October 23 I Wednesday

Jeremiah 1-2

1 Timothy 3

“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is One.”    

—Deuteronomy 6:4

 

Judaism, Islam and Christianity are three major religions of this world that affirm there is only one God. Christianity may give the misconception and false impression of being tri-theists because we hold to the Trinity. However, a true definition of tri-theists is one who believes in three gods, when in actuality, we are not tri-theists because we believe in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We can find Scriptural proofs to defend and bear witness to the deity of Christ and the Holy Spirit being co-equal and co-eternal with the Father. About the Son, the author of Hebrews affirms us, “But about the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever…’” (Hebrews 1:8). From this verse, the Father calls the Son, “God.” In other words, the identity of Jesus Christ as the Son validates His identity as God.

God the Holy Spirit is also spoken of as being God. For example, the occasion of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts, where they claimed to be giving all the money they had raised from the sale of a field to the church in Jerusalem, except they knowingly kept a portion of the money back for themselves. They did not have to give any of the money, but they claimed to give all of it when they only gave a part of it. This was their problem: they were being deceptive and hypocritical. Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?...You have not lied just to human beings but to God” (Acts 5:3-4). Note that Peter said, “You have lied to the Holy Spirit” and “You have not lied to men but to God;” in other words, the Holy Spirit is called, “God.”

Even though the Holy Spirit does not have a personal name in Scripture as the Father (like Jehovah, Elohim) or the Son (like Jesus Christ) does, the Holy Spirit has titles and descriptors such as the Comforter and Spirit of Truth. Therefore, the Father is called God, the Son is called God, the Holy Spirit is called God but the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit and the Spirit is not the Father. They are all separate yet one. While the Trinity is a mystery to behold––how our God exists in three different persons––as Christians, may we declare that we are solidly monotheists.

 

Prayer: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, even though my finite mind may not completely comprehend the Trinity, allow me to rejoice and live confidently with what I do know about You. Thank You, Lord.


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