TEST THE BIBLE

One of the great mysteries of the spirit world is the "Tri-Unity" of God. The Scriptures clearly teach the distinct personality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At the Baptism of Jesus there was present the "DIVINE THREE." The "FATHER" was present and spoke, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." The "SON" was present in Jesus and the

"HOLY SPIRIT" was present in the form of a "Dove" (Matt 3:16-17).

 

The "Tri-Unity" of God is also taught in the Old Testament. In Gen 1:26 we read, "And God said, let US make man in OUR image." And when the "Babel Builders" were constructing their "tower," the Lord said, "Go to, let US go down, and there confound their language" (Gen 11:7). 

 

How to reconcile this "Tri-Unity" with the "Unity" of God is the difficulty. Are there three "Gods," or are there three "Persons" in one "God-Head?" A simple illustration may help:

 

The sun of our solar system is a "trinity." It manifests itself in a threefold manner, "Heat," "Light," and "Chemical Action." These three properties of the sun make up the sun itself. Neither one of them by itslef is the sun. The "Heat" of the the sun is not seen, but is felt. The "Light" of the sun can be seen, and it is the "Light" of the sun that makes the sun VISIBLE. The "Chemical Action" of the sun can neither be seen nor felt, but its power is revealed in the growing plant, and on the photographic plate.

 

To apply our illustration let the "Heat" rays of the sun correspond to "God the FATHER." He can not be seen, but He can be felt, for God is LOVE (1 John 4:7-16; John 3:16), and love can be felt but not seen.

 

The "Light" rays of the sun correspond to "God the SON." It is the "Son of God" that makes God VISIBLE. The Son (Jesus) came to manifest God (1 Tim 3:16). Jesus said of himself, "I am the 'Light' of the world" (John 8:12; John 1:1-14). Without the Son we would not know what God is like for He came to reveal God, so that He could say, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the FATHER" (John 14:9).

 

The "Chemical Action" of the sun corresponds to "God the HOLY SPIRIT." It is the Holy Spirit that gives life and power, and forms the "Image of God" on the sensitive plate of the human heart.

 

As neither the "Heat" or the "Light" or the "Chemical Action" of the sun is in itself the sun, but it takes all three to make the sun, though each has its separate work to perform, so the "Father," "Son," and "Holy Spirit," are not each in Himself God, but they in their united capacity are God.

 

As we have the sun with us whenever it manifests itself in either "heat," "light," or "chemical action," so we have God with us whenever we have Him in any of His manifestations. So when Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you," he meant not that He would be personally with them, but that God would be with them in the person of the "Holy Spirit." Jesus went away that the Holy Spirit might come (John 16:7-14.) Therefore Jesus is not personally present with His people, but God is, for the "God-Head" is now represented on the earth by the Holy Spirit.

 

So while there are three "Personalities" in the "God-Head," there is but ONE GOD.

 

Man is a "Trinity." He is composed of "Spirit," "Soul," and "Body" (1 Thess 5:23). He is a Trinity because he was made in the "Image of God" (Gen 1:26). Therefore like God he is a threefold being. His "Spirit" corresponds with "God the Father," it can be felt but not seen. His "Soul" corresponds with "God the Holy Spirit," it can be neither seen nor felt. His body corresponds with "God the Son," it can be both seen and felt, and makes the man visible.

 

Excerpt from The Spirit World by Rev. Clarence Larkin.