THE ONENESS OF GOD
THE DIVINE “ONENESS”
THE NATURE OF GOD and the UNITY WITHIN HIMSELF
ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS:
The Father Initiates:
The source of all that occurs
The Son Accomplishes:
The agent of the Father, through whom the Father fulfills
His will.
The Spirit Empowers:
The means by which the Father and the Son accomplish the Divine will.
Footnote:
Father is the seat of the will, intentions, purposes, and plans
THE ONENESS OF GOD
THE UNITY OF NATURE
THE UNITY OF PURPOSE
THE ACTING IN UNITY
THE SUBORDINATION WITHIN GOD
Footnotes:
Nature: EQUALITY - Holy – ETERNAL – Love – RELATIONAL/COMMUNAL – Worthy of Praise and Worship
Purpose: Manifest Glory – Express Love - Creation - Redemption
Community: Fellowship within the Godhead – Oneness with One Another
Subordination: Spirit Subordinate to the Father and the Son – The Son subordinate to the Father
THE BIBLICAL SUPPORT
There is One God
There are Three Distinct Persons
Each Person is Fully God
The Communal God
Footnotes:
ONE GOD:
Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Gal. 3:20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
DISTINCT PERSONS
Mt. 3:16-17 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold,a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Mt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
2 Cor 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
EACH FULLY GOD
The Father: Matthew 11:25-26 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. (see also Romans 1:7, Galatians 1:1)
The Son: John 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His
glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 17:5 Now, Father, glorify Me
together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!”
The Spirit: Acts 5:3-4 “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the
land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? Ps 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (see also Mt 28:19-20 “and lo I am with you always.”)
THE COMMUNAL GOD
John 17: 11 Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. John 17:22 The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that
they may be one, just as We are one;
THE GLORY OF MAN
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to
Our likeness; God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Gen 1: 26,27)
Footnotes:
The image of God:
1. Spiritual (spiritually alive at creation/reborn in Christ)
2. Eternal (soul)
3. Rational (mind)
4. Moral (will)
5. Emotional (emotions)
6. Relational (communal)
7. Equal (equality with one another)
The form of humanity
Mortal
THE IMAGE OF GOD IN US
Spiritual spiritually alive / reborn in Christ
Eternal soul
Rational mind
Moral will / ability to make choices
Emotional emotions
Relational communal oneness
Equal equal with one another