The Triune God

Bill our God is not discribable and while I hold to the trinity, at least in word, I am not sure that I totally understand it. In fact I know I don't. In your poll I really did not see a discription that I felt worked for me even in my lack of understanding, but I chose the (one) link. Jesus said . If you have seen Me you have seen the Father.
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

God is not a "what" but a "Who."

God is not an abstract, impersonal force like something in a Star Wars movie.

God is personal - the primary, initiating Persons in all of reality.

In some way, there is one God who exists in three distinct Persons, yet completely unified in both nature and purpose.

Of course that's not the way I was raised. In my uninformed Southeast Texas SBC Sunday School classes in the early 1970s, there was "God" (the Father), Jesus (the sacrifice, but not much else, that would be too Catholic), and the Holy Ghost (who wasn't really considered a Person as much as some sort of mysterious force that we weren't supposed to think about because we might turn charismatic).

 

Help me out here. You used the word "distinct" Here is the definition I got;
dis·tinct

[dih-stingkt]


–adjective 1. distinguished as not being the same; not identical; separate (sometimes fol. by from ): His private and public lives are distinct.

2. different in nature or quality; dissimilar (sometimes fol. by from ): Gold is distinct from iron.

How are you using the word distinct? I ask that because if one follows the dictionary definition then there are three Gods being called One.

 

Three forms of the same being.

It was explained to me like this. Take a glass of ice water......the water is water of course. The ice is water in another form. The condensation on the glass is water in yet another form.

Also, if you boil water, the steam is still another form of water. Yet its all still water.

This really helped me understand the Triune.

I've also heard it compared to an egg. An egg is an egg, scramble it and its still an egg, boil it and its still an egg. They are still the same thing, just in different forms.

 

Not the meaning at all. There's an implied "from" in this definition.

This is more along the lines of what I mean, although the dictionary definition stresses a difference in nature.

The meaning I am trying to impart is that the Father is distinct from the Son, the Son is distinct from the Spirit, the Spirit is distinct from the Father.

 

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. How did most of you get that vote wrong? Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Can't change my mind.

 

Oops! Sorry, but that is not Trinitarianism, but is actually the ancient error of Sabelianism or Modalism as upheld by 'Oneness Pentacostals' in the USA today.

The only easy but correct way I know of summarizing the Trinity is 'One What, Three Whos.'

This is something I wrote to help Christian inmates at Exeter Prison who were being fed stuff on the unity of God by the Moslem Chaplain:-

Check out The Forgotten Trinity by James White

Steve

 

Oops! Sorry, but that is not Trinitarianism, but is actually the ancient error of Sabelianism or Modalism as upheld by 'Oneness Pentacostals' in the USA today.

Seems there is an 'ism' for everything.

I dont know what those 'isms' you refer to are. But, since your views are upheld by USA Today......hey it must be right!

 

Heheh, I thought I had it figgered out along those lines also, but was promptly informed that I was well nigh a hear tick.....

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?p=1614725#post1614725

 

Would I be a hairy tic if I said the Trinity is like us? Body, mind and spirit? We are created in His image aren't we?(

I have a body, mind (no smart alec comments please), and spirit, yet I am one person.

 

walkbyfaith is a newer believer. There was no need for steve or martin marprelate to attack and label him like this, you know, for someone more "mature" in the faith to do this.

Amy, we can explain it however we like, as you and he have done. Of course, this is typically attacked and someone will come along and put a label on you if you do so.

Anyhow, blessings.

 

Well, label away. I've been called a hairy tic before, among other things.

Walkbyfaith, welcome to God's family. It's full of nuts just like any family tree. Stick to God's word and you'll grow like a weed! :flower:

 

The best earthly aid in perceiving the trinity is marriage. One flesh, two distinct persons. (Three, if you count Christ.) And actually, it isn't the individual that is created in God's image, but the male AND the female, standing in their primary relationship.

 

If you will read my post you will see that I never used the term 'Heretic.' It is my policy never to use the H word on forums like this. I called the view that Walkbyfaith expressed an 'error,' because that is what it is. If that word is not allowable, please tell me what word I should use, or is it better simply to leave people in their errors?

When I was a new Christian, I was helped tremendously by folk correcting my errors and wrong understanding on forums like this.

FWIW, James White says that Modalism is the default position of most Christians today.

Steve

 

Who said you called him a heretic? No need to bring in a false argument.

You're above rebuke, right? You need to lighten up and realize how you came across, and maybe think that not everyone needs to be labelled? :thumbsup:

You helped no one on this one.

 

If they are distinct then why is the Lord called the Spirit?
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.

 

Really? Then as an individual, in whose image was I created?

 

I fail to see how marriage helps in understanding the trinity. Marriage is of two separate beings. They never end up with the exact same beliefs, desires, or outcome. They are called one in scripture but that is because of their joining. God has always been one and never joined. He has always been in agreement because he never changes or is divided.
While I accept that the father is God, the Son is God, and the Spirit is God, I see no correlation between marriage and the Trinity.

 

"...and they (two) shall be one flesh."?