At baptisms, we repeat the words of Christ in the Great Commission “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” without realizing that we are referring to the stragglingly in-depth doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus in the taught both the oneness of God’s essence and the threeness of the Persons in the Trinity in the baptismal formula: “Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19). The one deity of the Trinity is seen in the singular “name” because God is one in substance or essence. But then Jesus followed up saying baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” or the three persons of the Trinity.
Read moreThe Trinity, Part Four
Not only does the Trinity have a ministry to each other in the ontological Trinity, but to us. The relationship of the Trinity with God’s creation is called opera as extra or the outer works or the economic Trinity. Once again there is a difference in roles. God the Father’s official ministries are creation (Genesis 1:1), preservation (Matthew 5:45), and government (Psalm 103:19). God the Son’s official ministries are revealing the Father (John 14:9), and redeeming sinners (1st Peter 1:2). God the Spirit’s official ministries are inspiring Scripture (2nd Peter 1:21), regenerating sinners (John 3:5), and sanctifying believers (Galatians 5:16).
Read moreThe Trinity, Part Three
The ontological Trinity focuses on the relationship the Trinity has within the Triune God totally apart from the creation. A. H. Strong calls the ontological Trinity the “Social Trinity.” Ryrie refers to this relationship between the persons of Trinity the opera as intra or the inner works of the Trinity. Does Scripture speak of the relationship within the Trinity? In John 17:24 Jesus prayed to the Father concerning the love that God the Father had for the Son before the foundation of the world. This has to be so because “God is love” (1st John 4:8). There are three practical benefits from the ontological Trinity.
Read moreThe Trinity, Part Two
The Trinity can be summarized in three statements supported by Scripture. Any belief or movement or person who alters one of these Scriptural views is unsound Biblically. These three Biblical summaries refute Modalism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism.
Read moreTrinity, Part One
James Dobson in his book Marriage Under Fire illustrates the difference between husbands and wives.
The most eye-opening encounter between us occurred on our first Valentine’s Day together, six months after we were married. It was something of a disaster. I had gone to the USC library that morning and spent eight or ten hours pouring over dusty books and journals. I had forgotten that it was February 14.
Read more