Heaven , Hell, and Politics

Heaven, Hell, Politics, and Personal Stories plus any topic of interest that creates news and heightens intelligent dialogue between readers – this blog is for you!

Friday, April 16, 2010

Can the Doctrine of the Trinity be defended as a mystery?



The Mystery Of the Trinity

I was recently asked during an Internet Discussion about the Orthodox Christian Doctrine of the Trinity with several people. Through this discourse, it ended up helping readers gain some valuable tools to understand and defend this doctrine. It is my prayer that you may likewise be helped and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.

One person involved asked the question – how can God be one and yet three? Another was opposed to the doctrine of the Trinity. Then another participant ‘Bart’ stated the following truth:

The Trinity or Godhead reconciles all the elements you're noting with the understanding that God is three, yet one in essence. There's an element of mystery to it that transcends human experience…

The truth of the Trinity as being a mystery is a very biblical factual position. Below is my response and may it help you gain insight into the Doctrine of the Trinity justified from the perspective of being a mystery continued below:

…Adding to what Bart says about 'there being in the Trinity (the Godhead) an element of mystery to it that transcends (our own) human experience,' let us look at these two scriptures:

Isaiah 40:18 - To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

Isaiah 40:25 - "To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One.


Notice how the bible proclaims that there is none like the Lord as it is written elsewhere:

2 Samuel 7:22 - Therefore You are great, O Lord GOD. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Psalm 86:8 - Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works.

Psalm 89:6 - For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?


Now think upon this for a moment :

If God is in the same likeness of oneness as any other false god or thing, then these bible verses are in error as this cannot be because there is none like God! There is no likeness that can adequately compare with God (see Isaiah 40:25).

That is why the Orthodox Doctrine (Christian) of the Divine Trinity is termed as a mystery because it retains and proves that there is none like God: One God in three distinct persons of one divine essence. Truly, None like Him!

If God were in the same image of oneness as any other false gods, items, or things then that would be in conflict with what Exodus 20:1-5 says. God is unlike all and therefore His oneness is unlike all other oneness’s out there. That is why the mystery of the Trinity retains the biblical injunction from Exodus 20:1-5 and is in no violation of this.

Further Evidence

This is in keeping with how in the bible God describes and how God reveals himself to be within the very pages of the bible. For a few more examples see below:

Read Isaiah 40:1-31 - on your own and note the usage of third person speech God uses when speaking of himself. Note verse 10 and 11 as well who is speaking in throughout this chapter and then note transition in verses 25-31 (Isaiah 40:25-31) noting the types and parts of speech used by the Lord when referring to himself)

Note Isaiah 59:16, “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him.”

Isaiah 52:10, “The LORD has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God.”

Isaiah 53:1, “…Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”

Isaiah 63:12, “Who led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, Dividing the water before them To make for Himself an everlasting name…”

Psalms 98:1-9, "Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.2 The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God..."


Psalms 89:13-18

Look at Psalms 89:13- 15, You have a mighty arm; Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face (pāniym). 15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance (pāniym).”

Note that the Hebrew word pāniym: is a masculine plural noun with dual meaning. It can denote face(s) or countenance(s). Pāniym used here looks like it refers to the distinct attributes of the Son and Holy Spirit. (See reference notes below)

Notice in verse 14 how two words are used – 'mercy and truth' in NKJV and note verse 13 that three distinct parts from one essence is being revealed within the context of biblical symbolism: You Have (denoting essence), then strong is your hand/arm and then another hand also mentioned as being distinct by the phrase ‘High Right Hand.’

Next note how Mercy and Truth being mentioned in the NKJV text. After this explore what is recorded in John 1:14 about Jesus and what John 14:26, John 15:26, and John 16:13-15 says. Look at what Isaiah 53:1 states – to whom has the Arm of the Lord Revealed – then look at what Jesus says about the Spirit of Truth.

Yes, God is One and there is none like him in the type – essence - of his own oneness! There is in the Trinity (the Godhead) an element of mystery to it that transcends our own human experience... which is very scripturally founded.

Psalms 89:6 , “ For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?

There is no likeness that can adequately compare with God. The Lord is unlike all and therefore His oneness is unlike all other oneness’s out there conceived by man. That is why the Orthodox Doctrine (Christian) of the Divine Trinity is termed as a mystery because it retains and proves that there is none like God: One God in three distinct persons of one divine essence. Truly, None like Him!

Reference notes:

Bible quotes are all from the NKJV (New King James Version)

Regarding Pāniym – AMG Complete Word Studies Old Testament and from Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (re: face – Pāniym)

Also explore what the symbolism of Hand and Arm had as used in the Old Testament – what these represent. Is there anything too difficult for God?

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

Faith to Faith



God promises us victory and new life after one becomes born again. Why does this victory and new life seem so hard in today’s modern world? Where are the blessings of God? Have you ever felt like this – Your faith becoming disheartened? Don't know what to do?

The next series of posts in the Comments Section looks into these matters helping restore, strengthen, as well as challenge us to move forward from Faith to Faith and Glory to Glory. These postings are from edited sermon transcripts from my travels over the course of the year so that you can find help from Christ Jesus in time of need.

Please Note: I had to stop posting for a while as my blog was hit hard by spam as well as delayed by recent travel and speaking engagements. I am still in process of cleaning out the spam. Thank you for the emails regarding this.

Also, I will continue the writings on the Old Testament Concept of God which show how the Trinity is indeed thoroughly soaked within the language of the Old Testament as posted in the March 2009 Archive per many of your request!

Due to unsolicited spam, if you would like to comment and post, please join, so I can clear you to comment or send me an email at: BryanMelvin1@aol.com

Also visit my website as well: afterhoursministries.com

God Bless!

Be sure to enter the Comments Section and find help and encouragement in time of need – stretch and expand your Faith Today

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Monday, March 16, 2009

Old Testament Concept of God



The following section contains writings on the Old Testament Concept of God which show how the Trinity is indeed thoroughly soaked within the language of the Old Testament. There God reveals Himself like no other!

Enter 'Comments' section to read more…


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B. W. Melvin

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Interesting Thoughts

Questions and Answers:

The following section contains clips from various interviews and teachings from my testimony concerning the topic Hell and the Afterlife during the year 2008 such as:

Is the Afterlife really real? What about people who've never heard the gospel? How can we be absolutely sure we're going to heaven? Can the bible be true? What about….

Enter 'Comments' section to read more…

Friday, February 29, 2008

Eternal Recompense Fact or Fiction?


Is the idea of eternal recompense fact or fiction? Would God eternally punish...

Find out more by entering this lively debate with those that support Annihilationism, Soul Death, Soul Sleep, and Universal Salvation, verses what Orthodox Christianity has to say on the subject of eternity and everlasting recompense. Learn if the reality of Hell and everlasting punishment is real verses those bent on ignoring Christ’s own words on this very subject.

This debate began several months ago…During the course of the debate two people recanted their beliefs in the doctrine of ‘Soul Sleep’ and ‘Annihilationism.’ Find out whom in Post 11.

Post 2 through 10 revolves around combating the errors of the ‘Soul Sleep’ and ‘Annihilationisms’ doctrines. Post 13 onward switch to debating ‘Annihilationisms Soul Death’ concept and Universalism. May sincere Christians who find themselves at odds against these doctrines learn from this debate how to answer the criticisms imposed by the adherents of ‘Soul Sleep, Annihilationism,’ and ‘Universalism.’

…Too find out more - read comments section…

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Q & A 2008

New Postings:

Due to numerous emails asking such questions as:

Why only Christians enter heaven, isn't that unfair?

Is there really a hell?

How can God be so...?

I am opening this Post to answer questions like these and more.

However, due to increase in spam I can only open Blog to those wishing to post by invite only. You can email me at BryanMelvin1@aol.com so I can clear you to post your questions as a guest on this Blog.

My apologies for any inconvenience this method may impose but this is the only way to keep spam off Blog.

God Bless!

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Monday, March 19, 2007

Comments


Do you agree with these two passages of scripture to be true or not?

Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." KJV

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." KJV

Question: Do you agree that God's word is powerful? Do you believe that God carries out his word and means what he says? Then why the controversy over…

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