"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name (NOT THE NAMES) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (St. Matt. 28:20).
Many Christians begin to learn about the Trinity through knowledge of Baptism. This is also a starting point for others in comprehending why the doctrine matters to so many Christians, even though the doctrine itself teaches that the being of God is beyond complete comprehension. The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are structured around profession of the Trinity, and are solemnly professed by converts to Christianity when they receive baptism, and in the Church's liturgy, particularly when celebrating the Eucharist. One or both of these creeds are often used as brief summations of Christian faith by mainstream denominations.
One God
God is one, and the Godhead a single being: The Hebrew Scriptures lift this one article of faith above others, and surround it with stern warnings against departure from this central issue of faith, and of faithfulness to the covenant God had made with them. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (Deuteronomy 6:4) (the Shema), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Deuteronomy 5:7) and, "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." (Isaiah 44:6). Any formulation of an article of faith which does not insist that God is solitary, that divides worship between God and any other, or that imagines God coming into existence rather than being God eternally, is not capable of directing people toward the knowledge of God, according to the trinitarian understanding of the Old Testament. The same insistence is found in the New Testament: "...there is none other God but one" (1 Corinthians 8:4). The "other gods" warned against are therefore not gods at all, but substitutes for God, and so are, according to St. Paul, simply mythological or are demons.
So, in the trinitarian view, the common conception which thinks of the Father and Christ as two separate beings, is incorrect. The central, and crucial affirmation of Christian faith is that there is one savior, God, and one salvation, manifest in Jesus Christ, to which there is access only because of the Holy Spirit. The God of the Old is still the same as the God of the New. In Christianity, it is understood that statements about a solitary god are intended to distinguish the Hebraic understanding from the polytheistic view, which see divine power as shared by several separate beings, beings which can, and do, disagree and have conflicts with each other. The concept of Many comprising One is quite visible in the Gospel of John, chapter 17, verses 20 through 23.
God exists in three persons
The "Shield of the Trinity" or "Scutum Fidei" diagram of traditional Western Christian symbolism.This one God however exists in three persons, or in the Greek hypostases. God has but a single divine nature. Chalcedonians — Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants — hold that, in addition, the Second Person of the Trinity — God the Son, Jesus — assumed human nature, so that he has two natures (and hence two wills), and is really and fully both true God and true human.
The singleness of God's being and the multiplicity of the Divine Persons together account for the nature of Christian salvation, and disclose the gift of eternal life. "Through the Son we have access to the Father in one Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18). Communion with the Father is the goal of the Christian faith and is eternal life. It is given to humans through the Divine union with humanity in Jesus Christ who, although fully God, died for sinners "in the flesh" to accomplish their redemption, and this forgiveness, restoration, and friendship with God is made accessible through the gift to the Church of the Holy Spirit, who, being God, knows the Divine Essence intimately and leads and empowers the Christian to fulfill the will of God. Thus, this doctrine touches on every aspect of the trinitarian Christian's faith and life; and this explains why it has been so earnestly contended for, throughout Christian history.
2006-11-11 10:15:29
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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THE TRINITY CONCEPT IS DECEPTION AND GOD AND JESUS IS ONE ONLY IN THE WAY THEY THINK, THE PLAN FOR MANKIND. IT IS GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS THE SON. GOD IS A FAMILY AND IS REPRODUCING HISSELF WITH THOSE WHO KEEP HIS LAWS.
It may first be noted that the words “in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (KJ) found in older translations at 1 John 5:7 are actually spurious additions to the original text. A footnote in The Jerusalem Bible, a Catholic translation, says that these words are “not in any of the early Greek MSS [manuscripts], or any of the early translations, or in the best MSS of the Vulg[ate] itself.” A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, by Bruce Metzger (1975, pp. 716-718), traces in detail the history of the spurious passage. It states that the passage is first found in a treatise entitled Liber Apologeticus, of the fourth century, and that it appears in Old Latin and Vulgate manuscripts of the Scriptures, beginning in the sixth century. Modern translations as a whole, both Catholic and Protestant, do not include them in the main body of the text, because of recognizing their spurious nature.—RS, NE, NAB.
Other evidence of its impersonal nature. Further evidence against the idea of personality as regards the holy spirit is the way it is used in association with other impersonal things, such as water and fire (Mt 3:11; Mr 1:8); and Christians are spoken of as being baptized “in holy spirit.” (Ac 1:5; 11:16) Persons are urged to become “filled with spirit” instead of with wine. (Eph 5:18) So, too, persons are spoken of as being ‘filled’ with it along with such qualities as wisdom and faith (Ac 6:3, 5; 11:24) or joy (Ac 13:52); and holy spirit is inserted, or sandwiched in, with a number of such qualities at 2 Corinthians 6:6. It is most unlikely that such expressions would be made if the holy spirit were a divine person. As to the spirit’s ‘bearing witness’ (Ac 5:32; 20:23), it may be noted that the same thing is said of the water and the blood at 1 John 5:6-8. While some texts refer to the spirit as ‘witnessing,’ ‘speaking,’ or ‘saying’ things, other texts make clear that it spoke through persons, having no personal voice of its own. (Compare Heb 3:7; 10:15-17; Ps 95:7; Jer 31:33, 34; Ac 19:2-6; 21:4; 28:25.)
2006-11-09 22:18:19
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answer #2
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answered by His eyes are like flames 6
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Early Christians did not revere the go as a non secular image: the go rarely seems in any respect in Christian iconography till the third century, and does not grow to be effortless till lots later. on the different hand, many pre-Christian religions used the go as a non secular image: that's even present day in bronze-age non secular engraving (and probable even before). All religions are especially style-pushed. Early Christians did not revere the go, yet now that's each and all of the fashion. Early Islam did not have any form of a prejudice against seen representation - there are even Islamic sorts of representational portray - yet recently even drawing a sketch of Mohammed is seen offensive.
2016-10-21 14:15:51
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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Are you kinda asking if Jesus is the Father? Well, He refers to himself while he was on earth and even after he has risen as the Son. (Rev 3:21) but then he calls himself the Almighty, too. (Rev 1:8) Honestly, I don't know if he is the God the Father, but I know we should honor him as such. And the Holy Spirit I don't think is a separate entity, I think that is God's active force in this world.
2006-11-09 22:15:14
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Literally and Spiritually, the Trinity is three persons in One, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are three separate persons who are always in agreement, which is the one. the three members of the Trinity never disagree. Each of them has his purpose and mission, but they always agree on their work, which is love. The Trinity is also known as God, for the Bible says that God is love (1 John 4:8). Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, which means that he is heir to the Father, and those of us who are covered in the blood of Jesus are sons of God and joint heirs with Christ. The Trinity has always existed----it is eternal and is beyond creation. It is impossible for us, as created beings, to understand this.
2006-11-09 22:29:17
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answer #5
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answered by Preacher 6
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God is one , but in three persons - God the Father , God the Son and God the Holy Spirit . The are three distinct persons , yet co-equal and co-eternal . Faith in the Triune God is the backbone of the church.
2006-11-09 22:40:56
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answer #6
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answered by Mummy is not at home 4
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I think it's clear that the Bible teaches the Triune nature of God, even if it never uses the word "Trinity." The links below should be helpful for you.
2006-11-09 22:17:37
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answer #7
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answered by Pastor Chad from JesusFreak.com 6
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We were created in the image of God. Just as we have a body, soul and spirit, so does God. Jesus-Body, Father-Soul, Holy Spirit-Spirit. Well this is how i understand it anyways. The three are seperate but connected.
2006-11-09 22:16:50
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answer #8
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answered by angelvic_83 3
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