Automatic Transcript Generated:
How can how the article of the Trinity doctrine be aligned with a number of sayings by Jesus Christ?
Speaker 1
All right, this is a big question, which is okay. I like big questions because I’ve got a big Bible full of good answers. So the question is by Ash, and he asks greetings. According to the doctrine of the Trinity, there is one God who exists in three persons god the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity also states that the three persons are all God and are all equal.
Speaker 1
My question is, how can the articles of the Trinity doctrine be aligned with a number of sayings by Jesus Christ Himself? There are numerous verses that clash with the doctrine of the Trinity. Here is one of them as a starter one, the Trinity states that all three persons are God. However, Jesus said, and this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God in Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17 three.
Speaker 1
In this passage, Jesus addressed God as the only true God. Jesus also made a clear distinction between the only true God and Himself. In his words, He, Jesus was sent by the only true God. By saying these words, we are given a clear admission from Jesus that he Jesus, was not God, but that only the Father is the true God. If we disregard the words in John 17 three and uphold the Trinity, would we not be violating the teachings of Jesus Christ?
Speaker 1
I hope that this reply I received will not go the route of these words are only allegorical, which are words often employed when no rational answer can be given. Thank you, Ash. Cool. Ash, that is a fantastic question, and I really appreciate that you are looking into God’s word and reading it and studying it, and that’s absolutely awesome. And I love this verse in John 17 three.
Speaker 1
This is probably one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible, basically, that this is life eternal, that they would know the only true God in Jesus Christ whom you have sent. So I always remind myself and my family that we just need to know God. We need to know who he is, we need to know His Son Jesus to have salvation. That’s how we’re saved, is by knowing God. Now, when it comes to the doctrine of the Trinity, this is a very interesting point that you bring out as far as this.
Speaker 1
First. Now, when it comes to the word Trinity, obviously that’s not a word we find in the Bible, but again, it kind of like the word sanctification. Maybe sanctification is in some versions. I think it depends on the version you read. But it’s the process of becoming like God, becoming holy.
Speaker 1
This doctrine of the Trinity just means that there’s three persons that make up the Godhead, and the word Godhead is used in the Bible. Now, we do see verses that refer to God. We know that in Matthew 28 at the end of the chapter, part of the great commission. Jesus says, go to all the world and preach the Gospel, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Also, in one John five, there’s references to there are three in heaven and these three are one.
Speaker 1
There are many verses that show that there is indeed a Father, a Son and a Holy Spirit as far as who make up the Godhead. Now, when you come to this verse, it might be really easy to go to say, well, this looks like Jesus is saying only the Father is the true God. And that means by default, Jesus is not the true God. But I think you’re missing some pieces there. And I’ll explain that in just a minute.
Speaker 1
But what I want you to see is something very important and I want you to go first to the Book of Hebrews. And we’re going to look in chapter one. We’ll start in verses one through three. And I apologize, I’m having a little bit of technical difficulty here because my Internet is doing something funny. I don’t know what it’s doing, but we’ll start with this.
Speaker 1
So first we’ll go to Hebrews chapter one and we’ll look at verses one through three. So let’s go ahead and start there. And it says God. So this would be the Father, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time, passed to the fathers by the prophets. In verse two it says, in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world.
Speaker 1
Okay. So here we see the Father, we see the Son. And verse three it says something very interesting, who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. And so here we see something very interesting as far as Jesus. Jesus is the brightness of the glory of the Father.
Speaker 1
I like how it says in the King James version and the express image of his person. So basically Jesus is an expression of the Father. Now it’s very interesting because if it goes on, you read in verse eight and we’ll go through verses eight to 14. Now this is where it’s very clear jesus is definitely God. Now you can’t miss it.
Speaker 1
So back to Hebrews one, verse eight, and it says, speaking of the Father, but to the Son, he says, because he goes on this thing about how Jesus is greater than angels. But he says, but to the Son, he says, your throne, oh God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. So here we see very clearly that God the Father is telling the Son, jesus, you are God. He said, but to His Son, he says your throne, oh God is forever. So basically we have a very clear picture of God the Father proclaiming to Jesus that you are God as well.
Speaker 1
There is no more clear verse I could think of to show this, but there’s even more there. So let’s keep going through verse 14. And it says, thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, therefore God your God has anointed you with all the oil and gladness more than your companions. So he says, Therefore God to Jesus your God the Father has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. So very clearly here Jesus is God as the Father is also God.
Speaker 1
And we’ll keep going. In verse ten it says, and you Lord, in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth and the heavens are the work of your hands. And keep going. In verse eleven it reads, and they shall perish the work of your hands, but you remain and they will all grow old like a garment. In verse twelve it says, and as a vestor you will fold them up and they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will not fail.
Speaker 1
So you’re eternal speaking to Jesus.
Speaker 1
Well actually we’ll stop there because this is really important to see that basically God is saying, the Father is saying to the Son, you are God, you created the world. And guess what? This world that you made, we’re going to wrap it up, the world is going to end but you’re going to remain. You’re not going to go anywhere because you’re God. And again you’re eternal.
Speaker 1
And you see it’s very clear that Jesus is the Creator. So when you see this picture of Jesus as Creator, you might think, well is this anywhere else in the Bible? Is this not just one verse? Let’s go then to the Book of John, chapter one and verses one through three. Very interesting.
Speaker 1
So again, let’s go ahead and look at that verse. So I’m having a hard time with my mouth tonight, I apologize. So again the Book of John, chapter one and verses one to three. And the Bible reads, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. So again we see this clear distinction that this word we’ll see in a minute that it’s Jesus.
Speaker 1
And the word was with God. And the word was God. All right, so we see again this Word was God in the beginning. And verse two reads he was in the beginning with God. And verse three it says, all things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Speaker 1
So we see that this Word who was with God in the beginning was God, was with God and was made and without Him nothing was made that was made. And we know that for sure that this Word is Jesus. If we go ahead to verse 14, which basically reads and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. So this one who created all things was with the Father, and this word is Jesus. It can be none other than Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1
So this is very interesting as far as seeing who Jesus is, jesus absolutely is God there’s to me, no doubt about it. It’s just a matter of are we going to accept this truth? Now, I know it can be a little bit confusing because you might be thinking, well, Jesus, he’s the Son, but it says he’s God. But why does he say that only the Father is the true God? And that’s an interesting line of thinking.
Speaker 1
But let’s go I want you to look at something that’s very interesting. Why would Jesus then say Father?
Speaker 1
Why is he calling the Father the only true God? Actually, before we do this, I want to show you one more verse just to prove to you based on the fact that Jesus, it says Jesus God and Jesus Creator. Now go with us back in that nothing was made without unless it was made by Jesus. Go to the book of Psalms, chapter 90 and verse two, and that reads, before the mountains were brought forth, wherever you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. So it is very clear here that you who had formed the earth, right?
Speaker 1
And we saw just now in John chapter one, verses one through three, that only by the word by Jesus that the world was formed. And again we saw even in Hebrews, chapter one, in verses eight through twelve, that it said that the Father says to Jesus, you made the world, the world’s going to pass away, but you’re not going to pass away. And so we see again here and it says you God made the world and you’re from everlasting you’re too everlasting, you’re eternal. So again, this can speak of no other being than Jesus. Jesus is God.
Speaker 1
It’s very clear. So now that you’re thinking, now we’re going back to that point, I apologize. Why would Jesus say to the Father, you are the only true God, if Jesus was also the only true God? Well, let’s take a look at that and look at, I think, a clear picture of this in the Book of John in chapter 14. And we’ll start in verse six.
Speaker 1
And I love the Book of John. I think it’s probably one of my favorite books in the Bible. And if you go we’ll start in verse chapter 14 six. Jesus says to them, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but through me.
Speaker 1
So Jesus is saying, look, I am the way, I’m the example that you need to follow. And he says that I’m the way, the truth and the life, and nobody comes to the Father but through Him. Now, it’s very interesting. I want us to read a few more verses in this chapter. So we’ll go to verse seven, all the way to verse nine.
Speaker 1
And it says, if you had known me, you should have known my Father, and from henceforth you know him and have seen him. In verse eight he says, But Philip said to him, lord, show us the Father and it is sufficient for us. And Jesus answer is so perfect. Here in verse nine, Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me? Philip?
Speaker 1
He who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can he say, Show us the Father? And so here we see again. Jesus is saying, I am equal with the Father. I’m one with the father.
Speaker 1
And so if you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father. And because we’re interchangeable, Jesus says in another verse, and I have to think of it or find it off it’s off the top of my head where Jesus says, I and my Father are one. And so here we clearly when Jesus is saying, I want you to worship the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent, he’s saying, I want you guys to understand that God the Father is in heaven. I’m one with him. And in order to have life, you have to have a connection with both of us, because we’re both God.
Speaker 1
And so Jesus, out of respect for his Father, will call him the only true God because he’s showing him that respect. And we should show him that respect. But we have to remember that it’s through Jesus. Jesus says in his own words, even just right now, he says, I’m the way, the truth, and the life. I mean, if Jesus wasn’t God, he wouldn’t be life because only God can give life.
Speaker 1
He says, But I know the truth of life and no one comes to the Father but through me. So it’s only through Jesus do we have access to the Father, because they are connected in a very special way. And when it comes to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is definitely part of the Godhead. I know it’s a little bit more tricky, and I think it’s kind of beautiful when you see it this way, though, as the Father and Son just having this close relationship where they’re interconnected kind of like it’s basically that of a family. And if somebody was going to approach my husband about something, they’d have to go through me in a way.
Speaker 1
Or if someone wanted to approach me, they’d have to go through my husband, because we, in a sense, are one family or one unit. And so we have different roles in that family. And definitely Jesus had a different role than the Father, only Jesus was the one that came down to this earth. But Jesus is still God. He just has a different role than the Father and the same thing with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1
Jesus calls him the Comforter, and Jesus talks about him and how he’s a very special person as a member of the Godhead.
Speaker 1
He says that the Holy Spirit is the one that leads us into all truth. And Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life. So it’s through the Holy Spirit that we’re led to Jesus, and it’s through Jesus that we have access to the Father and we have access to the Father. Jesus says, pray the Father that he will send you the spirit. So again, it’s just this kind of interconnection between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that makes it a family unit.
Speaker 1
And I believe that God is that way, which is why he gave us the gift of family. He put Adam and Eve on this earth to procreate, to create families, and that’s what God wants us to do. He said, be fruitful. Multiply. And I think only when we understand the concept of a healthy family is when we’ll see and understand kind of the nature of who God is, as far as God being the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1
And there’s many other examples in the Bible as far as God being a plural. I think of a really interesting verse in the book of Isaiah, trying to think if I thought I had, Isaiah, where are you?
Speaker 1
I believe it’s Isaiah, chapter six, verse eight, I’m almost positive, where basically God is telling Isaiah, whom shall I send and who shall go for us? Basically being plural, not just, you know, I’m the Father and I’m the only God. No, he says, who shall go for us? Him his son, the Holy Spirit. Yes, thank you.
Speaker 1
The voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who shall go for us? Thank you. Then I said, here I am, sending Isaiah is responding to the call by God, who refers to himself as us. So again, we see that there’s definitely more than just the Father as being God. And the only true God is also Jesus Christ, whom he has sent as well as His Spirit.
Speaker 1
And I think we’re going to better understand all that once we get to heaven. So I pray that this is a sufficient answer. And if you have any more questions on this, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And be sure to keep sending us questions. Again, if you have questions you’d like formally submitted to our show, go to our website, bibleass.
Speaker 1
orgLive, and you can submit questions there. And again, if you have any thoughts or questions, put them down in the comments below. All right, Jill. Thank you. It’s taught in school that there is a Holy Trinity.
Speaker 1
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That is true. A lot of Christian or Catholic Churches teach the doctrine of the Trinity.
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