THESE THREE ARE ONE
by Larry Hall
"For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:
and these three are one." (I Jn 5:7)

In the APOLOGETICS article entitled "The Order of Three," we saw how the Lord has shown us His triune Godhead through examples found in nature. THREE is the Biblical number for "Resurrection, Divine Completeness, and Perfection." ⁽¹⁾

The number manifests itself throughout the universe from the makeup of the atom to the immensity of three-dimensional space, three segments of time, and three forms of matter and energy. But that does not mean, in itself, that God exists in the same way. The Bible, however, is very explicit when it describes God's threefold nature to us.

The Trinity is a highly offensive doctrine to many cultic groups. Denial of this doctrine allows for the belief that Jesus was just another creature. This denial substitutes a perfect man's death for the sins of Adam and only permits us to work our way to salvation. The denial also permits the belief that the Holy Spirit is just an impersonal or electrical force sent out from God to do His bidding.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are both God. Jesus' death on the cross was of infinite value in that it washed our sins away entirely by grace, from start to finish. Only God Himself, manifest in the flesh, could have that power.

It is a very hard concept for the natural man to accept because of his innate desire to "help" himself. He wants to believe that he must contribute something for the great gift of salvation.

The Trinity denies man his pride. Remember that it was Adam's pride that got him kicked out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), and it was Satan's pride that got him kicked out of heaven (Isaiah 14). It will be the pride of man, through the denial of Jesus as God, that keeps him from entering into the everlasting presence of God the Father!

The personalities within the Godhead are clearly separate and distinct. That fact becomes obvious when you look at the incarnation, baptism, and great commission of Jesus.

Incarnation - "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." ⁽²⁾

Baptism - "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." ⁽³⁾

Great Commission - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" ⁽⁴⁾

You can see that the one and only true God of Isaiah 43:10 shows Himself in three persons.

If your answer to this question is "the Father," you are right. The Apostle Paul was clear on this when he said: "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." ⁽⁵⁾ and "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree." ⁽⁶⁾ and "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses." (Acts 2:32) (See also Galatians 1:1; Acts 3:26; and Acts 4:10)

If you answered "the Son," you are also right! The Apostle John reports that, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body." ⁽⁷⁾

If you answered "the Holy Spirit," you are right again! In Paul's letter to the Romans he declares, "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." ⁽⁸⁾

All three answers are correct because God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) raised Christ from the dead! (See Acts 17:31; 2:24; 3:15)

Did you know that the Holy Spirit is not just an impersonal force projected from the Father? The Spirit thinks, talks, reasons, teaches, can be lied to, and has all power and glory.

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