“God is a Spirit” Jn. 4:24

God is not a conglomerate of 3 people; God is A spirit (and so are you btw, IThess. 5:23).

The beginning premise for any discussion or understanding of the Godhead must be the acknowledgement that God is an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, singular and eternal Spirit – the one true ineffable God. The eternal, invisible (ITim. 1:17), and indivisible Spirit of our holy God transcends all of His creation which He both created and sustains “…by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3), and is present and prevailing throughout (Eph. 4:6, Col. 1:17, Isa. 57:15). The scriptures teach that it is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18), it is also impossible for the Spirit of God to not prevail everywhere, in everything, and at all times.

The singular Spirit of God is a person (Heb. 1:3), or rather He retains personhood quality to Himself, but at an eternal, invisible, spirit level (ITim. 1:17). As we know, Adam was not a random design, but he was created after God’s own “image and likeness” (Gen. 1: 26-27). This is later verified by the manifestation of God himself into the world – Jesus (the last Adam ICor. 15: 45-47, a great mystery, God manifest in the flesh ITim. 3:16 ).

Jesus, the Son of man conceived in a virgin womb, was not a random avatar chosen to represent God in the world, but he was/is the full manifestation of the eternal, invisible (singular) person of God, “…the express image of his person” (Heb. 1:3). The eternal and invisible Spirit and fullness of the Godhead did manifest into time and physicality (Col. 1: 13-15, Col. 2: 8-9); this occurred initially at creation (Jn. 1: 1-3, Eph. 3:9, Col. 1: 15-19), but the Word was made flesh (Jn. 1:14, IJn. 1: 1-2),“manifest in these last times for you” (IPet. 1:20, Heb. 9:26). A miraculous mystery.

The Holy Spirit of which Jesus referred to (Jn. 7: 37-39, Jn. 14: 16-18, Jn. 14:26, Jn. 15:26, Jn. 16: 7-15, etc.), and the true church is filled with (Acts 2: 1-4, Acts 8: 14-17, Acts 9: 17, Acts 10: 44-47, Acts 19: 2-6, etc.), is that one and the selfsame Spirit of God (Eph. 4:6), but with a particular designation. After the atonement was accomplished, the Holy Spirit, also referred to as the “Comforter” (Jn. 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7) and the “Spirit of Truth” (Jn. 14:17, 15:26, 16:13) is sent to “fill” and thereby empower, unify, and enable His people- the church to accomplish His will in the world until we see him…

Eph. 1: 12-14 “…Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…”

The Holy Spirit of God which is dispensed into his church is the same Spirit that indwelt Jesus (Jn. 14: 17-18, Php. 1:19), however Jesus, “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29), being the “heir of all things”, even his name (Heb. 1: 2-4, Isa. 9:6), is the manifestation of the fullness of the Godhead “…for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” (Jn. 3:34). As a human (Son), Jesus’ acquisition of the fullness of the Godhead came by inheritance, for “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.” Jn. 3:35. The saints of God, “…heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17) are also filled with The Spirit, but in limited measure (Rom. 12: 3-6, Eph. 4:7) according to their individual calling and function (grace, faith, gifting) in the body of Christ, the church. “… he is the head of the body, the church…” (Col. 1:18), “… ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (ICor. 12:27)

Though differing schools of thought remain stalwart in their stance on the nature of the Godhead in relation to Christ, the honest and humble among them will acknowledge that there remains a “mystery” to the manifestation of the “fulness” of the eternally divine into the temporal earthly realm, all while retaining eternal presence and predominance, and even at his “weakest” moment when he “cried with a loud voice, saying,…My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”, as He gave up the ghost, His earthly body then laid in a tomb – “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself”. The apostle Paul summed it up when he stated, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…” (ITim. 3:16). (Though it is true that Paul did not say this mystery was beyond understanding, I do believe it is implied).

Note Colossians 2: 1-2 “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (2) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the MYSTERY of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;“

The apostle Paul’s phrase (above) “…God, and of the Father, and of Christ” can create some awkward difficulties for the classic Trinitarian, and can be a brow-furrowing head-scratcher for many a oneness proponent. In fact there are many such passages and sections of scripture that can be somewhat challenging to the traditional positions of both schools of thought – this is because it is as Paul said, a MYSTERY. A so-called understanding of this mystery is one which Trinitarians attempt to embrace through logical reasoning, and Oneness folks claim through revelatory insight (and pre-Pentecost apostle Phillip by requesting of Jesus directly to “…shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us” Jn. 14:8).

However, have you ever listened to a Trinitarian talk himself into a knot as he attempts to fashion his 3 Gods into a curious 1 Godhead conglomeration. Also, Oneness folks are correct about the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and the fullness of the Godhead being in Jesus, but that isn’t a great revelation, that is a great mystery, and as Paul says, one that should be Acknowledged, not understood.

To acknowledge something is to simply recognize it as it is. (“Acknowledge” – (Eng. def. to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of:) “Acknowledge” – (Gr. def. Epignosis. def. recognition, full discernment, acknowledgement). And with regard to “…the mystery of God, and of the father, and of Christ;”, ACKNOWLDGEMENT is how Paul (the Bible) indicates it is to be reconciled. Even as David K. Bernard, General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church International and Oneness champion states, “No man can fully understand how God could manifest Himself in human flesh, but we can accept it by faith because the Bible declares it.” -from Bernard’s book, “The Oneness of God”.

Even though the fulness of the Godhead manifest in Christ is a phenomenon fraught with mystery, today’s Trinitarianism echoing its murderous middle-ages history, insist on a cult-like, blind allegiance to their 3-person error while anathematizing all detractors. This becomes especially egregious when upon learning that historical Trinitarian leaders, who they ever love to cite, have in fact acknowledged its incomprehensibility, its mystery…

Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373) authored “On the Incarnation” wherein he emphasized the mystery of how the eternal Logos (Word) could truly become man, stating “He became what we are so that He might make us what He is.” wherein He emphasized the mystery of such an event.

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) said “The full nature of the Trinity remains beyond human understanding”. And also, “We are speaking of God; is it any wonder if you do not comprehend? For if you comprehend, it is not God.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546) said “We are not able to comprehend the Trinity by our own reason.” Luther also stated “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”

John Calvin (1509-1564) Cautious about “over-defining” the Trinity, Calvin acknowledged the limitations of human language and reasoning in capturing the nature of God as he said, “The essence of God is incomprehensible… we must labor to confine our thoughts within the limits of sobriety and modesty.” Calvin also taught of a “hypostatic union’ (two natures in one person) but acknowledged its depth and mystery stating, “It is certain that Christ’s divinity and humanity are united in one person, yet the mode of this union is hidden from us.”

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Known for his hymns and theological reflections and though a Trinitarian, Watts struggled with traditional formulations and acknowledged mystery in both unity and distinction in God.

A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) wrote “The doctrine of the Trinity… transcends human reason”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) Accepted the mysterious nature of the trinity saying “…if we cannot imagine a three-personal Being, what is the good of talking about him?’ Well, there isn’t any good talking about Him except insofar as He has revealed Himself to us…”. While not a formal theologian, Lewis emphasized that the incarnation was beyond human reason and admitted the profound strangeness and mystery of that truth.

Karl Barth (1886-1968) concluded that the Trinity is not “logically deducible” stating “The doctrine of the Trinity …must always be recognized as mystery“. Barth also saw the incarnation as the central mystery of revelation stating “The mystery of the incarnation is not a mystery because it is incomprehensible, but because it is inexhaustible.”

Billy Graham (1918-2018) Graham famously acknowledged the Trinity was a divine mystery, stating “We may not fully understand this…”

Likewise, today’s Trinitarians will occasionally acknowledge the Trinity’s inexplicable “composition”, yet despite this they rigidly embrace the idea that God is a celestial committee of 3 individual people and as far as they are concerned, so must you.

Most, if not all of today’s Protestant “easy-believing” church world also subscribe to the pernicious false doctrine of “unconditional eternal security”, otherwise known as “Once-saved-always-saved”. This deceitful and tragic heresy simply states that once a person has repeated what they call “the sinners prayer” for salvation, it is impossible for them to lose said salvation regardless of their behavior (lifestyle, sin, or even a denial of faith), except for one thing: the denial of their non-understandable Trinity. This, and only this, is to them a salvation-cancelling sin. Again, leaving the inviolability and truth of the scripture and instead staying true to their grim Dark and Middle Ages heritage, Trinitarians demand acquiescence to their 3-person error through the threat of eternal damnation. (and btw, just where is this “sinners prayer” salvation scheme found in the scripture?).

Errant, but understandable

Honest arbiters of the Bible will acknowledge the unconventional and unique ways in which God communicates and reveals himself to mankind in the scripture. Other than God, who has ever presented himself as a “threeness” (Father, Word …made flesh/Son, Holy Ghost, Matt. 28:19, IJn. 5:7) yet is singular in person (Heb. 1: 1-3)? In any common vernacular such language or phrasing would be used to describe 3 separate individuals, as trinitarians do attest. To the human-based rational mind, the events of of Jesus’ baptism, or his John 17 prayer, the transfiguration or the crucifixion etc., all seem to imply the operation of more than one person. However, human-based rationale is an inferior, error-prone, sin-touched cipher for even the most basic things of God, how much more when directly considering His mystical person?

Since Jesus’ earthly days, the Godhead mystery in relation to Christ has baffled believers and religio-philes alike. In the above-mentioned verse (Jn. 14:8), Phillip requested of Jesus to “show us the father” in a section of scripture (Jn. chs. 14-17) where Jesus mentions the Father 50 separate times, all in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person! There’s little to indicate that Jesus’ answer (“…when you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father”) to Phillip’s query did much to assuage his pre-Pentecost curiosity.

We certainly know the scribes and Pharisee’s wrestled with the God-man mystery (Luke 5: 17-26, Jn. 8: 12-59), then rejected Him wholesale. Also, though having settled on the problematic Trinity, six of the seven primary ecumenical “church” councils (forebears of today’s Roman Catholicism and its protestant daughters), having been convened between the years 325 and 787 AD, all featured as item #1 on their agenda the continual controversy of the nature of Jesus in relation to God, a mystery that would not go away, and for good reason.

To conclude, can one understand the supernatural “science” of how Jesus was conceived? or how he opened blind eyes and deaf ears, how he walked on water and healed lepers, raised the dead, ascended into the clouds, or how by him (Word) the universe was created, etc.? Then why would you expect to understand the greatest of all miraculous mysteries, i.e. “…in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2:9?

Acknowledge the mystery.

G.S.