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BY
DR. JOHN
SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA
BAPTIST
CONVENTION
DOCTRINE
OF GOD
(fifth
in a series)
Trinity
critical
concept
in understanding
God
For the
past five
weeks,
we have
examined
the Doctrine
of God—the
central
idea in
religion—defining
Him in
terms
of human
life and
experience.
We have
seen Him
as creator;
His almighty
power
and ever
present
nature;
His holy
and righteous
nature;
and His
love and
His wrath.
This week
we will
explore
the definition
and doctrine
of the
Trinity.
The Trinity
is the
theological
term used
to define
God as
an undivided
unity
expressed
in the
threefold
nature
of God:
God the
Father,
God the
Son and
God the
Holy Spirit.
It is
an important
doctrine
in understanding
God. This
biblical
concept
expresses
the dynamic
character
of God.
It is
one of
the great
mysteries
of human
faith.
DOCTRINE
OF TRINITY
DEFINED
The
Trinity
is represented
by God
the Father,
God the
Son and
God the
Holy Spirit.
God is
one being
in three
persons.
Each of
these
persons
expresses
the entire
fullness
of the
Godhead.
Each
person
possesses
all the
deity
of the
divine
essence,
but each
person
also has
an individual
characteristic
which
is peculiar
to that
one person
and is
not exchanged.
(For example:
The Father
is the
Father
and is
not the
son, etc.)
There
is no
priority
of time
or origin
and no
superiority
of rank.
The three
persons
exist
eternally
and are
co-eternal
and co-equal.
When
understanding
the Trinity,
there
are some
errors
to be
avoided.
There
is no
real good
human
analogy
for the
doctrine
of the
Trinity.
They will
emphasize
either
the oneness
or the
“threeness”
of the
doctrine.
There
is no
likeness
to Trinity
in human
experience.
Most errors
will be
either
an emphasis
on the
unity
as opposed
to the
“threeness”
of God’s
triune
nature.
One
of the
common
doctrinal
errors
committed
in understanding
the Trinity
is subordinationism,
which
maintains
the unity
of God
at all
expense.
This theology
seeks
to maintain
the unity
of God
at the
expense
of the
deity
of Jesus.
Another
common
error
is modalism,
which
stresses
One God,
only different
manifestations
of this
one God.
It is
an error
to stress
the threeness
at the
expense
of the
unity
of God.
There
are very
definite
trends
of tri-theism
in our
Christian
culture.
For example,
Unitarians
worship
only Father
and view
the Holy
Spirit
as influence.
They view
Christ
as a teacher.
The Father
alone
is God.
Many,
in reality,
worship
only Christ.
Some groups
give emphasis
primarily
to Holy
Spirit.
As
Christians
we believe
in the
unity
of God.
We are
as monotheistic
as any
prophet
or rabbi
ever dares
to be.
(Read
2 Corinthians
5:10-19;
Mark 12:29).
The oneness
of God
is not
a simple
mathematical
kind of
unity.
The kind
of oneness
that God
has is
a kind
of oneness
that can
include
a three-foldness.
The unity
of God
is a personal
unity.
DOCTRINE
OF TRINITY
We
should
do our
best and
not consider
the doctrine
of the
trinity
a problem
or impossibility.
We should
consider
this doctrine
because
of its
essential
nature
in our
witness.
This
doctrine
has been
sadly
neglected
by modern
theology.
Many Baptists
have been
very shaky
on the
doctrine
of the
trinity.
We should
recognize
the mystery
of the
doctrine.
God is
greater
in reality
than in
thought.
Remember
the words
of the
great
First
Century
scholar
St. Augustine:
“God
is great
and truer
in thoughts
than our
words.
He is
greater
and truer
in reality
than in
thought.”
To
be theologically
true to
the day
of Pentecost
we must
be Trinitarian
in our
doctrine
of God.
To
discover
more about
the Doctrine
of Trinity,
review
these
scriptures
which
quickly
brings
us to
the realization
of the
three
foldness
of God’s
nature.
Read:
Matthew
28:19;
2 Corinthians
13:14;
Revelation
1:4-6;
Ephesians
2:18;
Ephesians
4:3-7;
and Acts
2.
SULLIVAN'S
OTHER
ARTICLES
You
may contact
Dr. John
Sullivan
at
1-800-226-8584,
ext. 8102,
or by
email.
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