Whether you agree or disagree, I think we can at least understand the concept of the Trinity if we approach this as a gradual point-by-point deductive process.
(Note: If you want to skip the necessary build-up, go ahead and skip to #6. But please keep-in-mind this cannot be taken out of its wider theological context.)
1a. God is omnipotent.
1b. Man is not omnipotent. Man is inherently finite.
2a. By extension of God's omnipotence, God is also omniscient (all knowing). This means that God has both perfect and complete omniscience of Himself. That is, God has a perfect self-image. He is psychologically perfect.
2b. Since man is not omnipotent, then man is by extension not omniscient. Man always has a limited knowledge of himself, both in psychology, as well as physiology. As a matter of fact, man's self-image is self-deceptive as well (Jer 17:9, Matt 15:19)! Man needs a mirror just to look at himself.
3a. God however, does not need a mirror. He is eternally conscious and aware. So much in fact, that He never sleeps (Isaiah 40:28). God is infinite; unlimited in His attributes and abilities. So much so, that he is capable of utilizing them all of them at the same time.
3b. Man is limited to only a few functions at once. Walking and chewing gum at the same time is occasionally even beyond him.
4a. God is spirit (John 4:24), Who is by extension also omnipresent and omnipotent all at the same time. God is totally conscious of everything that exists all at the same time. Again, God is perfectly aware of Himself.
4b. Man is not. Not in God's sense, at the very least.
^ This is where man's contrast with God is necessarily complete.
5. God’s self-awareness is inexhaustive. Even though He doesn't need one, imagine what God would see if He did look in His own mirror (as an analogy).
Since God has a perfect self-image, there is NO difference between God’s concept of Himself and His IDEAL concept of Himself. He cannot aspire to be anything better than the very picture of pure holiness and ideal perfection!
6. Since there is no difference between God, or God’s ideal concept of Himself, both God and His ideal concept of Himself are exactly the same in every way! Both in Holiness, perfection, power, etc. As one theologian says, "His image of Himself goes out into all eternity. . .and reflects back perfectly to the mind of God."
This very image, likeness, or reflection of God (“eikon” in Greek) is the very same “image” spoken of in Colossians 1:15.
^ A duality is obvious here, and a distinction of persons becomes wholly necessary.
7. This very image of God is the “Logos” spoken of in John 1:1&2.
Of course, this Logos is none other than Jesus Christ! This second person of the Trinity is also the very image of God the Father. “I and my Father are ONE.” (John 10:30) So it's as if to say that the "mirror of God" always existed in scripture, we just didn't recognize it completely.
8. How does God relate to His self-image? Perfectly! Both God and the Logos (The Father and The Son) share the same sovereign, deliberate, and d eterminative will (John 5:17, John 9:4, John 17:4, John 17:11-12).
The Father and Son love and fellowship with each other in the same manner. <-- Consider this carefully.
This same fellowship and sovereign will between the Father and Son is an active and LIVING relationship between the Father and Son. This same relationship is Holy and at the same time carries between both Father and Son the SAME EXACT Spiritual attributes that the Father and Son possess. The relationship is what you might call the “Living Active Will of God”.
This Living Will, or Spirit, moves through the mirror as it were, between the Father and Son, and goes out into all creation enacting the same will as the Father and Son, The Spirit carries the same authority, omnipresence (Psalms 139:7), omniscience (Job 11:6-8 with 1 Corinthians 2:10) and very identity of God Himself. This is the same Holy Spirit of God that (as the Amplified puts it) brooded over the waters of creation; hovering there at the beginning of time.
This is the same Holy Spirit that goes out between the Father and Son at Christ’s baptism. This is the same Spirit of Truth both sent (John 15:26) and promised to the church (John 16:13) that worked through the apostles in signs and miracles later in Acts. And this is the same Holy Spirit that cannot be sinned against without the same justice due any other member of the Godhead (Acts 5:3-4, Acts 5:9).
"Blam!." There's your Trinity.
Free of charge, just as I have been given freely. You can present this during a single Sunday School session with only a few basic chalkboard illustrations.
(Note: If you want to skip the necessary build-up, go ahead and skip to #6. But please keep-in-mind this cannot be taken out of its wider theological context.)
1a. God is omnipotent.
1b. Man is not omnipotent. Man is inherently finite.
2a. By extension of God's omnipotence, God is also omniscient (all knowing). This means that God has both perfect and complete omniscience of Himself. That is, God has a perfect self-image. He is psychologically perfect.
2b. Since man is not omnipotent, then man is by extension not omniscient. Man always has a limited knowledge of himself, both in psychology, as well as physiology. As a matter of fact, man's self-image is self-deceptive as well (Jer 17:9, Matt 15:19)! Man needs a mirror just to look at himself.
3a. God however, does not need a mirror. He is eternally conscious and aware. So much in fact, that He never sleeps (Isaiah 40:28). God is infinite; unlimited in His attributes and abilities. So much so, that he is capable of utilizing them all of them at the same time.
3b. Man is limited to only a few functions at once. Walking and chewing gum at the same time is occasionally even beyond him.
4a. God is spirit (John 4:24), Who is by extension also omnipresent and omnipotent all at the same time. God is totally conscious of everything that exists all at the same time. Again, God is perfectly aware of Himself.
4b. Man is not. Not in God's sense, at the very least.
^ This is where man's contrast with God is necessarily complete.
5. God’s self-awareness is inexhaustive. Even though He doesn't need one, imagine what God would see if He did look in His own mirror (as an analogy).
Since God has a perfect self-image, there is NO difference between God’s concept of Himself and His IDEAL concept of Himself. He cannot aspire to be anything better than the very picture of pure holiness and ideal perfection!
6. Since there is no difference between God, or God’s ideal concept of Himself, both God and His ideal concept of Himself are exactly the same in every way! Both in Holiness, perfection, power, etc. As one theologian says, "His image of Himself goes out into all eternity. . .and reflects back perfectly to the mind of God."
This very image, likeness, or reflection of God (“eikon” in Greek) is the very same “image” spoken of in Colossians 1:15.
^ A duality is obvious here, and a distinction of persons becomes wholly necessary.
7. This very image of God is the “Logos” spoken of in John 1:1&2.
Of course, this Logos is none other than Jesus Christ! This second person of the Trinity is also the very image of God the Father. “I and my Father are ONE.” (John 10:30) So it's as if to say that the "mirror of God" always existed in scripture, we just didn't recognize it completely.
8. How does God relate to His self-image? Perfectly! Both God and the Logos (The Father and The Son) share the same sovereign, deliberate, and d eterminative will (John 5:17, John 9:4, John 17:4, John 17:11-12).
The Father and Son love and fellowship with each other in the same manner. <-- Consider this carefully.
This same fellowship and sovereign will between the Father and Son is an active and LIVING relationship between the Father and Son. This same relationship is Holy and at the same time carries between both Father and Son the SAME EXACT Spiritual attributes that the Father and Son possess. The relationship is what you might call the “Living Active Will of God”.
This Living Will, or Spirit, moves through the mirror as it were, between the Father and Son, and goes out into all creation enacting the same will as the Father and Son, The Spirit carries the same authority, omnipresence (Psalms 139:7), omniscience (Job 11:6-8 with 1 Corinthians 2:10) and very identity of God Himself. This is the same Holy Spirit of God that (as the Amplified puts it) brooded over the waters of creation; hovering there at the beginning of time.
This is the same Holy Spirit that goes out between the Father and Son at Christ’s baptism. This is the same Spirit of Truth both sent (John 15:26) and promised to the church (John 16:13) that worked through the apostles in signs and miracles later in Acts. And this is the same Holy Spirit that cannot be sinned against without the same justice due any other member of the Godhead (Acts 5:3-4, Acts 5:9).
"Blam!." There's your Trinity.
Free of charge, just as I have been given freely. You can present this during a single Sunday School session with only a few basic chalkboard illustrations.
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