Trinitarianism is the expression founded by scripture that God is ONE (by his ontology) but eternally exists as THREE distinct persons (not personalities as is commonly stated) Trinitarian belief is based on the Biblical description of God found throughout the Bible and actually revealed through scripture from time to time until it culminates in the person of Jesus himself who Paul says is the "fullness of the Godhead bodily".
In Trinitarianism there is a subject object distinction between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For example: The Father sends the Son, the Son submits to the will of the Father, the Father and the Son SENDS the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit operates as and is God. God does acts, Jesus performs acts of God, and the Holy Spirit performs acts of God, but neither are in discord and or disagreement with one another. Therefore the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, ARE ONE God, move in one union, and yet remain eternally distinct as ONE, but yet eternally ONE. Though a "mystery" these concepts cannot be denied throughout scripture.
Oneness, is alternately called modalism. Modalism makes a distinction from Trinitarianism in that Jesus, who, both Trinitarians and Oneness adherents believe is God, is yet also the Father and the Holy Spirit by ontology. Therefore there is only one distinction and that is based on function or role and not by nature or ontology (being)
Modalism also called Sabellianism, was thoroughly rejected as a Biblical doctrine rather early in Church history. Many claim at Nicea at 325AD, however, when scripture is carefully examined, modalism, just like Arianism (the belief that Jesus was not of the same substance or nature of God) falls on its own.
Distinction That Makes A Difference
Specifically, modes or roles of operation, cannot have a will. Roles and modes cannot be "sent" or "go". The Bible outlines, with some distinction, a conscious awareness, and interaction, between the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit. Roles and modes, or a or one person, who wears three hats, depending upon what he is doing, cannot send, engage or entertain one another all things that we see clearly within scripture.
Sabellianism Opens The Door To Confusion
Further, to say that Jesus can be "grieved" in his role as the Holy Spirit, leaves the door open that in his role as the Father, he may or may not be grieved or that he may have a different experience based on his role or identity at the time.
Under Trinitarianism, if the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the Father, Son and the Spirit are ONE God, then automatically we know that God in his fullness is grieved or experiences the same thing. His feeling and operations towards us are singular and eternal, whereas under modalism, his feelings are temporal based on the role, mode or function at the time. That is not Biblical theology, nor is it a good description of God.
This is a great distinction. One could be describing God in a manner that he has not set forth in scripture. If that is the case, then one cannot be certain if they are serving the true and living God of scripture. Scripture is not true because we understand it. Scripture is true because of the God behind it.
Examples of God's ontology are fleeting when the object is to explain His nature. The Economy of God is something that can be apprehended if not comprehended. How 3 distinct persons constitute ONE God in complete divine unity, without separation is beyond human capacity to fully grasp, however. it is exactly what scripture teaches.
One Thing Three Titles
The Example Presiding Bishop gave, of him being one person by multiple titles or names is actually a good example, with reservation. He says that he is one man who's name is John (first name) Drew (middle name) and Sheard (last name). Here his identity as ONE person called by multiple names. However, that is not quite the Biblical description of God because each name aka: person, also remains eternally distinct from one another but yet are ONE.
One Thing Three Roles
Another common description uses an egg to describe the yolk, white and shell as being all one egg...The egg description is NOT a good answer because each part, does not describe or constitute the whole...In other words, the the yolk, white and shell can be separated...When seperated, they become egg parts, but are not an egg. Whereas, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost cannot be separated, but yet each is still be called God.
In conclusion, the Bible firmly teaches that the Economy of God, is that there is only ONE and that ONE God has revealed himself distinctly as 3 persons and those distinctions are eternally unchanging. This is how God is immutable, as his nature does not change.
In part 2 I will deal with the other part that Bishop dealt with and that is regenerative water baptism and the baptismal formula.
Does the Bible teach regenerative water Baptism?
Blessed!
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