BeaconMinistries Presents

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Beacon-Ministries Presents

• The Godhead
• Adapted from William Petris book These Three
  are One
• Music by Dan Macaulay from The Listening

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What is the Godhead

• The doctrine of the trinity avows God as being
  one in essence but three separate and distinct
  persons who possess equal, perfect, eternal and
  infinite identical essence which jointly
  constitutes God.
• Trinity is used to describe three distinct
  persons in one Godhead. Trinity is not a
  Scriptural word.
• Godhead is the Scriptural term for this doctrine.

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What is the Godhead

• We must state clearly and concisely that there is
  only one God nature or being. "This divine being
  is tri-personal, involving differences between
  the Father, Son, and Spirit." These three
  individuals are joined together as partakers of
  precisely the identical character and splendor of
  God. Consequently, there is only one true God,
  but in the union of the Godhead there are three
  equal, eternal persons.

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What is the Godhead

• These three are therefore equal in essence and
  substance, but unique in sustenance.
• Each person of the Godhead has the same essence,
  hence, God is described as one (like in 1 John
  57) however they are distinct as individuals.
  "There is unity within the Godhead. But there is
  also plurality threeness.

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three are Called God
• Father Philipians 12
• Son (Jesus) John 11,14
• Holy Ghost (Spirit) ---- Acts 53-4

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three are Called Creator
• Father Isa.4424 Isa.648
• Son (Jesus) John 13
• Holy Ghost Col.115-17

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three Resurrects
• Father 1 Thessalonians 110
• Son (Jesus) John 107
• Holy Ghost Romans 811

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three Indwells the Believer
• Father 2 Corinthians 616
• Son (Jesus) Colossians 127
• Holy Ghost Ephesians 113-14

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three Sanctifies the Believer
• Father 1 Thessalonians 523
• Son (Jesus) Hebrews 211
• Holy Ghost 1 Peter 12

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three are said to be the Giver of
  Life
• Father Genesis 27
• Son (Jesus) John 13
• Holy Ghost 2 Corinthians 36,8

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What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three Desire Fellowship
• Father 1 John 13
• Son (Jesus) 1 Corinthians 19
• Holy Ghost Philippians 21

12
What is the Godhead

• Each of the Three Searches the Heart of
  Individuals
• Father Jeremiah 1710
• Son (Jesus) Revelation 223
• Holy Ghost 1 Corinthians 210

13
What is the Godhead

• Separations are made between the individuals of
  the Godhead, as described in the following verse
  
• 2Co 1314 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
  (God the Son),and the love of God (God the
  Father), and the communion of the Holy Ghost (God
  the Spirit), be with you all. Amen.
• This verse proves that the Father, Son, and Holy
  Ghost are all individuals. The verse has a
  three-part combination that demands grace, love,
  and fellowship be equally ascribed to three
  corresponding persons.

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What is the Godhead

• When divine essence is the subject, God is said
  to be one. When divine persons are the subject,
  distinction is made between the Father, the Son,
  and the Holy Ghost (Spirit).
• For this reason we have different Hebrew names
  for God. The plural noun Elohim implies more than
  one person in the Godhead. The singular noun JHWH
  (Adonai, Jahweh, or Jehovah) is used to
  distinguish between the persons.
• Elohim emphasizes the one essence of God.

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• Gen 126 And God said, Let us make man in our
  image, after our likeness and let them have
  dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
  fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
  all the earth, and over every creeping thing that
  creepeth upon the earth.
• Gen 322 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man
  is become as one of us, to know good and evil
  and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take
  also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for
  ever

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• Gen 115 And the LORD (yeh-ho-vaw' the self
  Existent or eternal Jehovah, Jewish national
  name of God - Jehovah, the Lord.) came down to
  see the city and the tower, which the children of
  men builded.
• Gen 116 And the LORD (yeh-ho-yaw) said, Behold,
  the people is one, and they have all one
  language and this they begin to do and now
  nothing will be restrained from them, which they
  have imagined to do.
• Gen 117 Go to, let us (Elohim is therefore also
  Jehovah - He is more than one He is plural, yet
  one. (This passage cannot state the doctrine of
  the Godhead any clearer) go down, and there
  confound their language, that they may not
  understand one another's speech.

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• John 1721 That they all may be one as thou,
  Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also
  may be one in us that the world may believe that
  thou hast sent me.
• We also have passages like Psa 1101 "The Lord
  God the Father said to my David's Lord God
  the Son." This distinction is also depicted in
  Psa 27 I will declare the decree the LORD (God
  the Father) hath said unto me (God the Son), Thou
  art my Son this day (Day of incarnation) have I
  begotten thee.
• This is quoted three times in the New Testament,
  in Acts 1333, Heb 15, and Heb 55.

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• Isa 4816 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this I
  have not spoken in secret from the beginning
  from the time that it was, there am I (God the
  Father) and now the Lord GOD (God the Son), and
  his Spirit (God the Holy Ghost), hath sent me

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• Mat 2819 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
  baptizing them in the name (authority) of the
  Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• In John 1030, Jesus said to the crowd, "I and my
  Father are one." He was referring to divine
  essence.
• The Father and the Son are two distinct persons
  in the Godhead, but they have identical essence.
• John 1416 And I (God the Son) will pray the
  Father (God the Father), and he shall give you
  another Comforter (God the Holy Ghost), that he
  may abide with you for ever
• The next verse explains that the Comforter is
  said to be "Even the Spirit of truth... for he
  dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

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What is the Godhead

• Thomas called Jesus both Lord and God when he saw
  Him in His resurrection body.
• John 2028 And Thomas answered and said unto him,
  My Lord and my God.

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What is the Godhead

• Another passage, which proves the Godhead, is 1Co
  124 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the
  same Spirit (God the Holy Ghost).
• 1Co 125 And there are differences of
  administrations, but the same Lord (God the Son).
  
• 1Co 126 And there are diversities of operations,
  but it is the same God (God the Father) which
  worketh all in all.

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• 1Pe 12 Elect according to the foreknowledge of
  God the Father, through sanctification of the
  Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the
  blood of Jesus Christ Grace unto you, and peace,
  be multiplied.
• 1Jo 57 For there are three that bear record in
  heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost
  and these three are one.

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What is the Godhead

• Scripture Verification
• Act 53 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan
  filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and
  to keep back part of the price of the land?
• Act 54 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?
  and after it was sold, was it not in thine own
  power? why hast thou conceived this thing in
  thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but
  unto God. (Holy Ghost called God, hence He is not
  just a force, power, or energy, He is God).

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What is the Godhead
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What is the Godhead
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What is the Godhead

• Support for the Godhead begins in Genesis with
  the use of plural pronouns for God. The plurality
  of God and the divine status of each member is
  taught in both the Old and New Testaments. The
  Hebrew word "Elohim" ("God") itself, a plural
  noun which is found over 2,500 times in the Old
  Testament, suggests some form of plurality within
  the Godhead, albeit it does not always specify
  three persons.

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What is the Godhead

• Divine plurality is further supported in Genesis
  126 322 and 117, where the plural pronoun
  "Us" is used of the one true God. Too, the Old
  Testament ascribes creation and providence (both
  of which are divine actions) to the Father
  (Genesis 11 Job 3412-15), the Word (Genesis
  13 Psalm 336, 9), and the Spirit (Genesis 12
  Psalm 336 10430). The "threeness" of Jehovah
  (God's covenant name compare Exodus 310-15) is
  at least strongly implied in the Aaronic
  benediction of Numbers 624-26. "The LORD
  (Jehovah) bless thee, and keep thee The LORD
  (Jehovah) make his face shine upon thee, and be
  gracious unto thee The LORD (Jehovah) lift up
  his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
  

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What is the Godhead

• The Trinitarian nature of the Godhead is also
  taught in Isaiah 4816 611 and 639, 10. (The
  Angel of the Lord the pre-incarnate Second Person
  of the Godhead is given divine status in Genesis
  167-13 181-21 and 191-22.)

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What is the Godhead

• The New Testament witness is clearer still. The
  Godhead is revealed at both the birth (Luke 135)
  and baptism of Jesus (Matthew 316, 17). Creation
  and providence are ascribed to the Father
  (Matthew 711 Acts 1728), the Son (John 13
  Colossians 115-17 Hebrews 13), and the holy
  Spirit (Matthew 118 41 Romans 14). 1
  Corinthians 124-6 2 Corinthians 1314 and 1
  Peter 12 also speak of the three persons of the
  Godhead.

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What is the Godhead

• Matthew 2819 is especially strong, in that it
  teaches both the unity and plurality of God.
• Matthew 2819 Go ye therefore, and teach all
  nations, baptizing them in the name of the
  Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
• In this verse the three persons of the Godhead
  are emphatically distinguished by the use of the
  definite article "the" in each case yet there is
  one singular "name."

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What is the Godhead

• That the New Testament teaches the deity of the
  Father is beyond objection.
• The passages speaking to his divine nature are
  numerous, John 627 and 1 Peter 12 being just
  two examples.

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What is the Godhead

• Regarding the Son, in John 11-3, 14, we read
  that He is the eternal Logos the Word of God. In
  John 858 and 1319 Jesus claims that he is the
  eternal "I AM" (the Old Testament Jehovah). And
  there are at least eight places in the New
  Testament in which Jesus Christ is called God
  (Theos) John 11 118 2028 Romans 95 1
  Timothy 316 Titus 213 2 Peter 11 Hebrews
  18 and 1 John 520.

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What is the Godhead

• In Acts 53-4 the holy Spirit is called God
  (Theos), and in Hebrews 914 he is said to be
  eternal. The fact that blasphemy of the Spirit is
  an unforgivable sin also speaks to his divine
  nature (Matthew 1232). And in 1 Corinthians
  210-11 we read that the holy Spirit is able to
  search the mind of God. (Some modern day liberals
  have averred that the holy Spirit is merely "the
  power of God," not a divine person. But in Luke
  135, Acts 1038, and 1Corinthians 24, the
  Spirit is distinguished from his power.)

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What is the Godhead
36
What is the Godhead

• Illustrations
• The illustration used in the Bible teaches God is
  light.
• 1John 15 This then is the message, which we have
  heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is
  light, and in him is no darkness at all.
• Joh 15 And the light shineth in darkness and
  the darkness comprehended it not. (This verse is
  a reference to Jesus Christ)
• 1Ti 616 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in
  the light which no man can approach unto whom no
  man hath seen, nor can see to whom be honour and
  power everlasting. Amen

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What is the Godhead

• Light is one substance, but it is composed of
  three different properties actinic,
  luminiferous, and calorific.
• Actinic light is a ray of light of short
  wavelengths that produces photochemical effects.
  Photochemical effects are related to the effects
  of light on chemical systems. Actinic light is
  neither seen nor felt, a perfect illustration of
  God the Father.
• Luminiferous light is light produced as a result
  of heat. Luminiferous light is both seen and
  felt, a perfect illustration of God the Son.
• Calorific light is light converted into heat.
  Calorific light is not seen but felt, a perfect
  illustration of God the holy Spirit."

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What is the Godhead
39
The Concept of the Godhead

• God is one in essence or substance. God is three
  coequal, coeternal, and coinfinite persons in
  that one essence.
• When divine essence is the subject, God is
  revealed as one.
• When divine persons are the subject, God is
  revealed as three separate and distinct persons.

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The Concept of the Godhead

• In the unity of God, there is only one essence or
  one substance.
• In the persons of the Godhead, there is God the
  Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

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The Concept of the Godhead

• Eph 44 There is one body, and one Spirit, even
  as ye are called in one hope of your calling
• Eph 45 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
• Eph 46 One God and Father of all, who is above
  all, and through all, and in you all.

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The Concept of the Godhead

• The subject of the paragraph in Ephesians 4 is
  unity among the members of the Body of Christ.
• Verses 4-6 teach there is unity in the Godhead,
  so in principle there is unity in the Body of
  Christ.
• Verse 4 teaches there is "one Spirit."
• Verse 5 teaches there is "one Lord."
• Verse 6 teaches there is "one God, the Father of
  all."

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Summary

• Trinity is not a Biblical word, but a technical,
  theological term to designate the three-fold
  manifestation of one God as Father, Son, and
  Spirit. God is one in essence who exists
  eternally in three distinct, coequal, coeternal
  persons, the Biblical term for this idea is
  Godhead.

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Summary

• God is one, Gal 320 James 219. The Son (John
  11, 149 Col 29) and the Spirit (Acts 53-4
  1Co 316) are also fully God.
• They are distinct from the Father and from each
  other.
• The unified equality and yet distinction is seen
  in the triactic references to three persons, as
  noted in 2Co 1314 Eph 44-6 1Pe 12
  Mat.2819 1John 57 etc.

45
Summary

• The Old Testament reveals a plurality of persons
  in the divine name of Elohim, as well as in the
  plural pronouns of Gen 126 and 117, the plural
  verbs of Gen 117 and 357, the identity of the
  angel of the Lord as God in Exo 32-6 and Jud
  1321-22, and the references to the Spirit in Gen
  12 and Isa 6310.

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Summary

• These all add up to the fact that God is one in
  essence but three separate and distinct
  personalities.
• Isa 63 And one cried unto another, and said,
  Holy (Father), holy (Son), holy (Holy Ghost), is
  the LORD (Jehovah) of hosts the whole earth is
  full of his glory.

47
Summary

• Let's take the Body of Christ as an illustration.
• 1Cor. 1212 For as the body is one, and hath many
  members, and all the members of that one body,
  being many, are one body so also is Christ.
• 1Cor. 1213 For by one Spirit are we all baptized
  into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,
  whether we be bond or free and have been all
  made to drink into one Spirit.
• 1Cor. 1214 For the body is not one member, but
  many.