Who here believes in it and why, the majority of christains believe in it...but I don't get why...so if you guys could, please give me some reasoning as to why you think God is a Trinity and do not agree with the oneness argument. BTW: I am a oneness stainless
Stainless, You're not a oneness. You're a many-ness. A son, a friend, and an employee, just to name a few. If I asked your parents, your friends, and your boss to describe you, they'd all describe you in different ways, even though it's the same stainless. The way you behave around your parents, your friends, and your boss is different, even though it's the same stainless. Although I wouldn't stretch this analogy too far theologically, it reveals the basic truth of the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity doesn't say that God isn't One. In fact, what the doctrine of the Trinity says is that God is Three in One and One in Three. I realize that might not make sense. But it is the way that God has chosen to reveal Himself. I actually take comfort from the fact that God's ways and logic don't make sense to me or the world. I don't want this world to be the end all be all of logic, of mercy, even of understanding.
I don't believe in the part about the holy spirit unless one is to say that the holy spirit is not a sepreate enity but a piece of god in all of us and that is where in God's image would come from. By the way the name I use here means Jesus in another tongue
Yes. And the three roles are performed by all three persons of the Triune God. Typically God the Father is presented as "creator," while the Son is presented as "redeemer," and the Spirit is the "sustainer." While true, it isn't the end of the story. The Father also redeems and sustains, while the Son creates and sustains, and the Spirit creates and redeems.
so if there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy spirit.....how does that equal one God?...I count three regardless, If Colossians 2:9 says "for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily", how is there room for two other people? Also...Ephesians 4:4 says "there is ONE body and ONE spirit."....and if the Father and the Holy Ghost are both spirit...I count two... Couldn't it be that god manifested himself? I think he is the Father of Creation, the son in Redemption, and the holy spirit in regeneration....All one person as one God, not three people as one God... stainless
I must say that I never thought that I'd be discussing the nature of the Trinity outside of seminary, and certainly not on this forum. Anyway, Paul was right when he told the Church at Collosae that in Christ the fullness of God dwelled. You were right when you said God manifested Himself in Jesus. Paul was simply saying that there is no part of the Triune God not in Jesus Christ. Just as there is no part of the Triune God not revealed in the Father or the Spirit. All work together as one God. You're also taking your cited Ephesians passage out of context. Paul was talking about how the church should behave, not individuals within it. "There is one body, and one spirit" means that there is one church, gathered in lots of congregations, rather than lots of churches all over the place. That holds true even today, even in our denominationalism (although the different denominations would disagree on the nature of that unity). Hence the phrase in the Nicene Creed, "the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church." Realizing that you're not a confessing Christian, I don't want to condemn you for this view. It's actually a valid question. Heck, more than a few people that ARE members of the church (in whatever denomination) hold it. That being said, it is the historical heresy of modalism. It is held to be heretical because to give only one mode, one role (creator, redeemer, or regenerator) to each person of the Trinity is to say, taken to its logical conclusion, that when those roles aren't being performed, that part of God doesn't exist. And that's not orthodox Christianity. John 1:3 "All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created." (The Word of God - i.e. Christ - creating.) Genesis 1:2b "And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters." (The Spirit working at creation.) It's also worth noting that God the Father isn't specifically mentioned as creating in Genesis. God will always surprise us. By the way, thank you for using the Bible to ask questions. Too often, as I noted in another thread not too long ago, it is possible to argue past one another. Which can just piss everybody off. You'll probably find this ironic, but, my own faith is deepened when I'm called to defend it. It's important to know WHY I claim the faith that I do.
Very good points! I thought I was gonna read this, only to find it is the same arguments I have heard over and over and shoot it down once again. These are new to me. Thanks, stainless
