences. As I studied through the Book of Mark I picked up on this mystery. I was attempting to more clearly define Jesus but as I attempted to do this I was still left with mystery. He isn't completely able to be understood. Yet each seems to have a relation to one another. I saw this in the Gospel as Jesus spoke to the Father and then spoke of the Spirit as well (though Mark doesn't mention the Spirit like John does).

Promise: As we talk about God, at times we reach a point where we can say no more. God transcends the limits of our creaturely minds and we cannot fully comprehend Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to know that I can be in witness of You but I don't need to answer every question. I can be faithful to speak of you and yet I will never have every answer to every question. Help me to be content in this and to trust You and not me nor the world in which I live. Than you for being distinct and yet the same. You are a whole lot different, but a whole lot the same.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Isaiah 45:5 - The One and Only God

Isaiah 45:5
“I am the Lord, and there is no other;
Besides Me there is no God.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me."

Message: The One and Only God

Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. He wanted to see the nation of Judah return to serving God with humility and love for their neighbors. But he was called to pronounce judgments to on a people offering meaningless sacrifices in the Temple and committing injustices throughout the nation. It provides the most prophetic picture of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.

What the Lord is Saying:

Despite some religions like Islam and Judaism claiming otherwise, Christianity stands firmly upon the doctrine of monotheism. For me, it seems the confusion is about people's understanding of the God of the Bible thinking that each person of the Trinity is a separate God. God is a spirit and the names of God are spoken of in the persons of the Godhead - Father, Son, Spirit. The word Trinity originated years after Jesus walked on the earth. But the Bible is clear that God is Father, Son, Spirit;  all share the attributes of the Spirit God and also that God is one. Thus, the doctrine of a monotheistic religion of God is one is different from other monotheistic religions such as Judaism or Islam. But the trinity is grounded in the premise that there is one eternal God.

In the study of God, one arrives at the words in the Bible that are used to define God. In the Hebrew text are words Elohim and Yahweh. In this passage today, Isaiah 45:5, we translate it in the English as "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me." The Hebrew follows a different order of the word and from the interlinear it says - and though not I will gird you God (elohim). There is no besides Me other and there is no Yahweh I am. 

This verse in Isaiah is pronounced to Cyrus the Great, the King of Persia. But he is a heathen king that is used by God to deliver the Jews from Babylonian captivity. God speaks to him directly here. And this verse declares to Cyrus God is Elohim or deity and God is Yahweh or Lord. Thus, the passage could read, "I, the Lord of Israel is the only deity." God is declaring that He is the only deity or the only God.

[My sidenote here is that often people will say that all religions lead to the same destination. How can this be so when the Lord of Israel, Yahweh, declares that He is the only Elohim or deity. Are there multiple gods mentioned in history? Yes. But this God says He is the only God.]

Back to Cyrus the Great, God speaks to him and will use this heathen God to accomplish His purposes. Whether Cyrus acknowledges him as the only true God does not matter here. Cyrus God is still only Yahweh. Just as all the people of the world only have one God. As this scripture states by God - "though you have not known Me" - meaning though you have not acknowledged Me as the only God and as Your God this doesn't mean that God does not use him because He in fact says -  "I will gird you." They may say otherwise but if this text to be true, Yahweh is the only God.

As I look at the landscape of even our governing bodies, we often have different forms of how that government leads and more often today it is about a group rather than a single person. The dictators in our history have proven to rule in a harmful way, so there is accountability sought. Even in the church this is prescribed by having a group of elders make decisions collectively or putting it to the congregation as a whole. And yet in the realm of deity, we have only one God. He is our one and only leader.

Promise: To believe in the God of the Scripture is to believe in the true God, the one true God - the Lord of Israel. Salvation is only in His name.

Prayer: Lord, in this world of confusion that we live in, there are multiple gods mentioned all the time. Lord, help me to be one that clarifies that the Bible speaks of only one God. He is Yahweh and he is the only one, the only elohim, the only deity. In this world Lord that is focused on tolerance and have different names for God, I need to be that voice speaking that there is only one God. Lord, help me to stand on that mountaintop and declare this without thinking of the consequences.


Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Ezekiel 1

Message: This was hard for me to see without using a commentary. The first 3 chapters of Ezekiel speak to his calling. And chapter 1 is a picture he saw of God in all his glory and splendor coming down from heaven and presenting Himself.

Time: It was probably about 594 BC. Ezekiel was 30 years old.

What the Lord is saying:
God is difficult to describe. And His appearance is difficult to behold. What I see hear is that Ezekiel was describing something amazing. There could be angels all around. This could be a clear vision of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. As they moved it was like an army moving. The power that Ezekiel witnessed must have been incredible.

Promise: Why God is made known, man falls on his knees. This is what Ezekiel did. When he realized that this was the glory of the Lord, he dropped to his face.