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What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 3/30/03 Radio Program

Question:

Could you please explain the concept of the "Trinity"? Who are the trinity? Are they separate or one?

Answer:

While the word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, certainly the concept is. That the Godhead is composed of more than one personality/being is without question. This is seen from Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." The word "God" comes from the Hebrew word, "Elohim." Elohim is a plural word. It is then consistent with God's statement: "Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness ...." (Gen. 1:26-27).

When we turn to the New Testament, we read about the Godhead being three distinct personalities. For instance, at Christ's baptism the record tells us that when Christ came up out of the water, "the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him." Then, "a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:16-17). Now, we have Christ coming up out of the water (1), the Spirit of God, as a dove, lighting upon Him (2), and then the voice from heaven speaking (3). That's three. Furthermore, when we read Ephesians 4:4-6, we read of "One spirit," "One Lord," and "One God and Father of all...". Once again, we see 1+1+1=3! In II Corinthians 13:14, Paul ends the book by saying, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

Sometimes, people get confused because they read passages which stress the unity within the Godhead, and then assume that this means that God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same being. This is a mistake that we ought not make. Some have gone to John 17:20-22 to prove that Jesus is the only one in the Godhead. Please read this passage together: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one." Notice please, that the word "one" describes their unity. Within the Godhead there is unity of purpose, thought, will, mission, action, and truth. Yet, this does not say they are the same BEING or PERSON! If it does, then was Christ praying that all believers become the same PERSON, too (v. 21-22)??

The unity under consideration in the Godhead is similar to the marriage relationship. Husbands and wives are called "one" (Matt. 19:5-6; Eph. 5:31), yet we know they are two separate persons. So also are God the Father (Eph. 4:6), God the Son (Jn. 20:28; Matt. 1:23; Titus 2:13), and God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) three separate personalities, yet they are one!

No, the word "trinity" is not found in the Bible, but the fact that there are three in the Godhead certainly is taught.

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