Committed To The Lord

 COMMITTED TO THE LORD

(Trust in the Lord ... he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6)

I use the Scriptures from the Old Testament and the New Testament, printed at the bottom of this Blog, in Memorial Services.
The following are some reflections on those Scriptures which
I pray will be of value in your life.
Read each scripture before reading the reflection. Use your own Bible or those printed at the end of these thoughts. I used the Good News Bible for the quotes.

Psalm 27:1: This has been my life verse. I it used when I traveled alone from Guatemala to Minnesota after graduating from eighth grade.
I have used many times when facing challenges. I read it with Jeannie when she being prepped for surgery to remove the cancer in her breast.
I used it each time I prayed with a member of my church facing surgery or other significant medical procedure over which they had no control.

This is a great affirmation of God’s presence no matter what we may fear.

Fear is a dark shadow enveloping and ultimately imprisoning us ...
Fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertainty, sickness ...
Ultimately death ...
Fear can be conquered, according to this passage,
and by using the bright light of the Lord,
Who brings salvation.
The Shadow of Darkness and Fear is Dispelled by remembering and
Trusting the Lord who is the Stronghold of our lives.

Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24: Describes God as all-seeing, all-knowing,
all-powerful and ever-present. God knows us. God is with us.
God’s Greatest gift is Allowing us to Know God.
Sometimes we don’t let people know us completely for fear
they will discover something about us they won’t like.
We try hiding from God when we do something wrong.

Matthew 10:30 Jesus says: God knows everything about us ...
even to the number of hairs on head.

God knit us together. We are wonderfully made us.
The value of a piece of art comes from the creator.
Our days of life ordained for us written before one came to be.
God loves us. God is with us through every situation ...
God guides, wherever we are. Nothing can separate us from God.

Psalm 84:1-12: God’s living presence is our greatest joy,
helping us grow in strength, grace and glory.
Nehemiah 8:10 The Joy of the Lord is my Strength ...

The Psalmist Longs for the courts of the Lord means desiring to be
in God’s presence...
Pilgrimage though Valley of Baca (means “weeping”-struggles)
Similar to the Shadow of death ... in Psalm 23:4.
Sometimes we have to go through dark, scary and dangerous places
before reaching our desired destination.

Philippians 4:4-9: The Apostle Paul was in prison when he wrote
this letter. Yet he uses the word joy 17 times in 4 chapters.
Lesson: inner attitude does not need reflect outer circumstances.
Joy came from knowing no matter what he faced, Christ was with him
It is easy getting discouraged with unpleasant circumstances ...
Joy comes when Christ dwells within us and knowing Christ is near ...
There was a song I learned as a child: JOY, which taught us that true joy comes when we keep our priorities straight.
Jesus, Others, You.

Focus on vs. 8 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think
about...
9 whatever you have learned or received or learned ...
or seen in me – put into practice.
What a great recipe for life! We tend to focus on everything that is going wrong rather the excellent, praiseworthy etc.

Colossians 3:10-14: Put on a new self, which is being renewed each and
every day. Learning is a life-long process.
Applying lessons, is like dressing each day.
Only instead of clothes ...

Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness, patience. Forgiving as the Lord has forgiven you

vs. 3:17 Whatever you do ... do it in the name of the
Lord Jesus giving thanks...

3:24 Since you have received an inheritance from the Lord as reward ...
Be Committed to the Lord & Doing God’s Will ..

Galatians 5:22-23: This is the Fruit of the Spirit evidenced in our lives:
overflowing to others when we allow the Holy Spirit
living in us: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control.

The Spirit produces these character traits found in Christ’s life.
They Can’t obtain them by trying to get them on our own.

John 15:4-5 Jesus said: Remain in me and I will remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine...
I AM the vine, you are the branches remain in me and
you will bear much fruit.*

I Corinthians 15:35-58: Addresses the Resurrection of the Body.
Our present bodies are perishable and prone to decay.
Resurrection bodies will be transformed, not limited to laws
of nature.
Hope in times of suffering. Death no longer a source of dread and
fear.
Christ overcame death ... we will when we leave our earthly bodies
Because of resurrection nothing we do is in vain.
Believing Christ has won the ultimate victory,
impacts how we live now and
Allows us to commit our lives to the Lord, Trusting Him to lead us,
no matter how challenging the way may be.

* John 15:4-5 is the Inspiration for the title: onthevine, of this Blog.

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES
(Good News For Modern Man)

Psalms 21:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation;
I will fear no one.
The Lord protects me from all danger;
I will never be afraid.

Psalms 139:1-18, 23-24:
Lord, you have examined me and you know me.
2 You know everything I do;
from far away you understand all my thoughts.
3 You see me, whether I am working or resting;
you know all my actions.
4 Even before I speak,
you already know what I will say.
5 You are all around me on every side;
you protect me with your power.
6 Your knowledge of me is too deep;
it is beyond my understanding.
7 Where could I go to escape from you?
Where could I get away from your presence?
8 If I went up to heaven, you would be there;
if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there.
9 If I flew away beyond the east
or lived in the farthest place in the west,
10 you would be there to lead me,
you would be there to help me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
or the light around me to turn into night,
12 but even darkness is not dark for you,
and the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You created every part of me;
you put me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because you are to be feared;
all you do is strange and wonderful.
I know it with all my heart.
15 When my bones were being formed,
carefully put together in my mother's womb,
when I was growing there in secret,
you knew that I was there—
16 you saw me before I was born.
The days allotted to me
had all been recorded in your book,
before any of them ever began.
17 O God, how difficult I find your thoughts;
how many of them there are!
18 If I counted them, they would be more
than the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with you...
23 Examine me, O God, and know my mind;
test me, and discover my thoughts.
24 Find out if there is any evil in me
and guide me in the everlasting way.

Psalms 84:1-12:
How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty!
2 How I want to be there!
I long to be in the Lord's Temple.
With my whole being I sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrows have built a nest,
and the swallows have their own home;
they keep their young near your altars,
Lord Almighty, my king and my God.
4 How happy are those who live in your Temple,
always singing praise to you.

5 How happy are those whose strength comes from you,
who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion.
6 As they pass through the dry valley of Baca,
it becomes a place of springs;
the autumn rain fills it with pools.
7 They grow stronger as they go;
they will see the God of gods on Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty.
Listen, O God of Jacob!
9 Bless our king, O God,
the king you have chosen.

10 One day spent in your Temple
is better than a thousand anywhere else;
I would rather stand at the gate of the house of my God
than live in the homes of the wicked.
11 The Lord is our protector and glorious king,
blessing us with kindness and honor.
He does not refuse any good thing
to those who do what is right.
12 Lord Almighty, how happy are those who trust in you!

NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS

Philippians 4:4-9:

4 May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord.
I say it again: rejoice!
5 Show a gentle attitude toward everyone.
The Lord is coming soon.
6 Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God
for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
7 And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding,
will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.
8 In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things
that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true,
noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.
9 Put into practice what you learned and received from me,
both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives
us peace will be with you.

Colossians 3:10-14:

10 and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.11 As a result, there is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free, but Christ is all, Christ is in all.
12 You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. 14 And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.

Galatians 5:22-23:
22 But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, and self-control.
There is no law against such things as these.

I Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-44, 50, 53-58:
35 Someone will ask, How can the dead be raised to life?
What kind of body will they have? 36 You fool! When you plant a seed in the ground, it does not sprout to life unless it dies.
37 And what you plant is a bare seed, perhaps a grain of wheat or some other grain, not the full-bodied plant that will later grow up. 38 God provides that seed with the body he wishes; he gives each seed its own proper body...
42 This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried, it is mortal; when raised, it will be immortal. 43 When buried, it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong. 44 When buried, it is a physical body; when raised, it will be a spiritual body.
There is, of course, a physical body, so there has to be a spiritual body...
50 What I mean, friends, is that what is made of flesh and blood cannot share in God's Kingdom, and what is mortal cannot possess immortality...

53 For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal;
what will die must be changed into what cannot die.
54 So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: Death is destroyed; victory is complete!

55 Where, Death, is your victory? Where, Death, is your power to hurt?
56 Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law.
57 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady.
Keep busy always in your work for the Lord,
since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless.

"HOLDING THESE TRUTHS ..."

                                                                        

"HOLDING THESE TRUTHS ..."

Acts 22:22-29, Psalms 33:1-22 
(Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday)

INTRODUCTION: 250 years ago, a group, representing each of the 13 British Colonies in the New World, met in Philadelphia to decide what course of action should be taken against the King of Great Britain. For months these representatives had been arguing amongst themselves as to what they should do.

Issues:
• King was not Assenting to the Laws, the most wholesome and necessary good for the public.
• Forbidding Governors from passing Laws of immediate and pressing importance until the Assent of the King.
• Relinquishing rights of Representation in the Legislature, rights inestimable to them.
• Calling meetings of Legislature in unusual places and times for purpose of fatiguing them.
• Dissolving Representative Houses for opposing the invasion of the rights of people.
• Refusing to allow others to be elected.
• Obstructing Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners.
• Obstructing the administration of justice, by refusing to Assent to Laws for establishing Justices.
• Making Judges dependent on the King's will.
• Erecting new offices to harass people and to eat out of their substance.
• Keeping among us, in time of peace, standing armies, without the consent of our legislators.
• Rendering the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.           (Total: 27 charges against the King) *

After great debate, realizing the consequences of their action, The Continental Congress voted to Declare their Independence from the British Crown.            After additional hours of exacting work & debate, July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence was adopted. First published on July 6, 1776, in the Pennsylvania Evening Post. It wasn’t until August 2, 1776, that a copy of the Declaration was signed by members of Congress.
“When in the Course of human events ...
We hold these TRUTHS to be self-evident ...
We, therefore, the Representatives ...

250 years later, there are some in our nation, struggling with an identity crisis. With the National Unemployment at 4.3%, Home values way up. Yes, the National Debt Ceiling at $41.1 Trillion.  For the first time in a longtime, U.S. military troops are not at war.  As of writing this, the peace deal with Iran, signed June 19, is holding. Yet there still is an uncertainty in the Middle East.

What has been exciting and refreshing is hearing fans from Europe who came for the FIFA World Cup of Soccer, talk so positively about the United States.   

They are impressed by our Freedoms, Opportunities and Fun.  Those qualities come from the foundational principles (TRUTH'S) on which our nation was founded.

There are those who say there is No basis for truth: “Whatever seems best for society.” “Social Laws are relative.”
Knowing the reason for our founding is important today.
John Calvin regarding Justice: "The source of Laws is God’s Word."
(See Footnote** for an illustration of what John Calvin meant.)

It is because of God’s Law that People can act ...
Revolution often follows Christianity.
Bible inspired Rutherford who inspired John Witherspoon, signer of Declaration and founder of what is today called Princeton University.
Reformation inspired Locke who inspired Thomas Jefferson.
Martin Luther wrote of “Priesthood of Believers.”
Fundamentally equating among people control of authority by individual conscience.
John Calvin wrote of God's Elect and inspired Puritans -
Absolute Freedom, Absolute Authority for War.
Social Contract based on God’s Covenant.
God the Absolute, granted Freedoms.
God's Contract was the cornerstone of English & American Law
Localism - Town Hall Meetings.

David Minwar writes of the:
Four Basic Tenants of American Development:
1. Doctrine of Equality - Each created in God’s Image. Priesthood of Believers - (Value of Individuals).
2. Government founded on the consent of the governed.
3. Work led to release from uncertainties of Society.
4. Public Education & Scholarship. +

John Locke: “Man’s interests: Life, Liberty & Estate.”
Man gives up some freedoms for Protection.
Purpose of Government is to Protect basic rights
- There are Limits of Power.
- Limit of the Consent.
(To speed process of implementing the Declaration it was decided to
skip ratification of states.)

Foundation of the Declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident ...
All men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

- “According to this view, man is an integral creature with innate moral qualities created in personal relationship with God.
- While man is created by God for relationship with God, man has broken that relationship by setting up his own base - selfish passion.
- Lust is at war with Love.” ++

It is this fact that explains the development of civil government.
“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted by the Consent of the Governed.”
Principal Problem for framers was Control of Authority
Liberty and Authority - Form and Freedom.

“The declaration assumes an absolute metaphysics from which are derived the ideas of self-evident rights and equality of men. The propositions that men are equal and have unalienable rights are moral axioms understood through reason, but not subject to proof, in the empirical sense. (Scripture) They are expressive of the fundamental moral revelations of natural law that governs the universe whether they are understood or honored does not affect their verity.” +++

Compare the Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness with the
Liberte, Egalete, Fraternite (Life, Equality, Fraternity) of the French Revolution. For us the value of our God given life leads to liberty so that we may pursue happiness. The French Revolution was founded on liberty & equality. That revolution resulted in cruel deaths & chaos.
The monarchy was replaced by an emperor, Napoleon.

George Washington: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

John Adams: “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were...the great principles of Christianity.”
He recommended that America’s birthday “be commemorated as a
day of solemn deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”

John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States on July 4, 1837, said:
“In the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked to the birthday of the Savior. The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first principles of Christianity.” I would and God’s Word.

If you haven’t read the Declaration of Independence lately
I strongly urge you to do so over this 4th of July weekend.

The Signers of the Declaration of Independence knew they would be condemned to death & were placing their lives & property of the line for holding to the truths by which they stood declaring independence from the King

(Nine of the thirty-six Signers died in the Revolutionary War.)

Here are a sample of the Scriptures that influenced them and
can give us truths we can hold guiding our decisions.

Psalm 33:4 God’s words are right, true and can be trusted.
God’s Word is reliable because, unlike people
God does not lie, forget, change his words or
leave his promises unfulfilled. We can trust God’s Word because it contains the words of a trustworthy, and unchangeable God.

Psalm 33:6-9 is a Poetic summary of Creation.
God is coordinator of natural forces,
Lord of creation and The Almighty God.
Because God is all-powerful, we revere him in all we do.

Psalm 33:11 "The plans of the Lord stand forever.
Are you frustrated by the inconsistencies seen in others, or yourself?
God is completely trustworthy; his intentions never change.
James 1:17 says:
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.

When wondering whom you can trust, God is consistent.
Let God counsel you and trust God’s plans for your life.

Read Psalm 33:16-17 Horse is equated with military strength.
Because God rules and overrules every nation, leaders should never put their complete trust in physical power. Military might is not the ground of hope.    Hope is in God.

The Bottom Line is found in Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.

In uncertain times where will you place your trust?
What will you hold on to? What truths will guide you?

May our nation return to foundation & truths held
by our founding fathers. Holding these Truths ...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* Thomas J. Norton, The Constitution... p. 267
+ David Minwar, Ideas and Politics: p. 31
++ Ibid. p. 77
+++ Ibid.

** In the old courthouse, Geneva, Switzerland where John Calvin served as Pastor and dramatically change the city, there is a painting on the wall behind where the Judge sits. The painting is of a courtroom. In the corner is Justice portrayed as a woman holding a scale in one hand and sword in the other. She in not blindfolded as she is in our country.
In front of the Judge are two tables with lawyers & clients sitting behind them facing the Judge. The Judge is looking at Justice whose sword is pointing to the Bible. Thus, John Calvin’s statement that Justice and
its laws are founded on God’s Word, Bible.

 

                                             

                                                     

 

                                                       

                                                  Trinity Sunday

                                       Romans 8:15-17, Isaiah 6:1-8 

TRINITARIANS:
(“Worshiping One God, not Three”)

INTRODUCTION: Christians are often accused of being tri-theists
by Muslims and Jews. We are not. We are Trinitarians.
Tomorrow is Trinity Sunday in the Christian calendar. I am going to try explaining the concept and implications of believing in a Triune God.

“The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the deepest and most sacred in the Christian system. * Yet it is one of the most confusing of Christian doctrines.

The term “Trinity” came from man (Tertullian, 220 AD) and
not expressed in a creed until the Council of Nicea (325 AD)
from which came the first Christian Creed: “Nicean Creed.”

The Triune Nature of God is NOT a human invention.
Nor is the term “Trinity” simply a metaphysical attempt of describing God.

Both the unity and tri-unity of God are revealed in Scripture.
“Reason shows unity of God; only Revelation shows Trinity of God.”+
Although the term “Trinity” is not found in Scripture,
the concept definitely is Biblical.

The term “trinity” designates Facts that help us better understand the Implications of what God has revealed about God’s self to us.

The First Fact is: There is but One God.

We do not believe in three Gods. Along with Muslims and Jews we affirm the powerful phrase in Deuteronomy 6:4
"The Lord our God is One Lord."
“In the midst of the most seductive forms of polytheism, it was necessary that the Israelites be thoroughly instructed in divine unity.”*
St. Patrick of Ireland used a Shamrock, 3 leaf clover in explaining the Trinity. Three leaves yet one clover. By the way that is why all those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day wearing green and Shamrocks.
I wonder how many realize they are affirming their belief in the Trinity.

The first and foundational in the Ten Commandments was
You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3)
I could list many other Scripture stating there is but One God.

The Second Fact is: God is Revealed in Three Ways.

From the first verse of the Bible:
"In the beginning God ... Elohim-the Hebrew word for God is plural
created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:26 states:
"God ... Elohim, said:
'Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." In Genesis 3:22:
The Lord said, this man has become like one of us. Isaiah 6:8:
"The Lord said: Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"

Even the sacred phrase for Jews, Muslims and Christians:
"The Lord, Elohim (Our Gods) is One Lord."

When Jews and Muslims are asked to explain these verses, their response is: “this is a council in Heaven of which God is the Moderator.”
Jews acknowledge God’s Spirit came upon prophets and priests but will not say the Spirit is God. Numbers 11:24-24 tells of God’s Spirit being given to seventy elders who had been chosen to assist Moses.
"The Lord took of the Spirit that was on him (Moses)
and put the Spirit on the seventy elders." (11:25)

Though there is but One God, God is revealed in the Three Ways.
The Greek word hypostasis means “substance” and became the technical term explaining that God is One revealed in Three Ways.

A. The Father is recognized as God.

For the Jews and Muslims this is no problem.
Many Scriptures affirm the Father as God. Two:
John 6:27 "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

I Peter 1:2 "Peter as apostle of Jesus Christ ... chosen and destined by God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit for the obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood."

The Lord’s Prayer begins: "Our Father in Heaven ..."

For us to address God as Father is a privilege given by Jesus.

B. The Son, Jesus Christ, is recognized as God.

This is what separates Christians from Jews, Muslims and every other religion. Each acknowledges Jesus was a great prophet who lived a exemplary life.      But saying that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth and crucified in Jerusalem was God is blasphemy. This is the accusation that ultimately led to Jesus’ death. Again, there are many
Scriptures declaring Jesus was God. Two:

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, (Greek is Logos) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.             We have seen his glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,         full of grace and truth."

This chapter and the Gospel affirm that the Word was Jesus.

John 20:28 One of Jesus’ resurrection appearances was to the
Apostle Thomas, who did not believe Jesus was alive. Jesus said:
"Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe." Notice Thomas’s response:
"My Lord and My God!"

While Jesus was on earth he prayed to the Father:
"I do what the Father tells me to do."
How can God be in two places at once?
We say God is omnipresent, God can be in all places at once.
(Try Comprehending one God being both on earth in a physical human form and yet be transcendent, not bound by earth’s restrictions.)

There are many who say Jesus was a Son of God, just like you and I are Children of God. That is Not What Scripture says. It was against that heresy the Council of Nicea met and drafted what we call the Necean Creed.
(Read the Creed at the end of this blog**) Notice that Jesus is
described as Substance that is the Greek word: hypostasis.

In Jesus, God revealed God’s self to us.
In Jesus, we who were separated from God by sin were
brought to God through our faith in Jesus, his dying on
a cross and resurrection from the dead. From John and
other Scriptures we read Jesus was present at creation.
We believe that God revealed as the Son is Elohim.

C. The Holy Spirit is recognized as God,

Jesus says to his disciples: (John 14:16)
"I will never leave you or forsake you.
I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor."

Last Saturday I wrote about Pentecost, the time when the promised Counselor,
the Holy Spirit, came and permanently dwelt among Jesus’ followers.
It was the Holy Spirit’s presence who enabled the disciples to boldly speak about Jesus. Two Scriptures: First Peter’s response to Ananias & Sapheria.

Read Acts 5:1-12 to understand who they were and why Peter said the following:

"How is that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself of the money you received for the land. Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing?
You have not lied to men but to God." (Acts 5:3-4)

Notice how the Holy Spirit is God.

I Corinthians 3:16:
"Don’t you know that you yourselves
are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?"

Throughout the New and Old Testaments, the Spirit of God,
the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, the Guide and other
names are given to that manifestation of God, is God.

That is why we Christians believe that though God is One,
God is also Triune. Bringing together these two diametrically opposed opinions was the struggle of the early Christian Community, which developed the term, Trinity.

Reading the Scriptures: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are interchangeable. Each has a particular function. Each in interconnected with the other. Father is primarily revealed as Creator,
Son is primarily revealed as Redeemer and
Holy Spirit is primarily revealed as Enabler.

An illustration: The Formula H2O = Water. Combining 2 molecules (hypostasis) of Hydrogen and 1 molecule of Oxygen results in water.
It is liquid and can be swallowed. Same liquid cooled to at least 32*F results in a solid object. Still H2O - different form.
Heat that solid and it becomes liquid and then steam vapor.
That same H2O can be taken to different locations and used in the three forms all at once.

Any analogy trying to illustrate the Trinity is difficult and falls short of explaining the different ways God has revealed God’s self to humanity.

Some of you are asking: “What difference does it make whether we believe in a triune God?” or “I don’t understand the Trinity, but I am willing to accept that God is revealed in Three Ways in Scripture.”

There are Three Implications for us.

1. Understanding that we may be accused of worshiping more than one God.

We do Not Worship Three gods, Only One.
Some say God is ultimate. Jesus is subservient and
the Holy Spirit is at the bottom of the authority grid.

That is Not what Scripture says.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all equal. They are God.

2. God did not create us because it was necessary for God to have relationships. God already had relationships, Elohim.
Elohim wants a relationship with humanity,
but not because God was lonely. God created humanity out of love.

3. God is not restricted to a transcendent state, that is God is not just in Heaven, God the Holy Spirit dwells with us in this 21st century.
God’s presence is God’s Spirit.
We serve God, enabled and empowered by The Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God joins with our spirit testifying that we are God’s children, and if God’s children, then heirs.

"The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
We are God’s heirs and Christ’s fellow-heirs." (Rom. 8:16-17)

CONCLUSION: Trinity is Not a human invention.
It is an aspect of God revealed in Scripture.
As Trinitarians we “believe in a God who is revealed in three different ways.” Each of the Elohim has a particular relationship to us, as God’s children.      Each brings a depth of relationship that would not be present if we had only one aspect of God revealed to us.

God may be called Father, Son or Holy Spirit.
Each possess all the substance and all the attributes of the deity.
God is not: Three and One, but Three in One.

The Trinity is not a partnership in which each member can sign for the name of the firm; this is unity of council and operation only (Synchronicity) not essence. God’s nature is not an abstract but an organic unity.

Footnotes: * H. Orton Wiley, Christian Theology, Vol. 1
(Beacon Hill Press: Kansas City, 1969. 393, 395)

+ Augustus H. Strong, Systematic Theology.
(The Judson Press: Valley Forge, 1907, 1967. 304)

The Nicene Creed:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen