Wednesday, August 25, 2021

The Trinity Revealed in God, Resurrection, Prayer, Creation, Redemption

The Bible teaches that the Trinity is three Persons within one God, i.e., one “what” but three “who’s”; a plurality of Persons who are one in essence.

As proof of the Doctrine that the God of the Bible is a Triune God, one should see evidence of this Triune God in many of the major subjects covered in the Bible.

This video explores five major Bible subjects to see if the Triune God (Father/ Son/Holy Spirt) is present in each.

THE TRINITY REVEALED IN “GOD”

THE FATHER IS GOD!  (1) “one God and Father of all [persons], who is over all and through all and in all.” NWT, (Ephesians 4:6.) (2) “in order that like-mindedly in one mouth you may be glorifying the God and Father of the Lord of us Jesus Christ.” KIT (Romans 15:6).

THE SON IS GOD! (1) “In  beginning was the Word, and the Word was toward the God, and God was the Word . . . And the Word flesh became and tented in us,  . . .” KIT, (John 1:1,14). (2) “Answered Thomas and he said to him “the Lord of me and the God of me!”” KIT (John 20:28). (3) But unto the Son he saith, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”” KJV (Hebrews 1:8).

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD! (1) “But Peter said: “Ananias, why has Satan emboldened you to play false to the Holy Spirt and hold back secretly some of the price of the field? . . You have played false, not to men, but to God.”” NWT (Acts 5:3,4).


THE TRINITY REVEALED IN “THE RESURRECTION


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE GOD RAISED JESUS! (1) True, he was foreknown before the founding of the world, but he was made manifest at the end of the times for the sake of YOU  who through him are believers in God, the one who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory; so that YOUR faith and hope might be in God.” NWT (1 Peter 1:20-21). (2) “But God both raised up the Lord and will raise us up out of [death] through his power.” NWT (1 Corinthians 6:16).


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE FATHER RAISED JESUS! (1) "Therefore, we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father we also should likewise walk in a newness of life.” NWT (Romans 6:4). (2) “Paul, an apostle, neither from men nor through a man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him up from the dead,” NWT (Galatians 1:1)


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE SON RAISED JESUS!  (1) ”In answer Jesus said to them: “Break down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” . . . When, though, he was raised up from the dead, his disciples called to mind that he used to say this; and they believed the Scripture and the saying that Jesus said.” NWT (John 2:19-22). (2) "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.” KJV (John 10:17-18).


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE HOLY SPIRIT RAISED JESUS! (1)For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" KJV (1 Peter 3:18).


What Biblical conclusion can be reached from these facts? That God has authored confusion? Or the one God who raised Jesus from the dead is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

THE TRINITY REVEALED IN “PRAYER

ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE YOU CAN PRAY TO GOD! (1) “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” NIV (1 John 5:14). (2) “If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.” NIV (1 John 5:16). (3) “I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.” NIV (Psalm 17:6).

ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE YOU CAN PRAY TO THE FATHER!  (1) And he (Jesus) said unto them, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”” KJV  (Luke 11:1-2).  (2) “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my (Jesus) name, he may give it you.”  KJV (John 5:16).

ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE YOU CAN PRAY TO JESUS!  (1) “if ever anything you should ask me (Jesus) in the name of me (Jesus) this I shall do.” KIT (John 14:14).  (2)  Stephen prayed to Jesus, “And they went on casting stones at Stephen as he made appeal and said: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” NWT (Acts 7:59). (3) The second to the last verse in the Bible, Revelation 22:20 states, “He that bears witness of these things says, Yes; I am coming quickly.” John  then prays, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.” NWT (Revelation 22:20).


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE YOU CAN PRAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT! (1) “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” KJV (Ephesians 6:18). (2) “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” KJV (Jude 20).


THE TRINITY REVEALED IN “CREATION


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE GOD IS INVOLVED IN CREATION!  (1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” KJV (Genesis 1:1). (2) “Of course, every house is constructed by someone, but he that constructed all things is God.” NWT (Hebrews 3:4).


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE FATHER IS INVOLVED IN CREATION!  (1)But now, O LORD, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” KJV (Isaiah 64:8).


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE SON IS INVOLVED IN CREATION!  (1)Because in Him (Jesus) it was created the all things in the heavens and upon the earth . . . The all things through him into him it has been created, and he is before all things and the all things in him it has stood together.” KIT (Colossians 1:16-17). (2)All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” NWT (John 1:3).


ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INVOLVED IN CREATION!  (1) The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” KJV (Job 33:4). (2) “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” KJV (Genesis 1:2).


THE TRINITY REVEALED IN “REDEMPTION


GOD IN REDEMPTION. (1) “for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” NLT (1 Corinthians 6:20). (2)  ”Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”  NIV (Acts 20:28. (3) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” KJV (Romans 6:23).


THE FATHER IN REDEMPTION. According to Scripture the Father Designed and Organized How Mankind Would Be Redeemed. (1) “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” KJV (Luke 2:29). (2) And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. KJV (Matthew 26:39). The Father set into motion a complex set of events, actions and prophecies which culminated in the life and death of our Savior.


THE SON IN REDEMPTION. Jesus carried out the plan. (1)All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” KJV (John 6:37-38). Jesus followed the Father’s instructions to come to earth, even though that meant He would have to die.


THE HOLY SPIRIT IN REDEMPTION. (1) The Holy Spirit sees to it that every person feels a call toward God’s saving grace. “And when He (the helper/Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” NKJV (John 16:8). (2) Believers receive the new birth by the power of the Spirit. “Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”” KJV (John 3:5). (3) Furthermore, the Holy Spirit transforms the lives and hearts of those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit regenerates and renews the believer. “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” KJV (Titus 3:5).


THE WT’s ANTI-TRINITY ARGUMENTS EXPOSED

John 14:28. “. . . If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” The WT quotes the Athanasian Creed, “And in this Trinity none is afore, or after another; non is greater, or less than another. But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal.” Then the WT states: “the Son says “my father is greater than I, rather than equal as the Creed says.” HOWEVER, (Philippines 2:6-7) NLT states: (1) “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” Thus, Jesus could speak of the Father as being “greater than I.” (2) The Son had even become “lower than the angels,” in order to act as the Savior of mankind (Hebrews 2:9).

1 Corinthians 14:33. The WT says that Christians confess that “we cannot fully comprehend the Trinity.” JW’s then state that the Trinity, “cannot  be Biblical because it is confusing and according to 1 Cor. 14:33, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”” KJV. HOWEVER, For human beings to understand God we would need the very mind of God. Scripture affirms: (1) ”Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” NASB (Romans 11:33). AND (2) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” NASB (Isaiah 55:8-9). AND (3) 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.” What is the actual context of 1 Corinthians 14:33? The Corinthian Church was plagued by internal divisions and disorder, especially in regard to the exercise of spiritual gifts. Paul then lays out the way to handle speaking in tongues and speaking prophecy to avoid confusion. Read all of 1 Corinthians 14 yourself to see the actual context. This verse is not talking about the Trinity.

Deuteronomy 6:4. “Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.” NWT. The WT problem is that they believe that the Father alone is God/Jehovah. Christians agree that there is One God. However, Christians teach that the Father is God, the Son is God (John 1:1,20:28, Isaiah 9:6) and the Holy  Spirit is God (Acts 5:4). ASK A JW; Can the One True God listen to different people praying at the same time? Could he speak to more than one person at the same time? Can he do things in more than one place at the same time? Could God decide to personally visit the earth? Would he have to leave heaven in order to do so? Or could he visit the earth, while still remaining in heaven to run the universe? A MUST READ—Genesis Chapters 18 & 19. (1) NWT, Genesis 18:1, “Afterward, Jehovah appeared to him (Abraham) among the big trees of Mamʹre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day.” (2) NWT, Genesis 18:13, “Then Jehovah said to Abraham, “Why was it that Sarah laughed.” (3) NWT, Genesis 18:22, “At this point the men turned from there and got on their way to Sodom; but as for Jehovah, he was still standing before Abraham.” (4) NWT, Genesis 19:24, “Then Jehovah made it rain Sulphur and fire from Jehovah from the heavens, upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah.” CONCLUSION. It would appear that one Jehovah was with Abraham and another Jehovah was in heaven running the universe and raining down Sulphur and fire from heaven.


John 17:3. “This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” NWT. The WT argues: “Since Jesus had a God, his Father, he could not at the same time be that God.” CONSIDER: If Jesus’ reference to the Father as “the only true God” were meant to exclude the Son from deity, then the same principle of interpretation would have to apply to (1) Jude 4, where Jesus is called “our ONLY Owner and Lord.” NWT. This would have to exclude the Father from Lordship and Ownership. Yet, Witnesses speak of the Father as “the Lord Jehovah.” CONCLUSION: Jesus being called our “ONLY” Lord does not rule out the Lordship of the Father and the Father being called the “ONLY” true God does not exclude the Son from deity.


RESOURCES: "Reasoning from the Scriptures with Jehovah's Witnesses" by Ron Rhodes & "Answering Jehovah's Witnesses Subject by Subject" by David A. Reed.

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