Tuesday, May 27, 2008
John 15:26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
ONE GOD REVEALED IN THREE PERSONS
When the Jehovah's Witnesses come knocking on your door they will say that Christians believe in three Gods but they believe in one God as described in Deuteronomy: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4).
But this one God reveals Himself to us in three distinct persons. The three persons of the Trinity are united in one Godhead, yet are three separate persons. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!"
These three persons are revealed as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity are clearly described in many passages of Scripture that describe the three persons of the Godhead working together for the salvation of mankind. Some detractors of this doctrine state that the Trinity is a New Testament concept and cannot be found in the Old Testament. This is not true. The three persons of the Trinity can be found working together repeatedly throughout the Old Testament as well.
The prophet Isaiah repeatedly describes the three persons of the Trinity. He writes: "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: 'I am the LORD your God'" (Isaiah 48:17).
We often speak of our Triune God in these terms: Creator, Redeemer and Comforter. Notice how the true God is described in this verse: the LORD (Father), your Redeemer (Son), and the Holy One (Holy Spirit). If you keep your eyes open you as you read through your Bible, you will find the doctrine of the Trinity all over in Scripture! Take for example the words in John 15:26. There Jesus speaks of the Helper (whom He has previously stated is the Holy Spirit), Himself (Jesus), and the Father. All three persons working together for the salvation of the human race.
In the Athanasian Creed we confess: "And the catholic [i.e. universal] faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal."