Who Is God? A Study of the Godhead

10/21/2013

Did Jesus Clam To Be God?

When Jesus Christ walked the earth some 2000+ years ago, there was much confusion as to who he really was. There is still much confusion today as to who Christ the Son of God is and his relationship with God and the Holy Ghost. Out of the twelve disciples, only Peter understood who Jesus was and here's why...

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13)

Understanding who Jesus Christ is requires revelation given from above. And revelation begins with the Word of God: The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalms 119:130)

Let's stay in the scriptures and let the Word of God describe God is to us.

Who Is God? What is God?

Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God is a Spirit who fills heaven and earth. His Spirit is all around us.

How many Gods are there?

Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Isaiah 44:8
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

Malachi 2:10
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

There is only one God. He is our creator and there is none beside him.

Is God a Trinity?

Nowhere in the scriptures is God ever called a "trinity" or "triune" in nature. And since God doesn't refer to himself as a trinity, perhaps we shouldn't either. Adding to the scriptures isn't wise and tends to create confusion.

Let's consider the attributes of God which may expand our understanding of who he is.

God is invisible:

1 John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

God who is a Spirit doesn't have a body:

Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

God Is Immortal - He Cannot Die:

1 Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God Cannot Lie:

Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Got Is All-Knowing

1 John 3:20
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

God is Love:

1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

God Is A Consuming Fire

Deuteronomy 4:24
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

There are many other scriptures that describe God but this is a great start. There is only one God and there is none beside him. God is a Spirit who knows everything about us past, present and future, yet loves us. He created the heavens and the earth by himself, yet cares for each of us. Our God is an awesome God, worthy of our respect, honor and our worship. Download a Free Bible Study about the Godhead on our Bible Study Page.

In Part 2, we'll look at scriptures about Christ in both the Old and New Testaments. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to perceive things that we've never seen before!

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7 Comments

Brenda

10/24/2013 06:40:53 am

Thanks for sharing Pat!

I am one of those people who recognize the "trinity" - though the word is not in the Bible. I don't believe I am adding to the Bible when Jesus, Himself, referred to "The Father" quite often and to the Holy Spirit - indeed told his disciples to go and baptize in the name of "The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit". Using the word trinity is a way of explaining how God manifests in multiple forms, all evidenced within the Holy Bible and referenced by Jesus during His time on earth. There is also evidence given in the Bible that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus prayed to The Father. Cried out to The Father during His crucifixion. Indeed, I believe the Bible gives us plenty of reasons to believe in the "trinity" though it does not use that specific word. I know the trinity is God, His only begotten Son and the Holy Spirit.

"Trinity comes from the Latin noun "trinitas" meaning "three are one." The Trinity expresses the belief that God is one Being made up of three distinct Persons who exist in co-equal essence and co-eternal communion as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "

Patrick Sipperly link

11/2/2013 11:34:47 pm

Great points as always, Brenda.

I've avoid the word "trinity" not only because it's not in scripture, but also because not even those who use the word share the same perspective as you describe above.

I've usually heard trinity used to describe God as "three in one." But is that what the Bible says? Let me know when you've found it, because I haven't. Neither is co-equal or co-existent. What I have found is this:

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Not three in one, but these three ARE one. I believe that to be a big difference.

In my opinion, "trinity" suggests a separation that isn't scriptural. I've heard some use an egg to describe the trinity. A yoke, the white and a shell (different substances) making up one egg. I see it more like water: a vapor, solid, or liquid. All are water - not different substances.

Let's go to Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

That seems pretty straight forward on how to baptize people. But... how exactly did the apostles' and Philip baptize? (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5) After seeing this, I went back to Matt 28:19 to see what I'd missed. What I see is name - not names - of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. What's more is that no one in the Bible was ever baptized any other way than in the name of Jesus. Perhaps that's why Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Let's take this name issue a step further: You, Brenda, are a daughter, a beautiful wife, and a mother. These relationships are very different from one another, yet you are one person. Your name isn't daughter or wife or mother; You are Brenda. Your name is Brenda in every role, isn't it?

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Jesus (the man) cried out to his Father during his crucifixion because in the flesh, the man, was dying. The Spirit could neither bleed nor die. He was manifested in a form that could bleed and die for our salvation. Here's how Zechariah prophesied about it in the Old Testament...

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

The "me" that is pierced in that verse is the LORD, who was manifested in the flesh.

11/3/2013 01:36:00 am

I appreciate your position and can't argue that you are wrong. However, you do have a different opinion than I.

The Bible is full of references to the Father from Jesus, Himself. The only begotten Son of the Father. God has the power to be in multiple forms all at the same time. However we decide to make that fit in our perception is relative. God could not come Himself to live on the earth as he created us so he allowed Himself to be born of man. Jesus prayed to God, the Father. I respectfully disagree with you Pat.

John 14:28 "“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."

11/3/2013 03:08:26 am

Further...

"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that...

Jesus (the Son) also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him,

and a voice (the Father) came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.'' Luke 3.21-22

John 14:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you."

John 14:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

"16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You" John 17.1

And as you confirmed, three are one:

"Trinity comes from the Latin noun "trinitas" meaning "three are one." The Trinity expresses the belief that God is one Being made up of three distinct Persons who exist in co-equal essence and co-eternal communion as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. "

11/3/2013 05:17:16 am

Yes, we different opinions. But what we do share is a love of the truth, and for each other. This is critical. And in both of these most recent posts, you didn't use the word trinity - you used scripture (except for your last reference).

The verses you share are truth and highlight the fact that God is a Spirit, who he has manifested himself in flesh as Jesus Christ, and if we have received the Holy Ghost as the scriptures say, then we have the spirit of Christ in us.

I prefer to use book, chapter and verse, just as you have skillfully listed above, because the word of God is what's powerful, not the words of man. I believe if God wanted to be known as a trinity, he would have made sure of it in his word. Prov 30:5-6 says, "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." I have found a peace when I stay in the Word. Trinity is not in the Bible. Neither is "rapture", "accepting the Lord as my personal savior", and so many others phrases. So if we clear those extra words and phrases away, what's left? The Bible. And that is my main point.

11/3/2013 05:55:16 am

For what it's worth, I haven't studied out the origins of the word trinity, but many others have. My safety is to preach the word and not add to or take away from the scriptures. I don't know how valid this is, but it's interesting. It appears the doctrine of the trinity goes back before the New Testament church:

http://www.ucg.org/booklet/god-trinity/surprising-origins-trinity-doctrine/

11/7/2013 10:20:46 am

Pat...

My name, Brenda, is not in the Bible but I know Jesus loves me. I know the "United States of America" is not in the Bible but many people believe some passages refer to this nation. I will continue to use the word Trinity because it is a good description to me of what God, The Father and Jesus, The Son, and The Holy Spirit are. I know without a doubt what Trinity means. That's not anti-Biblical. The Father loved me enough to send His Son, Jesus to save me and the Holy Spirit to guide me and fill me with His presence and that really is all that matters. I accept Grace above law. Love not word for word translation as law. Jesus came with a very clear message: No one comes to The Father except through Him, Jesus. He is our Christ, our Savior. Even if we refer to all three as a trinity. I pray in Jesus' name. I pray with faith. I ask Him to guide me and my faith is that He will.

Who Is God? A Study of the Godhead

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