One God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The Old Testament declares that God is One (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6, 8). And the New Testament affirms that same truth (Mark 12:29; John 17:3;1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:4-6). But the One God consists of the – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7; Matthew 28:19; Revelation 1:4–6).
The Old Testament states, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). The Hebrew word there for God is Elohim. It is a Plural noun that is used more than 2,700 times in the Old Testament. Also, the three persons of the Godhead appear in the New Testament (Matthew 3:16,17; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 9:14; Revelation 1:4–6).
The Father
The Bible speaks of God the Father (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:18; Exodus 33:20; Matthew 11:25; John 8:26-27). However, no man hath seen the Father for sinners cannot see God face to face and live (Exodus 33:20; Deuteronomy 4:12). Some have witnessed a glimpse of His divine presence (John 1:14), but, except in vision, none have seen the divine Person (Isaiah 6:5).
The Bible tells us that the Father, in infinite, mercy offered His Son to redeem humanity. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). There is no greater love than this (John 15:13).
The Son
The Bible states that the Son is the Word of God (John 1:1; 1 John 1:1; Hebrews 11: 3; 2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 19: 13), who came to reveal the Father to the world (John 14:7–11). In order to save humans, He had to lay aside the full dimension of His divinity when He came to earth (Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:5-8; John 17:5; John 14:28).
Jesus Christ is also called the Son of God (Isaiah 9:6; Psalms 80:15; 2 Peter 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:28; John 1:1–4; 14:6; John 20:26–29; Revelation 1:8; 1 John 5:11, 12, 20; Colossians 1:16; John 10:18; John 11:25). The Son is equal with the Father (Philippians 2:6; John 1:1-3; John 10:30; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 11:27; 1 John 2:23; John 5:16-23). Therefore, whoever denies the Son denies the Father (1 John 2:22).
The Holy Spirit
He is called the Spirit of God (Romans 8:11; Psalms 104:30; Genesis 1:2; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 John 4:13), the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20; Psalms 51:11; Matthew 12:32; 1 Thessalonians 4:8), the Spirit of truth (John 14:17), and the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20).
The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit speaks (Acts 8:29), convicts (John 16:8), teaches (2 Peter 1:21), guides (John 16:13), witnesses (Hebrews 10:15), comforts (John 14:16), helps (John 16:7, 8), and can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).
Jesus Is Not the Father
Jesus said that He wasn’t the Father more than 80 times in the Scriptures. 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; Luke 9:35; Mark 9:7; John 12:27, 28).
And Jesus also 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).
The Work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Although the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One, yet they have distinct roles in the Godhead. The apostle Paul confirmed this truth in his epistles: “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). “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).
The Bible teaches that humans may approach the Father in the name of the Son (John 16:23; Colossians 3:17; John 14:6) by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:18). Jesus prayed to the Father that His disciples would be one as He and the Father are one (John 17:22, 23).
Who Outranks Whom?
Although the three members of the Godhead are the same in properties and attributes, and equal in power and glory, it appears that the Father is recognized as the ultimate authority. “The head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3 also 1 Corinthians 3:23). 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.
The Son constantly receives His glory, power, throne from the Father (John 3:35; John 5:22). 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). The Father, Son, and Spirit always seem to be trying to out give and glorify each other (John 17:1, 5; John 16:14; John 13:31, 32).
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
