Three living Persons

TimeWatch Editorial
February 18, 2016

On February 16, 2016 we dealt with the signing of a declaration between the Papacy and the Russian Orthodox Church. In that article we briefly described some of the theological differences between the two churches regarding the Godhead. The point was made that their error has been spread across the Protestant World. While many of the churches are unaware of it, the theological positions that they now embrace are not based upon scripture, but in many cases based upon Catholic heresy. Today, we will take a deeper look at the matter.

Roman Catholicism teaches that the Son comes out of the Father and the Holy Spirit comes from both;—and yet there is only one God! There is no Son apart from the Father and no Holy Spirit apart from both. Listen to what My Catholic Faith: A Manual of Religion, by Louis Laravoire Morrow, Bishop of Krishnagar, p. 30. Says:

“The Father begets the Son, and the Son proceeds from the Father. The Father and Son breathe forth the Holy Ghost, and He proceeds from Them, as from one Source.”—“One God in Three Persons,” My Catholic Faith: A Manual of Religion, by Louis Laravoire Morrow, Bishop of Krishnagar, p. 30.

The error becomes even more sinister. Listen to the Athanasian Creed:

"The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God." In this Trinity of Persons the Son is begotten of the Father by an eternal generation, and the Holy Spirit proceeds by an eternal procession from the Father and the Son.” the Athanasian Creed.

Sinister indeed it is. We need not therefore continue to repeat the heresy, but rather let us investigate the truth.

God’s faithful ones do not believe in the Catholic “Trinity” dogma. The term is not found in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy. The Trinity error teaches that there is one God in three appearances. That is an error. We do not worship a “one-in-three” God. Instead, we believe that there are three fully divine, separate persons in the Godhead. They are not one in person. However They are one in character, purpose, eternity, and divinity.

Each member of the Godhead has an agreed upon position, which requires self-sacrifice. In the planning of Heaven, although He deeply loves us, the Father does not minister to us as the Son does. The Father is self-effacing in this respect. The Son is not the supreme ruler; that task is reserved for the Father. The Son willingly accepts a lesser position. The Holy Spirit is also self-effacing to a remarkable degree. He comes to us personally and helps us while letting all the thankfulness be given to the Father and the Son.

The bible is crystal clear on the matter. In the Old Testament, the Redeemer and Saviour is Jehovah (Job 19:25; Ps. 78:35; 106:21; Isa. 41:14; 43:3, 11, 14; 47:4; 49:7, 26; 60:16).

In the New Testament, this individual is clearly Jesus (Matt. 1:21, Luke 1:76-79, 2:17, John 4:42, Gal. 3:13, 4:5, Titus 2:13-14).

In the Old Testament, it is Jehovah who dwells among Israel and in the hearts of those that fear Him (Ps. 135:21, Isa. 8:18, 57:15, Eze. 43:5-9, Joel 3:17-21, Zech. 2:10-11).

In the New Testament, it is the Holy Spirit that dwells among God’s people (Rom. 8:9, 11, 1 Cor. 3:16-17, Gal. 4:6, Eph. 2:22, James 4:5, Eze. 43:7-9, Joel 3:17-21, Zech. 2:10-11).

The New Testament represents God as sending His Son into the world (John 3:16, Gal. 4:4, Heb. 1:6, 1 John 4:9).

These texts are by no means all that are available. But they will show clearly that the Godhead consists of three separate and distinct persons. Two more quotes should suffice.

“The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this love?”—Counsels on Health, 222.

“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three holy dignitaries of heaven, have declared that They will strengthen men to overcome the powers of darkness. All the facilities of heaven are pledged to those who by their baptismal vows have entered into a covenant with God.”—5 Bible Commentary, 1110 (Manuscript 92, 1901).

As I have said, there is more, and we are privileged to have been given a Word as clear as it is.

Cameron A. Bowen