" "THE DOCTRINES OF THE TRINITY PROVEN" "
What we mean by Divine Trinity is that there are three separate and distinct persons in the Godhead, each one having His own personal spirit body, personal soul, and personal spirit in the same sense each human being, angel, or any other being has his own body, soul, and spirit. We mean by body, whether a spirit body or a flesh body, the house for the indwelling of the personal soul and spirit. The soul is that which feels and the spirit is that which knows.
The doctrine of the Trinity can be clearly seen, being understood by the visible things that are made, even to His eternal power and Godhead (Romans 1:20).
What on earth was created in the image and likeness of God? Man (Genesis 1:26-28). Do God's image and likeness consist only of moral and spiritual powers? If so, it can be concluded that man is only a moral and spiritual being. Is God bodiless? If so, we can conclude that man is also bodiless.
Is God only one being made up of several persons or beings in the one being? If so, we can conclude that man is one person or being made up of many. Does God need a flesh body in order to have any kind of body? No! There are such things as spirit and heavenly bodies. See 1 Cor. 15:35-38. From this passage we learn that all things in creation-grain, fish, birds, beasts, man, angels, and even the planets-have bodies, sizes, shapes, and forms.
The Bible declares that God has a body, shape, image, likeness, physical parts, a personal soul and spirit, and all other things that constitute a being or a person with a body, soul, and spirit (see note, �John 4:24; note, �John 5:37; The Doctrine of Man.
Angels, cherubim, seraphim, and all other spirit beings have spirit bodies and personal souls and spirits. They have been seen with the natural eyes of men over 100 times in Scripture (see Appearances of Angels to Men).
If all other spirit beings have spirit bodies, could not the members of the Trinity also have spirit bodies? The 284 passages on spirits in Scripture prove that spirit bodies are just as real and capable of operation in the material worlds as are flesh bodies. There is no such thing as a world of creations made up of invisible substance.
The so-called spirit world must be understood simply as spirit beings inhabiting material worlds created by God. Heaven itself is a material planet (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:10-16), having cities, mansions, furniture, inhabitants, living conditions, etc.
God has been seen physically by human eyes many times (Genesis 18:1-33; Genesis 19:24; Genesis 32:24-30; Exodus 24:11; Exodus 33:11-33; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 6:11- 23; Judges 13:3-25; 1 Chron. 21:16-17; Job 42:5; Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Ezekiel 10:1,20; Ezekiel 40:3; Daniel 7:9-14; Daniel 10:5-10; Acts 7:56-59; Rev. 4:2-5; Rev. 5:1,5-7,11-14; Rev. 6:16; Rev. 7:9-17; Rev. 19:4; Rev. 21:3-5; Rev. 22:4). In over 20,000 references about God in Scripture we get to know all we need to know about the subject. If we will take the Bible literally as to what it says about Him, as we do with other things the subject will be very clear; but if we make God a mystery, ignoring the plain statements of Scripture about Him, and refusing to believe the many descriptions of God given by those who have seen one, two, and three separate persons called "God," then we ill remain in ignorance. It is true there are a few figurative statements about God in Scripture, as there are about man and other things, but shall we do away with the reality of man and these other things because of a few figures of speech? Let us make man mere salt and lights (Matthew 5:13-14), if we are going to do away with God because of a few figures of speech.
We submit the following facts in Scripture to prove a Divine Trinity of separate persons in the Godhead: 1.The word "one" means one in unity as well as one in number. It means unity in 1 John 5:7, as it does in John 17:11,21-23, and yet these three Persons, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, are spoken of as one each in number and individuality in Scripture. There is one God the Father, one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 8:6; Ephes. 4:3-6). Thus, there are three separate Persons in divine individuality and divine pluralty. The Father is called God (1 Cor. 8:6), the Son is called God (Isaiah 9:6,7; Hebrews 1:8; John 1:1-2; John 20:28), and the Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4). As individual persons each can be called God and collectively they can be spoken of as one God because of their perfect unity.
The word "God" is used either as a singular or a plural word, like sheep. Everything that could be spoken of God collectively applies equally to each member of the Godhead as an individual, but there are some things that are said of each person of the Deity as to position, office, and work that could not be spoken as of the other members of the Godhead. The Father is the head of Christ (1 Cor. 11:3); the Son is the only begotten of the Father (2 John 1:3), and the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son (John 14:16,26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15; Acts 2:34). 2.Names of God prove plurality of persons. The Hebrew: �Elohiym is the word for God in Genesis 1:1 and in over 2,700 other places in the Old Testament It is a uni-plural noun meaning Gods and is so translated 239 times (Genesis 3:5; Exodus 22:28; 1 Samuel 4:8; Daniel 2:11; Daniel 4:6-9; Daniel 5:11,14; etc.). Sometimes 'Elohiym is used with plural verbs and pronouns, "the Gods they caused me to wander" (Genesis 20:13), and "there the Gods they appeared unto him" (Genesis 35:7). 3.Plural pronouns are used of God, proving plurality of persons (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7; Isaiah 6:8; John 14:23; John 17:11,22-23). 4.First, second, and third personal pronouns are used hundreds of times in Scripture, referring to one, two, and three persons of the Godhead in the same sense they are used of men. Sometimes the different members of the Deity use them to and of one another in the same sense man uses them. In John 17 alone Jesus uses them 162 times in speaking to and of His Father (cp. John 14:16-17,26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15).
Sometimes singular pronouns are used of the whole Godhead of three members as a unity (Exodus 20:3; Isaiah 44:6,8; Isaiah 45:5,21; Isaiah 46:9; Hosea 13:4), just like the whole church as a unit is spoken of as a man and "he" (Ephes. 2:14-15; Ephes. 4:13; Ephes. 5:25-27; 2 Thes. 2:7-8). 5."Man is become as one of us" proves plurality of persons (Genesis 3:22). 6.Two and three Persons called God have been seen by the same men at the same time and places as being separate persons (Daniel 7:9-14; Matthew 3:16-17; John 1:31-34; Acts 7:54-60; Rev. 6:16; Rev. 7:9-17; Rev. 21:22; Rev. 22:3). 7.Two Lords are mentioned in Genesis 19:24; one on earth and one in heaven. 8.Two Persons are referred to in the Old Testament See Psalm 8:5-6 with Hebrews 2:5- 18; Psalm 16:8-10 with Acts 2:25-36; Psalm 22:1-22 with Matthew 27:35,39-43,45- 46; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:5-12; Psalm 40:6-10 with Hebrews 10:5-7; and Psalm 45:6-7 with Hebrews 1:8-9. 9.Two Lords are mentioned sitting side by side (Psalm 110:1,5; Matthew 22:44; Matthew 26:64; Acts 2:33-34; Acts 7:54-56; Romans 8:34; Ephes. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Hebrews 1:3,13; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Rev. 22:3). 10.Two Persons are mentioned and required in order to understand the plain language of Psalm 2; Psalm 9:19; Psalm 132:17; Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 10:16-17; Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 49:1-10; Isaiah 50:4-11; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Isaiah 62:11; Micah 5:1-5; Jeremiah 23:4-8; Jeremiah 33:14-26; Zech. 3:8-10; Zech. 6:12-13. In these passages one is anointed, becomes the son of, is sent by, is taught by, and becomes the servant of tcalled Lord. 11.Three self-acting Persons-the Lord God, the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit-are referred to as blessing, anointing, sending, and doing things for one another in Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 42:1-7; Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah 61:1-2; Isaiah 63:1-14; Zech. 12:10-13:2. 12.In Zech. 1:7-21 the Lord of Hosts and the angel of the Lord (also called Lord, Zech. 1:19-20; Zech. 2:1-13) are talking together. One Lord says of the other Lord that He has sent Him to Israel (Zech. 2:8-13). One Lord refers to Himself as "Me" and to the Lord of Hosts as "His" and "He" (Zech. 2:8-11).
The conference continues throughout Zechariah until Zech. 13:6-7 where both Lords are called fellows or associate. 13.Jesus Christ is called the son of Abraham, David, Mary, and of God (Matthew 1:1; Mark 1:1; Mark 6:3). He is just as much a separate person from God as He is of these other persons. 14.Two Persons are referred to many times in the New Testament (Matthew 11:27; L In no conceivable way can we force a meaning of three persons in one person; three beings in one being; or three manifestations of only one person in any of these or any other scripture. 19.There are three distinct and separate witnesses that bear witness of Christ (1 John 5:5-11,13,20).
Both God and man require this many personal and separate witnesses to confirm any point (Matthew 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1). The water and blood of 1 John 5:8 could not be accepted as accredited personal witnesses to confirm any point (Matthew 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1).
The water and blood of 1 John 5:8 could not be accepted as accredited personal witness in themselves. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the only persnal witnesses of this passage. If we consider these to be only one person, then there are not the required number of witnesses to establish the truth of the Sonship of Jesus Christ. We are forced by facts to admit all of 1 John 5:7-8 as inspired Scripture and therefore, the fact that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate and personal witnesses instead of being only one person or witness. Indeed, many scriptures confirm these three witnesses:
(1)The Father
(2)The Son:
(3)The Holy Spirit
Proofs that Jesus Is Not the Father:
65.The Father and the Son spoke to each other in audible voices at the same time and place, being heard by many witnesses (Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 7:5; John 12:27-30; 2 Peter 1:17). In no single instance could such speaking be explained as the voice of one individual or be used to prove one Person in the Deity. 66.The word "both" is used of the Father and the Son, proving two Persons (John 15:24; 2 John 1:9). 67.The word "also" is used of the Father and the Son, proving two Persons (John 5:19,27; John 8:19; John 13:32; John 14:1). 68.The statement, "They have not known the Father nor Me," proves two Persons (John 16:3,5). 69.Christ received all power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18). The Father had to be greater than Jesus to give Him that power (John 14:28). 70.Jesus was resurrected and exalted by the Father, so He could not be the Father (Ephes. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22) 71.God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:33-36). 72.Six times in John 14:1-9 Jesus made it clear that He was not the Father.
Holy Spirit Is Not Jesus Or the Father:
The Son can be blasphemed with forgiveness possible; but if the Spirit is blasphemed, no forgiveness is possible.
This proves two distinct Persons (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:29-30; Luke 12:10). 84.The Samaritans received Jesus, but had not yet received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:5-25). 85.Jesus could do no miracle by Himself (John 5:19), but by the Holy Spirit He did many miracles (John 2:11; Acts 10:38) 86.The Holy Spirit came not to speak of or glorify Himself, but to speak of and glorify Jesus (John 16:7-15). 87.The descent of the Holy Spirit proved the arrival of Jesus in heaven to sit at the right hand of God, thus proving three Persons (Acts 2:33-34; John 7:39). 88.Jesus claimed even after the resurrection that He was not a spirit being, so He could not be the Father or the Holy Spirit who are spirit beings (Luke 24:39; John 4:24; John 14:16-17,26; John 15:26; John 16:7-15). 89.In the last book of the Bible the Trinity is seen as working together in all things (Rev. 1:4-6; Rev. 3:1; Rev. 4:5; Rev. 5:6; Rev. 21:10; Rev. 22:17).
THE END
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