THE HOLY TRINITY OF THE GODHEAD In addition, we believe that the Holy Bible repeatedly asserts the existence of one Living and True God (Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; Jas. 2:19). We also believe that in the Bible we find three distinct persons (Gen. 19:24; Hos. 1:7; Isa. 48:16; Psa. 2:7) clearly recognized as the eternal God — the Father (John 6:27; Rom. 1:7; Gal. 1:1), the Son (John 1:1; 20:28; Tit. 2:13; Heb. 1:8), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 3:17-18). These are represented as relating to One Another in perfect harmony (Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6); 2 Cor. 13:14), the Perfect Society. We thus conclude that the one God exists eternally in three distinct Persons constituting the Supreme Godhead, the one Triune God. Therefore, we believe that in the absolutely singular God (Exod. 3:13-15; 20:2-3; Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Jas. 2:19) there are Three Personal Self-Distinctions (Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; John 14:16; 2 Cor. 13:14) with personal relationships to One Another (Gen. 19:24; Isa. 48:16; Hos. 1:7; John 3:35; 2 Tim. 1:18), in that there is an I, a You, and a He eternally in the Godhead. These we recognize as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Isa. 48:16; Rom. 15:16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 13:14; Gal. 4:6; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; Jude 20-21), eternally exercising Divine Love among Themselves (Matt. 3:17; John 3:35; 5:20; 14:31; 15:26). They are co-eternal, co-indwelling and co-equal, having the same Divine Essence and Attributes, with a voluntary subordination of the Son to the Father (Phil. 2:5-7) and of the Holy Spirit to the Father and to the Son (John 14-16). Accordingly, we believe that the logical order of the relationships within the Godhead recognizes that the Father, The First Person, is neither begotten by nor proceeds from Another in the Godhead (John 6:27; Rom. 1:7; Gal. 1:1). It recognizes that the Son, The Second Person, is eternally begotten of the Father (Psa. 2:7; John 3:16, 18; 14:24; 16:28; Heb. 1:6) and proceeds from the Father (John 6:57); and that the Holy Spirit, The Third Person, eternally proceeds from both the Father and the Son (John 14:26; 15:26; Acts 2:33; Heb. 9:14). We also reject the peculiar notion that the Lord Jesus was begotten of the Father in time rather than in eternity, which notion necessarily ascribes a change to the immutable essence of God. Likewise, we believe that in the Godhead exists an order relating to the administration of Gods eternal purposes: All things are out of the Father, through the Son (1 Cor. 8:6), and in the sphere of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2). We believe that while all the works of God are the works of The Three Persons jointly (1 Cor. 12:4-6; Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Pet. 1:2; 3:18), some works are related more particularly to One Person than to Another: Creation and Providence are related primarily to the Father (Gen. 1-2; Neh. 9:6), Redemption and Mediation are related primarily to the Son (John 1:29; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Tit. 2:11; Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:14, 15; 1 John 2:2), and Regeneration and Sanctification are related primarily to the Holy Spirit (John 3:5; Acts 16:14; Rom. 6:19, 21; 9:16; Phil. 2:13; 1 Tim. 2:15). Accordingly, we believe that the Old Testament contains a clear anticipation of the more complete revelation of the Holy Trinity in the New Testament. We also believe that a proper understanding of the New Testament requires an orthodox belief in the Holy Trinity as stated here. We further believe that the Holy Trinity, like all other doctrines related to the mystery of the Godhead, is never fully within our grasp. Concurrently, we reject and condemn the historical view known as Sebellianism stating that the Trinity is merely three manifestations of God, some sort of an economic Triad. We likewise reject and condemn the historical views of the Trinity adopted by certain modern cults and are known as Dynamic Monarchianism and Modalistic Monarchianism. Similarly, we reject and condemn the view known as Tritheism denying the unity of the essence of God and claiming the existence of three distinct Gods. We believe that the Lord God is a unity of essence as well as of purpose and endeavor. We therefore believe that there is only one God existing eternally in three Persons within the one Supreme Being. Furthermore, we assert our belief that the Triune God described above is a concrete, eternal and incomprehensible reality, and that His essence is simple and indivisible. We also believe that this view of the Lord God must have been Divinely revealed to us; because, being outside the realm of the human experience, it is not possible for it to be humanly constructed. Moreover, we believe that this doctrine of the mysterious Trinity is a crucial and a foundational ingredient of our Christian Faith, encompassing an indispensable practical value to the Christian Faith: Because it is virtually impossible to conceive of a personality existing eternally without a society, the Holy Trinity constitutes an eternal and perfectly harmonious society. Also, the Triune God, having exercised eternal love within Himself, extends His love toward His Creation. Likewise, because only God can reveal God, the incarnation of the Son revealed God to His Creation. Furthermore, only God can atone for sin, and only God can mediate between God and man. We thus believe that if there were no Trinity, there would have been no love of God, no incarnation, no atonement for sin, no Mediator between God and man, and no salvation for sinners. In such an unbiblical scenario, Christianity would be reduced down to the level of other world religions. We therefore believe that Trinitarianism is the highest form and the only true form of Monotheism. Your friend for the Word of God & for the Testimony of Jesus Christ, Dr. Habib J. Khoury, B.A., M.A., M.DIV., TH.D. P. S. For my Bible-teaching articles, please follow this link ► blog.bamicounseling.org/ To register for my free Bible-teaching monthly BAMI ONLINE NEWSLETTER, please follow this link ► app.expressemailmarketing/Survey.aspx?SFID=171290 then go to your email inbox and confirm your registration. Confirmation is necessary for subscription.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 01:30:18 +0000