SC6 – How many persons in God? In which we discuss the Trinity – one of the most difficult, distinctive and encouraging doctrines in Christianity.
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The Blog of David Robertson
Hi David, I was brought up in a Christian family so I learned the truths of Scripture from an early age and although I accepted all the doctrines without question I have always had my doubts about whether the Trinity is truly taught in the whole of Scripture.
My reason for this I don’t see it anywhere in the Old Testament where God himself consistently declares that he is the only true God. Deut. 6:4. YHWH and there is none other than He. All the Prophets writings substantiate this fact, as well as the Psalmist.
Surely God’s revelation of himself to his chosen people, Israel, was true and unchanging like Himself.
When Jesus came in the fullness of time through the line of David, as promised, he taught with authority, that his Heavenly Father was also his God.
The Apostle Paul also made clear that he distinguished between God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, eg. “ God has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ “
“ When he has done this , then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him , so that God may be all in all. “
Finally, Paul again near the end of his ministry, to Timothy, “ For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus “.
Paul was always mindful of the Shema “ Hear O Israel the LORD your God the LORD is One. “
I think you mean that the Old Testament consistently declares that God is the only true God? That does not negate the Trinity. That is what the catechism says – there is only one God. Jesus taught clearly that he was the Son of Man (a divine title from Daniel), that he was the Son of God, that he could forgive sins…the Apostle Paul clearly taught the divinity of Christ (calling Christ Lord, is calling him Yahweh)….The Trinity is clearly taught in Scripture….I suggest you read Donald Macleod’s ‘Shared Life’ as an easier intro to what that means….
You never addressed any of the points that I made in my earlier comments regarding the clear evidence in the Bible that God is One, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because he was faithful unto death, even death on a cross, therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Paul wrote that there is one God and one mediator between God and man , the man Christ Jesus. Our great High Priest intercedes for us before his God and Father and our God and Father. He is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain. He will return to Jerusalem some day to rule over a new earth as promised in God’s prophetic word.
We gentile believers in his Lordship are so blessed to be included in the Israel of God by grace through faith in the anointed one of God. ( Romans Ch. 11 )
David – can I suggest you read my post again. Yes I did address the issue that God is One – that is the question that the catechism answers. One God in three persons. There is no point in just quoting scriptures out of context – scriptures which not only do not prove your point that Jesus is not God – but actually suggest that he is. “Jesus is Lord’ is another way of saying ‘Jesus is God’.
Forgive me
Maureen Macleod – beautiful voice and lyrics on intro to Catechism 6 – any links to her work etc please
Greatly helped on Trinity
You can get Maureen here – https://www.happyweesongs.com/
John 8:58-Jesus said ‘I am’ meaning God.
John 10:33-The Jews said d He made himself out to be God and wanted to stone Him for blasphemy.
Matthew 9:1-9-Jesus could forgive sins only because He had been sinned against as God and the Pharisees knew this and He proved it be healing the man.
Jesus accepted worship from people and never rebuked them. He was also a man who got tired, paid tax and didn’t know everything while on earth, He was also under the same temptations that we have but never succumbed to them.
Isaiah 9:6-7-Jesus fulfilled the prophecy and was called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father.
There are many proofs in the Bible that say Jesus is God if people care to study and look.