core studies : godhead
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15
Godhead
The word of God says that God is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is the Creator, the Father of all that exists, from the heavens to the humans, down to the simplest life form. (Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 45:18, Revelation 4:11, John 1:1-3; Fills his creation: Jeremiah 23:23-24, Philippians 2:9-11; God of all flesh: Jeremiah 32:27, 2 Corinthians 5:19-21, Colossians 2:8-9, Job 38:1-39:30; Father of Spirits: Hebrews 12:9, Mark 12:29, Matthew 22:31-32). God is not a man nor limited to the physical form of a man, so we cannot think of God like a natural father (God is not a man: Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 55:8-11, Romans 1:20-23, Acts 17:29-30). In the Old Testament, God used many ways to manifest himself. In the New Testament, God is described primarily in three expressions: the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost (1 John 5:6-8, John 1:14, John 14:26, John 15:26).
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost describe the ministry of one Almighty God to a sinful man. Since man first allowed sin to separate him from God, God has taught us, fed us, clothed us, and strengthened us as a Father. He walked with us in a human form, made himself an example for us to follow, and paid the debt of our sins as the Son. And, as the Holy Ghost, he reunited us with him by placing his spirit within us. (1 John 5:7, John 1:1-14, Matthew 1:18-23, Isaiah 9:6, 1 Timothy 3:16).
God is one (Mark 12:29, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 4:5-6, 1 Timothy 2:5, James 2:19), yet there are many scriptures that refer to different manifestations of God in the natural (walking in the garden: Genesis 3:8; one of the three men that met Abraham: Genesis 18:1-3; the burning bush: Exodus 3:4-6). A manifestation is something that is made known to the carnal senses, such as through sight, touch, and sound (Luke 7:22, 1 John 1:1-3, Exodus 3:4-6, Hebrews 7:1-3, Daniel 3:24-25, Isaiah 9:6, 1 Timothy 3:16, Acts 10:45-47, Acts 3:19-20, 1 Corinthians 12:4-10). God uses these manifestations to relate to mankind at man's level of understanding (Hebrews 1:1-3).
God manifested himself as a man in the person of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 3:16). The body of Christ contained the spirit of God (Colossians 2:9). God was manifest through Christ's actions because the works that Jesus did were works that only God could do (John 10:24-25). The purpose for God's manifestation was that he could show us how to follow him from our heart and be delivered from our sinful nature. To complete this purpose, Christ was crucified, died, was buried, but then rose from the dead. Now our sinful nature can be conquered when we submit our lives to the will of God . With our sins destroyed, God can then live in each of us as the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11).
God is everywhere at all times and even dwells within the heart of his saints (John 14:16-23). The Spirit of God cannot be seen with the natural eye nor heard with the natural ear. The Spirit of God is spiritually discerned (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, Hebrews 5:14). This means that we perceive the presence of God through the sincerity and humility of a prayerful attitude.
There is a false teaching called "Trinity" which is used by some to describe an incorrect concept of the godhead. This teaching takes the three ways that God has ministered to man--as the Father, the Son (or the Christ), and the Holy Ghost--and claims that these are actually three persons of one God, which are all co-equal, co-majestic, and co-eternal. This description is similar to that of one person with three personalities. This teaching has no biblical foundation[1]; in fact, many scriptures directly contradict the Trinity. Throughout the Bible, God is always shows to be one in all aspects: as Lord, as Father, as King, as Creator, as Savior, as Judge (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, 40:28, 54:5, Malachi 2:10, Romans 3:30, Ephesians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 15:25-28).
Throughout the Old Testament, God used many names to describe his essence (Exodus 34:5-7, Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). Among these names is "Jehovah," which means "the Lord, Self-existant and Eternal" (Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18). The word "God" comes from the Hebrew word "Elohiym," which refers to the sum of all majesty and power (Genesis 1:1). Today, the name that God has given to us is "Jesus," which means "the salvation of God" (Matthew 1:21, Ephesians 3:14-15, John 5:43, John 17:11-12, Philippians 2:10-11). God gave us this new name to know him by because, through Jesus Christ, God performed something new--he brought us the way of salvation. There are many names and titles that God used in reference and prophesy, but in the New Testament, there is only one name that will bring salvation to a sinner. That name in the English language is "Jesus" (Acts 4:12).
[1] New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th Edition (Volume X, Pg. 126)
The World Book Encyclopedia, (Volume 16, Pg. 7270)
Canney Encyclopedia (Pg. 53)
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (Volume XII, Pg. 458 [b])
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (Volume XII, Pg. 461 [5])
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (Volume XII, Pg. 461 [b])
Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics (Volume XII, Pg. 461, 462 [f])
New International Encyclopedia (Volume 22, Pg. 476)
