-------------------END-TIME----------------- -------------------------------------------------- Knowing GOD… The Holy Trinity One God, or Three, or Both? VOLUNTEERS OF CHRIST Statement of Faith 1. We believe in the tri-unity of God: Father, Son, and Holy spirit; co-eternal in divine nature, co-equal in power and authority, and co-dependent in existence as One God. 2. We believe in the inspiration, inerrancy, and preservation of God’s Word, the bible. 3. We believe in the atonement of Christ as the only acceptable sacrifice for man’s sin. 4. We believe in the inability of man to save himself. 5. We believe in salvation by grace alone, nothing from human works, goodness, and religion. 6. We believe in the eternal security of the true believer—once saved always saved—once a child of God, always a child of God. 7. We believe in the glorious bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, declaring Him to be the Son of God with power over death and the grave. Dr. Alberto S. Nunez, Th.D. Missionary Pastor/Evangelist Angelita V. Nunez, Dir. Children’s Ministry Volunteers of Christ, 1415 Hale St., Vallejo CA 94591 Email: angel.bert@yahoo (707) 554-3703 Cell (707) 712:1122 Fax (707) 534-1161 Dedication Dedicated to my God Who saved my life seven times known to me and in many other situations where He walked and stayed with me throughout my life and death ordeals. This study and others would not have been written had He not intervened. I am grateful and will always be grateful All the days of my life for His service to win one more soul to His Kingdom. Dr. Alberto S. Nunez, Th.D. Missionary Volunteer Worker END-TIME MISSION BIBLE SCHOOL Knowing God: THE HOLY Trinity One God...or Three... or Both? Introduction 1.To explain the eternal God with our finite mind is most difficult and extremely confusing task, if not impossible. We live in a physical world, and we depend on our natural senses to believe. It is hopeless struggle of endless chain of frustration of dead-ends and pure impossibility to grasp and discern the things of God, without His help. 2.Because Man has no innate power to discover the spiritual things of God, frustration, desperation, disappointment, and discouragement are expected. 3.To put the Trinity on the scale of natural science like Mathematics will certainly distort its natural mathematical computations, resulting to a deplorable pursuit that ends in futility. However, it is not entirely hopeless to anyone who searches for the Word of Truth. God gives us a glimpse of the things of His kingdom though dimly, and everything will be in perfect clarity at His Coming. God loves a searching and inquiring mind, anyone who has an earnest desire to know Him. And sometimes God would play hide and seek with us, for He enjoys the company of His children. And He promised that we will find Him if we persevere in our desire to know Him. 1John 3:2 - Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 1Corinthians 13:12 - Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (NLT) Jeremiah 29:13 - And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 33:3 - ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Deuteronomy 29:29 - “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Proverbs 25:2 - It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Revelation 5:8-10 - For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” 4.Let’s start with Math. a)To demonstrate that God is One, the equation for the Oneness of God is 1 (Father) x 1 (Son) x 1 (Holy Spirit) = 1 God, which means that their existence depends on the presence of all. b)To express the Threeness of God, the relative equation is 1 (Father) + 1 (Son) + 1 (Holy Spirit) = 3, which reflect the three persons in the Trinity. c)To illustrate the inter-dependence of God’s existence, that God does not exist without the presence of all three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is 3 – 3 = 0, or if one is absent, the equation is 1 (God) – 1 (any of three persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit) = 0. d)If only Mr. Albert Einstein is here, he could be a big help, but this is all the mathematical formula I can do for now. However let’s continue. 5.What Trinity is NOT? a)Trinity is not a trio or triad. A trio or triad is a counterfeit. It consists of three natural persons or man-made mythological gods. They exist independently and separately. One or two can continue to exist in the absence of the other members. They may be a team, but can be doing things, working separately and independently. Hindu Trio or Triad - Brahma, Siva, & Vishnu Egyptian Trio or Triad - Osiris, Isis, & Horus Babylonia Trio or Triad- Anu, Bel, & Persian Trio or Triad - Mithras, Caustes & Cantopates Satanic Trio or Tirad -Satan, Antichrist, & False Prophet b)Trinity is not one person appearing in three different forms as in a stage show, where a performer can appear as a policeman, a mailman, or a priest by changing costume to change his act and appearance. c)Similarly, Trinity is not Oneness (another religious sect) where the Father is also acting as the Son and the Holy Spirit in different form and character, performing different roles by one and the same person. 1.When Jesus was praying, was the Father praying to Himself? No. 2.When Jesus was sent, was the Father sending Himself? No. 3.When Jesus was born, was it the Father who was laid in a manger? No. 4.In baptism of Jesus, was the Father being baptized? No. 5.When the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and alighted on Jesus, was it the Father in the form of a dove? No. 6.When Jesus was crucified, was it the Father who died, buried, and resurrected? No. Cults doctrine of "oneness" is like in a stage show, where one person appears as a policeman, went back the state and change his costume to become a priest, and later to a mailman. 6.What Trinity IS? a)Trinity consists of three distinct and separate divine persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), inseparable and indivisible, who are co-equal in power, authority, and sovereignty; co-eternal in nature, having no beginning and no end, and co-dependent upon each other’s presence, existing all together as One God. b)Another word for Trinity is Tri-unity, which is indicative of three divine persons existing all together and working all together in absolute perfection and perfect unity. Man is a reflection of the Trinity, having been created in the image of his Creator-God. Genesis 2:7 - And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (1)Man is composed of Mind, Body, and Spirit (live-giving breath of God, not Holy Spirit). When happens now when a man dies? Ecclesiastes 12:7 - Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, where it came from, and the spirit (life-giving breath of God) will return to God who gave it. (2)Man is Mind, Body, and Spirit, separate and distinct, but inseparable and indivisible. Without them all present, man does not exist. And for man to function, Mind, Body, and Spirit (breath of God) must all be present. They all work together at the same time, in absolute perfect unity with exact precision. Human life works exactly in the same principle as the Trinity of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who created man in His image and likeness. Genesis - Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… (3)Mind, Body, and Spirit are not parts of the body. The Mind commands the Body and both are energized by the Spirit or Life-giving Breath of God. The parts of a body are hands, feet, eyes, etc. Even without these parts, man can exist. Do not get confused by comparing the Trinity into parts of a body. c.The hierarchy of Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is for order purposes only. There is no inferiority or superiority in the Godhead of the Trinity. It evidently does not mean that one is greater when all are infinite; nor does it mean one is first in time, when all are represented as being eternal. Each one is not a part of God—each one is the whole of God. They are not what God does, they are what God is—Father, Son, and Holy spirit. The name is metaphoric. It does not mean that the Father comes first and that the Son came later. If that is so, where is the mother-god? The name Father is descriptive of character: provider, protector, etc., and that’s the reason why Jesus is also called, “Everlasting Father.” Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 1.Each one is the whole of God, because there is no God unless all are present: Father Son & Holy Spirit. They are not parts of the Trinity as parts of a body like arms and legs and eyes. You can remove any part or parts of the body, and the person still exists. This is not true in the Trinity of God, simply because each person in the Trinity is inter-dependent upon one another to exist, to work, and to act, just like when God created man with mind, body, and spirit (life-giving breath of God). 2.The “body parts” in the Bible is a metaphoric illustration of the many functions of the church of God. You will notice that even other members of the church do not work or are separated, the church does not die. It continues to live and to function with the remaining parts or members. Ephesians 4:15-16 - …Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. 3.The Trinity is always present at all times anywhere and everywhere, in heaven and on They work together at all times in perfect unity and absolute harmony, at exactly the same time, in complete and flawless unison as One God, or nothing is done. Their roles, functions, and existence are interdependent upon each other’s presence as One God, intertwined and interwoven; indivisible and inseparable in unbreakable union that is absolute, wonderful, and eternal perfection as One God, with no beginning and no end throughout a perfect eternity. Conclusion: a)Declaration of Trinity in Heaven 1John 5:7 - For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. b)Declaration of Trinity on Earth 1John 5:8 - And there are three that bear witness on earth:[a] the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. Chapter 1 The Holy Trinity 1.The word “God” in Hebrew is “Elohim.” It is singular in form, but implying more than one. Example: a dozen is, a cluster is, a group is, etc. •Genesis 1:26 – God (“Elohim” in Hebrew) said, “Let us make man in our image.” •Genesis 11:7 – God (“Elohim” in Hebrew) said “Let us go down and there confuse their language…” •Isaiah 6:8 –God (“Elohim” in Hebrew) said Who will go for us? 2.The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible. This argument cannot hold water. There are triadic verses that clearly suggest the existence of the Trinity. Please note that the word, “Bible” is not in the Bible either. The true name of God in Hebrew is YHWH (transliterated JHVH), a tetragramatton (four letter) word. They reconstructed it by adding the vowels in Adonai (Elohim), so the sacred name of God can be pronounced as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah,” but these names are not in the Bible either. Similar to Trinity, the implications are true and clearly described in the Bible. •Matthew 28:18-19 - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… •Isaiah 42:1 - “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him... •Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. •Isaiah 48:16 – I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time it was, there I am, and now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me. (God is the one speaking here, and is pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ.) •Also in Matthew 3:16-17; John 14:16, 1Peter 1:2, 1John 5:7 3.The Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are Three (3) distinct persons in One (1) eternal, indivisible, and inseparable divine nature, co-equal in power, authority, and sovereignty; co-eternal, having no beginning and no end; and co-dependent in existence upon each other’s presence, working together with one mind in absolute and perfect unity as One (1) God. The Works of the Trinity The Creation (1)The Father did it – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Gen 1:1 (2)The Son did it – “For by Him all things were created…” Col 1:16-17 (3)The Holy Spirit did it – “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created…” Psalm 104:30 “ And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters…Genesis 1:2 The Resurrection (1)The Father did it – “God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you…” Acts 3:26 (2)The Son did it – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…He was speaking of the temple of His body…(John 2:19-20)…I lay down my life that I may take it again…I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:17-18) (3)The Holy Spirit did it – “… the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead…” (Romans 8:11) The New Birth (1)The Father does it – “…He has given us new birth.” (1Peter 1:3) (2)The Son does it – ”…the Son gives life to whom He pleased.” (John 4:14; 5:21) (3)The Holy Spirit does it – “The Holy Spirit gives life.” (John 3:6, Titus 3:5; Job 33:4) Sanctification (1)The Father does it – “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father… (Jude 1) (2)The Son does it – “Jesus sanctifies those who are being sanctified…” (Hebrews 2:11) (3)The Holy Spirit does it – “…Sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:16) Prayer & Worship (1)The Father receives it – “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Matthew 4:10 God said, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3) (2)The Son receives it - God says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (John 17:5) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) (3)The Holy Spirit receives it - “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) 4.The tri-personality of God is the active works of His divine nature in undivided unity as in human nature of Mind, Body, and Life-giving Breath of God. All are members, whose existence is inter-dependent on each other’s inseparable and indivisible presence. 5.Father, Son, and Holy Spirit designates order of function and not inferiority nor superiority since they are all God, co-equal, co-eternal, and co-dependent in their existence upon each other’s presence as one God. That means no one exists without the other, and that makes Father, Son, and Holy Spirit existing as One. 6.Existence is wholly interdependent on each other. It evidently does not mean that one is First in Deity, when all are represented as God. And neither does it mean that one is Greater when all are Infinite; nor does it mean one is first in time, when all are represented as being Eternal. 7.Each one is not a part of God. Each one is the whole of God, because none exists without all present. They are not what God does as working and existing separately and independently. They are what God is—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; indivisible, inseparable, and inter-dependent on each other, working in absolute unity as One God. 8.Threefold-Being of Man is a reflection of the triune God. NATURE – The source. FATHER – The source. Unseen. Reveals itself in Unseen. Reveals Himself the person (body). in the Son. PERSON – Visible embo- SON – Visible embodi- diment of nature. Nature ment of the Father. reveals itself in the Eternally with the Father. person. Son reveals the Father. PERSONALITY – Goes HOLY SPIRIT –Goes Out, proceeds from nature out, proceeds from the thru the person. Reveals Son and Father. Reveals the person. The Son. 9.Tri-unity in the Universe is a reflection of the Holy Trinity. The Universe is trinity of trinities. All must be present or none will exist Universe = Space + Matter + Time Space = Width + Length + Breadth Matter = Motion + Energy + Motion Time = Past + Present + Future Man = Mind + Body + Breath of God Sun = Light + Heat + Matter Purple = Green + Red + Blue Triad or Trio – Each independently and separately exists and works individually with or without the knowledge of other members. Triad or Trio Hindu Triad/Trio – Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu Egyptian Triad/Trio – Osiris, Isis, and Horus Babylonian Triad/Trio – Anu, Bel, and Eva Persian Triad/ Trio – Mithras, Caustes, and Catopates Satanic Trio – Satan, Antichrist, and False Prophet 10. Origin of Trinity – Since God has no beginning and no end, we can conclude that the Trinity is uncreated, and therefore has no origin. It exists in the eternity past, present, and future. a)The opponents claim that the Trinity was a copy of the ancient triads like Brahma, Siva, and Vishnu (above). But this is absolute error. As we explained in the introduction of this lecture, that Trio or triad is not a Trinity in all respect, form, and manner. The Trinity is not and was not and never was a copy from ancient trio or triad like the deception of religious cults (Jehovah Witnesses, Iglesia Ni Cristo, Mormons, etc, etc.) b)Ancient trios or triads are satanic counterfeit of the Holy Trinity. Their origin is demonic, promoted and inspired by Satan. He is a counterfeiter and father of lies. c)Trios and triads were man-made invention and pigment of imagination of myths and legends of gods and goddesses. They were statues made of stone, wood, metal, plaster, etc. Do not be afraid of them. Psalm 115:4-8 - Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell; they have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. THE COMPLETE BOOK ON TRINITY IS RECORDED IN A CD. I NEED YOUR ADDRESS TO SEND THE CD OR YOUR EMAIL VIA INTERNET. LOVE, BRO. BERT Next Study: The Deity of Christ
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 22:13:31 +0000
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