The Trinity 2016-011         (1x1x1=1 God)

OK, I believe in the Trinity, of a Triune God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Ghost or Spirit. It is what I believe and I am either right or wrong per others, but in that respect, I do not care what others believe.

Some would argue even about there being a God or a son who was God and came to give all people salvation. But some also are dubious about the Holy Spirit part in many ways. I understand this and at one time had questions about there being a Ghost or Spirit that lurked around me. I really think this is a normal and questionable concept for many to grasp and believe.

The Scriptures or New Testament of the Bible are, in most cases, the authority of anything relating to God. Some insist that the Bible IS the only final say of what is correct about God or anything else in relation to this subject. They may be right, but I have my thoughts about this fact and will not share them now.

About “The Trinity”! Much is in the Bible about The Father and The Son, Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is mentioned a number of times in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The idea of “The Trinity” was NOT mentioned in the Bible at all. The Holly Spirit was mentioned in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) as referring to the divine force and influence of the Most High God that ruled over the universe or it creatures. The doctrine of The Trinity, did not take its definitive shape until late in the fourth century.

Actually, Holy Ghost was the original Old English word that came from “gast” or “spirit” but most Christians use the words, “Holy Spirit” today. There are some Christian denominations that do NOT identify “The Holy spirit” as being part of “The Trinity”. The religion, Islam, acknowledges that there is a Spirit that is Holy, and it acts as an agent of divine action or communication to followers. Regardless, the best example of how the three Holy beings are represented by Christians is shown below, which may not show up on the blog. In short, The Father is NOT the Son or Spirit, but God, The Son is NOT the Father or the Spirit, but God, and the Spirit is not the Father or Son, but God. God is all encompassing, simple as that…..   Sometimes people of religion, or not, get hung up on what they believe or read and do not consider the actual meaning in a different way; too bad!!!!!  At times, it is not what is written or said, but what is believed and that is the hard thing to wrap yourself around too…….   Nobody promised easy!!!!!!!

 

Each depiction of the invisible Heavenly Spirit of God arose from different historical accounts in the Gospel narratives; the first being at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River where the Holy Spirit was said to descend in the form of a dove as the voice of God the Father spoke as described in Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, and Luke 3:21-23; the second being from the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Pascha where the descent of the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, as tongues of fire as described in the Acts of the Apostles 2:1–31.

The doctrine of “The Trinity” did not take its definitive shape until late in the fourth century, as I said before. That being said, the first recorded use of this Greek word in Christian theology was by Theophilus of Antioch in about 170. He wrote: ^“In like manner also the three days which were before the luminaries, are types of the Trinity, of God, and His Word, and His wisdom. And the fourth is the type of man, who needs light, that so there may be God, the Word, wisdom, man.

Tertullian, a Latin theologian who wrote in the early 3rd century, is credited as being the first to use the Latin words “Trinity”, “person” and “substance” to explain that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are “one in Essence—not one in Person”.

I rather like the words “in Essence” rather than “in Person”. This somewhat makes it more clear that the Essence of God is comprised of the Father, the Son and the Spirit, and does not show them as three persons, but instead being of one Essence. When I pray to God, I feel that I AM praying to the Essence of God even though I say, Father in my particular prayer at the time.

At one time in my life I experienced the blessing of having contact and hearing God in the form of the Son. I later heard what I took as the Essence of God in the form of the Holy Spirit, and not long afterwards saw the Glory of God when I challenged Him for clarity of His expressions. Nobody can convince me that what I heard, I felt, or saw as NOT being or coming from the Essence of God in one of the three forms each time. Nobody!!!!

That is why I believe in “The Trinity”. That is why I believe in the Father, the Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit that make up “The Essence of God”. A close and dear friend of mine said, “What I did experience was a miracle”, and perhaps he is correct; don’t know. What I had as “The Happening” was my happening and I could only wish and pray others could have the same thing occur to them. It might be a thing that COULD happen to others; don’t know.

I will leave you with this discourse about “The Trinity” and say this. “Believe what you want or NOT, that is up to you, but please consider, that I believe that “The Essence of God” is with you at all times and all places and circumstances”.

Peace Be With You,

Den Betts