THE TRINITY EXAMINED: The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible. The doctrine called the Trinity was introduced by the Roman Catholic synod at the beginning of the third century at the Nicean Council in 325 A.D. The Athanasian Creed later made the Trinity a fundamental tenet. It kept company with other Roman Catholic tenets such as: Transubstantiation, Indulgences, Mariolatry, Infallibility of the Pope, Purgatory, etc. Unfortunately, when Protestants repudiated the above fallacies they held on to the error of the Trinity maintaining a vital link with the false and unscriptural creeds of the Roman Catholic Church
The word “Persons” when used regarding the Godhead does violence to the absolute Oneness of God. Dividing God into three persons makes three Gods, which is Tri-theism regardless of how it may be argued otherwise. God is the “Three in One;” not the “One in Three.” The doctrine of the Trinity leads to much confusion and contradiction.
C. ELOHIM: Elohim is a Hebrew word in the plural form translated “God” in our Bibles. Trinitarians will argue that this means a plurality of persons in the Godhead. To answer this we shall quote from Smith’s Bible Dictionary: “The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the Trinity of Persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of powers displayed by God.”
The question might be asked: “Why did the Jews, knowing that Elohim was plural, cling so tenaciously to the Oneness of God?”
Elohim is applied to Christ in the following Scriptures:
Zechariah 11:4, 12-13 - Elohim was sold for thirty pieces of silver.
Zechariah 14:5 - Elohim is coming back as King.
Zechariah 12:10 - Elohim was pierced at Calvary.
The true significance of Elohim is a plurality of attributes and powers.
GOD IS SPIRIT
A. GOD IS SPIRIT:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).
The Samaritan woman asked, “Where is God to be found? On Mt. Zion or Mt. Gerizim?” To this question Jesus answered that God is not to be confined to any one place.
“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my footstool: what house will ye build me?” (Acts 7:48).
“Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee.” (I Kings 8:27).
God must be worshipped in spirit as distinguished from place, form, or other sensual limitations; and in truth as distinguished from false conceptions and wrong teachings.
Study carefully I Corinthians 2:6-16. We cannot understand or know God otherwise than by the leading and help of His Spirit.
B. GOD IS INVISIBLE: Apart from Jesus Christ the Eternal Spirit cannot be seen.
“And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20).
“No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18).
“For a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39).
“Who is the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15).
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever.” (I Timothy 1:17).
C. IMAGES FORBIDDEN: Images were forbidden because: 1) No one has seen God; and, 2) Nothing on earth can resemble Him.
References: Deuteronomy 4:15-23: Isaiah 40:25; and Exodus 20:4.
Jesus Christ is the express image of his person (Hebrews 1:3). As such God can only be seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
D. ANTHROPOMORPHIC EXPRESSIONS: God is spoken of as having hands, feet, arms, eyes and ears. He sees, feels, walks, etc. Such expressions as relating to the Father, the Eternal Spirit, are to be understood only in the sense of being human expressions used in order to bring the infinite within the comprehension of the finite. Only by means of human expressions can we understand God.
However, all this we have in Christ. Man is body, soul and spirit, but he is just one man. Even so God has been manifested to us as the Father, and then in the flesh as the Son, and now in the power of His Spirit. Neither three Gods nor persons - this is an unscriptural term and ought never to be used when referring to God - but one God in threefold manifestation.
Therefore in Christ God does have hands, feet, arms, etc. and sees, feels, walks, etc. However, this is only true of God in Christ Jesus, God manifested in the flesh.
E. SUMMARY OF THIS TRUTH: Apart from the person of the Lord Jesus, God, the Eternal Spirit, is:
1. Spirit;
2. Invisible;
3. Incorporeal;
4. Without parts;
5. Without body;
6. Free from all limitations;
7. Apprehended not by the senses but by the soul;
8. Above sensuous perceptions; and
9. Not a material Being.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
A. DEFINITION OF ATTRIBUTES: By attributes we mean the characteristics and qualities of God. As water is wet and fire is hot, so God is eternal, immutable, holy, etc. These attributes are classified into two classes: the Natural and the Moral. As it is not our intention to go into a comprehensive study of the divine attributes we shall simply name a few of the most familiar ones and not classify them.
B. THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD: This means that God is perfect in knowledge; He knows everything. He has perfect knowledge of all that will transpire among the human family and nations. Daniel chapters 2, 8 and 12.
“Known unto God are all His ways from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18). Read Isaiah 46:9-10.
References: Job 11:7-8; Job 37:16; Psalm 139:2-3; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 40:26-27; Matthew 10:29-30; I John 3:20; and Proverbs 5:21.
Note: We must not confound the foreknowledge of God with His fore-ordination. The fact that God knows a thing makes that thing certain but not necessary. Man still has the responsibility for his own acts. Also note that there is one thing that God does not know and that is another God beside Himself.
C. THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD: This means that God is perfect in power. God’s power admits no bound or limitations.
“I know that thou canst do anything.” (Job 42:2).
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14).
Satan has no power over any of God’s children only as God permits. God raises up a standard against Satan just as He sets a bar to the waves of the sea (Job 1:12; Job 2:6; Luke 22:31-32).
D.
