Originally founded under the charter of King William III of England in 1697, the church has Dutch roots preceding this date, when New York was still known as New Amsterdam. My prayer for all of you is the same as Pauls, that the Holy Spirit that is in you would reveal all truth about who Jesus is and the nature of God, that you might live in the full confidence of your faith in the hope that Jesus brings. Im absolutely sick and tired of the millions of Christians especially high profile Christians like John MacArthur and the like who teach that those of us who reject the man-made doctrine of Trinity are condemned heretics. What makes you think God hasnt made Himself real to me? Why is belief in the Trinity so important? The Best Book Youve Never Read on Justification by Faith, 4 (Possible) Reasons for Unanswered Prayer. The Trinity Matters because the Gospel Matters The Trinity isn't some complicated distraction from the simple gospelit's actually part of the gospel. 22:3640; 1 Cor. At the cross we see the ultimate glorification of the Father as the Son lays down his life for us, in order that we might receive the Spirit of adoption as children of God (John 12:28; Rom. Are these just three different ways of looking at God, or simply ways of referring to three different roles that God plays? I really like your description. But the first glimpses of plurality within God are recorded in the Old Testament, not the New. God is God in this way: Gods way of being God is to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit simultaneously from all eternity, perfectly complete in a triune fellowship of love. (2) The Father is God. . Melanie, I love that you and Dawn have been digging in deep and reminding us to ground our faith in truth. We become Gods sons by adoption and regeneration, but he doesnt become Gods Sonhe simply. Sometimes the Spirit is treated more like a force than a Person. 5 Ways To Keep Your Home Mosquito-Free This Summer, 3 Ways A University Degree Can Help With Career Prospects. We address doctrines and practices of Christian churches and organizations, as well as those of cults of Christianity. 2:22). How is God three? There was never a time when one of the Persons of the Godhead did not exist. Trinitarianism is polytheism. Its God giving himself to you in creation and redemption. (5) The Father is not the Son. What we have seen so far provides a good basic understanding of the Trinity. Jesus prayed alone in the Garden why in the world would he go pray to himself? In reality, Muslims and non-Messianic Jews profess a mono-personal god, rather than the tri-personal God of the Trinity. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 6:8). (4) The Holy Spirit is God. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This structure was burned to the ground in September of 1776 during the American Revolution as part of a larger fire, and Trinity's chapel was saved only through heroic efforts. Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Blessed wife of Randy for over 25 years, mom to two great college students, blogger, women's ministry coach, speaker and author who is amazed by God's grace-. But not good enough. We do not worship three gods. Most of us have retained a formal belief in the Trinity. Jesus dying on the Cross is one of the most important parts of His story. And he already had an eternally begotten Son, the radiance of his glory and the exact imprint of his nature (Heb. You are a blessing! What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.. Wayne Grudem explains: But if each person is fully God and has all of Gods being, then we also should not think that the personal distinctions are any kind of additional attributes added on to the being of God . At Nicaea the statement of the trinity was presented, that God was one, that He exists in one nature, in three persons. The Trinity matters because this is who God is. The triune gospel is better by far. All through the history of the early church, doctrines developed that presented views of Jesus that were contrary to that presented by the apostles and by Jesus Himself. To help us do that, here are two reasons why the Trinity matters. Thanks, Sherry! Absolutely not! Ive been a Christian since 1973 and have hidden my non-Trinitarian views for decades. 7:9) are one in him. After all, Scripture teaches that God has other sons (Job 2:1; Heb. 2:1112), a virgin birth of a child called Mighty God and Everlasting Father (Isa. has destroyed Christianitys growth because the Benny Hinns, Ken Copelands, Joyce Meyers, John Hagees, etc., etc., have exposed Christianitys hypocrisy. Awareness of the distinct role that each Person of the Trinity has in our salvation can especially serve to give us greater comfort and appreciation for God in our prayers, as well as helping us to be specific in directing our prayers. It tells us that we are called to submission, humility, and the honoring of others within community. The oneness of God is referred to in the Old Testament, and Jesus also reminds his. I am the first to acknowledge that this doctrine is unfathomable in reality, and describable only in concept. Youve blessed me today with your comments. Yet he lovingly chose to create us, inviting us in to enjoy (and be fulfilled by) the overflow of all God is within himself. You bless me, Melanie! Much later, probably after Paul had written all of his epistles, John felt it necessary to present the deity of Jesus indisputably. Thank you, Lynn! Two of the three persons are explicitly mentioned: God and his only begotten Son. There is no inspiration, encouragement, or hope for me in Christianity. Warfield wrote, "In point of fact, the doctrine of the Trinity is purely a revealed . These cookies do not store any personal information. Melanie. Thank you, Marva! When it comes right down to it, one of the most essential doctrines of the Christian faith is that Jesus is God. Did you ever notice that even in John 3:16 youre already wading into trinitarian waters? Blessings! The Son of God becomes a Son of Man, so that the sons of men might become sons of God. God is not one person who plays three different roles, as this illustration suggests. What Problems Can Be Caused If You Have Difficulty Swallowing? Thank you Melanie! That is good news for us, because we never could do that. 8:29) and becoming a partaker of the divine nature (2 Pet. Having been around this list* for a few years now, it is always interesting to observe some of the discussions that go on. 4:6; Titus 3:6). Hey Shirley, 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Judging by the churchs historic creeds, Christians used to think the Trinity is really important. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It is also interesting to look at the Gospels. You bless me~ The Father sends the Spirit in the Sons name (John 14:26). The doctrine of the Trinity is not mainly for apologetics or for opposing heretics (although that's been an important element of the doctrine); it's mainly for the purpose of teaching Christians what they believe about God on the basis of being saved by that God. This will keep one from worshipping . The answer is a resounding, "Yes." The Doctrine of the Trinity Is Vital to Christian Theology The Trinity doctrine is actually at the heart of Christian theology. And the same Spirit who proceeded from the Father and the Son from all eternity was sent by the Father and the Son into this world, to live inside us and bring us to Christand through Christ to the Fatherso that we might be taken into his family, surrounded by his life and love, to glorify and enjoy him forever. There was, however, no explicit belief in a separate divine person in biblical Judaism. Another serious error people have made is to think that the Father became the Son, who then became the Holy Spirit. It is a complex topic, isnt it, but one that needs to be shared. You bless me with your affirming words today! However, I believe its perfectly fine to be a Christian who believes Jesus was the Son of God, not God himself. And, thank you for sharing your views. This can be seen in a number of ways. At these councils there were two clear statements made about the nature of God. Kaitlin Miller Febles is on staff at the Chick-fil-A Inc. support center and enjoys writing on the side for ministries like Desiring God. Help TGC bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work. . Likewise, after the Son returned to the Father (John 16:10), the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit into the world (John 14:26; Acts 2:33). This distinction is critical. So why should we care about the Trinity, aside from the fact that its true? To condemning Trinitarians I say,Psalm 55:12, It is not an enemy who taunts me The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most difficult ideas in Christianity, but it's fundamental to Christians because it: states what Christians believe God is like and who he is plays a. Learn why He did it and what it means for you. I love that each one has a distinct and special purpose in my life and Im so grateful. Why? The correction clearly states that Jesus is fully man and fully God, and that both natures are critical to His role in the redemption of mankind. Trinity Church is a historic parish in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, whose church is located at 89 Broadway opposite Wall Street, in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City.Known for its centuries of history, prominent location, distinguished architecture and bountiful endowment, Trinity's congregation is said to be "high church," its activities based on the traditions . Its joining an eternal family. Neither should we think of the Persons as being defined by attributes added on to the being of God. We know that God cannot be tempted and HE cannot sin. The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is difficult to explain. Your reasoning is easy to follow, making these truths easy to remember. Now, as Fred Sanders once quipped, this doesnt mean you should begin every witnessing encounter, God loves you and has a wonderful Trinity for you to understand. You dont have to unpack the Trinity in every gospel presentation (although you might, especially if youre talking to a Muslim). The Holy Spirit is God, but He is not the Son or the Father. Lets stay close to Gods word as our guide. The divine essence is thus not something that exists above or separate from the three Persons, but the divine essence is the being of the three Persons. If you dont believe meif you still think the Trinity is just advanced theology for the expertsconsider John 3:16, one of the most famous and simple gospel statements in the whole New Testament. We all have a story. Thank you, Dawn! The number one question is, Do you want to know God? Because as Jesus said, This is eternal life: that they know you the only God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3). Im so glad that my posts are easy to follow and that they make your think all at the same time! The general pattern of prayer in the Bible is to pray to the Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). It is the incomprehensible glory of the Godhead." (Grudem, page 256) The Trinity explains how God was love before he created. While the oneness of God is strongly emphasized, the word used to describe God as one in Hebrew scripture. That is good news for us, because we never could do that. Is the Trinity practical? 3:15), the bride of the Son (2 Cor. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He was already a Father. The synoptics were already available when John saw the need to write one more gospel. The Trinity is the doctrine that states there is one God but three PersonsGod the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Trinity is not a salvation issue. to Christianity. It depends. 11:6). True Christianity is absolutely founded upon believing in who the true Christ of the Bible is. 17; 1 Cor. The Bible says there is only one God. One case in point on why this is important is that the theology of the heretical cult of the Jehovah . It also helps explain passages in which all three members of the Trinity appear. This law states that A cannot be both A (what it is) and non-A (what it is not) at the same time and in the same relationship. Before he created the world, he couldnt have loved; at least, he could have only loved himself. How do they relate? In these two statements, the nature of the heresy of the Monarchians, Docetists, Gnostics and others was clearly revealed. The key, though, for this discussion is the errors that he was writing to correct. They claim Jesus was 100% God and 100% man and thats their cop-out reply to every contradiction. Anglicans, Lets Stay True to Our Confessional Heritage, How Evangelicals Lose Will Make All the Difference. This is such a great post and series! And the Holy Spirit is the dynamic presence of God rather than a separate person? Drawing from Exodus alone, the Gospels identify Christ as the I Am (Ex. We exist to worship God. In addition to these texts, the others we mentioned above make clear that the Personhood of the Holy Spirit is distinct from the Personhood of the Son and the Father. Were told its difficult to describe, impossible to understand, and not even found in the Bible. If God is three Persons, does this mean that each Person is one-third of God? Explore answers to life's biggest questions. One illustration to beware of is the one which says, I am one person, but I am a student, son, and brother. Without them, God would still be a Father, but he wouldnt be our Father. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Showing God in action in and through His people. Or did your God create you and save you because he was lonely and needed you? This set orthodox Christianity apart from heretical movements like Docetism, which challenged the church as . We should not think of God as like a pie cut into three pieces, each piece representing a Person. Since God is one in a different way than He is three, the Trinity is not a contradiction. Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school. Blessings and smiles, Appreciate your affirmations today! also 1:18). Thank you Melanie. Having seen that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, that they are each fully God, and that there is nonetheless only one God, we must conclude that all three Persons are the same God. Its tenants tell us who God is, but it also tells us how we should treat one another in the body of Christ. Anything less is sub-Christian. What we do not mean by Person is an independent individual in the sense that both I and another human are separate, independent individuals who can exist apart from one another. The Trinity has a very significant application to prayer. Neither of these conclusions was novel, they were simply a restatement of what the church had believed since the day of Pentecost. You bless me~ 6:4). He was perfectly fulfilled without us. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Jesus is God, but He is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. Let me ask youwhat kind of salvation does your gospel give you? We believe that faithful proclamation of the gospel is what our hostile and disoriented world needs. Sorry I jumped the gun, I couldnt find the reply earlier. But from an architectural perspective, the American landscape had so far been composed for the most part of copies of Old World forms: colonial Georgian churches, neoclassical public buildings, and Victorian homes. Hi, Ive been studying this topic for a while, and this article is well-written, and summarizes the Trinitarian belief of most Christians. Is the Trinity practical? But the Trinity helps. God is one in a certain way (essence) and three in a different way (person). We must always be on guard against such things. I descend from LDS royalty. But after being ordained in the priesthood, I turned my back on Mormonism. Just like the last 2,000 (almost) years. 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3-4). They include the following: 1. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Father has an only, eternally begotten Son, and in his love for sinners he sends that Son for us. In the form of the Holy Spirit He actually can live in your body if you are living a Holy life. If Jesus is God, why do the Gospels record instances where He prayed to God? In other words, you have contradicted yourself if you affirm and deny the same statement. Thank you for diving into the depths of our faith! Salvation is trinitarian. Here are five (more) reasons why it matters greatly that we believe this doctrine. This would make each Person less than fully God and thus not God at all. It is my attempt here to appeal to those of you who may be reluctant to post, or who just like to read, for the clear understanding of the Bible that supports the doctrine that **Jesus is God**. Why is Trinity church important? Its more than forgiveness. Saying Jesus is God completely destroys the gospel message! Enter your email address to subscribe. The only way for me to maintain my spiritual sobriety is to get away and stay away from TRINITARIAN CHRISTIANS. He would still have a Son, but he wouldnt have many sons. The development of church doctrines, at least in the early church, was necessary to provide clear statements of exactly what the Bible had to say about various issues, and particularly about the nature of God. The revelation of the Trinity is revelation of God's own heart. Its being conformed to the image of the Son by the Spirit (Rom. These are earned by advertising and linking to amazon.com. This same theme is carried through the book of Hebrews, where the writer begins by making a clear statement of Jesus deity, and follows with a clear differentiation between Jesus and all created beings, showing that Jesus is superior.
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