Some Thoughts

Today we covered the clear but incomprehensible Doctrine of the Tri-une Nature of God. Calling to mind the topics of Scriptural Authority (i.e., that our reason is subject to revelation, not vice versa) and the Incomprehensibility of God (Deut. 29:29 [show] [29]"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (ESV)
, etc.), we acknowledged with Paul–at the outset–that this is a “great mystery” (1 Tim. 3:16 [show] [16]Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
).

As transient creaturelings subject to God (and thus, to His Word), we called to mind that our only two real questions pertaining to this topic are 1) “What does scripture say?” and 2) “Do I believe it?” (Owen) Because if we don’t believe it, that would make us–you guessed it–”unbelievers.” So, without attempting to explain where the Bible does not explain, but only state what the Bible states, we affirmed the following five statements in summary of this truth about our incomprehensible and transcendent God (“who is Spirit”):

1. There is only one God.
2. The Father is God.
3. The Son is God.
4. The Holy Spirit is God.
5. Each person is fully God, and yet distinct from, and co-existant with, the other two.

(If anyone would like me to include some Scriptures in support of the above statements, please let me know. I was greatly helped in compiling the above statements by John Owen, John Calvin, Louis Berkhof, Wayne Grudem, and John Frame.)

Having laid out the clear teaching of Scripture, there were only two things left to cover: the second question from above (“Do I believe it? Will I submit my reason to God’s Word?”) and finally, to greatly rejoice. There is a wonderful fellowship among the persons of the trinity; the Father is “well-pleased” in his Son, the Son “does always the things that please the Father,” the Holy Spirit “always testifies of the Son,” etc. As adopted children, we wondered that God would not only reveal this wonderful mystery of the passionate fellowship within his very nature, but that he would sweep us up into it all–to “be with him where he is,” as Christ prayed (John 17, ESV [show] When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [2]since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3]And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4]I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. [5]And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. [6]"I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. [7]Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. [8]For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. [9]I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. [10]All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. [11]And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. [12]While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. [13]But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. [14]I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [15]I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. [16]They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [17]Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. [18]As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. [19]And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. [20]"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21]that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22]The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23]I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24]Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25]O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26]I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." (ESV)
), and to “look upon his glory.”

We started 20 min. late due to the room change…and thus finished 20 min. late as well. I had a wonderful time–especially with the third statement above. Not sure how well the others did, though…tough subject to cover in only a single class (or in any number of classes!)

Now to prepare for a little “Reformation Day” shin-dig this evening…good times! (Anyone 20ish–30ish and in the area, feel free to drop by around 6–Showtime is 6:30 sharp! Bring $$ for food/beverages.)