The Expository Files

The Godhead and the Lord's Disciple 

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form”




The Bible does not use the term "trinity". It does use the terms "Godhead" (KJV) or "Divine Nature" (NASB) to describe Deity (Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20;  Colossians 2:9). Both of these terms suggest the idea of possession of Divine attributes and qualities. So, we might say for example,  that only God is eternal having no beginning or end; so One who possesses an eternal nature without beginning or end is a member of the Godhead or Divine nature. If He possesses that which only God possesses, then He must be God!  

There is only one God; not more or less than that. The term "trinity" has been coined by man because the more astute mathematicians among us can count up to three and beyond, and they have counted and have discovered that there are three Persons said to possess the attributes of God in the Scripture: The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. These are the Godhead; the Possessors of the Divine Nature. One God - three persons.  

There is plenty of mystery, puzzlement and bewilderment for the finite human mind when contemplating God, but I am not sure why anyone expects there not to be (Isaiah 55:8,9). That's just the way it is, so deal with it. God is bigger than we are. 

We're not going to try to prove that our one God is three persons, or that the Holy Spirit is a person and not just a force, or that Jesus is God in the flesh. There is already ample material, solid and Bible-based, affirming those truths.  Instead, I just want to look at some passages of Scripture which mention all three at once, not to prove that there are three (although it will prove that) but to see what the Bible says about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as they relate to one another and to us.  

The Godhead and our Redemption From Sin

“…how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus paid the price shedding His blood for our eternal redemption. This ought to be motivation for us to turn to God (Hebrews 9:28). The “eternal Spirit” had testified through the prophets that the Messiah would become our Redeemer in just this way (2 Peter 1:21; Isaiah 53:5,8). 

In addition to inspiring the prophets, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and did the signs to prove His identity by the Spirit (Matthew 1:18-20; Acts 10:38; Matthew 12:28). So, we see several points of relationship between the Son and the Spirit with reference to the work of our redemption. 

The offering was made to God, the Father.  God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. Sin cannot abide in His presence, but we have sinned. (Romans 3:23,24). It was by His plan that He remains just, and the justifier of those who have faith (Romans 3:26). We can now be  in His presence because of the sacrifice for our sins made by His Son. 

The Godhead and Baptism into Christ

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19; see vss. 18-20). Inclusive in the procedure of baptism is being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is true for all - not just for the Jew; not just for the Gentile.  - for "all nations". This was in accordance with the ancient promise God made to Abraham (Genesis 15:5,6; 17:8). While we find fulfillment among the descendants of Abraham 5 centuries later, the ultimate realization  of this promise is to Abraham's spiritual descendants (Galatians 3:26-29). 

The phrase "In the name of"  is greatly significant. One name - one God. Not "in the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit", but "in the name  (singular) of…" The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are of one authority. This is not so much a formulae as it is a statement of fact. It is by the will and power of God that we are redeemed and become His children, and  not by our own (John 1:12,13). 

The Godhead and Prayer

“...for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”  (Ephesians 2:18).  Through the Son we have our access unto God  This “access in one Spirit to the Father” is probably broader than prayer; also including our fellowship and spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 5:1,2). It is through Jesus that we approach the throne of God with confidence that He hears us and  cares for us. He who shed His blood in our behalf most certainly has our best interests at heart! (Hebrews 10:19,20). 

And, again we also see the Spirit's role in this relationship. It is “in one Spirit” that we have this access unto the Father (see also Romans 8:26,27). There has been much discussion as to what the exact details of the Holy Spirit's role might be in this; suffice it to say that He is involved in intercession.  

The Godhead and the Inspired Word

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  (John 14:26). .There would be additional revelation from God following Jesus' ascension back into heaven.   This would be given by the Holy Spirit through the apostles (John 15:26,27; 16:12,13). The full New Covenant of Jesus Christ consists of more than what He taught during His work on the earth - more followed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent from the  Father to guide the apostles (Luke 10:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2:13) 

The Holy Spirit would also bring back to the apostles' memories the things they had been taught by Jesus. The purpose of this was to ensure that we would know what we need to know in order to have fellowship with God (1 John 1:1-3) 

Conclusion In each of these passages, all three Persons of the Godhead were mentioned in the same context relating to some important aspect of our welfare and relationship with God.  What better way to conclude these thoughts than to use Paul's closing words to his second letter to the Corinthians:  “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14).         

 
By Jon W. Quinn
From Expository Files 18.9; September 2011
 

 

 

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