Sunday, February 11, 2024

A Defense of the Trinity by Benjamin Dahildahil Sr. (d. 2024)


My father-in-law, Benjamin Dahildahil Sr., recently went on to his reward (cf. Heb. 11:26).

Here is his defense of the Trinity.

WHAT WE BELIEVED

 

-- The Attributes of God --

 

As God is infinite in His being, it is impossible for any creature to know Him exactly as He is.  Yet He has graciously willed to reveal himself in language that we can understand, and that revelation is contained in the Scriptures.  For example, God says of Himself, “I AM HOLY”:

Therefore, we can say, God is Holy.  Holiness then is an ATTRIBUTE OF GOD because holiness is a quality that we may attribute or apply to Him. Thus we may regulate our thoughts about God with the help of the revelation God has given of Himself.

 

QUESTION:  What is the difference between the names of God and the attributes of God?

ANSWER:    The names of God express His whole being, while His Attributes indicate various sides of His character.

 

NOTE: To comprehend God fully would he like trying to carry the Atlantic Ocean in a teacup.  But He has revealed Himself sufficiently to fill our capacity.

The following classification may be found helpful:

 

I- UNRELATED ATTRIBUTES, or what God is in Himself, apart from creation.  It answers the question, “What qualities characterized God before anything came into existence.

 

II- ACTIVE ATTRIBUTES, or what God is in relation to the Universe.

 

 

III- MORAL ATTRIBUTES, or what God is in relation to His moral being.

 

 

I- GOD’S INNER NATURE (Unrelated Attributes).

A. God is a Spirit. (John 4:24).  God is a spirit with personality; He thinks, feels, speaks, and therefore He can have direct communion with His creatures made after His image.

 

As a spirit, God is not subject to the limitations to which possession of a body subjects human beings.  He does not possess bodily parts or passions, and is composed of no material elements, and is not subject to the conditions of natural existence.  Hence He cannot be seen with natural eyes or apprehended by natural senses.

 

This does not imply that God lives a shadowy, unsubstantial existence for Jesus refers to God’s shape (John 5:37; compare Phil.2:6).  God is a real person, Heb.1:3 says: “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.

 

God is a person, but so infinite in nature, that He cannot he fully apprehended by the human mind or adequately described by human language, John declares: No man hath seen God at any time” (1 John 1:18, compare Ex.33:20); yet in Exodus 24:9,10 we read that Moses and certain elders “SAW GOD. There is no contradiction; John means that no man has ever seen God AS HE IS.  But we know that spirit may be manifested in bodily form (Mat. 3:16).  The Theological term for this is “THEOPHANY”-—The visible manifestation of a Deity.  Therefore, God can manifest Himself in a way that can be apprehended by man (Gen. 18:17-33).

 

God also describes His infinite personality in language understood by  

finite minds; therefore, the Bible speaks of God’s having hands,

arms, eyes and ears and describes Him as seeing, feeling, hearing,

repenting and so forth.

 

 But Cod is unsearchable and inscrutable, consider Job 11:7, ”Can you 

 search out the deep things of God?  Can you find out the limits of

 the Almighty?  They are higher than the heaven—what can you do?

 Deeper than Sheol—-what can you know?  Their measure is longer

 than the earth and broader than the sea.”

 

QUESTION:  Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

ANSWER: Our answer would be,… “We have nothing to draw with, and the

 well is deep” (John 4:11).

 

B. God is infinite, that is, not subject to natural and human limitation. God’s infinity may viewed in TWO WAYS:

 

1.  In relation to space; God is characterized by IMMMENSITY

(1 Kings 8:27), this means IMMEASURABLE, LIMITLESS, BOUNDLESS,

INCALCULABLE, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, UNFATHOMABLE—MEASURELESS.  That is, the nature of the GODHEAD is equally present throughout the whole of infinite space--to every part of it.  No part of existence is untouched by His presence, and energy, and no point of space escapes His influence.  His center is everywhere; His circumference is nowhere.

 

Yet we must not forget that in one particular place His presence and

glory are revealed in an extraordinary manner; and that place is

heaven.

 

2.  In relation to time---God is eternal(Ex. 15:I8; Deut. 33:27;

Rev. 4:8,9,1O).  He has existed from eternity and will exist to

eternity past, present and future are all present to His mind.  Being

eternal--He is unchangeable, “The same yesterday, today, and

forever” (Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8).

 

NOTE:  This is a comforting truth to the believers, who may rest in the

       confidence that the eternal God whom they served is alive and a

       real refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deut. 33:27).

 

C. GOD is ONE. (Ex. 2O:3; Deut. 4:35,39; 6:4; 2 Sam. 7:22; 1 Kings 8:6o;

   2 Kings 19:15; Neh. 9:6; 1 Tim. 1:17) “Hear ,O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.”  This was a fundamental of Old Testament religion, and was Israel’s distinctive message to a world that worshiped many false gods (Isa. 42:5-8; 44:6-19; 45:11-21).

 

 QUESTION:  Does the teaching of the unity of God conflict with the New

            Testament teaching of the Trinity?

 ANSWER:                      We must distinguish between – TWO KINDS OF UNITY:

 

 

1. The ABSOLUTE UNITY—Heb. YACHIDH.

2. The COMPOUND UNITY—Heb. ECHAD.

NOTE:  The expression “ONE MAN” conveys the thought of Absolute unity, because we refer to ONE PERSON, Isaiah 44:6 states, “Thus say the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no God.”  Think of it:  the pronoun I and Me as of ONE person, singular number.  This is yachidh-or absolute unity.  But if ONE PERSON is referred to—that is ABSOLUTE ONENESS (Gen. 22:2,12; Amos 8:10; Jer. 6:26; Zech. 12:10.; Prov. 4:3; Judges 11:34).  The phrase “are one” refers to the unity of the Godhead.

 

     But when we read --- Man and his wife shall be one flesh—that is a

     compound Unity (ECHAD---the union of two persons.

 

QUESTION:  What kind of unity is referred to in Deuteronomy 6:4?  From the fact the word “our GOD” is in the plural form (ELOHIM) and not “ELOAH” WHICH IS IN THE SINGULAR?

ANSWER: We can conclude, without a doubt, that compound Unity may be

         inferred.

 

NOTE:  The Hebrew language has 3 numbers, namely:

      

1. Singular ………………………………………………………………… 1 (ONE)

2. Dual …………………………………………………………………………. 2 (TWO)

3. Plural ……………………………………………………………………. 3 or more

 

Since ELOHIM (Hebrew) translated in English, “GOD,” is plural (3 more) in this very name of Deity, we are introduce to a Godhead which is revealed in 3 distinct persons equal in power and essence, co-eternal (Isa. 48:16). 

 

1. The Father ………………………………………………… Deut. 33:27.

2. (Dual) ………The…Son…………………………………… Prov. 30:4; John 3:13; Heb. 1:8,

3. Plural …The…Holy…Spirit………………………………………… Heb. 9:14; Acts 5:3,4

 

Please scrutinize this verse very carefully (1 John 5:7):  “For there are three who bear witness in heaven; THE FATHER, THE WORD, and THE HOLY SPIRIT: and these three are ONE.

NOTE:  Three persons cannot be one person in number in any sense, but the

three persons can be one in Unity (John 17:11).

 

          EXAMPLES, ILLUSTRATIONS and ANALOGIES:

1. Water is one, yet it is known in three forms:

a. Water

b. Ice

c. Steam

2. The Sun is one, yet it manifest as:

a. light

b. heat

c. fire

3. The beam of light; it has three rays:

a. The actinic --- which is invisible.

b. The luminiferous --- which is visible.

c. The calorific --- which gives heat and is felt, but not seen.

Where these three are, there is light.  Where there is light, we have these three.

 

John the Apostle said:  “God is light” (1 John 1:5).

a. God the Father has not been seen, yet He was the one who sent the Son as Savior of the world (1 John4:14; John 3:16).

b. The Son who sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high --- was addressed by God (Heb. 1:8-14):  “But to the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…  You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands” – which is visible.

c. The Holy Spirit – was sent by our Lord (John 16:7-14) can be felt and is effective; He transforms the lives of men (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thes. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2).

 

4. Our Government is One; yet it has three branches:

a. The legislative – (congress) composed of Senators and the  House of Representatives.

b. The Executive – composed of the President, the Cabinet and the departments under the Cabinet members.

c. The Judicial – The Supreme Court, which has 9 members.

 

The Scriptures teach that “GOD IS ONE” and that besides Him there is no God (Isa. 44:8; Isa. 45:18,21; Jas. 2:19).

 

The question might arise: “How could God have fellowship before finite creatures came into existence?”

 

The answer is that – the Divine Unity is a Compound, and that in this Unity there are Three Distinct Persons.  So we see that there was an eternal Fellowship before finite creatures were created.  Therefore, God is never alone (Gen. 1:26,27; Isa. 45:11,12; Prov. 8:22-31; John 17:5).

 

It was not the Angels who were Co-creators with God --- When He said:

“Let us make man after our own image.  According to Isaiah 15: 11,12

It was the Lord - the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker who formed the earth and made it.  The One who was with the Father from eternity past … was not other than Jesus our Lord, before His incarnation (John 1:1-3,14).

 

NOTE: a. Christ preeminent in creation (Col. 1:15-17).

      b. Christ preeminent in redemption (Col. 1:19-22).

      c. Christ preeminent in the church (Col. 1:24-29).

So it is, and it would be a great blasphemy and highly disrespectful to say that, “There was a time that the son (Jesus Christ) did not exist, then He will be Lord again (Heb. 1:10—12) see the oneness booklet (page 51).

 

NOTE: WHAT THE APOSTLES BELIEVED:

       a. The Father is God -- (John 20:17)

       b. The Son is God -----    (Rom. 9:5)

       c. The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4).

 

They put these three in the Apostolic Benediction (2Cor. 13:14;

Phil. 2:6—8; Eph. 4:30).

 

Try to examine closely this great ERROR of interpretation of the Scriptures This error is commonly known as SABELLIANISM, from Bishop Sabellius who taught that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are simply three aspects or manifestations of God.  This error has appeared many times in the History of the Church and is current even today, in Tanjay City and in Dumaguete City.  If then, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are only God under different aspects of names and manifestations, then the New Testament is a mass of confusion,

 

For example:  A reading of the intercessory prayer of Jesus (John 17) with the thought in the mind that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are of one person--will reveal the absurdity of the Doctrine (ridiculous, unreasonable, unsound).

 

NOTE:  “As I have given myself power over all flesh, that I should give eternal life to as many as I have given myself...I have glorified myself on earth; I have finished the work which I gave myself to do; and now I glorify myself with my own self with the glory which I had with me before the world was” (compare with John 17:2-5).  Oh how silly would it would be for us if this is the way we interpret these Scriptures (weak in intellect, foolish).  Many intellectual people today are silly and have been deceived by the spirit of antichrist who denies the real existence of the Father and the Son and that they are separate persons.  John testifies that the Lord Jesus Christ is the SON OF THE FATHER – in truth and love. He is not the Father but the SON OF THE FATHER (2 John 1:3).

 

Each member of the Trinity is mentioned in the Old Testament.

         a. The Father---Isa. 63:16; Mal. 2:1O--(397 BC).

b. The Son of Jehovah-Psa. 45:6,7; 2:6,7,12; Prov. 30:4).

c. The Holy Spirit—(Gen. 1:2; Isa. 11:2,31; 48:16; 61:10; 63:10).

1 John 5:7 says:  “These three are ONE” (in unity in the Godhead).

 

There are more than one hundred verses and proofs in the Bible that the

Father is not the Son, nor the Holy Spirit.  Out of the more than one

hundred proofs and verses, I will just present forty (40) irresistible

proofs that the Father is not the Son.

 

1.   (Mat. 16:13-17) God revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Son of  

     the Living God; And Jesus confirmed it, “Your are the Christ,

     the Son of the living God.”  Jesus said:  “Flesh and blood has

     not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” 

     Note:  The one who revealed was in heaven while Jesus was on

     earth.  So it is very clear that Jesus is not the Father.

 

2.   (Mat. 28:18) “All authority has been given to me in heaven and  

     on earth.”  If Jesus is the Father, who gave to Him the

     Authority?  Therefore, Jesus is not the Father.        

 

3.   (John 5:22-23) “For the Father judges no one, but has committed

     to the son,” so He is not the Father.  The Father was the one

     who sent Him.  So, Jesus is not the Father, nor the Holy

     Spirit.        

 

4.   (John 5:26) The Father and the Son have separate functions in

     life, so how could Jesus be the Father?

 

5.   (John 12:49,50) “I have not spoken on my own authority; but the  

     Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and

     what I should speak.”  Note:  “Whatever He should speak came

     from His Father not from His own.  It is very clear that He is

     not the Father.  

 

6.   (Dan. 7:9-14; Mat. 3:16-17; John 1:31-34; Acts 7:54-60; Rev.

     6:16; 7:9-17; Rev. 21:22; 22:3) – Two and three persons called

     God have been seen by the same men at the same time and place

     as being separate persons.  So, how could Jesus be the Father

     or the Holy Spirit?

 

7.   (Gen. 19:24; Gen. 18:33) Two Lords are mentioned, one on earth

     and one in heaven.

 

8.   Two Lords are mentioned sitting side by side (Ps. 110:1,5; Mat.

    22:44; Acts 2:33-34; 7:54-56; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; Eph. 1:20;

    Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:13; Heb. 8:1; Ps. 2:1; Prov. 30:4).

 

9.   The Father and the Son spoke to each other in an audible voice

    at the same time and place, being heard by many witnesses (Mat.

    3:16-17; 17:5; John 12:27-30; 2 Peter 1:17,18).

 

10.   The disciples heard the voice from heaven saying:  “You are my

    beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).  The Father

    acknowledges Jesus as His Son, but who are you to disagree with

    this?  Are you more wise than God and wise more than the

    Apostles?

 

11.   Jesus was resurrected and exalted by the father, so He could not

    be the Father (Eph. 1:20; Phil. 2:9-11; Heb. 12:2; 1 Peter 1:3;

    3:22).

 

12.   He received this command, that He should lay down His life, and

    that He may take it again.  So He is not the Father (John

    10:17,18).

 

13.   Christ announces His departure of going back to His Father who

    sent Him; so He is not the Father (John 16:27-29).

 

14.   Christ Jesus prays for Himself, telling God that He had finished

    the work that He should do (John 17:54:5).  He longed to have

    the glory that He had before with the Father before the world

    was.  So He is not the Father.

 

15.   He was loved of the Father as a separate person.  So he is not

    the Father (John 10:17-18).

 

16.   The Father was in heaven all the time, Jesus was on earth (Mat.

    5:16,48).

 

17. Jesus promised that he would confess men before His Father who is in heaven (Mat. 1O:32-33).  If He is the Father, He would con­fess men before himself?  It is clear that Jesus is not the Father.

     

18. (Eph. 1:3,17) Paul says that, “Blessed be the God and Father of

    our Lord Jesus Christ,” verse 17—“the God of our Lord Jesus

    Christ, the Father of glory;” proves that even the Apostle Paul

    acknowledged that Jesus is not the Father God.  If you disagree

    with these, then you are more discerning than the apostle to the

    gentiles (Rom. 11:13)!  NOTE:  I don’t believe that you are more

    thoughtful than Paul, who are you? 

     

19. (John 14:12-14; 15:16) Men are thought to go directly to the

    Father in prayer, and not to pray to Jesus only.  So He is not

    the Father.       

 

20. (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7) The Father knew all things about His

 return, but Jesus did not know; proving that He is not the

    Father.          

 

21. Jesus committed His own spirit to the Father, not to his own

    self.  This shows that He is not the Father (Luke 23:46). 

 

22. The Son died – not the Father (1 Cor. 15:3).  So He is not the

    Father.       

 

23. Jesus called God – “My Father” – 57 times.  How could He be His

    own God and Father and beget Himself? (John 3:16; Luke 3:32).

 

24. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his

    only begotten Son” … NOTE:  If this word “God” refers to the Son    

    (Jesus), who is the only Son of Jesus?  It is very clear that

    there is a Father and there is Jesus, the only son of the

    Father.

 

25. (Acts 7:55) Stephen saw Jesus as a separate person standing at the right hand of God.  So He is not the Father.

 

26. Jesus proved that He had his own throne, and the Father has also  

    His own throne; It is clear that Jesus is not the Father nor the  

    Holy Spirit (Rev. 3:21).  So, what makes our mind closed to

    believe that Jesus is the Father at the same time!  Do we have

    the spirit of antichrist-—who does not believe the existence of

    the Father and the Son?  Why should we firmly stand in spite of

    many verses telling us that Jesus is not the Father!

    (2 John 1:3).

TAKE NOTE:  One who denies the Father and the Son has the spirit of

         antiChrist (1 John 2:22).  

 

27. (John 1:14,18) Jesus is not the begotten of Himself, and He is the only one who is in the bosom of the Father, Jesus has declared the Father God.

                                                              

28. Think of it, about the ambitious mother and her two sons     (Mat. 20:21—23; Mark 10:35-40) “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand and the other on the left, in your kingdom.”

TAKE NOTE: Jesus replied; “but to sit on my right hand and on my left is NOT MINE TO GIVE, BUT IT IS FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT IS PREPARED BY MY FATHER.”  It is clear as crystal or transparent glass that the Father is not the Son; because Jesus could not decide to grant their request, but it is of the Father.

 

      29. (John 20:17) … “I am ascending to my Father and your Father and   

          to my God and your God.”  If Jesus is the Father, then who is  

          this Father that He referred to?  So it is clear that Jesus is

          not the manifestation of the Father (Mark 1:11) because it was

          the Father Who Says:  “You are my beloved Son” and not Jesus

          talking to himself.  In Matthew 17:5 we read that there was a  

          voice coming out of the cloud saying “This is my beloved Son, in

          whom I am well pleased, HEAR HIM.”  Who was that voice out of

          the cloud?  If Jesus was the one who says it, then this is what

          He should say!  Hear me; but it says hear him.  So, who

          introduced Jesus as His beloved son?  Jesus himself?

 

      30. (John 15:26) Jesus could not be the Father nor the Holy Spirit

          at the same time, because He was the one who sent the Holy

          spirit from the Father.  If He is the Father and the Holy Spirit  

          and He is also the Son; --- Then this is what He should say: 

          “But when the Helper which is me, the spirit of truth who

          proceeds from me, I will testify of me.”  Oh!  How silly would

          it be if this is our belief that Jesus is the son and the Father

          and the Holy Spirit at the same time.

 

      31. (John 14:28) NOTE:  “I am going to the Father, for the Father is

          greater than I.”  Jesus our Lord acknowledged that the Father

          who sent Him is greater than Him (Jesus).  So He could not be

          the Father.

TAKE NOTE:  If Jesus is the Father, then this is what it should say:  “I

          am going to me, for I am greater than me.”  Is not a man insane

          who would say this?

 

      32. (John 8:16-18) “And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I

          am not alone, for I am with the Father who sent me.”

          Note:  It was not Jesus who sent Himself, but the Father.  Jesus

          was the one who said this.  “I am not alone… It is also written    

          in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.  I am one

          that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears

          witness of me.”  Take note of this:  these words came out from

          the mouth of Jesus our Lord.  “[He] is not alone.  “[He] was

          with the Father who sent [Him].  “The testimony of two men is  

          true.”  Why would you disagree with this?  Do you have the  

          spirit of unbelief (Heb. 3:12)? 

 

      33. (John 14:16) “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you

          another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”  If He is

          the Father and the Holy Spirit at the same time, then this is

          what He should say:  “And I will pray to myself and I will give

          you another me or myself that I may abide with you forever.” 

          Maybe, only the fool would say this.   

 

      34. (John 8:42) “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I  

          proceeded forth and came from God nor have I come of myself, but

          He sent me.” ---- If the Son is the Father, This is what He  

          should say:  If I were your Father, you would love me, for I

          proceeded forth and came from me, nor have I came of myself, but

          I sent me.  

         

      35. The Oneness doctrine says, “Jesus Christ is the manifestation of

          the Father.”  Note:  this is the wrong interpretation of the

          scriptures.  (1 Tim. 3:16) This “manifestation of Goddoes not

          refer to the Father.  See 1 John 3:8 which says, “For this

          purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the

          works of the devil” (Heb. 2:14,15).  It was the Son and not the

          Father.  And John testified (2 John 1:3) that the Lord Jesus

          Christ was the Son of the Father, so he is not the Father.         

 

      36. Take note of the three persons mentioned by Jesus Christ.  (John

          14:16-17,23) “and I [Jesus the Son] will pray the Father, and He  

          [the Father] will give you another Helper – Comforter, that He

          may abide with you forever.”  First, the Comforter, Holy Spirit,

          will abide forever.  Second, (verse 23) “and my Father will love

          him,” note the WE not “I” next, “and we will come unto him

          [believer], and make our home - abode with him [believer].  So

          three are mentioned, a) The Holy Spirit, b) the Father and c)

          Jesus the Son.  I did not say three Gods, but three persons in

          the Deity. 

 

      37. Read: Rev. 4:1-3; 5:1-7, The throne of God and the one who sat

          on the throne.  Note:  the one who sat on the throne was no

          other than God – the Father.  Verse 7, “Then he took the book

          out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.” 

         NOTE:  If we consider that one who sat on the throne was the Lamb

         (Jesus), then who was the one who came to the one who sat on the

         throne and took the scroll?  Therefore, it is clear that the

         Father is not the Son (see Rev. 3:21).

 

     38. 2 Cor. 11:31 – Paul says that Jesus has his own Father; therefore, Jesus is not the Father (Eph. 3:14,15), but the Son of the Father (1 John 1:3; 2:1).

      

     39. Col. 3:1; Heb. 8:1 – Christ is sitting at the right hand of God acting as a high priest; therefore he is not the Father (Heb. 9:24).

 

     40. In 2 Peter 1:17,18, Peter tells us that they were eyewitnesses of His (Jesus) majesty; when Jesus received from God the Father honor and glory.  They heard the voice from the Father in heaven.  So, it’s clear that Jesus is not the Father, but the Son.  Note:  If God the Father had said that Jesus is His Son, why should you disagree with this?  The apostles heard the voice while they were with Jesus on the holy mountain.        

 

II – ACTIVE ATTRIBUTES – What God is in relation to the Universe

     

A. God is Omnipotent (Gen. 1:1; 17:1; 18:14; Ex. 15:7; Deut. 3:24; Deut. 32:39; 1 Chron. 16:25; Job 40:2; Isa. 40:12-15; Jer. 32:17; Mat. 19:26; Rev. 15:3; 19:6; Ezek. 10:5; Dan. 3:17; Amos 4:13; Amos 5:8; Zech. 12:1). God’s Omnipotence signifies TWO THINGS:   

     

1. His freedom and power to do all that is consistent with his nature. FOR EXAMPLE:  “For with God nothing shall be impossible,” of course this does not mean that He can or would do anything contrary to His own nature, FOR EXAMPLE:  To lie or steal; or that He would do anything absurd or self-contradictory, such as to make a triangular circle, or make dry water.

 

2. His control and Sovereignty over all that is or can be done:

QUESTION: But if this is so, why is evil practiced in the world?

ANSWER: Because God has endowed man with a free will, which He will not

        violate; He therefore permits evil acts, but for a wise purpose,

        and with the prospect of ultimately overruling evil.  Only God is

        Almighty and even Satan can do nothing without His permission (Job

        chapters 1 & 2; Acts 17:25,28; Dan. 5:23).

 

        Man’s existence is like the note of an organ, lasting as long as

        God’s fingers are on the keys.  Therefore, every time a person

        sins, he is using the Creator’s own power to outrage Him (to

        arouse anger or resentment).

 

B. God is Omnipresent – that is unlimited by space (Gen. 28:15,16; Deut. 4:39; Psalm 139:7-10).

 

QUESTION: What is the difference between immensity and Omnipresence?

ANSWER: Immensity – is God’s presence in relation to space; while

        omnipresence – is His presence viewed in relation to creatures.    

        He is present to His creatures in the following ways:

1. In glory, to the adoring hosts of heaven (Isa. 6:1-3).

2. Effectively, in the natural order (Nahum 1:3).

3. Providentially, in the affairs of men (Ps. 68:7,8).

4. Attentively, to those who seek Him (Mat. 18:19,20; Acts 17:27).

5. Judicially, to the conscience of the wicked (Gen. 3:8; Ps. 68:1,2).  NOTE:  Man cannot hope to find a corner in the universe where ye may escape the law of his maker.

6. Bodily, in the Son (Col. 2:9) “God with us.”

7. Mystically, in the church (Eph. 2:12-22).

8. Officially, with his workers (Mat. 28:19,20). 

 

NOTE:  While God is everywhere, He does not dwell everywhere.  Only when

       He enters into personal relationship with a group or an individual

       is He said to dwell with them.

 

C. God is Omniscient, knowing all things (Gen. 18:18,19; 2 Kings 8:10,13; 1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 94:9; Psalm 139:1-16; 147:4,5;     Acts 15:8; Rom. 8:27,29; 1 Cor. 3:20; 2 Tim. 2:19; Heb. 4:13).

 

God’s knowledge is perfect - He does not have to reason, or find out things or learn gradually.  His knowledge of past, present and future is instantaneous.

 

NOTE; There is great comfort in the consideration of His Attributes - In all the tests of life, the believer may be sure that – “our Father knoweth” (Mat. 6:8).

 

The following difficulty presents itself to some: Since God knows all things, He knows who will be lost; therefore, how can a person help from being lost?

 

Answer: But God’s knowledge of how an individual will use his free will does not force that person’s choice.  God foresees, but does not fix.

 

D. God is Wise (Ps. 104:24; Prov. 3:19; Jer. 10:12; Dan. 2:20,21; Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 1:24,25,30; 2:6,7; Eph. 3:10; Col. 2:2,3).  God’s wisdom is a combination of His Omniscience and Omnipotence.  

 

He has POWER to apply His knowledge that the best purposes are realized by the best possible means.

 

God always does that right thing, in the right way, and at the right time.  “He hath done all things well” and overrules the course of events of His own good purpose.  This action is called – PROVIDENCE.  God’s general providence has to do with the government of the Universe as a whole; His particular providence with the details of man’s life.

E. God is Sovereign; that is, He has an absolute right to govern and dispose of His creatures as He pleases (Dan. 4:35; Mat. 20:15; Rom. 9:21).   

 

He possesses this right by virtue of His infinite superiority, His absolute ownership of all, and the absolute dependence of all things on Him for their continuance.  Therefore, it is both foolish and wicked to criticize His ways.  

 

III – MORAL ATTRIBUTES – What God in relation to moral creatures.

 

       Reviewing the record of God’s dealings with mankind, we learn that:

A. God is Holy (Ex. 15:11; Lev. 11:44,45; 20:26; Josh. 24:19;        1 Sam. 2:2; Ps. 5:4; 111:9; 145:17; Isa. 6:3; 43:14,15;       Jer. 23:9; Luke 1:49; Jas. 1:13; 1 Peter 1:15,16; Rev. 4:8;   Rev. 15:3,4).

 

The holiness of God means His absolute moral purity; He can neither sin nor tolerate sin.  NOTE: The root meaning of “HOLY is “SEPARATED.”

QUESTION: In what sense is God separated?

ANSWER:  He is separated from man in space.  He is in heaven; man is on earth (Eccl. 5:2).  He is separated from man in nature and character He is perfect, man is imperfect.  He is Divine, man is sinful.

 

We see then that holiness is the attribute which guards the distinction between God and the creature.  It denotes not merely an attribute of God, but the divine nature itself.

 

Therefore, when God reveals Himself in a way that impresses man with His Godhead, He is said to sanctify himself (Ezek. 36:23; 38:23) that is He reveals Himself as the Holy one.

 

When the Seraphim describe the Divine radiance emanating (come cut from a source) from Him that sits on the throne, they cry out:

     HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the Lord of Hosts (Isa. 6:3).

 

Men are said to sanctify God when they honor and reverence Him as Divine (Num. 20:12; Lev. 10:3; Isa. 8:13).

        

When they dishonor Him by violation of His commandments, they are said to profane (to violate or treat with irreverence) in Latin —— profanus (abuse) His name which is the opposite of sanctifying or hallowing (Mat. 6:9) His name.

 

Only God is holy in himself.  Holy people, buildings and objects are so described because God has made them holy, or sanctified them.

 

The word “HOLY” applied to persons or objects is a term expressing a relationship to JEHOVAH_-- the fact of being set apart for His service.

 

Having been thus set apart, articles must be clean; and persons must consecrate themselves to live according to the LAW of HOLINESS.  These facts constitute the basis of the DOCTRINE OF SANCTIFICATION.

 

B. God is Righteous.

QUESTION: What is the difference between holiness and righteousness?

ANSWER: Righteousness is holiness in action.  Righteousness is God’s holiness manifested in right dealing with His creatures.  “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25).  Righteousness is conformity to the right standard; it is right conduct in relation to others.

 

QUESTION: When does God manifest this attribute?

1. When He clears the innocent and condemns the wicked we see that justice is done.  God judges not as modern judges do, on evidence set before them by others, but He discovers the evidence for Himself (John 2:24,25; John 16:30; Mat. 9:4).

 

Thus the Messiah, filled with the Divine Spirit does not judge – “after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears,” but judges with righteousness (Isa. 11:3,4). 

 

2. When He pardons the penitent (Ps. 51:14; 1 John 1:9; Heb. 6:10).

3. When He chastises and judges His people (Isa. 8:17; Amos 3:2).

4. When He saves His people.  God’s interposition of behalf of His people is called – His Righteousness (Isa. 46:13; 45:24,25).

 

Salvation is the negative side, righteousness is the positive.  He delivers His people from their sins and their enemies and the result is righteousness of heart (Isa. 60:21; 54:13; 61:10; 51:6).

 

5. When He gives victory to the cause of His faithful servants   (Isa. 50:4-9).  After God has delivered His people and judged the wicked, and we shall have “NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH,” wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13).

God not only deals righteously but He requires righteousness.

QUESTION: But what if the man has sinned?

ANSWER: Then He graciously imparts righteousness to (or justifies) the penitent (Rom. 4:50).  This is the basis of the Doctrine of Justification.  It will be noted that the Divine nature is the basis of God’s dealing with men.  As He is, so He acts.  The Holy One sanctifies, the Righteous One Justifies.

 

C.  God is Faithful.  He is absolutely trustworthy; His words will not fail.  Therefore, His people may stand on His promises (Ex. 34:6; Num. 23:19; Deut. 4:31; Josh. 21:43-45; 23:14; 1 Sam. 15:29;      Jer. 4:28; Isa. 25:1; Ezek. 12:25; Luke 18:7,8; Rom. 3:4; 15:8;      1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Cor. 20:13; 1 Peter 4:19).

 

D. God is Merciful.  God’s mercy is the Divine goodness exercised with respect to the miseries of His creatures, feeling for them, and making provision for their relief, and in the case of impenitent sinners, leading to long-suffering, patience (Titus 3:5; Lam. 3:22; Dan. 59:9; Jer. 3:12; Ps. 32:5; Isa. 49:13; 54:7).

 

For the most beautiful descriptions of the mercy of God see      Psalm 103:7 and the ground of trust (Ps. 52:8).

  NOTE:  God’s MERCY was preeminently manifested is sending Christ His Son

     into the world (Luke 1:78).

 

E. God is Love.  Love is the attribute of God by reason of which He desires a personal relation with those who bear His image, and especially with those who have been made holy and are like Him in character.

1. Notice how God’s love is described (Deut. 7:8; Eph. 2:4;       Zeph. 3:17; Isa. 49:15,16; Rom. 8:39; Hos. 11:4; Jer. 31:3).

 

2. Notice to whom it is manifested (John 3:16; 16:27; 17:23;       Deut. 10:18).

 

3. Notice How it was exhibited (1 John 4:9,10; Rom. 9:11,13;          1 John 3:1; Isa. 43:3,4; Isa. 63:9; Titus 3:4-7; Eph. 2:4,5;    Deut. 7:13; Rom. 5:5).

 

F. God is Good.  The goodness of God is that attribute by reason of which He imparts life and other blessings to His creatures (Ps. 25:8; Nahum 1:7; Ps. 145:9; Rom. 2:4; Mat. 5:45; Ps. 1:19; Acts 14:17;    Ps. 68:10; Ps. 85:5).

 

QUESTION: Why did a God of love create a world with so much suffering?

ANSWER: 1. God is not responsible for evil.  If the careless workman

   throws sand into a delicate machine, should the manufacturer be held

   responsible?  God made everything good but man marred His work.

 

3.         2. God, being Almighty, evil exists by His permission.  We cannot in every instance, understand why He permits evil, “For His ways are just” and “past finding out” (see Dan. 4:37; Rom. 11:33).

 

4.      3. God is so great that He can overrule evil for good.

 

EXAMPLE: remember how He overruled the wickedness of Joseph’s brethren    (Gen 50:20).

 

4. God has arranged the universe according to natural laws, and these laws imply the possibility of accidents.

 

EXAMPLE: If a person carelessly or deliberately steps off a precipice (a very steep or overhanging place such as a cliff) he suffers the consequences of violating the law of gravity; yet we are glad for these laws, for otherwise the world would be in a state of confusion.

 

5. It should always be remembered that this is not the perfect order of things.  God has another life and future age in which to vindicate (to provide defense for) all His dealings because He works according to “Heavenly Standard Time.”  He will avenge His elect speedily        (Luke 18:7,8).  God must not be judged until the curtain has fallen on the last Scene of the drama of ages.  Then we shall see that “He hath done all things well.”

 

TAKE NOTE:

Every time a Hebrew uttered the name of God (ELOHIM) he was really saying “GODS” —— see Old KJV (l Sam. 4:7,8).  The word is in the plural and is sometimes used in the Hebrew with the plural adjective          (Josh. 24:18,19) and with a plural verb (Gen. 35:7).

 

Let us imagine a devout and enlightened Hebrew pondering the fact that Jehovah is one, and yet He is Elohim – “GODS.”  He could conceivably be imagined as concluding that there was a plurality of persons within the ONE GOD (GODHEAD).

 

Paul the Apostle never ceased to believe in the unity of God as He had been taught it from His youth (1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:4) indeed, he insisted that he taught no other things but which were found in the law and the prophets. His God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Yet he preaches the Deity of CHRIST (Phil. 2:6-8; 1 Tim. 3:16) and the personality of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30); and puts these Three persons together in the Apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14).

 

QUESTION: How can three persons be ONE GOD? is a question which puzzles many people.  We should not wonder at their perplexity, for we are dealing the INNER NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.  We must not forget that three can be ONE IN UNITY, and that is the case in the persons of -- The FATHEH, and THE SON, and THE HOLY GHOST: Those three are one in unity in the GODHEAD.

 

 

Prepared by Pastor Ben. Dahildahil Sr.