j*******7
发帖数: 6300 | 1 http://coldcasechristianity.com/2015/why-is-the-trinity-an-esse
Why Is the Trinity An Essential Christian Doctrine?
I recently received an email question from a listener who
wrote: “I have studied quite a few different translations of the bible and
have full faith in what it says. I also believe that Jesus is my savior, and
do my best to live by what He taught. However, I am not a Christian
according to many religious leaders, because I do not believe in the
doctrine regarding the trinity. I have read nothing in the Word that
supports this idea, in fact Jesus proclaims many time that He is less than
the Father. My question is simply this, how can I be judged based on my
faith in Jesus and following what he taught, and be told that I am not
Christian because I won’t accept what I believe is a man-made theory?”
Keeping Jesus In His Place
Most people (and groups) who have historically denied the triune nature of
God have relegated Jesus to a subordinate position that describes Him as
something less than divine. This is perhaps the greatest danger in
misunderstanding the Trinity. To deny the Trinity is to either embrace some
from of polytheism or deny the Deity of Jesus. For this reason, a denial of
the Trinity is a denial of Christian orthodoxy.
A Suitable Sacrifice
If Jesus is simply a created being (even if He is something special yet not
God), His death on the cross is insufficient to save us from our sin. In
fact, if Jesus is not God Himself, the Christian God can fairly be described
as a horrific deity that requires human sacrifice to appease his demands
for justice. This is a common objection offered by skeptics who fail to
understand the Trinity and the Deity of Jesus. The cross is the place where
God Himself paid the price of our sin; He did not require the death of
another created being, the sacrifice of one human for another. Instead, He
offered himself in our place.
Solving a Biblical Dilemma
In addition, the Trinity explains an apparent contradiction in Scripture.
The Bible clearly teaches that God is ONE (see Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Isaiah 43:
10, James 2:19, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 6 and 1 Timothy 2:5-6). At the same time,
however, the Bible also teaches that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all
possess the classic divine attributes of omnipotence (Isaiah 64:8, John 1:3,
Job 33:4), omniscience (1 John 3:20, John 16:30, 1 Corinthians 2:10),
omnipresence (1 Kings 8:27, Matthew 28:20, Psalm 139:7-10), and
omnibenevolence (John 3:16, Ephesians 5:25, Romans 15:30-31). In fact,
Scripture applies the title of “God” to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
independently (Philippians 1:2, John 1:1, Acts 5:3-4)! The solution to this
apparent contradiction of Scripture (God is one, yet three are God) is the
classic formulation of the Trinity as described in the Athanasian Creed:
“That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither
confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person
of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the
Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the
Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son;
and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the
Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy
Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost
eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there
are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one
infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy
Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So
the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they
are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son
Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For
like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every
Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic
religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made
of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not
made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the
Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is
one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not
three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another;
none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are
coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in
Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that
will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.” (from Creeds of
Christendom, with a History and Critical notes. Volume II. The History of
Creeds.. Harper & Brothers. 1877. pp. 66–71.)
I discusses this in more detail on this podcast along with other listener
email questions: How can God “send” people to hell? What happens to those
who never hear the Gospel or who can’t understand the Gospel? What areas of
life and policies should government consider for “promotion”?
J. Warner Wallace is a Cold-Case Detective, a Christian Case Maker, and the
author of Cold-Case Christianity | m****h
发帖数: 1672 | | J*******g
发帖数: 8775 | 3 谢谢分享。
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【在 j*******7 的大作中提到】
: http://coldcasechristianity.com/2015/why-is-the-trinity-an-esse
: Why Is the Trinity An Essential Christian Doctrine?
: I recently received an email question from a listener who
: wrote: “I have studied quite a few different translations of the bible and
: have full faith in what it says. I also believe that Jesus is my savior, and
: do my best to live by what He taught. However, I am not a Christian
: according to many religious leaders, because I do not believe in the
: doctrine regarding the trinity. I have read nothing in the Word that
: supports this idea, in fact Jesus proclaims many time that He is less than
: the Father. My question is simply this, how can I be judged based on my
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