THE TRINITY
By Mason French
The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible. However, the idea of the trinity is. It shows three persons as one in being. It is like all humans are one in being. You are a human being, and I am a human being. In that way, we are equal. But that does not mean that a being is the same person. You may be Jim, and I am Mason. What do we share in common? We are human beings! That is pretty simple. There are three persons with the same nature, substance, form, intellect, knowledge, power, aims and purposes, and other characteristics with our One God. Therefore, three persons are precisely alike in being.
Very often in speaking of God, the word (Godhead” is used, which is a form of “Godhood,” like manhood, childhood, womanhood, etc. We see this in (Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:20; Col. 2:9). Godhood is the state or condition of being God – what makes God, God. There is a difference between “being” and “person.” Being is what you are, and the person is who you are. What kind of being are you? You, like me, are a human being. There is one humanity. While you are different from others as a person, you may be John, and I am Mason. Both of us are equal as human beings but different in person.
Godhood Only Said of Three Personalities:
In Deuteronomy 6:4, “The Lord our God is one Lord: The term there means “Jehovah” in the original text. “Lord” is in the plural form, the same found in Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. God is plural, while “created” is singular. The Godhood (all three) created all things. When talking about Christ, the Word, the passages are clear about Him.
John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
John 1:14–18 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known
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Colossians 1:16–17 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.
Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “Jehovah our God (plural) is one Jehovah.” The word one (Echad) means a combined or united one. It is more than one making up one. An example is found in Genesis 2:24 for God, talking about man and woman in marriage, are to be one flesh. The two become one. It is also used in John 17:20–21 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. When we understand this, we know how three can be one.
This concept is affirmed: John 1:1–3 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are terms of distinction reserved for the New Testament. These distinctions are only hinted at in Old Testament…. The word “God” like “Jehovah” includes all three in the Old Testament:
Zechariah 2:10–11 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. 11 And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. This is one Jehovah speaking to another Jehovah. One eternal One to another eternal One. This is why Jesus can be called God.
John 1:1–3 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Jesus also identifies Himself as Jehovah. John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
John the Baptist was to prepare the way for Jehovah: Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
Jehovah speaks about Himself: “ Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” Isaiah 48:12“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. “
The same thing is said of Jesus. Study Revelation 2:1:17-18; 22:13; Ephesians 4:6; Philippians 2:11.
Jesus is God: John 1:1–3 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Philippians 2:5–11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In human form, He was God in the flesh by His very nature. The Jews understood what Jesus was claiming: John 5:18 “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON, NOT JUST A FORCE. HE IS GOD!
In Isaiah, Jehovah tells Isaiah something about the people: Isaiah 6:8–9 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not. The apostle Paul says that it was the Holy Spirit that talked to Isaiah (Acts 28:25). The same is true in other passages, for example:
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, And write it in their hearts; And will be their God, And they shall be my people.
Hebrews 10:15–17 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Acts 5:3–4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SAME KIND AS JESUS CHRIST—DEITY!
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
- The word “another” from the word allos means another of the same kind
- The Holy Spirit is a comforter the same kind as Jesus
- The same kind is Jehovah. God!