Table of Contents
This book is about us human beings, but we need to take a deeper look into our amazing God to build a foundation for understanding principles about ourselves.
God is One, But One What?
Since God began revealing Himself to His creation, that revelation presents a confusing picture of the oneness of God. Over and over again it is repeated that God is one, but at the same time, God exercises actions through different forms.
For example, let’s dig into Genesis 1:1-3. I’ll quote that passage (in English from the Berean Study Bible) below for a quick demonstration of this point.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3
Verse 1 introduces us to God, yet in the Hebrew, this word is literally “Gods”. Grammar and syntax are important in Hebrew writing, yet the verb “created” is a verb conjugated for a singular subject. This is an odd violation of grammar. A violation like this would be similar to saying in English: “The men runs to the bus stop.” The verb “runs” is conjugated for a singular subject yet the subject, “men” is obviously plural. Already from the very first verse of the Bible, we see an interesting insight: God is somehow singular, but also plural.
Further down in verse 2 we are introduced to “the Spirit of God”. This Spirit is within the creation and in motion over the surface of the waters. Motion implies energy.
Lastly, in verse 3, God spoke and God’s Words produced a creative force. Merely commanding light to exist, caused light to exist. God Himself is a motivator. God’s Spirit is a motivator and God’s Word is a motivator. Yet all three are God.
God has revealed Himself to us as One Being who demonstrates motivation as though God were three persons. This is a principle called the “Trinity”.
Worth a Thousand Words
Although it would be somewhat futile and maybe even disrespectful to reduce God to a flat diagram, yet for the sake of building a human understand of the Trinity, I offer you this illustration that I first saw when studying the Trinity with Del Tackett as he led “The Truth Project“, a lesson series from Focus on the Family.
This diagram is intended to pictorially show the Godhead in a way that illustrates the three Persons of the Trinity as equals: equal in value and equal in worth, in a loving, harmonious relationship of unity AND willing partners in balanced, authority and submission roles. This diagram super-simplifies God, so don’t think for one second that we have God all figured out now.
Unity in the Godhead
There are several Biblical sources that demonstrate this relationship of unity within the Godhead. For example, these next three verses show that Jesus and the Father are one:
“I and the Father are one.”
John 10:30
“that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
John 17:21
“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;”
John 14:11a
But what about the Holy Spirit… is the Holy Spirit God? These verse indicate that the Holy Spirit is God:
“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all men.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
The Spirit, the Lord and God are all considered the same force developing a variety of gifts, ministries and works in all men.
“But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’”
Acts 5:3-4
Peter considered lying to the Holy Spirit the same as lying to God.
Authority in the Godhead
Likewise, these three persons of our God live in a loving authority relationship as well, in love deferring to one another in a way that keeps all persons of the unity valued and respected within their important roles.
“baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Matthew 28:19b
Order here is probably important: Father first, Son second, and Holy Spirit third. Notice also that all three are under one “name”, more evidence of their obvious unity.
“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’”
John 20:21
Jesus is sent as a subordinate to the will of God.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
John 14:26
The Holy Spirit is sent as a subordinate to the will of God with the assignment to teach us about all things by reminding us of Jesus’ words.
“But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
John 16:7
Likewise, the Holy Spirit (“the Advocate”) is sent by Jesus as His subordinate.
Summary
So, look again at the diagram above. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all drawn inside a single circle to represent their unity– they are the one God. Their positions within the circle represent the authority and submission role they fulfill in their loving relationship with one another.
For extra credit, turn to the chapter in the appendix called Trinity Everywhere for an interesting insight into how this model of unity and authority appears to be the best practical model for blessing and success in so many areas of our lives.
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