Ok, so the following is what I believe answers my question. You may not agree, that's fine. But to me it makes perfect sense when all the texts are considered.
Untold Story of Jesus – Three Roles of the Godhead Decided – Chapter 3
By
Larry W. Wilson
January 15, 2020
Think about it: three separate, distinct, equal, coeternal Gods functioning as one God because of love! Just saying God is love is insignificant until you realize that each deity still has the power, rights, and prerogatives that come with being deity, yet, each day, freely chooses to forfeit two-thirds of His powers, rights, and prerogatives so, together, they can serve the universe as one. No one else in the universe would dare do this for even a minute–much less eternity!
My best deduction is that after the three Gods determined what their relationship should be, they began to discuss the changes they would have to make. Two Gods agreed to give up omnipresence so only one would be omnipresent. This may seem strange, but we see this decision in Jesus’ words when He said to His disciples,
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)Jesus is saying He and the Father surrendered the power to be everywhere at the same time to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the only God using the power of omnipresence. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus would be with His disciples in real time wherever they are. If one disciple was in Rome, one in India, and one in northern Africa carrying the gospel, Jesus could not be with each of them if He remained on Earth. This is why He said, “It is for your good that I am going away.”
Two Gods agreed to give up the power of omniscience so only one God has foreknowledge. Jesus stated He did not have foreknowledge when He said,
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mat.24:36) Later, when Jesus was exalted to the throne, I am confident the Father told Him the appointed time.
If Jesus and the Holy Spirit were to have access to the foreknowledge that deities inherently possess, an important problem arises. The Bible teaches the Father used His foreknowledge to write a book containing top-secret information before anything or anyone was created. (Rev.17:8) This book contains a history of the drama of sin, and information about who will be saved and lost. The Father recorded this sensitive information before anything was created to exonerate Himself from false charges that would arise later on. Afterwards, He secured the book with seven seals so that no one could know what He foreknew until the book was opened and its contents revealed at the end of the 1,000 years.(Rev.20:12)
If Jesus and the Holy Spirit had foreknowledge, they also would know what the Father foreknew: the contents of His book. If the Holy Spirit and Jesus foreknew what was in the book, the devil would have a compelling argument against the Godhead! Satan could argue that since the Godhead already knows who will be saved and lost, the eternal destiny of angels and human beings has been predetermined. This would bolster his assertion that free will is a joke because everyone’s destiny is already written down.
Two Gods agreed to surrender their foreknowledge and trust one God with foreknowledge throughout eternity. This kind of surrender can only come through pure love; each God loving the other two with all of His heart, mind, and soul. Who else would give up such amazing power?
Keep in mind each member of deity has free will to break His vow of love and violate the first law at any time. Of course, this would be out of character and contrary to their faithfulness, but I mention it to underscore why their enduring love for one another is so important. Love literally holds the universe together and anyone wishing to become a member of the “family of God” has to love the Godhead in the same way each member loves one another! This explains why their offspring are granted life for as long as they choose to love the Godhead with all of their hearts, minds, and souls. We demonstrate our love for God when we choose to obey and live within boundaries ordained by divine wisdom. Considering the natural propensity for love given to the angels, and which Adam and Eve enjoyed before their fall, and what history reveals the Godhead has done for sinners, who can find fault with the first and greatest commandment? The whole universe is built around it!
The Bible affirms that two Gods agreed to give up omnipotence so that only one God would have authority over everything. (1 Timothy 6:15-16) This is difficult for our sinful natures to comprehend so it is understandable why people conclude there is only one God! Remember, the greatness and largeness of the Godhead is an endless and difficult study. However, no study or research produces a greater blessing, because this study ends with a transformative understanding of love! Love awakens love. Even though the Godhead is unlike us in so many ways and we have many serious impediments in understanding them, each person has an ability to comprehend their love. Paul wrote,
“God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.”(Rm. 2:4)
Two Gods agreed to give up their ability to create so that one God would be the Creator of everything that exists; everything in the universe is held together by His power alone!
“He [Jesus]
is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17)
The three Gods also agreed that only one God would be their spokesperson, and He would be called “The Word.” (John 1:1) This meant the universe would hear one God speaking throughout all eternity. Also, one God would sit on the throne of the universe and the other two would submit to His foreknowledge and will. They also agreed two Gods would remain invisible for all eternity.
Note: All three Gods are actually invisible. The God we call “Jesus” lives within the form of a created being. Of course, His form can be seen, but the deity living within the form cannot be seen. Before coming to Earth, Jesus lived in the form of an angel and after His birth, in the form of a man, but these are only “forms.” Jesus was given a body at birth because He is invisible. (Heb. 10:5) We see this phenomenon in the fifth trumpet. During the Great Tribulation, the devil and his demons will be allowed to appear physically. They will be given “bodily forms” which human beings can see and touch. At the Second Coming, these “forms” will be thrown into the lake of fire, (Rev. 19:20) but the devil and his demons will be returned to the Abyss for 1,000 years. (REV. 20:2-3) When Lucifer tempted Eve, he inhabited the form of a serpent. Demons can inhabit pigs and drown them; (Mat.8:32) they can also inhabit human beings and give them incredible strength. (Mark 5:4) Samson’s great strength was the result of the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. (Judges 13:24-25) I have digressed for a moment to better explain that three infinite Gods are invisible because a finite form cannot define an infinite God.
The three Gods also agreed that whatever was created belonged to the God who sat on the throne. (Rev.4:9-11; John 17:6; Heb.2:10) The other two Gods would own nothing unless the Father gave it to them. Remember, infinite love and wisdom compelled three Gods to voluntarily surrender themselves to one another so that their children would worship them forever as One God.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God [elohiym, plural]
, the Lord is one [in purpose, plan and action]
. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength [this is the first and greatest commandment]
.” (Deu.6:4-5) Although no one other than the three Gods attended the meeting, we can safely assume they actually made these decisions because the Bible affirms as much. If one God is changeless, so are the other two. (Malachi 3:6; Heb 13:8) Their love for each other has not changed from the beginning. What we know about their relationship has endured since their relationship began. They are equals, like identical triplets, with the same nature and substance. (Phil. 2:6-7) They have chosen to live forever as Gods with self-imposed limitations so they may serve their offspring as one God. Truly, God (elohiym, plural) is love.
