Help on understanding the Trinity..

There is one God - one in Essence. God exists in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is the source. The Son was begotten of the Father - eternally, before all ages. The Son is NOT a creature, not a creation. He is of the same God-Essence as the Father, and there was never a time that the Son did not exist. In the same way, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (the Western Catholics introduced the Filioque, which says the Holy Spirit also proceeds from the Son, but it was not part of the earliest Christian theology, but since Protestants came from the Catholic Church, they generally use the Filioque also). The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, eternally. The Holy Spirit is NOT a creature, not a creation. He is also of the same God-Essence as the Father, and there was never a time that the Holy Spirit did not exist.

God IS Love. Imagine before anything was created, and there was only God. How can something BE love when there is nothing TO love? God is eternally within relationship - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - the three Persons of the Trinity. They are not confused or mixed in any way, one does not become the other. But God cannot be separated or divided. He is One in Essence - there is only One God.

It is true that it might not add up mathematically, but this is how God has revealed Himself to us. Any analogy that we try to invent in order to help us understand better will ultimately introduce some error - there is no perfect analogy.



The relevant passages from the Nicene Creed:


I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; True God of True God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made;

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.

St_Worm2 said:

God the Father is Spirit only (John 4:24), He's not "physical" (no one has ever seen Him .. i.e. John 1:18). The Son of God on the other hand ... (i.e. John 1:14; John 12:41/Isaiah 6:1).

Also, the Bible seems pretty clear that God the Holy Spirit is just a wee bit more than the "remote operation" of God (who BTW, is omnipresent, so it seems to me that no "remote operations" are necessary )

"...the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ~Acts 13:2b​

Yours and His,
David

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and the Son, and the Holy Spirit"
Matt 28:19​

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by "physically" it was meant in my previous post that the location, where the true God is, is in "heaven", indeed, upon it, because His "seat" has always been beyond His creation/everything He created and all that He made/begot, at the same time He is omnipresent through His Spirit, just as there is a difference between meeting someone physically face to face and hearing/speaking with them on the phone, let's remember the words of the Lord:

John 16:5-16 "now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father."

so, as it is evident form what we can read in the above passage as well as in others, the Holy Spirit is the remote administration/operation of God and the Lord, because when Jesus was still in this world, the Holy Spirit was still not sent to His disciples in the way they had subsequently received and had It, why?!, because the Lord was still in the world, but after He returned to "heaven", He came back to His disciples through the Holy Spirit, because the Lord was no longer "physically" here

Blessings

The Christian Girl said:

So of course I believe in the Son, Father and Holy Ghost, but I believe that they are all in one. Some Christian's like the one's who are into the Trinity believe that they are all separate spirits. Trinity is found no where in the Bible though. So how does that even make sense at all? I also have another question concerning the matter. So how about Baptism? Are there really several ways to Baptiste or is there really only one real way?

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You wrote that "some Christians.... believe that they are separate spirits". I understand, most likely erroneously, that the LDS (Mormon) church is the only group which believes this. Are they who you meant, or are there Christians who also believe that God, Jesus, and the HS are entirely separate, individual beings? If so, who are they and what would that belief be called, if not the actual Trinity? Tri-theism? I'm curious to find out.

I, too, came to believe they are all one. While still in mormonism, I couldn't reconcile their belief above, that they are entirely separate beings (and worse). How could they be, if God--and Jesus--declares He alone is the only perfect Being? After leaving mormonism later, I could understand the HS much better as being the Spirit of God. But Jesus? Being God? How could He be? He has a body, and God doesn't have a body, being Spirit. Does He now if Jesus is God? But would/could that limit Him now? This subject, above any, is the most difficult of all the spiritual questions for those who eventually leave "outside the fringe" non-Christian churches. The Trinity doctrine, as most have developed their own alternate form of the substance of Deity. (And what most often happens in the Non-Christian forum section, you would see for yourself. Almost every question, no matter the subject, either leads to, through, or stalls at this very question!)

The Trinity is a concept that is impossible for any human being to fully understand, let alone explain. God is so vast a subject, how can He ever be fully known to be "explained" within the inherent weakness of human language? It's not officially referred to as the "Trinity" anywhere. I personally wonder if it was one of those things that was universally accepted from the beginning as true so no one ever thought to explain it. But that's my opinion. Actually, instances of the Trinity are found throughout the entire bible, which I'm more than positive many people are going to share. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to right now. I wish I did.

Jason0047 said:

I am not the one who needs to be convinced. I am comfortable with the truth of God's Word in what it says in regards to the Trinity.

Oh, and I do have a point. If you cannot back up your position with credible sources that most people who have a belief in the Trinity are violent then your just making false accusations. For your information, I believe the New Covenant teaches believers to be pacificists.

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Neither the New Covenant nor the Old Covenant supports pacifism that is just a repeated and unfounded opinion.

2 Kings 11:9 The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

Luke 22:36
Then he (Christ) said to them, But now he that hath a bag, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath none, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword.

Luke 22:38
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

St_Worm2 said:

Hi CG, as far as baptism goes, the church has historically followed the Trinitarian formula found in Matthew 28:19, baptizing, "in the name (not the "names") of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit". IOW, we baptize in the "name" of God.

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What is the name of God, that your Church baptizes in?

St_Worm2 said:

There are a couple of Protestant denominations today that believe that following the example of Acts 2:38 (baptism in the name of Jesus alone) is the only proper way to perform a baptism and, in fact, the only way it will "work" (they also believe that one cannot be saved unless/until they are 1) baptized in water and 2) have the words of Acts 2:38 spoken over the person being baptized exactly as they are written in Acts 2:38 .. like some form of incantation ).

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What about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?



JLB

alexandriaisburning said:

What you have described is a heretical view of the Trinity. God does not have 3 "manifestations", as if father-ness, son-ness and spirit-ness are simply "aspects" of God, or "ways of being" for God. No, the Trinity is the mystery of the consubstantiality of the 3 person of the God head.

Further, we are NOT, as creatures, our own trinities. Saying that our union of body/soul/spirit "images" the triune nature of God merely reveals an improper understanding of the Trinity itself.

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Heresy is a nasty word to throw around when someone is just trying to help someone understand a difficult concept. Be careful. It's an ugly thing to say.

Hieronymus said:

No it isn't.

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Yes it is. To say that someone's statement is heretical is saying that the person is speaking heresy. It is the same thing.

St_Worm2 said:

The Early Church Fathers and the Didache on Matthew 28:19 and the Trinitarian Baptismal Formula​

First, from the Didache (which was written toward the end of the 1st Century):

7 Concerning Baptism
7:1 Concerning baptism, you should baptize this way: After first explaining all things, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in flowing water.
7:2 But if you have no running water, baptize in other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, then in warm.
7:3 If you have very little, pour water three times on the head in the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
7:4 Before the baptism, both the baptizer and the candidate for baptism, plus any others who can, should fast. The candidate should fast for one or two days beforehand.​

Next, some ECF quotes, primarily pre-Nicene.

Tatian the Syrian

"Then said Jesus unto them, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and earth; and as my Father has sent me, so I also send you. Go now into all the world, and preach my gospel in all the creation; and teach all the peoples, and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and teach them to keep all whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you all the days, unto the end of the world’ [Matt. 28:18-20]" (The Diatesseron 55 [A.D. 170]).

Hippolytus

"When the one being baptized goes down into the water, the one baptizing him shall put his hand on him and speak thus: ‘Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?’ And he that is being baptized shall say: ‘I believe.’ Then, having his hand imposed upon the head of the one to be baptized, he shall baptize him once. Then he shall say: ‘Do you believe in Christ Jesus . . . ?’ And when he says: ‘I believe,’ he is baptized again. Again shall he say: ‘Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the holy Church and the resurrection of the flesh?’ The one being baptized then says: ‘I believe.’ And so he is baptized a third time" (The Apostolic Tradition 21 [A.D. 215]).

Tertullian

"After his resurrection he promises in a pledge to his disciples that he will send them the promise of his Father; and lastly, he commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, not into a unipersonal God. And indeed it is not once only, but three times, that we are immersed into the three persons, at each several mention of their names" (Against Praxeas 26 [A.D. 216]).

Origen

"The Lord himself told his disciples that they should baptize all peoples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . . for indeed, legitimate baptism is had only in the name of the Trinity" (Commentary onRomans 5:8 [A.D. 248]).

The Acts of Xantippe and Polyxena

"Then Probus . . . leapt into the water, saying, ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, and everlasting God, let all my sins be taken away by this water.’ And Paul said, ‘We baptize thee in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost.’ After this he made him to receive the Eucharist of Christ" (Acts of Xantippe and Polyxena 21 [A.D. 250]).

Cyprian of Carthage

"He [Jesus] commanded them to baptize the Gentiles in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. How then do some say that though a Gentile be baptized . . . never mind how or of whom, so long as it be done in the name of Jesus Christ, the remission of sins can follow—when Christ himself commands the nations to be baptized in the full and united Trinity?" (Letters 73:18 [A.D. 253]).

Eusebius of Caesarea

"We believe . . . each of these to be and to exist: the Father, truly Father, and the Son, truly Son, and the Holy Ghost, truly Holy Ghost, as also our Lord, sending forth his disciples for the preaching, said, ‘Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’ Concerning whom we confidently affirm that so we hold, and so we think, and so we have held aforetime, and we maintain this faith unto the death, anathematizing every godless heresy" (Letter to the People of His Diocese 3 [A.D. 323]).

Cyril of Jerusalem

"You were led by the hand to the holy pool of divine baptism, as Christ was carried from the cross to this sepulcher here before us [the tomb of Jesus at Jerusalem]. And each of you was asked if he believed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And you confessed that saving confession, and descended three times into the water, and again ascended, and in this there was suggested by a symbol the three days of Christ’s burial" (Catechetical Lectures 20:4 [A.D. 350]).

Athanasius

"And the whole faith is summed up, and secured in this, that a Trinity should ever be preserved, as we read in the Gospel, ‘Go ye and baptize all the nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost’ (Matt. 28:19). And entire and perfect is the number of the Trinity (On the Councils of Arminum and Seleucia 2:28 [A.D. 361]).

Basil the Great

"The Holy Spirit, too, is numbered with the Father and the Son, because he is above creation, and is ranked as we are taught by the words of the Lord in the Gospel, ‘Go and baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.’ He who, on the contrary, places the Spirit before the Son, or alleges him to be older than the Father, resists the ordinance of God, and is a stranger to the sound faith, since he fails to preserve the form of doxology which he has received, but adopts some newfangled device in order to be pleasing to men" (Letters 52:4 [A.D. 367]).

Ambrose of Milan

"Moreover, Christ himself says: ‘I and the Father are one.’ ‘One,’ said he, that there be no separation of power and nature; but again, ‘We are,’ that you may recognize Father and Son, forasmuch as the perfect Father is believed to have begotten the perfect Son, and the Father and the Son are one, not by confusion of person, but by unity of nature. We say, then, that there is one God, not two or three gods" (The Faith 1:1[9–10] [A.D. 379]).

Gregory of Nazianz

"But not yet perhaps is there formed upon your soul any writing good or bad; and you want to be written upon today. . . . I will baptize you and make you a disciple in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; and these three have one common name, the Godhead. And you shall know, both by appearances and by words that you reject all ungodliness, and are united to all the Godhead" (Orations 40:45 [A.D. 380]).

Jerome

"Seeing that a man, baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, becomes a temple of the Lord, and that while the old abode is destroyed a new shrine is built for the Trinity, how can you say that sins can be remitted among the Arians without the coming of the Holy Ghost? How is a soul purged from its former stains which has not the Holy Ghost?" (Dialogue Against the Luciferians 6 [A.D. 382]).

Gregory of Nyssa

"And we, in receiving baptism . . . conceal ourselves in [the water] as the Savior did in the earth: and by doing this thrice we represent for ourselves that grace of the resurrection which was wrought in three days. And this we do, not receiving the sacrament in silence, but while there are spoken over us the names of the three sacred persons on whom we believed, in whom we also hope, from whom comes to us both the fact of our present and the fact of our future existence" (Sermon For the Day of Lights [A.D. 383]).

Augustine

"Baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost has Christ for its authority, not any man, whoever he may be; and Christ is the truth, not any man" (On Baptism, Against the Donatists 4:24 [57] [A.D. 400]).

"O Lord our God, we believe in you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. For the truth would not say, ‘Go, baptize all nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,’ unless you were a Trinity" (The Trinity 15:28[51] [A.D. 408]).

Theodoret of Cyr

"And what need is there of many words, when it is possible to refute falsehood in few? We provide that those who year by year come up for holy baptism should carefully learn the faith set forth at Nicaea by the holy and blessed Fathers; and initiating them as we have been bidden, we baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, pronouncing each name singly" (Letters 145 [A.D. 444]).

​

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I've read these all before, but I have to say that this is a very nice collection of baptism quotes. You might also add one from Justin Martyr. He makes mention also of the fasting beforehand, and that the Eucharist was taken afterwards. But he adds that when the Eucharist is partaken of, portions are taken to those who are absent, so that the body could partake together if at all possible. See Just. Mart. Apol. 1 61, 65.

The Christian Girl said:

So of course I believe in the Son, Father and Holy Ghost, but I believe that they are all in one. Some Christian's like the one's who are into the Trinity believe that they are all separate spirits. Trinity is found no where in the Bible though. So how does that even make sense at all? I also have another question concerning the matter. So how about Baptism? Are there really several ways to Baptiste or is there really only one real way?

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We do NOT believe that the Persons of the Trinity are "all separate spirits". They are all individual Hypostases ("persons"), but they share a single Ousion ("essence").

The Christian Girl said:

Are there really several ways to Baptiste or is there really only one real way?

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There is one way to baptize, but multiple baptisms. The way I have learned it from scripture, verses Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38 baptisms are the same type of baptism being described, exactly the same in fact.

The Three Types:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, - Matthew 28:19

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38

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Baptism of Repentance from Dead Works (Sin) - Water Baptism

Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God - Acts 2:38 (baptism to the Father, in water, water baptism)

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. - Mark 1:4

Holy Spirit Baptism (New Birth)

baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. - Acts 2:38

baptize - Strongs: "clean with water"

Baptism can happen externally, as with water baptism, or it can happen in our souls as described in Ephesians 5:26. Also, baptism can happen in our spirit where our spirit is reborn and so we are cleansed by "water" in our spirit. Water is symbolic of God's word according to Ephesians 5:26 and also John 7:38.

Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. - John 3:5

This is the baptism of salvation which happens here in John 20:22 - Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. <<---- New Birth, born of Water and the Spirit

In John 20:22 Christ had already washed their feet, which was a representation of receiving the word of the gospel which cleans us entirely Ephesians 6:15 and John 13:10. In the cleansing of the feet, we see the baptism of the gospel, and when we receive the Holy Spirit as in John 20:22, the gospel performs all of this cleansing in our spirit without the external application of water.

Baptism of Fire (Equipping the Saints)

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. - Matthew 3:11

Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. - Acts 2:38

"Gift of the Holy Spirit" is the baptism of fire. People who receive this baptism already have the Holy Spirit, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. - Acts 2:3

AFrazier said:

Heresy is a nasty word to throw around when someone is just trying to help someone understand a difficult concept. Be careful. It's an ugly thing to say.

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I'm not "throwing it around" to be nasty, simply stating a fact. The position that the poster stated is a classic trinitarian heresy. I did not, however, accuse them of being a "heretic". A many others have rightfully pointed out, heretical statements can be made in complete innocence, either because of ignorance, unintended misuse of words, or something else along those lines. Others, of course, can make heretical statements in complete awareness of what they are doing. I'm not in the business of analyzing people's motivations...that is why I stuck to the choice of words I did, a choice of words which, on the very definition of historical trinitarian heresies, cannot be refuted.

AFrazier said:

Yes it is. To say that someone's statement is heretical is saying that the person is speaking heresy. It is the same thing.

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But the former phrasing allows grace for the person making the statement. Again, what they are saying--while heretical in content--may be completely innocent, either because of their ignorance of the topic in general, a poor choice of words or slip of the tongue, or some other foible of communication. This is completely different from a person who "speaks heresy", which (at least in my mind) at least suggests some intention and informed motivation.

The Christian Girl said:

So of course I believe in the Son, Father and Holy Ghost, but I believe that they are all in one.

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The Father - The Will (Soul) of God
The Son - The Body of God
The Spirit - The Spirit of God

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27

So, we look at a man to figure out what God is like since we were made like him.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Man is in 3 parts, just as God is in 3 parts. This is the trinity. Am I my thoughts? Am I my spirit? Am I my body? These sort of questions are how the trinity are one in 3, because God without his word is God who is missing something!

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Furthermore, God put the truth of the trinity into all reality. We can observe the indication it would work this way.

The Shannon–Weaver Model of Communication
This is the basis of all modern communication theory, and one of the foundations of all information technology... why? Because God made it that way.



Source = The Father - John 5:19
Transmitter = Only the Son knows the Father - Matthew 11:27
Signal = The Son "the word was God" - John 1:1
Receiver = The Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 2:14
Destination = Object upon which Holy Spirit acts / communicates - Genesis 1:2 , John 6:63 , John 16:13

So we can see how the trinity works from this model. The will proceeds from the Father, to the Son who is the word of God which is God's intent encoded to us, and then from the Son, the spoken word of God is the Holy Spirit... and the spoken word of God which is God's spirit, then achieves an outcome for God said:

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:11

Now consider that a scientific "discovery" in the 1950's where the laws of communication theory were outlined, was actually outlined in the Bible through the teaching of the trinity. This has only been realized in the last decade or so.

BornAgainChristian1 said:

Neither the New Covenant nor the Old Covenant supports pacifism that is just a repeated and unfounded opinion.

2 Kings 11:9 The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

Luke 22:36
Then he (Christ) said to them, But now he that hath a bag, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath none, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword.

Luke 22:38
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

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I have discussed Biblical Pacifism at great length with Scripture on two other Christian forums before.

As for the meaning behind Jesus telling his diciples to buy a sword: Well, if you are looking for an explantation with Scripture, please check out the article I quoted in my post here.

As for a 50 + page discussion on Biblcial Pacifism, you can see my many replies with Scripture against those who believe otherwise in this other thread here.

I hope it helps.
And may God bless you.


...

Anyways, the way to understand the Trinity is if you have an imagination. Some people are hung up on the Trinity not because of what it says in Scripture but because of a lack of imagnation (Whereby they cannot understand the concept of God being truine). For many will agree in what 1 John 5:7 says but they simply reject it because they dont think it should be in their Bibles (Which I believe is false). Every word of God is supposed to be in your Bible; And not just the words we prefer to focus in on.

I believe in some cases, a person's lack of imagination prevents a person from understanding how God is triune.

#1. The Lord our God is one God.
#2. God is three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost).
#3. Each person of the Godhead can dwell within one another. Jesus said He was in the Father and vise versa.

All three persons of the Godhead exist together as one God. I believe they are eternally bound (or exist) together as one God and are inseparable and each have the capacity to dwell within in each other at any given moment. They all act together in perfect harmony. But yet, they are still in essence within the spirit world as one God and not three gods.


...

There are no persons or separation within God. God is ONE!

The Father is God and the source of the Godhead. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father which is the Fathers Word/Intellect that became flesh, The Holy Spirit is Gods Spirit and force moving in this world.


God bless

The Christian Girl said:

So of course I believe in the Son, Father and Holy Ghost, but I believe that they are all in one. Some Christian's like the one's who are into the Trinity believe that they are all separate spirits. Trinity is found no where in the Bible though. So how does that even make sense at all? I also have another question concerning the matter. So how about Baptism? Are there really several ways to Baptiste or is there really only one real way?

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Jesus didn't pray to Himself, He prayed to the Father. That distinguishes Him from His Father. His Father spoke to Him and others heard His voice saying, "This is My Beloved Son ..."
Jesus also says, My Father will send you "another Helper", who is the Holy Spirit. This distinguishes the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son. Three persons/ one God. In purpose, unity, power, knowledge and will, they are all equal, they are all God. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Think of this, before God created the earth, animals and humans, He would be lonely by Himself wouldn't He?
In Genesis 1:26 God said, "Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness ..."
"In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth." Elohim is in a plural form, speaks of more than one person.
Verses that support the Trinity: 1 Peter 3:18; Eph. 2:18; Matt. 3:16, 17; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 5:6, 7

Razare said:

Man is in 3 parts, just as God is in 3 parts. This is the trinity.

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No, this is not an orthodoxy understanding of the trinity. God is a not a composite, as if "God" is the summation of Father + Christ + Holy Spirit.

alexandriaisburning said:

No, this is not an orthodoxy understanding of the trinity. God is a not a composite, as if "God" is the summation of Father + Christ + Holy Spirit.

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Yep, I totally agree, it is what the Bible says.

I agree the Father is the Father without Jesus, but I also assert God is missing the word without Jesus. Each part of the trinity is God in and of themselves, but if Christ is God's word, then if we remove Christ, God is missing the word of God. It's that simple.

They do not total to God, but likewise if one is removed part of God is missing from the picture.

So what I am saying is that each is God, but each contains qualities that the other does not possess... and if one is removed from the situation, then that quality is gone... which is exactly as it would work trying to divide a human into 3 parts. A human is the 3 parts, and each part separately is that human... my spirit in and of itself is me. Likewise my body is me just as Christ was the Body of God. And my soul is me, just as the Father has his own person. But it does get more complex with God because Christ also had his own will apart from the Fathers.