The Godhead
Overview
Godhead and revelation of God
Trinity Overview
Functions of the Godhead persons
Views we do not hold
Godhead and Progressive Revelation
Definition- Refers to that which is divine, to deity, involving God’s revelation of His own mode of being (Col 2:9/Romans 1:19-20)
Anything that can be known about God comes from him revealing it to us. The Word of God has revealed what can be known about God and his nature to us.
The nature of God has been progressively revealed throughout the Bible. The nature of God’s essence has evolved over time up to the incarnation of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:3/Colossians 1:19)
OT – God is one
God is one
HS present, but unclear how he relates to individuals, but scripture speaks of Spirit resting on people for supernatural works
Prophecies point to Messiah figure to come , Son of Man with the ancient of days, etc.
God has revealed himself as one God, existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirt; distinguishable but indivisible in essence; co-eternal, co-existent, co-equal in nature, attributes, power, and glory.
Scripture points to a trinitarian view of God
Trinity Overview
Traditional trinitarian understanding of God rests on 3 truths revealed by the Word of God
God is 3 persons- Scriptures show that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each have unique characteristics and qualities of personality.
Father is not the Son is not the Holy Spirit
Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16-17) all 3 persons of the Trinity are present
Olivet Discourse Jesus distinguishes between Father, Son, and Spirit (John 14-17)
2 Corinthians 13:14 all members attributed different functions
Each person is fully God
The Father is God
The Son is God
With God and Was God (John 1:1)
John 20:28- Thomas call Jesus “God”
Jesus “I AM” and references that he is the Son
The Holy Spirit is God
Peter equates lying to Holy Spirit as lying to God (Acts 5:3-4)
There is one God
OT speaks to this (Deut 6:4
NT speaks of this (Romans 3:30/ 1 Tim 2:5)
Functions of the Godhead
Father is the source of all things. Son proceeds from the Father. Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
The Father
The Head
The Source
The Son
The mediator between God and man
The perfect sacrifice for sins- he was without sin
Head of the Church
Giver of the E4 ministry gifts
Creator of All things (above all things)- through God
The visible expression of the invisible God/The fullness of the Godhead bodily (Hebrews 1:3/Colossians 1:19)
The Holy Spirit
The one who interacts with us post ascension of Jesus
The one who is active in our sanctification process
The one who seals us for salvation and empowers us for ministry
The giver of the gifts
The counselor
The teacher
The comforter
Glorifies Jesus (takes what is of Christ and makes it known to us) – John 16:14
Illuminator of the Word of God
Incorrect views
Modalism- One person appearing in 3 forms
Unitarianism- Christ was inspired, but not divine
Views that don’t hold to Christ’s diety