Question: Is there any difference between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?

Posted by tjcsg on October 3, 2011

Is there any difference between God,
Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?

Before we discuss the doctrine of one God in Jesus Christ, let’s look at a summary of the doctrine of Trinity:

1. God is one.
2. The Godhead consists of three distinct eternal coequal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons are the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence.
3. God is indivisible and unquantifiable.
4. All three persons of the triune God are involved in every work of God in the world. All acts of God proceed from the Father, through His Son or Word or Image, in the power of His immanent Holy Spirit. For example, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit can individually be said to raise the dead because, as God, each one does raise the dead. The act is one act, performed by one God, but involving all three ways in which God is God.
5. Jesus is the second person of the Trinity. He is God, but he is neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit.

The trinitarian view of God came as a result of an attempt to understand God rationally. Although the language of trinity was found in Christian confessions before this time, the word “trinity” itself was first formally used at the synod held at Alexandria, in A.D. 317, and took its place in the language of Christian theology for the first time in a Biblical work of Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch, in Syria from A.D. 168 to 183.

Based on the Bible, we do believe and agree that God is one, that Jesus Christ is God, and that the Bible does make a distinction between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. But we cannot fully agree with with the trinitarian view of God for the following reasons:

1. The use of words and concepts such as “trinity,” “three persons,” “coequal,” “substance,” and “subsistence” are often misleading. If these terms would clarify the concept of God, the Bible would have used them. The fact that they are absent shows that we must be careful about using our own terms when we explain God. Even theologians such as the Cappadocians, Augustine, Aquinas, and Calvin all used the word “person” reluctantly and with much qualification. Many well-respected trinitarians feel that it is misleading and should actually be dropped from contemporary trinitarian creeds.

2. We must admit that all theories about God’s being fail to accurately explain God. It is not wise to define God with human concepts and put him neatly into a model because in so doing, we easily step beyond and sometimes contradict God’s self-revelation through the Scriptures. For example, the belief that Jesus Christ is not the Father or the Holy Spirit contradicts certain passages in the Bible. Such misconception has led to teachings that do away with baptism in the name of Jesus Christ or restricting believers to praying to the Father alone but not to the Lord Jesus.

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Is it true that the New Testament is saying “Jesus is not the Father nor the Spirit”? Why do we believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one God and one Spirit?

The New Testament does distinguish between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit by mentioning them side by side and in relation to one another. The Father sends and works through the Son and the Holy Spirit. But the Bible never says that Jesus is not the Father nor the Holy Spirit, and we should not assume so simply because Jesus is mentioned alongside the Father and the Spirit. By the same token, although Jesus is often mentioned alongside and in relation to God (e.g Acts 2:32; 1 Tim 5:21), we cannot conclude from this that Jesus is not God.

When we think of God in terms of “persons,” there is always a tendency to assume that one person cannot be another, the way one human being cannot be another human being. We should not place such restrictions on God when the Bible does not.

The Bible often emphasizes the oneness of God (Deut 6:4; Mal 2:10; Mk 12:29; Rom 3:30; 1 Cor 8:4,6; Gal 3:20; Eph 4:6; 1 Tim 2:5; Jas 2:19). We never read about God’s “threeness.” It is not wise to fit God into a trinitarian formula when the Bible does not speak of such a formula. In fact, the Bible pairs the Son and the Father (Jn 14:1; Rom 1:7; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 1:2,3; Gal 1:1,3; Eph 1:2,3; Rev 5:13; etc) or the Son and the Spirit (Mt 4:1; Lk 4:1; 1 Cor 6:11; Rom15:30; Heb 10:23) much more frequently than it puts the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit together. Does this somehow suggest a “twoness” within the “threeness” of God? By no means. When we begin to think of God as “three,” which the Bible does not do, we tend to conclude that one is not the other. Such a conclusion already goes beyond biblical revelation.

Philip, who probably concluded that Jesus was not the Father, asked the Lord to show them the Father. Jesus replied, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (Jn 14:9-10). Once again, the oneness is emphasized, not the distinction.

The fact that the Bible sometimes speaks of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit interchangeably makes the notion that one is not the other all the more questionable.

There is only one God – God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one. The three have different  functions in God’s work, at different stages. The Holy Father reveals the power of creation (Gen 1:1), through the Son, salvation is revealed (Rom 3:24) while the Holy Spirit provides revelation and guidance (Jn 16:13). Yet they are all one (Jn 10:30). God is the one and only one. When Jesus was born, the bible prophesied that he was “Mighty God ” and the “everlasting Father” (Isa 9:6). In Hebrews 1:8, it says, “About the Son he says, “O God! 2 Peter 1:1 says “Our Saviour Jesus Christ…” Acts 5:3-5 say that he who deceives the Holy Spirit deceives God. Jesus said that he came from heaven and that he was still in heaven (Jn 3:13). These show that God is three in one and that they do not exist as three gods.

We have limited knowledge of this mystic divine nature, seeing but a poor reflection as in a mirror. Then we shall see face to face and know fully, as Christ knows us (1 Cor 13:12).

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God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

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Question: Can we say that anyone who believes has received the Holy Spirit?

Posted by tjcsg on April 28, 2011

Ephesians 1:13 says, “…having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Can we say that anyone who believes has received the Holy Spirit?

➠ The correct interpretation of Ephesians 1:13 must be based on Acts 19:1-7, where it tells us exactly how the Ephesians received the Holy Spirit. They did not receive the Holy Spirit when they believed. They did not receive the Holy Spirit when they were baptized. The disciples in Ephesus had not even heard of the Holy Spirit. It was not until Paul placed his hands on them that the Holy Spirit came upon them. So the Ephesians wouldn’t have taken Paul’s letter to mean receiving the Holy Spirit instantaneously upon belief.

➠ A person must believe in “the word of truth, the gospel of salvation” in order to receive the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13). If a person believes in a false gospel, he would not be able to receive the Holy Spirit.

➠ The verse “Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” means that every believer of the true gospel will receive the Holy Spirit, but it does not mean that he receives the Holy Spirit the moment he confesses Jesus as Lord.

➠ Those who listened to Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost were told to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins” before they could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). True faith consists of following the commands of the Lord Jesus (Jas 2:17, 22).

➠ Paul was writing to the churches in Galatia and Ephesus, which were established by the Holy Spirit and have believed in the truth. The word “you” in both passages do not refer to all present-day professed Christians.

➠ In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul is stressing the unity and oneness of the believers, who are members of Christ’s body and have received the same Spirit (v. 13). Again, verse 13 does not refer to all modern day churches.

➠ It is not true that anyone who believes automatically receives the Holy Spirit the moment he believes. The sign of receiving the Holy Spirit is speaking of tongues (Acts 10:44-46; 19:6; 2:4).

Take note of three words in this verse : “heard”, “believed”, and “received”. They are each independent of the other two, which must not be confused. “Hearing” does not mean “believing”, nor does “believing” mean “receiving”. Not all who hear the gospel, immediately believe in Jesus. So, not anyone who believes have the Holy Spirit. Some, even by the time they are baptised, still do not have the Holy Spirit. This fact is clearly indicated in Acts 8:14-17.

We must acknowledge that believers who decide to receive water baptism have already been changed and guided by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, they would not have the desire for baptism (1 Cor 12:3). Receiving baptism of the promised Holy Spirit is another matter. Therefore, for some, baptism of the Spirit precedes water baptism (Acts 10:47-48). For others, the reverse is true (Acts 8:16-17). Biblical records make distinction between the two.

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As for what is said in Ephesians 1:13, the statement does not mean that anyone who believes are immediately baptised with the Holy Spirit. It means that believers will be sealed with the Holy Spirit as a seal, which may not take place until after water baptism. When Paul was in Ephesus, he asked the believers there, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2) This is sufficient evidence that Paul did not say whoever believes receives the Spirit at once.

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Question: Is it true that not every believer must receive the Holy Spirit?

Posted by tjcsg on April 28, 2011

Is true it that not every believer will receive the Holy Spirit? What did the bible say?

Holy Spirit is not just a gift that only some believers will receive and others not. This is because receiving the Holy Spirit is essential for salvation, i.e. being born of the Spirit. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). The question you may ask is, “Can I receive the Holy Spirit?”

Some biblical records on what the Lord Jesus said about receiving the Holy Spirit:

➠ In Luke 11:13, the Lord Jesus clearly states, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

➠ In John 4:10, the Lord said to the Samaritan woman, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink’; you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (living water refers to the Holy Spirit; see Jn 7:37-39).

➠ The Lord Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Mt 7:7-8; Lk 11:9-10). Does this statement contradict or deny the authority of God as the giver of all blessings? (Of course not.)

➠ In addition to being the promise of God, receiving the Holy Spirit also requires prayer and asking on the part of human beings. This point is clearly illustrated in Lk 11:13 and Jn 4:10 (quoted above). The pouring out of the Holy Spirit is also contingent upon the obedience of the Lord’s instructions (see Mt 28:20; Acts 5:32). Praying for the Holy Spirit does not deny the authority of God; instead, it is a natural expression of our faith (Mt 15:22-28; Rom 10:14), earnesty (Lk 11:5-8), and persistence (Lk 18:1-8).

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receive the Holy Spirit

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Question: What should be our attitude towards the Holy Spirit?

Posted by tjcsg on April 28, 2011

What should be our attitude towards the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is what God promised to those called by God (Acts 2:39)
and who believe in Jesus (Acts 15:7-8; Gal 3:5).

Jesus said, “The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.”
(Jn 14:17) The unbelieving and disobedient cannot receive the Holy Spirit.

What should our attitude be?

1. Open our hearts to let the Holy Spirit in (Rev 3:20; Gal 4:6).

2. Ask for the descending of the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13; Acts 1:4).

3. Desire the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 14:1).

4. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18).

5. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30).

6. Do not quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:19).

7. Live by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16,25).

What are the consequences when our attitude towards the Holy Spirit
is bad?

1. Resisting the Holy Spirit: hardening one’s heart and not believing in Jesus, persecuting preachers and churches that testify Jesus (Acts 7:57).

2. Deceiving the Holy Spirit: believers, out of selfishness, behave deceptively in the church. Ananias and his wife died of such sin (Acts 5:3).

3. Irreverence for the Holy Spirit: believers who have received God’s grace and known the truth, sin deliberately, trampling God’s Son, treating in an unholy manner the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and slighting gifts of the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29).

4. Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit: some people regard the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit as the devil’s work (Mk 3:28-30), blindly referring to the Holy Spirit as evil spirit or sorcery. Such sins are the most serious “eternal sin” which will never be forgiven (Mt 12:31-32).

The Holy Spirit is an evidence that we belong to Christ (Rom 8:9). Only when one receives the Holy Spirit does he belong to Christ (Eph 4:30). Let us treasure this grace and watch our attitude towards the Holy Spirit, otherwise we will be like the foolish virgins who had lamps without oil and do not shine. On that Day, the Lord will tell them, “I do not know you.” (Mtt 25:12).

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Attitude towards the Holy Spirit

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