TRINITARIAN VIEW OF GOD, PART 2.

The triune concept says that God must be understood as three-in-one! One Scripture that shows Trinity clearly is 1 John 5: 7 which says: “ For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” There is some plural forms of the noun for the God of Israel which implies the Trinitarian view such as in Genesis 1: 26 :”Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ “ Some would argue against this reference trying to keep the idea of monotheism intact!

In the book of John there is a strong evidence of the coequal Trinity. For example ‘The Son is sent by the Father’ (14: 24); ‘The Spirit is given by the Father’ (14: 16); the Son comes forth from the Father(16:28); the Spirit is sent from the Father(14:26); the Spirit proceeds from the Father( 15:26); the Son prays for the Spirit’s coming(14:16); the Father send the Spirit in the Son’s name( 14:26); the Son will send the Spirit from the Father (15: 26); the Son must go away so that He can send the Spirit(16:7). The Holy Spirit is also seen as the One who empowered the Church at its inception and continues to empower it to extend the Kingdom of God on earth as it indwells in believers! “The Holy Spirit bears witness to the Son” (15: 26); “The Holy Spirit will declare what He hears from the Son, thus glorifying the Son.” (16: 13-14). Jesus came as God incarnate having a public ministry for about three years on earth, showing through His life and works, the heart of God! He stated ‘I and the Father are one’.(John 10:30). The Holy Spirit baptized Jesus just prior to His public ministry: “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” (John 1: 33). Each of the members of the Trinity are coequal and none inferior to the other. They may at times be subordinate to one or both but this is only so they can fulfill a particular function unique to Himself. For example, Jesus did subordinate Himself functionally to the Father’s will during His earthly incarnation, and now the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the ministry of Jesus and to the will of the Father but this does not mean He is less! This is just for a period of time!