Imagine for a moment that someone was able to locate, juggle schedules, arrange transportation, and bring together into one room all the following: * a high school prodigy whose minister sometimes invited him to preach in the largest congregation of their association; * a biblical languages major and avid Bible student; * a national debate champion in university competition; * a Sunday-school teacher with a class approaching 1,000, whose videotaped lessons are viewed around the world; * a Christian apologist with encyclopedic interests and a memory to match; * a … [Read more...]
‘CALL TO ARMS’ CALLS FOR DISCRETION
A pastor has issued a "call to arms" to his denomination, concerned that some of his brethren are non-trinitarian in theology and that others who are trinitarian are not militant enough in purging the denominational ranks. Although I do not belong to that denomination, the pastor sent me a copy of his "call to arms," The following was my response. * * *Zeal for biblical truth is entirely commendable, when properly proportionate to the gospel centrality of that truth, and when zeal is clothed in love. Zealotry for human tradition, on the other hand, is never good. We must urge, for example, … [Read more...]
TRINITY AND SALVATION
Someone asks whether it is necessary to say that God is a Trinity, one God in three persons, in order to be saved. * * *Evidently not, since the New Testament Scriptures never use the word "Trinity" or the expression "three persons." However, Scripture says much indeed concerning the nature and identity of Jesus Christ, who is the divine Word-made-flesh. lt also speaks of the Holy Spirit in personal terms. Whatever Scripture clearly affirms regarding what Christians traditionally refer to as "trinitarian" doctrine, we should be eager to affirm. But God nowhere requires us … [Read more...]
TRINITY A MYSTERY
A gracEmail concerning God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit provoked a cross-section of responses. One reader pointed to Old Testament references she regarded as trinitarian. Another subscriber remarked that he has "never seen a trinitarian who can explain the nature of God." A third correspondent expressed appreciation for what he considered the "clear, practical, and biblical" exposition set out here. And a fourth confided that she was uncomfortable with the doctrine of the Trinity and probably would be barred from joining the congregation she attends if church officials knew of her … [Read more...]
ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS
A missionary writes from Brazil, "A lady who studied with me had trouble accepting God in three persons. How do you see the doctrine of the Trinity?" * * *From first to last in Scripture, God reveals himself as the One and only true God, beside whom there is no other (Deut. 6:5; Isa. 43:10; James 2:19). Jesus was a strict monotheist, as all faithful Jews since Abraham have been. Yet Jesus claimed a unique oneness with the Father (John 14:8-11; 17:3-5, 20-23) -- a claim that would be quite blasphemous were it not true (Matt. 26:63-65). Before leaving the earth, Jesus also promised to … [Read more...]
