The Holy Trinity of God

The Holy Trinity of God
Science tells us that light is constituted of three primary rays, or groups of wavelengths. Clearly distinct from each other, none of them without the others could be light. Each ray has its own separate function. The first originates, the second illuminates, and the third consummates. The first ray, often called invisible light, is neither seen nor felt. The second is both seen and felt. The third is not seen but is felt as heat.

Like light, our “One God” is revealed in the three distinct persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7 NKJV).
Trinity not in the Bible
The trinity is a very misunderstood topic and one that many have a lot of trouble comprehending. Many will say that the Bible does not use the word trinity which is true. It is a contraction of the words “tri” which means three and divinity which means God. The word trinity was introduced by Tertullian, one of the early Church fathers to define the teaching concerning the Godhead. While the Bible does not use the word trinity, it is technically still correct, but since the Bible uses the word Godhead, if you don’t like the word trinity, use the word Godhead, which still says that God is three in one, i.e. Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Highest Subject
Few doctrinal subjects have generated more passionate debate among Christians than the theme of the trinity. Churches have split and wars have even been fought over the issues that surround the nature of the Godhead.
Perplexity over God’s nature is not new. Since creation, man has diligently sought to understand and explain Him. In the book of Job, Zophar uttered the cry of each human heart when he declared, “Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do deeper than hell; what canst thou know.” Job 11:7-8.
John Wesley adds, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the triune God!”
The study of God is without rival; the highest subject any mortal can ever even attempt to approach or contemplate. Because God defines Himself as everlasting and the ultimate power, presence, and knowledge, this field of study is deeper, wider, and broader than any other.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9. Finite human minds will never be able to fully understand everything about the eternal God, anymore than we can jump to the stars with our feeble legs. Therefore, we need to approach this mystery shrouding His person with a large measure of barefoot reverence and deep humility. Like Moses, when he came into God’s presence, we must take off our shoes, “for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5. By laying aside our preconceived ideas, opinions and sectarian training, we can go directly to God’s Word and learn what He has chosen to reveal about Himself. But remember, only God can fully understand God, so even after the most diligent research, we may still have some unanswered questions that will prove to be a fruitful field of study even throughout the eons of eternity.
One Big Problem
“But wait,” someone says. “If the Bible teaches that there is only one God, then how can God be composed of three persons.” Scripture unequivocally declares that there is only one God. For more than 3,000 years, Jews have repeated Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” This sacred passage is called the shema (named after the Hebrew for its first word) and has been held in high esteem and memorized by devout Jews for centuries.
Isaiah records the testimony of God concerning Himself. “Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. … Is there a God beside me yea, there is no God; I know not any.” Isaiah 44:6, 8. Jesus also taught about “the only true God” (John 17:3) and Paul wrote, “There is one God.” 1 Timothy 2:5.
While most believers agree with this core truth, a heated debate over its deeper implication has raged throughout Church history. Does this mean that there is one person who has three different titles Or are there three separate persons who mysteriously morph into one being Is Jesus merely a good man, a creation to redeem us, and only the Father is God Still others hold that the Father and Son are indeed God but the Holy Spirit is only the impersonal force that does their bidding. Each of these conflicting ideas has attracted its loyal followers. Let’s examine the basis for these views and compare them with the Bible.
Only Jesus
In the 3rd century, Sabellius, a Libyan priest living in Rome, taught that God is a single person with different titles; known as modalism. Thus, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit represent different hats or titles that God wears, depending on how He wishes to communicate with man at the time. It’s akin to water, which can take on the form of a solid, liquid, or gas.
However, they are not three roles played by one person. The Church recognized Sabellius’ ideas as contrary to Bible teaching, and he was quickly excommunicated. Yet he still has adherents today in what is commonly known as the “Oneness” or “Jesus Only” doctrine. The Jesus Only teaching claims that Jesus Christ is not only the Son, but also the Father and the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 9:6, in which the Messiah (or the promised Son) is called “The everlasting Father,” is used to provide biblical support for this belief.
The Oneness doctrine, however, overlooks the fact that the Son came to earth to reveal the true character of God the Father to a world groping in spiritual blindness. Jesus prayed to His Father in Gethsemane, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.” John 17:5-6. Jesus is the only one who could reveal the Father, because He is the express image of the Father (Luke 10:22; Hebrews 1:3).
Thus when the disciples asked Christ what the Father was like, He could say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9. Jesus so mirrored the character of the Father that He perfectly reflected Him, hence the title “The Everlasting Father.” Another reason Jesus is called the Everlasting Father is because this world and everything in it was created through Christ. So in a very real sense, Jesus is our father (Hebrews 1:2; John 1:3).
Isaiah 9:6 is the only place in the Bible where Jesus is called the Father. Keep in mind that Jesus also calls Himself the Son of man, our brother, our shepherd, our friend, and our priest. To build a doctrine on one Scripture is as foolish as building a house on top of a single fence post. The Bible physically separates the Father and the Son repeatedly. While Christ was on earth, He referred to His Father in heaven, “My Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32. He always directed His prayers heavenward to the Father and stated that the Father had His own individual will; “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46. Then after He died and rose again, He ascended to “the right hand of God.” Romans 8:34. This indicates the Father has a separate presence.
In fact, Jesus said that He wasn’t the Father more than 80 times. While always remaining one in purpose and origin, Jesus and the Father are clearly separate and distinct persons. And on more than one occasion, the Father spoke to Jesus from heaven. “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.” Matthew 3:17 NKJV. Either Jesus and the Father are two separate individual persons, or Jesus was an expert ventriloquist.
Is Jesus Fully God
Another group questions whether Jesus actually possesses all the characteristics of the Eternal God. They stem from Arius, a 4th century Alexandrian priest, who had a different take on God. He taught that prior to making anything else, God created a son who was neither equal to, nor coeternal with, the Father. According to this idea, called Arianism, Jesus Christ is a supernatural creature, but He is neither fully human nor fully divine. Still others embrace a more immature version of this doctrine, holding that back in the dawn of time, God the Father had some form of cosmic intimate relations with the Holy Spirit and Jesus was the product. They reason, “How else can you call Him the Son.”
However, these concepts are totally contrary to the teaching of the New Testament in which Jesus is revealed as the Eternal Creator and not a created being (John 1:1–4). As we compare Scripture definitions for God with the Bible record of Jesus, we see the characteristics of Jehovah are also ascribed to Jesus. Note these powerful examples:
He is self-existent (John 1:1–4; 14:6); only God is self-existent (Psalms 90:2).
Jesus defines Himself as eternal. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).
He is, and has, eternal life (1 John 5:11, 12, 20).
He is all-powerful (Revelation 1:8).
He created all things (John 1:3). “In the beginning God created the heaven and the
Earth.” Genesis 1:1. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16 NKJV.
The Father even calls Jesus God. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” Hebrews 1:8.
Jesus is able to forgive sin (Luke 5:20-21); The Bible says only God can forgive sin (Isaiah 43:25).
Jesus accepted worship that according to the Ten Commandments is reserved only for the Almighty (Matthew 14:33). “And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘All hail.’ And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.” Matthew 28:9. Upon seeing the risen Saviour, the converted sceptic, Thomas, confessed, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:26–29.
Even the angels worship Jesus. “And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Hebrews 1:6.
The Scriptures also teach that only God knows the thoughts of a man’s heart (1 Kings 8:39). Yet Jesus consistently knew what people were thinking, “for he knew what was in man.” John 2:25. “Nathanael said to Him, ‘How do You know me’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you’.” John 1:48 NKJV.
Through the Spirit, Jesus is omnipresent. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 NKJV. “For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:10 NKJV.
He has power to give life, and even resurrected Himself. “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” John 10:18. “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25.
Therefore, by considering the primary definitions of God, and seeing that Jesus fits every one of those definitions, obviously, Jesus must be eternal God.
His Enemies Knew
Even Jesus’ enemies understood and recognized His claim of equality with the Father God. When He boldly proclaimed, “I and my Father are one,” Jewish leaders were outraged and sought to execute Him. They understood unequivocally that Jesus was claiming to be God Himself. “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” John 10:30, 33.
The Jews even attempted to stone Christ when He assumed the self-existent title of Jehovah used at the burning bush. Jesus said to them, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” John 8:58 NKJV.
The Jews understood that Jesus claimed equality with God, when He said “‘My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.’ Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, … but said also that God was his Father, making Himself equal with God.” John 5:17-18.
There are only three conclusions one can derive from reading these passages. First, Jesus was insane when He made these outrageous claims. Second, He was a liar. These are unacceptable options. The third possibility is that He uttered a sublime truth. For a Christian who accepts the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross, the third option is the only tenable one. Otherwise, a liar or delusional man could not be righteous enough to be our Saviour.
Medieval Error
Probably the most widely held Christian view of God is known as the “trinity.” This popular belief teaches that the Godhead consists of three distinct persons who have existed together from eternity past and are named the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Each one possesses original, underived, and unborrowed life. They are all equally God and are one in nature, character, and purpose. They are not three “gods,” but one God in a combination of the three distinct persons.
Some have implicated trinitarianism as heresy because they claim the wayward medieval Church was the culprit to first introduce it. In fact, to distance themselves from the Catholic version of the trinity, many Protestant leaders from the 19th century preferred the more biblical term “Godhead” when referring to the triune God.
However, just because an apostate Church believes in the trinity, or any other doctrine for that matter, does not automatically make it unbiblical. The converse is also true. A position is not accurate just because some of the early Church leaders advocated it. Even the Apostles misunderstood the nature of Jesus’ first coming. Doctrinal validity must be based on biblical authority and not upon whom advocates it or rejects it.
The Old Testament was written long before the existence of the Christian Church, apostate or true, and it teaches there are three persons in the Godhead. In Isaiah, the Redeemer, which is Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Galatians 4:4-5), declares the “Lord God and His Spirit” are responsible for sending Him on His mission of redemption (Isaiah 48:16-17 NKJV).
Some think that because the word “trinity” (derived from the Latin word trinitas, meaning “threeness”) is not found in the Bible, the concept of a triune God cannot be right. However, even though the word “millennium,” meaning one thousand years, does not appear in Revelation 20, we use it to describe earth’s 1,000 year rest after Jesus’ return. A teaching is not any less true simply because an extra-biblical word is used to define what is clearly a biblical teaching. This goes for the trinity, second coming, investigative judgment, and a host of other concise terms for doctrines.
One God, Three Persons
The names of God reveal attributes of His nature. God has a long-established habit of using various names to describe a person’s character. Jacob earned his name that means “swindler” when he practiced deception to steal his father’s blessing away from his brother Esau (Genesis 27:35-36). At his conversion, Jacob wrestled with the angel and insisted on the blessing of God. Then his name was changed to “Israel,” which means “a prince with God.” Genesis 32:26–28.
Likewise, the names for God found in Genesis and elsewhere tell us volumes about our Creator. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:26. The Hebrew word here for God is Elohim. It is a plural noun that is used more than 2,700 times in the Old Testament. This means that inspired authors preferred to use Elohim about 10 times more than the singular form “El” when they described God. Even in the Old Testament book of Daniel, we see a picture of the Father and the Son as two separate persons. “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.” Daniel 7:13. The Son of man, Jesus, is seen coming before the Ancient of Days; who is, obviously, God the Father.
The New Testament writings are sprinkled with this concept of one God with three united, fully divine persons. The apostle Paul wrote that there were three divine persons: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4–6.
Paul frequently referred to the three separate persons of the Godhead. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14.
Revelation opens by introducing the three persons of the Godhead. “From the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelation 1:4–6 NKJV.
In addition, we clearly see three distinct persons at the baptism of Jesus. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17.
If Jesus is the only person in the Godhead, where did the voice come from that declared, “This is my beloved Son.” Did He trisect Himself into a voice from heaven, the dove wafting down through the sky, and His body on the bank of the river? No. This was not simply a clever act of holy smoke and mirrors, but rather a regal reunion revealing the truth of the trinity. And on top of this, it is through the shared authority of these three persons that we are commissioned to baptize. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19.
Unity or Quantity
Most of the confusion regarding the number of beings composing the Godhead springs from a simple misunderstanding of the word “one.” Simply put, “one” in the Bible does not always mean numerical quantity. Depending on the Scripture, “one” can often mean unity.
We see this principle established very early in Scripture. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24. “One flesh” here does not mean that a married couple melt into one human after their wedding, but rather they are to be united into one family. Jesus prayed that the apostles would be one, saying, “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one.” John 17:22-23.
We need to keep in mind that when Moses said, “The Lord is one,” Israel was surrounded with polytheistic nations that worshiped many gods that were constantly involved in petty bickering and rivalry (Deuteronomy 6:4), whereas the God who created is composed of three separate beings who are perfectly united in their mission of saving and sustaining their creatures. As the Spirit is executing the will of both the Father and Son, it is His will also.
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7. Granted, it is a brain exercise to grasp that one God (“He”) is also, and equally, “They.” Like one rope with three united strands, the three persons of the Father, Son, and Spirit make up the one God.
God Manifested in Nature
Though there is nothing in this world that adequately illustrates God, Paul declares the “invisible things of him from the creation of the world” can help us understand “his eternal power and Godhead.” Romans 1:20. The truth that God is a “tri-unity” of two invisible persons (Father and Spirit) and one visible person (Jesus) is evident even in creation.
The universe is composed of three structures: space, matter, and time. Of these three, only matter is visible. Space requires length, height, and width to constitute space. Each dimension is separate and distinct in itself, yet the three form space; f you remove height, you no longer have space. Time is also a tri-unity of past, present, and future. Two are invisible (past and future), and one visible (present). Each is separate and distinct, as well as essential for time to exist. Man is also a “tri-unity,” having physical, mental, and spiritual components. Again, two are invisible (mental and spiritual) and one visible (physical). Cells compose the fundamental structural unit of all living organisms. All organic life is made up from cells that consist of three primary parts: the outer wall, the cytoplasm, and the nucleus (like the shell, white, and yoke of an egg). If any one is removed, the cell dies.
In each of these examples, the removal of any one component results in the demise of the whole. In like manner, the Godhead contains three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each is God (Ephesians 4:6; Titus 2:13; Acts 5:3-4), yet there is one God. The removal of one person destroys the unity of the whole.
Even the gospel story illustrates the interdependency of threes. The sanctuary had three places: the Courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. There are three stages of salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification. In Isaiah 6:3, the angels around God’s throne cry “Holy, Holy, Holy” three times; once for the Father, once for the Son, and once for the Holy Spirit.
The Source of Misunderstanding
Almost all of the Scriptures used by those who reject the trinity to portray Jesus as a “lesser god” spring from a basic failure to understand the incarnation. Jesus, God the Son, laid aside or veiled the full dimension of His divinity when He came to earth. How else could He live as God among men.
“God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3.
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8.
We also clearly see that before and after His incarnation, Jesus beams again with undimmed divine glory. “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:5. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour.” Hebrews 2:9.
If God the Son had not veiled His glory when He came to earth, man could not have endured His brilliant presence, much less learned from His example.
Who Outranks Whom
Let us now venture a little deeper onto sacred ground. As we consider the mysteries of the Godhead, we notice that there seems to be an order of authority concerning the three persons in the trinity. Keep in mind that while all three are the same in properties and attributes, and equal in power and glory, it appears that the Father is recognized as the ultimate authority. “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” 1 Corinthians 3:23. “But I would have you know, that … the head of Christ is God.” 1 Corinthians 11:3. The Son constantly receives His glory, power, throne, and prerogatives as Judge from the Father (John 3:35; John 5:22). Indeed, it was God the Father that “gave” the Son. In fact, while it might not be wrong, we are never told to pray to Jesus or the Spirit, but instead to the Father in the name of the Son. Yet just because the Father seems to have supreme authority, it does not in any way diminish from the divinity of Jesus and the Spirit. That would be like saying that a corporal is less of a soldier than a sergeant.
Among the three members of the Godhead, we do not see a clamouring for pre-eminence, vying for recognition, or revelling in power. Instead, the exact opposite is true. In fact, the Father, Son, and Spirit always seem to be trying to out give and glorify each other. The Father wants to glorify the Son. The Son lives to glorify the Father, and the Spirit lives to glorify the Father and Son (John 17:1, 5; John 16:14; John 13:31-32).
A Friend or Force
It would be a mistake to leave this sublime subject without addressing an additional distortion to the teaching of the trinity. Another class of sincere Christians believes that while the Father and Son are truly distinct persons, they only see the Holy Spirit as a cosmic force or essence; an impersonal power conduit or vehicle to do the bidding of the Father and Son.
We can appreciate why the Holy Spirit seems to be the hardest member of the Godhead to visualize and define. Sometimes He is called the Holy Ghost, which leaves people with a “spooky” image. The Scriptures compare Him to everything from wind and fire, to a dove, water, and even a defence attorney!
But as we consider the various features of the Holy Spirit, we can quickly see He has all the credentials of a separate and distinct, intelligent, individual being.
The Holy Spirit leads and guides. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13 NKJV. It’s true that a map or GPS can lead you, but no one calls a map “he.” It would have been very easy for Jesus to simply say, “When it comes,” but Jesus called the Holy Spirit “He” more than 15 times. Why would God go to so much trouble to personify His own inherent power to the extent that it possessed emotions, thoughts, and speech independent of Himself.
The Holy Spirit also comforts. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” John 14:16. I have never seen a lonely child run to a vacuum cleaner for an embrace; only intelligent beings can offer comfort. Jesus promised before His ascension that He was sending another helper; paraclete is the Greek word that signifies a multi-sided personal ministry as counsellor, consoler advocate, helper, comforter, ally, and supporter (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15). These are all traits that usually belong to a person or friend. If the Holy Spirit is merely God’s active force, then John 16:7-8 is nonsense: “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has comes, He will convict the world.” It is obvious from this text that the Holy Spirit would be more personally present after Jesus ascended. If the Holy Spirit is mere energy, there is simply no explanation or logic to why He would not come unless Jesus left.
The Holy Spirit can even be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). Cars have many unique characteristics and idiosyncrasies. At times, they might even seem to have a “personality.” But motor vehicles cannot be grieved. Nor can they speak, as the Holy Spirit does. “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot’.” Acts 8:29. Computer programs exist that can reproduce speech, but they cannot create inspired thought. The Holy Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).
We also read in Revelation 1:4, 5, a prayer for grace and peace from the Father, the Spirit, and Jesus Christ. We must ask, would John have put the Spirit between the Father and the Son if he had not regarded the Spirit as a divine intelligence in the same sense as they are.
If the Holy Spirit is simply some divine force, then why is it even more offensive to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, and even more fatal, than speaking against the Son “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:31-32 NKJV. By definition, blasphemy is “a contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing against God.” By this simple deduction, the Holy Spirit must be God! This is also why Peter said that to lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God (Acts 5:3-4).
The Holy Spirit can be a witness (Hebrews 10:15). In any court of the world, only living beings can be called witnesses. Finally, the Holy Spirit is said to have His own mind (Romans 8:27).
We can clearly see the Holy Spirit is not simply a force, but the third divine person of the Godhead. Though a spirit, He has all the characteristics of a person and individual. The Spirit is plainly portrayed as a being who speaks, teaches, guides, makes choices, witnesses, comforts, and can be grieved. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14 NKJV.
Love at Calvary
The truth of the triune God can also be found in the gospel itself. In essence, when we consider John, we read that God the Father so loved the world that He sent God the Son that we might be born of God the Spirit (John 3:8, 13, 16-17).
But it is especially on Golgotha’s hill that the doctrine of the trinity explodes with meaning and becomes more than denominational jousting. Before earth’s creation, the triune God discussed the potential of man’s rebellion and fall. Through the lens of divine foreknowledge, He saw the terror that sin’s rape of the world would cause. And there, before man was formed, it was decided that Jesus would leave the throne of heaven and become humanity’s substitute. Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:19-20).
If Jesus was merely a created super being, then His death for man’s redemption is no better than an angel dying for us. If Christ is not deity itself, then any angel or sinless created being could have served the purpose. This would have virtually sustained Satan’s charge that God is selfish by demonstrating that He is only willing to sacrifice His creation and not Himself.
A Tearing at the Trinity
Another point to consider is that sin causes separation from the Creator (Isaiah 59:2). The iniquities of the human race were placed upon the Son of God (Isaiah 53:6). When Jesus hung on the cross, suffering for our sins, every fibre of His being was torn as the eternal relationship with His Father and Spirit was ripped apart. In agony He cried out, “My God [for the Father], my God [for the Spirit], why hast thou forsaken me.” Matthew 27:46. If there had been only one person in the Godhead, there would not have been this excruciating pain of separation to wring the life out of the heart of Jesus.
The real risk in the redemption plan, besides the loss of man, was the break-up of the Godhead. Had Jesus sinned, He would have been working at cross purposes with the Spirit and His Father. Omnipotent good would have been pitted against omnipotent evil. What would have happened to the rest of creation Whom would the unfallen universe see as right One sin could have sent the Godhead and the universe spinning into cosmic chaos; the proportions of this disaster are staggering. Yet the Godhead was still willing to take this fragmenting risk for the salvation of man. This reveals the depth of God’s amazing love.
Conclusion
Augustine, that great man of God, was once walking on the shore of an ocean while greatly perplexed about the doctrine of the trinity. As he meditated, he observed a little boy with a seashell running back and forth from the waters edge, filling his shell, and then pouring it into a crab hole in the sand. “What are you doing, my little man” asked Augustine.
“Oh,” replied the boy, “I am trying to put all the ocean out there in this hole.” Augustine had learned his lesson.
As he passed on, Augustine said, “That is what I am trying to do; I see it now. Standing on the shores of time, I am trying to get into this little finite mind things which are infinite.” Likewise, let us be content to let God know some things that we cannot yet know.
It would be pompous and preposterous to pretend that we understand everything about God. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33. If we could completely unpack Him like cracking some genetic code, He would cease to be God.
Nevertheless, there is much about God that is revealed for our blessing. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever.” Deuteronomy 29:29. What is revealed is that this teaching of the trinity must be important to God. The ministry of Jesus both begins and ends with an emphasis on the three persons in the Godhead. The Father, Son, and Spirit are present at Jesus’ baptism and when He ascends to heaven. Jesus commanded His followers to baptize in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The testimony of Scripture indicates that the Godhead can neither be separated into three Gods nor merged into one person. This three-in-one not only created us, but they love us and devised an amazing plan to save a lost world from sin to restore us to His presence in paradise.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14.

The Name and Names of God

The Name and Names of God
A man stopped at the bar in the Los Angeles airport to “relax” for a few minutes before catching his plane. Then, realizing he had lost track of time, the man raced out of the bar and quickly asked directions for the departing gate to Oakland. After hurrying through a maze of terminals, he handed the flight attendant his ticket and scurried onto the plane just as it was about to depart. After storing his briefcase, the weary traveler slumped into his seat and drifted off to sleep. When he awoke two hours later and examined his watch, the man wondered why the one hour flight was taking so long. To his horror, he discovered that instead of boarding the plane for Oakland, Calif., he was on his way to Auckland, New Zealand! Because someone had confused Auckland with Oakland, that man had to endure a 22 hour round trip flight.
The Name and Names of God
Humorous things have happened because someone mispronounced a name. There was a person who was flying from Australia to the Dulles airport in Washington, D.C. However, he got confused and ended up in Dallas, Texas. Most of us try to avoid this type of confusion, but others actually promote it! Perhaps you have heard of the “Lear Jet”? Well, the Lear family named their daughter Chanda Lear. Another person I know had a friend named Jerry Mellow who named his son Marshall. Can you imagine growing up with the name Marshall Mellow?

A Holy Name
While people’s names can be very funny or even fascinating, the holy name of God should never be taken irreverently. “Hallowed be thy name,” Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 6:9.

The Bible also teaches that the name of Jesus is to be respected far above every earthly name. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.

Israel had a great reverence for God’s name, perhaps because the Mosaic Law taught that those who disrespected God’s name must pay the ultimate price (Leviticus 24:16). The name of God was so sacred to the ancient Jewish scribes that they used a special pen to write the name of God as they reproduced the Scriptures. Each time they came to the name of God, they would set down the regular pen and pick up a pen that was used only for writing God’s name. After saying a prayer, they would write God’s name with the designated pen and then resume their work.

On the contrary, most of the secular world and even many within the church have no concept of how offensive it is to heaven when we employ the name of God carelessly. One author put it this way: “Angels are displeased and disgusted with the irreverent manner in which the name of God, the great Jehovah, is sometimes used in prayer. They mention that name with the greatest awe, even veiling their faces when they speak the name of God; the name of Christ also is sacred, and is spoken with the greatest reverence. And those who in their prayers use the name of God in a common and flippant manner have no sense of the exalted character of God, of Christ, or of heavenly things.”

Controversial Subject
The subject of God’s name remains one of the most confusing and disputed issues in Christianity. This is partly because God has many names in Scripture. Each serves as an important key in disclosing His doctrine, character, power, holiness and desired relationship with His people.

When the name “El” is used as a compound name, it is generally associated or used to show some power or attribute of God in relation to His creation or creatures.

Following is a general list of Elohistic names of God (as they appear in the original text):

El The singular form for deity, which means “to be strong, powerful, mighty.” It is used of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Elohim A plural form for deity. Used about 2500 times in the Old Testament. It is used in Genesis 1:26 where the Bible says, “And God said, Let us make man in our image.” This name is frequently used to support the truth of the trinity.
El-Elyon (Numbers 24:16), which means “the Most High God” or “the Exalted One”
El-Roi (Genesis 16:13-14), which means “God who sees me” or “God of vision”
El-Shaddai (Genesis 17:1-2), which means “the Almighty God.”
El-Olam (Genesis 21:33; Psalms 90:2), which means “God of eternity” or “God, the Everlasting One”
El-Berith (2 Chronicles 34:32), which means “God of the covenant”
El-Beth-El (Genesis 31:13; 35:7 which means ‘God of the house of God”
El-Elohe-Israel (Genesis 33:20) which means “God of the prince of God”
Eloah (Deuteronomy 32:15; Daniel 2:11) which means “The one God” (Deuteronomy 32:15
El-Gibbor (Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 32:18-19) which means “The mighty or great God”
Elohim-Elyon (Psalms 91:1-2; 78:56) which means “God, the most high”
Elohim-Saboath (Psalms 80:7, 14) which means “God of Hosts”
Adon or Adonai (Psalms 147:5; 86:12) Master, Owner or Masters, Owners, Ruler of all
Immanu-El (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) which means God with us
Jesus also has many names in the Scriptures. Here are just a few of them below:

Son of Man Son of God Son of Righteousness
The Branch The Vine The Root of David
The Door The Way The Living Water
The Life The Bread The Lamb of God
The Truth The Word The Faithful Witness
The “I AM” The Amen The First and Last
Alpha & Omega King of Kings Good Shepherd


In addition, Isaiah 9:6 says of the Messiah, “And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

What Is the “Correct” Name of God?
The word so often translated “LORD” in the Scriptures is a Biblical enigma. Nobody seems exactly sure how to pronounce that word. It is a combination of four Hebrew consonants, YHWH or JHVH, which is known as the Tetragrammaton. YHWH, meaning “self-existent or eternal one,” is God’s most common Hebrew name and is found about 6,823 times in the Authorized Version. Reverence for the divine name led to the practice of avoiding its use lest one should break the third commandment (Exodus 20:7). In time it was thought that the divine name was too holy to pronounce at all. Thus the practice arose of using the word “Adonai,” which means “Lord.” Many translations of the Bible followed this practice. In most English translations, YHWH is substituted with the word “LORD” in capital letters.

Over the course of centuries, the correct pronunciation of YHWH was lost. Jewish scholars in the Middle Ages developed a system of symbols placed beneath and beside the consonants to indicate the missing vowels. YHWH appeared with the vowels from “Adonai” to remind them to say “Adonai” when reading the text aloud. A Latinized form was pronounced “Jehovah,” but it was actually not a real word at all. Most scholars today believe that YHWH was probably pronounced Yahweh.

The Redemptive or Jehovahistic Names of God
Jehovah is the “I AM THAT I AM.” It signifies “to be,” or “I will be all that I will be.” It tells us that God is the Eternal, the Unchanged and Unchanging One, and He will be all that He is ever needed to be. These compound names are always linked with some need of man, and it is here that Jehovah will be all that His people ever need Him to be.

The following is a list of the most common redemptive names of God:

Jehovah (Yahweh, or Lord) – I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14-15) “I will be what I will be.” The Self-Existent One revealing Himself to man in redemptive purpose. (Malachi 3:6)
Jehovah-Elohim – The Lord God, the Redeemer-Creator (Genesis 2:4)
Jah – Abbreviated form of Jehovah (Exodus 15:2; 17:16; Psalms 68:4)
Jehovah-Elohim-Saboath – Lord God of Hosts. That is, of the hosts of heaven, creation and creatures. (Psalms 84:8; Jeremiah 15:16)
Adonai-Jehovah-Saboath – Master Lord of Hosts. (Psalms 69:6) Adon is singular for Master and translated Lord in Old Testament. Adonai is plural for the same.
Jah-Elohim – Lord God (Psalms 68:18)
Jah-Jehovah – Lord Jehovah (for double emphasis) (Isaiah 12:2; 26:4)
Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14)
Jehovah-Rapha – The Lord that heals (Exodus 15:26)
Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord my Banner (Exodus 17:15)
Jehovah-Kanna – The Lord who is jealous (Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:9)
Jehovah-Mekaddeskum – The Lord who sanctifies (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8)
Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24)
Jehovah-Shaphat – The Lord is Judge (Judges 11:27)
Jehovah Saboath – The Lord of Hosts (1 Samuel 1:3; Psalms 24:10; 84:1, 3)
Jehovah-Elyon – The Lord Most High (Psalms 7:17)
Jehovah-Raah (or Roi) – The Lord my Shepherd (Psalms 23:1)
Jehovah-Hosenu – The Lord our Maker (Psalms 95:6)
Jehovah-Gibbor – The Lord is Mighty (Isaiah 42:13)
Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There or Ever-present (Ezekiel 48:35)
Each and all of these compound redemptive names show how Jehovah meets every need of man in redemptive power. The ultimate revelation of the redemptive names is to be found in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jehovah-Jehoshua-Christos – The LORD JESUS CHRIST or Jehovah’s Saviour Anointed. (Matthew 1:21; Acts 2:34-36; Ephesians 1:20-21; Luke 2:11, 26, 27)

The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest redemptive name ever to be revealed because it comprehends in a triune name all the compound redemptive names of Jehovah. It is in the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ that God meets every need of man in redemptive power. The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s ordained Redeemer and all Old Testament redemptive names point to and find their consummation in His redemptive name. It is the name of the Godhead bodily. It is a triune name for the triune God. (Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Matthew 28:19-20)

Native Tongue
One problem is that most of us speak English, not Hebrew. Furthermore, we’re not sure what language we will speak in heaven. Therefore, it is certainly not a sin to say these divine names in your own native tongue.

Does the Lord say: “Let me see if you can say My name correctly. No, I am not going to answer that prayer because you did not say it right. You have a thick American accent!”?

Of course not. Earthly parents don’t become angry when their toddler says “Dada” instead of “Father.” A good father is excited that his child is starting to recognize him. Likewise, our Heavenly Father is primarily concerned with whether or not we know Him, not with the pronunciation of His name!

Name Dropping
Some people in Hollywood have tried to build their careers around the practice of “name dropping.” They refer often to some famous producer or actor, using their names freely as though they know them intimately, in the hope that they will gain prestige by association. But in reality, they may not know the person at all.

Believe it or not, some professed Christians have used the name of God in the same manner. Acts 19:13-17 tells the story of the seven sons of Sceva, who decided to use the name of Christ to cast out demons. Apparently these itinerate Jewish exorcists saw Paul’s gifts and thought, “Hey, Paul’s really good at this! Maybe we should adjust our means of casting out devils. We will use the name Paul uses!” At their next opportunity, they commanded the demons, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” Verse 13.

The Bible says that “the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Verses 15-16.

Those young Jewish exorcists tried “name dropping” with the devil. They knew the name of Jesus, and they even knew how to pronounce it. They just did not know the Lord! And unfortunately for them, even the devils recognized this fact.

Do you know Him? God’s name is not a magic word, but a revelation of His character. Paul understood God’s character and could cast out demons by the name of Jesus. They obeyed because of the authority and the power of Christ’s name.

God may have intentionally allowed the exact pronunciation of His name to be lost because He does not want us to use it like some people use the magic word “abracadabra.” The Lord did not allow the children of Israel to see His form when He spoke the Ten Commandments lest they should seek to make an idol (Deuteronomy 4:15-16). He concealed the burial place of Moses to prevent people from making it a shrine (Deuteronomy 34:6). Likewise, God does not want us to worship Him because He has a glorious form or a mystical name, but rather because of whom He is.

When Peter healed the beggar at the beautiful gate, he said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6. The miracle happened by virtue of the power, authority, and person of Jesus, not by the correct utterance of His name.

Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain
Using God’s name without a real knowledge of Him is part of the sin pointed out in the third commandment. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7. We often think of this commandment condemning profanity, and it surely does, but that is the least of the meanings. To take the name of the Lord in vain means to take it unto yourself and say that you are a child of God, but then live like the world.

A newspaper ad read: “Lost one dog. Brown, scruffy hair with several bald spots. Right leg broken due to auto accident. Left hip hurt. Right eye missing. Left ear bitten off in a dog fight. Answers to the name ‘Lucky’.” Obviously, that unfortunate little dog was “Lucky” in name only. Some Christians are like that! When we become Christians, we take the name of Jesus. Sadly, some people merely become “nominal” Christians, meaning “in name only.” These people are essentially taking the name of the Lord in vain.

History tells us that Alexander the Great had a soldier in his army who developed a bad reputation. When the fighting became severe, the young man would start to retreat while everyone around him fought on. The general summoned this soldier, whose first name was also Alexander, and said: “I hear how you’re behaving in battle. Young man, you either need to change your behaviour or change your good name! I don’t want the name Alexander to be associated with cowardice.”

When you say you’re a Christian, you have a responsibility to uplift the name of God in word and in deed. Jesus began the Lord’s prayer by saying, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed [holy] be thy name.” Matthew 6:9. If we take the name of the Lord in vain, we are making our Father’s good name look bad.

A New Name
In the Bible, every name had meaning. Some names described a person’s character, as in the story of Nabal (1 Samuel chapter 25). Some names were memorials of events that happened at the time of the child’s birth; one example is Ichabod (1 Samuel 4:21). Others were prophetic, pointing to a future event in the person’s life as with Jesus (Matthew 1:21).

Sometimes God would change someone’s name because of a change in the person’s heart. For example, Jacob’s name meant “supplanter.” Sure enough, he tricked his twin brother Esau out of his birthright and his blessing. But after Jacob wrestled with an angel and confessed his sin, God changed his name to Israel, meaning “Prince of God.”

God wants to do the same for us. He wants to take the bad name we have made for ourselves and give us the good name provided by His Son. Jesus tells us that everyone who is saved will have a new name. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:17.

John saw that the 144,000 in particular would have God’s name in their foreheads. “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1.

At the end, everybody will be associated with a certain name. One group is going to have the mark of the name of the beast in their foreheads (verses 9, 11). The other group is going to have their heavenly Father’s name written in their foreheads (verse 1).

Does this mean that they will have something tattooed between their eyes? No. In the Bible, the forehead represents the mind. In Deuteronomy 6:6-8, God tells the Israelites, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ... And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” The “frontlets between the eyes” were to symbolize that the God’s commands were “in thine heart,” or in the mind. The book of Hebrews quotes a prophecy in Isaiah, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” Hebrews 10:16.

To have God’s name means having His law not just the rules of the Ten Commandments, but also the principles of His greatest law of love written in our hearts. The apostle John tells us, “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. That’s one of His names! It is also the best definition of who He is. This is the name God wants to give us. Like Jacob, we sometimes get a bad reputation because of our behaviour. God says that we can get a new name and a new reputation based on the merits of Christ.

Baptize in What Name?
There has been an increasing amount of discussion recently regarding the precise declaration to utter during one’s baptism. Do we baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as stated by Jesus in Matthew 28:19, or in the “name of Jesus Christ” as Peter said in Acts 2:38?

Let’s be careful to place the emphasis where God places the emphasis. Of the 70 references to baptism in the New Testament, only five make any reference to a specific name or title of God to proclaim. One time it says, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19. Another time it says, “be baptized ... in the name of Jesus Christ.” Acts 2:38. It also says, “be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Acts 10:48. Twice the Bible says, “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 8:16; 19:5.

The phrase “Lord Jesus” was a favourite title used mostly by Luke (21 times) and does not appear at all in the other Gospels. So, to stay on the safe side and remove any possibility of leaving out one member of the Godhead, it is probably best to follow the clear statement of Jesus given in the great gospel commission and baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 28:19.

During a wedding ceremony, the couple can decide how formal to be in the wording of the official vows. The pastor could say, “Do you William Peabody Smith take this Rebecca Marie Jones?” or he might say, “Do you Bill take Becky?” As long as the parties involved and the witnesses understand who is being married, the wedding is legally binding. So it is with baptism.

A Name We Can Trust
God wants us to learn to recognize the true value of His name. Sure, this world offers us riches and pleasures and even a name for ourselves. In the end, though, all it will lead to is worthless shame and death. By contrast, the promises of God can be trusted. He has a good reputation. Jesus told us that “whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14.

The Eternal Name
He says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.” Revelation 1:8. Only a few things are declared to be eternal. These include His existence (Psalms 90:2), His Word (Mark 13:31), His gift of life for the redeemed (Romans 6:23), and His name (Exodus 3:15).

When Ptolemy decided to build the Pharos lighthouse in the second century, he chose Sostratus to design that mammoth structure, which later became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Ptolemy insisted that the building should bear his inscription as a personal memorial; however, Sostratus did not think the king should get all the credit for his work. He therefore put the title of Ptolemy on the front of the lighthouse in a thick plaster, which would be eye catching at first but later would be worn away by the elements. Secretly he had cut his own name in the granite underneath. For decades the sea dashed against the inscription and gradually eroded the plaster facade. Though it lasted the lifetime of that earthly monarch, it was finally obliterated, leaving the name “Sostratus” standing in bold relief! In like manner, worldly fame often disappears before the relentless waves of time, but “His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun.” Psalms 72:17.

On a final note, many are searching on the phrases, “the name of God is not mentioned in only one book of the bible. which one?” and “the name of god is not mentioned in what book of the bible?” It is the book of Esther for those asking.