Ready for Some Theology?

The other day I stood on my front porch with two Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many people turn out the lights, draw the curtains and ignore the knock on the door, but I like to engage them in conversation. It is only after these types of conversations that I can gain insight into their thoughts on biblical teaching. And besides, if they are on my porch, they are not down the street confusing my neighbors.

I countered with a declaration that I was a Jesus’ Witness, based on Acts 1:8 (Jesus speaking, not Jehovah). Any conversation with must get back to who Jesus is, because if we can’t agree on who Jesus is, it is a moot point on where the kingdom is going to be.

The main debate with the guys on my porch is that they believe the Trinity is a man-made doctrine. They believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that Jesus is a god (their translation of John 1:1), that he is a created being. So, for them, Jesus is not the everlasting and eternal God. It is true that the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but evidence for the reality of the Trinity is compelling.

Teaching on the Trinity:

The Trinity means the unity of three persons in one Godhead; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Shema states that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the Bible ascribes divinity to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My JW friends on the porch appear to be OK with polytheism (that Jesus was A god, but not THE God).

Outline of the Trinitarian Argument:

1. God is one. Unity is ascribed to him.
2. The Father is divine: a distinct person.
3. The Son is divine: a distinct person.
4. The Holy Spirit is divine: a distinct person.
5. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are classed together, separately from all other beings.

Details of the Trinitarian Argument:

1. God is one: Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 4:35, 39, 6:4 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:60, 2 Kings 19:15, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 86:10, Isaiah 44:6-8, 45:22, Jeremiah 10:10, Joel 2:27, Zechariah 14:9, Mark 12:29, John 17:3, Romans 1:21-23, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Galatians 3:20, Ephesians 4:6, 1 Timothy 2:5.
2. The Father is divine and a distinct person: The word “Father” is used in the Scriptures in a two-fold sense in relation to the Godhead: sometimes as equivalent to God, sometimes to the first person of the Trinity.
   1. Passages where “Father” is used as equivalent to God, not implying personal distinctions: Deuteronomy 32:6, 2 Samuel 7:14, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Psalm 89:26, Isaiah 63:16, Jeremiah 3:19, Malachi 2:10, Matthew 6:9, Mark 11:25, Luke 12:30, John 4:21, 23, 24, 2 Corinthians 6:18, Philippians 4:20, James 1:17, 1 John 2:15, 16.
   2. Passages applied to God in contrast with Christ, denoting a special relation to Christ as Son, in his office of Redeemer: Psalm 2:1-11, Matthew 11:27, 25:34, Mark 8:38, 14:36, John 5:18-23, 26, 27, 10:15, 30, 17:1, Acts 2:33, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 15:24, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 1:1-4, Ephesians 1:2, 3, 4:5, 6, Philippians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 13, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, 1 Peter 1:2, 3, 2 Peter 1:17, 1 John 1:3, 4:14, Jude 1:1, Revelation 3:21.
3. The Son is divine and a distinct person apart from the Father.
   1. Christ is pre-existent, the Son existed as a distinct person before he came into the world: Micah 5:2, John 8:56-58, 17:5, 1 Corinthians 15:47, Philippians 2:6, 7, Colossians 1:17, 1 John 1:1, Revelation 22:13, 16 (read these two together).
   2. Christ is not merely pre-existent, but the Son is pre-eminent, above all things except the Father, co-eternal with the Father: Matthew 11:27, 28:18, Luke 20:41-44, John 3:13, 31, Acts 10:36, Romans 14:9, Ephesians 1:20-22, Philippians 2:9, 10, Colossians 1:15, 17, 18, Hebrews 1:4-6, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 1:5 3:14.
   3. Christ is creator of the universe: John 1:3, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2, 10.
   4. Christ has divine attributes ascribed to him:
      1. Omnipotence: Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 28:18, John 10:17, 18, 11:25, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Philippians 3:21, Colossians 2:10, 2 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 1:3, Revelation 1:8.
      2. Omnipresence (albeit suspended during the incarnation): Matthew 18:20, 28:20, Ephesians 1:23
      3. Eternity: Micah 5:2, John 1:1, Revelation 1:8.
      4. Omniscience: Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22, John 2:24, 25, 21:17, Acts 1:24, Colossians 2:3, Revelation 2:23.
      5. The divine name is applied to him as to no other being except the Father, implying supreme divinity: Psalm 102:24, 25, Hebrews 1:8-10, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Malachi 3:1, Matthew 1:23, John 1:1, 20:28, Acts 20:28, Romans 9:5, Ephesians 5:5, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 2:9, Titus 1:3, 2:13, Hebrews 1:8-10, Psalm 102:24, 25, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 John 5:20, Revelation 17:14, 19:16.
      6. He is shown in the Scriptures as the object of religious worship: Matthew 2:11, 14:33, 15:25, 28:16, Luke 24:52, John 5:23, Acts 7:59, 60, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2,Corinthians 12:8, 9, Galatians 1:5, Philippians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 12, 2 Timothy 4:18, Hebrews 1:6, Psalm 97:7, 2 Peter 3:18, Revelation 5:13.
4. The Holy Spirit is divine and a distinct person from the Father and the Son.
   1. The Holy Spirit is divine, called the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Son, the Holy Spirit, the
      Spirit of truth, the Spirit of life: Genesis 1:2, 6:3, Nehemiah 9:30, Isaiah 63:10, Ezekiel 36:27, 28, Acts 2:16, 17, Joel 2:28, Matthew 10:20, Luke 12:12, John 14:16, 17, 15:26, Acts 5:3, 4 28:25, Romans 8:14, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Hebrews 2:4, 1 Peter 1:2,
   2. The Holy Spirit is distinct from Father and Son, and is personal, (the personal pronoun HE applied to him with personal acts ascribed to him): Matthew 3:16, 17, 28:19, Mark 1:10, 11, Luke 3:21, 22, John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13, Acts 13:2, 4, 15:28, Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 12:11.
   3. The Holy Spirit has converting and regenerating power ascribed to him: Nehemiah 9:20, Isaiah 44:3, Ezekiel 36:26, 27, 37:14, Joel 2:28, Matthew 3:11, John 3:5, 6, 14:26, Acts 9:31, Romans 8:9, 11, 14, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Corinthians 1:22 5:5, Galatians 4:6, 5:22, Ephesians 1:13, 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 John 3:24, Revelation 22:17.
5. The Father, Son, and Spirit are classed together, separately from all other beings, as divine: Matthew 28:19, Romans 8:9, 14-17, 2 Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 1:20, 21.
6. Result of the biblical evidence in respect to the divinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
   1. That the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are personally distinguished from each other, yet there is recognized
      throughout the Bible a personal relationship of the Father and Son to each other, and with the Holy Spirit to both.
   2. They each have divine names and attributes.
   3. Yet there is only one God. Polytheism is rejected.

Devotion on the Trinity: A friend of mine wrote this (Joel Sutton)

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:16-17

The baptism of Jesus is a well-choreographed portrayal of how the Trinity interacts with each other. The Almighty speaks from above, the Source of ultimate authority in the spiritual world. He speaks as the Father, showing He’s the one in charge. The Spirit then wings from the heavens down toward the earth. He symbolizes the transfer of power and authority to Jesus. The Spirit shows that he’s the means of empowerment. Then you have Jesus, dripping wet. He demonstrates beautifully the submissiveness of his role as Son.

This is how things always function with the three members of the Trinity. The Father wasn’t down on the earth. The Spirit didn’t send the Father. Jesus wasn’t speaking from heaven. The Father didn’t die on the cross; the Son did. The Spirit brings glory to the Son and not vice versa.

What does this set-up have to do with you? It’s how you experience the marvels of salvation. Jesus paid the price for your sins by submitting himself to a horrendous death by crucifixion. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you have opened up yourself to the Spirit. He is the means by which you receive everything you need for the Christian life. The Father is ready to supply all the resources necessary for experiencing a victorious life.

The Father has His role, the Spirit knows what he’s to do, and Jesus is the one and only Savior. Each member of the Trinity is doing everything possible to rescue you from sin. Are you cooperating?

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