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One God Or Three?
Contributed by Monte Brown on Aug 5, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: How can there be a Trinity when the Old Testament insists there is only one God?
One God or Three?
John 1:1 Monte T. Brown
July 20, 2008 Sunday Morning
Heart O’ the Hills
Introduction
How can there be a Trinity when the Old Testament insists there is only one God?
If the Old Testament is right, how can John assert that the Word (which later identified as Jesus) is God?
Is John applying that God became a human and walk upon this earth?
These are but a few of the long old questions that have rang out throughout history.
Scripture
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Prayer
Is There One God or Three?
I just put to you the question is there a conflict between the Old Testament and the New Testament, about God?
Is there one God or was John right and there is three?
This question calls for such a profound answer.
Books have been written on this subject.
We could spend months discussing this topic but let’s see what the Bible says about weather there is one God or three?
First of all the Old Testament teaches us that there is only one God, that God is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 says; Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
Moreover, the New Testament also states that there is one God.
Look at James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
The unity of God and the fact that there are no other gods besides him are foundational doctrines of the Bible.
Look at what these verses say about that;
Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
If all of these scriptures and they are but a few of the many scriptures in the Old Testament and the New Testament that confirms that there is but one God.
So, are the scriptures contradicting themselves?
Is there only one God?
What about the trinity?
The teaching of a Father, a Son, and a Holy Spirit?
Which one is right one God or three?
Well they are both right!
Follow along with me as I explain the trinity and one God.
God the First Person in the Trinity
It is hard for us to understand the fullness of God.
One of the best illustrations that I have ever heard that explains the trinity is that God is like water.
Water (H2O two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen) is one of the elements we know of that can be in three states.
A solid, a liquid, or a gas and still be H2O (water).
Each one of these properties look and feel totally different yet they all three are water (H2O).
That’s the way God is!
He is God, he is the Son Jesus Christ, and He is The Holy Spirit. Three in one.
The Bible does not contradict itself it confirms that God is a triune God.
Jesus Christ the Second Person in the Trinity
So was John wrong on is statement in chapter 1 verse 1?
What does the Bible say about Jesus Christ?
First verse that comes to mind is the one that everyone seems to be able to quote and that is John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Here are but a few verses that teach that Jesus is divine.
Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Going back to our passage for this message we see that John 1:1 says In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Then on down in the 14th verse we see; And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
