netchaplain
Member
The primary word for understanding the Trinity is “representation.” Thus the Lord Jesus is the “exact representation” of God (Heb 1:3), which I believe answers to why Christ is occasionally demonstrated in Scripture as “God” or as the “Father” (Isaiah 9:6). The Word is not the Father and the Father is not the Word; but the Word, or Son of God, is so much the representation of God, Who is the Father—that He can be referred to as God. Christ has from eternity past been the “Word of God.” He came in this world from the Father or God, as the Word of God (John 1:14), and has taken back His place as the Word of God (Rev 19:13).
Concerning creation I believe when any One of Them act, it is power of the Three, because Deities though being three individuals, always act as One, thus when They said "Let Us create," it was not just the Word, though He was the One through which They created, thus it being a joint action, as in all They do. Just a few examples concerning Christ being the Creator; “hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:9 KJV, NKJV); Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2).
Though we may maintain numerous concepts of Scripture in our own understanding (which may not necessarily be wrong), it's only accurate when maintaining Biblical validation. Jesus said the Father is God, and that God is the Father: “My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God” (John 20:17). This also answers to why most of Paul’s Epistles begin with “Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 1:7; 2Co 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Col 1:2; Phm 1:3).
This is why we see in Scripture “the Son of God,” “the Son of the Father” (2Jo 1:3), “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of your Father” (Mat 10:20); the Son of God, the Spirit of God--but not the Father of God, because the Father is God. Scripture occasionally identifies Jesus as God and Father but this is in relation to Him being indwelt by "the fullness of the Godhead" (Col 2:9), e.g. everything seen, heard, said or done is the same as if it were God, or the Father (John 14:9); hence the passage “I and My Father are one” (Jhn 10:30), i.e. are one accord in everything.
The Son is not the Father and the Father is not the Son but They, along with Their Holy Spirit are “one,” i.e. in “one” accord concerning everything (1John 5:7 KJV). Jesus said, for "Ye have neither heard His (Father) voice at any time, nor seen His shape" (John 5:37), but Christ’s redemption mission involved revealing the Father and Himself (John 1:18).
Scripture continuously stresses the Father being God, for Jesus said of Him, "He is greater than I" (Jhn 14:28), and “My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all” (Jhn 10:29). We also read, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things (creation), and we by Him" (1Cor 8:6).
To me the significance in this article is in making the distinction between the Father and the Son, and the mandate that both are to be equally worshiped and honored (to be a Christian), for "All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23).
What one believes concerning the Trinity is not salvation-essential, for only what one believes concerning Christ as the Savior is salvation-essential; then after this, God “works in you” (Phl 2:13).
NC
Concerning creation I believe when any One of Them act, it is power of the Three, because Deities though being three individuals, always act as One, thus when They said "Let Us create," it was not just the Word, though He was the One through which They created, thus it being a joint action, as in all They do. Just a few examples concerning Christ being the Creator; “hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph 3:9 KJV, NKJV); Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2).
Though we may maintain numerous concepts of Scripture in our own understanding (which may not necessarily be wrong), it's only accurate when maintaining Biblical validation. Jesus said the Father is God, and that God is the Father: “My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God” (John 20:17). This also answers to why most of Paul’s Epistles begin with “Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 1:7; 2Co 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Col 1:2; Phm 1:3).
This is why we see in Scripture “the Son of God,” “the Son of the Father” (2Jo 1:3), “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of your Father” (Mat 10:20); the Son of God, the Spirit of God--but not the Father of God, because the Father is God. Scripture occasionally identifies Jesus as God and Father but this is in relation to Him being indwelt by "the fullness of the Godhead" (Col 2:9), e.g. everything seen, heard, said or done is the same as if it were God, or the Father (John 14:9); hence the passage “I and My Father are one” (Jhn 10:30), i.e. are one accord in everything.
The Son is not the Father and the Father is not the Son but They, along with Their Holy Spirit are “one,” i.e. in “one” accord concerning everything (1John 5:7 KJV). Jesus said, for "Ye have neither heard His (Father) voice at any time, nor seen His shape" (John 5:37), but Christ’s redemption mission involved revealing the Father and Himself (John 1:18).
Scripture continuously stresses the Father being God, for Jesus said of Him, "He is greater than I" (Jhn 14:28), and “My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all” (Jhn 10:29). We also read, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things (creation), and we by Him" (1Cor 8:6).
To me the significance in this article is in making the distinction between the Father and the Son, and the mandate that both are to be equally worshiped and honored (to be a Christian), for "All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:23).
What one believes concerning the Trinity is not salvation-essential, for only what one believes concerning Christ as the Savior is salvation-essential; then after this, God “works in you” (Phl 2:13).
NC