QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE GODHEAD / CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE TRINITY?
The word Trinity is not in the Bible, but the doctrine of the Trinity is plainly taught in God’s Word. When we speak of the Trinity, we mean there are three distinct persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – yet there is only one God. When we say these three are one, we do not mean that they are numerically one, but that they are one in mind, purpose, will, and unity. A husband and wife are one flesh, but they are still two distinct persons. Christ prayed that His people should be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:21). Certainly, Christ was not praying for His people to be numerically one but one in body, as we read in Acts 4:32: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul….”
Let us consider the following Scripture which proves that the Trinity is made up of three persons. Genesis 1:26 says: “Let us make man in our image…” Certainly God was not talking to Himself. Had He been addressing Himself, He would have said, “I will make man in my image.” Instead, He said, “Let us make man in our image.” He was therefore addressing the Son and the Holy Spirit by saying “us” and “our” (Genesis 11:7). Trinity is also expressed in verse 26 of this same chapter: “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 things that I sent to you.” We learn from these Scriptures that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, glory, and all the attributes of Deity, yet each of them has a separate work to perform.
In Christ’s last heart-to-heart talk with His disciples, He spoke these words of encouragement: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Holy Spirit) that He may abide with you forever (John 14:16).”
Another verse that you can literally base the entire doctrine of the Trinity on is: 1 John 5:7 that states, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one.”
There is also a clear-cut passage in the Old Testament that speaks of the Trinity and it’s in Isaiah 48:12-15. In this passage we find the speaker who identifies Himself as being the first and the last and the Creator of all that exists. Then in verse 16 this Creator of all that exists says that He was sent by the Lord Jehovah and by the Spirit, as well. “… From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit have sent Me.” Me – a reference to the reincarnate Christ, who is here associated with the Lord God and the Spirit, giving us an Old Testament glimpse of the Trinity. Yes, these verses clearly contain three Persons: the speaker, who is the Creator of Heaven and earth (the Son); the Lord Jehovah (the Father); and the Holy Spirit.
DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT REALY TEACH THAT THE MESIAH (CHRIST) WOULD BE GOD AND MAN AT THE SAME TIME?
Yes. There are two clear passages which speak of the Messiah as being both God and man. In Isaiah 9:6-7 we are told that “a child is born” and “a son is given.” This speaks of the humanity of the Messiah. The passage then goes on to say that His name will be “the mighty God and the everlasting Father.” Another passage is found in Jeremiah 23:5-6 where the Messiah is pictured as a descendant of David and is also called “the Lord our righteousness.”
WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit places us in the Body of Christ and makes Christ and the believer one. When you read 1 Corinthians 12:13 you will find that we are baptized by the Holy Spirit the moment we are born again or born from above: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Since the Day of Pentecost every person who has been saved has been baptized into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BEFORE AND AFTER PENTECOST?
Before Pentecost, the Spirit of God came upon people. But He did not indwell them. Please read Numbers 11:25, 24:2; Judges 6:34; Exodus 31:3, and you will understand something of the work of the Holy Spirit in Old Testament times. Remember David prayed that the Holy Spirit would not be taken from him: “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me (Psalms 51:11).”
In John 14:17, Jesus spoke of the new work of the Spirit. He said, “The Holy Spirit now dwells with you; but in the future He shall be in you.” Today, the Holy Spirit dwells in the body of every saved person from the moment of their salvation (1 Cor. 6:19; Rom. 8:9; John 7:37-39).
WOULD IT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE FOR JESUS TO SIN WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL?
No. Christ could not have sinned for two reasons: First, because every step that He took was ordered by His Father in Heaven (John 8:28-29). Jesus refused to take Himself out of His Father’s hands. Second, if Christ could have sinned, then God could have sinned, because our Lord was God manifest in the flesh (John 1:1, 14). We know that God cannot sin, or even be tempted by evil (James 1:13).
Of course, that brings up the question: “Then, why the temptation?” The temptation was not intended to determine whether Jesus could have sinned, but to prove beyond a doubt that He was indeed the Sinless One. We read in Hebrews 4:15, where we are told, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness, but was in all points tempted, yet without sin.” Anyone who has resisted a temptation knows that it is much more difficult to resist than it is to give in. What a comfort it is to know that Jesus has walked where we walk yet has withstood all tests – without sin.
WHAT IS THE UNPARDONABLE SIN OR BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The answer to the question is found in Mark 3:29-30: “But he who blasphemies against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation – because they said, he has an unclean spirit.” To accuse the Holy Spirit of God being the unclean spirit of Satan – this is the unpardonable sin. In these verses, the Lord pronounced the doom of the scribes who were guilty of the unpardonable sin. In accusing Jesus of casting out demons by demonic power, when it was actually by the power of the Holy Spirit that He did it, they in effect called the Holy Spirit a demon. This is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. All kinds of sin can be forgiven, but this particular sin has no forgiveness. It is an eternal sin. Can people commit this sin today? Probably not. It was a sin committed when Jesus was on earth performing miracles. Since He is not physically on earth today, casting out demons, the same possibility of blaspheming the Holy Spirit does not exist. People who worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin have not done so. The very fact that they are concerned indicates that they are not guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE EXPRESSION, “ONLY BEGOTTEN SON” (JOHN 3:16)
The word “only begotten” in the Greek text means “the unique One” or “the only One of His kind.” It reveals the pre-existence of Jesus as the Son of God. He was not a created being, but He was with God, and He was God (John 1:1).
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE MEAN WHEN IT SPEAKS OF JESUS BEING “IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER?”
In Scripture, the word “bosom” is used in a figurative sense and means “a place of blessedness.” Thus, Paradise is called “Abraham’s bosom” in Luke 16:22-23. Our Lord’s eternal and essential relationship with God the Father, in all its blessedness and affection, is intimated in the phrase: “. … the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father… (John 1:18).”
WHO IS GREATER, GOD OR CHRIST?
As to position, God is the head of Christ; but as to greatness, God and Christ are equal (compare first Corinthians 11:3 with Philippians 2:6).
AFTER THE RESURRECTION, WHY DID JESUS TELL MARY NOT TO TOUCH HIM (JOHN20:17)?
The word “touch” here means to cling, and what Jesus really said to Mary was this: “Do not cling to me tenaciously, for I am not yet ascended.” What Mary and the disciples had to learn was that of necessity there must be a new relationship between the risen Lord and His blood-bought brethren. From now on they must walk with Him spiritually, not physically. As yet, Mary Magdalene knew Christ only after the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16); now she must come to know Him as her great High Priest. And in order to be her High Priest He would first have to ascend to the right hand of God the Father.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED OF A BROKEN HEART?
No. Jesus died from a broken body. Although our Lord suffered mental torment on the cross, it was the blood He shed that caused His death. Actually, Jesus died a voluntary death. He said, “… I lay down My life… No one takes it from Me… (John 10:17-18).” It is unscriptural to say that Christ died of a broken heart. It would be better to say He died with a broken heart, because His heart was broken even before His death (Psalm 69:20).
WILL WE SEE ALL THREE MEMBERS OF THE TRINITY WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN?
I have to tell you that a lot of scholars are divided on the subject. Some suggest that Christ is the only member of the Godhead who will be visible to our eyes. Now, it is clear to everyone that Jesus Christ will be seen in heaven but there is much debate about the other two members of the Trinity – God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Some scholars say “no” for the simple reason that God the Father has no body; He has no physical form and the same is true of the Holy Spirit. They say that in Revelation 4:3-6 it gives us a description of heaven and the throne that is occupied by God and by the Lamb: the one sitting there has the appearance of jasper and sardius stone in appearance, so God here is seen described in terms of the reflected brilliance of precious stones – the glory of God. They say because of God’s holiness, it may be that we will never be able to look upon His face, but again, this is speculation.
The Holy Spirit, by the very nature of His being, is able to move at will and take various forms. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:13-17). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was accompanied by a loud rushing noise and was seen as tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4). Some people say it may not be possible to see the Holy Spirit unless He chooses to manifest Himself in some form, but there again that is speculation. Others read Revelation 22: 3-4 which appears to indicate, “They shall see His face and His name shall be on their foreheads.” In addition, Jesus said in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This would indicate believers will see God the Father in heaven. Acts 7:55 also makes it clear we will at least see the “glory of God.” However, it is unclear if we will literally see Him in any physical form or whether we will only see the reflection of His glory. While the Bible reveals some details about the final resting place of the believer, not all details are known. It is likely God the Father will be seen, though it is uncertain whether it will be His physical form or His glory. God the Son will be seen and worshipped in heaven. The Holy Spirit will be present in heaven as well, though He operates as Spirit and may or may not take on a visible form to believers in heaven.
In closing, I’d like to say that there are many things that we cannot comprehend with our finite minds but personally I think that we will see God, including all three Persons of the Triune God, in some form or other, when we get to heaven.
Oscar Leske
Understanding the Signs of the Times