Deep Dive In Faith
Journey with us as we explore the multifaceted world of Christianity through engaging discussions on contemporary news, powerful sermon insights, and compelling stories of faith. From breaking down biblical teachings to examining how Christianity intersects with modern life, Deep Dive in Faith offers thoughtful conversations that both challenge and inspire believers seeking a deeper understanding of their spiritual walk. We are proud supporters of destiny rescue, A organisation saving children lives from sex trafficking. Donate and help rescue more children > https://www.destinyrescue.org.au/donate/
Deep Dive In Faith
Exploring the Divine: Understanding God's Attributes and the Trinity
Can we truly grasp the grandeur of a being so singular, so boundless, that even our best metaphors falter? Join us for an exploration into the divine essence as we contemplate the extraordinary attributes of God, painted vividly through biblical scripture. We promise you an enlightening journey as we discuss how God stands apart from all creation—an unchangeable, spirit-like presence beyond time and space. Using provocative analogies, from diamonds to artists, we strive to illustrate the profound transcendence and independence of God, a concept as elusive as it is awe-inspiring.
But the journey doesn't end there. We turn our gaze toward the attributes humans share with God, reflecting on life, wisdom, and truth, and how we serve as imperfect mirrors of divine qualities. Our conversation reaches a theological crescendo as we unpack the complexity of the Trinity, anchored firmly in the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Through the distinct interactions of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we invite you to deepen your understanding of this central Christian doctrine. Embrace the challenge of these profound ideas and discover a richer perspective on the nature of the divine.
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Welcome back to Deep Dive in Faith, episode five already.
Speaker 2:Wow, time flies yeah it really does. Yeah, it's actually a good one.
Speaker 1:It is. It's all about God.
Speaker 2:You said you wanted to explore the concept of God.
Speaker 1:so yeah, one of my favorites. I love to get lost in this topic.
Speaker 2:It really is a journey, huh.
Speaker 1:It is.
Speaker 2:Never gets old.
Speaker 1:Nope, never gets old and you know, we're kind of taking a unique approach this time. Yeah, we're focusing on the attributes of God as described in the Bible, not just who he is.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But what makes him fundamentally different?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Different from everything else. That's right, so we've got two YouTube videos from the Grace Ambassadors channel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, these are great. They are the unique attributes of God.
Speaker 1:And the three are one Yep.
Speaker 2:Those are going to be our guides today. It's going to be good, yeah, and I think it's really cool how these videos emphasize.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:How important it is to understand God's attributes Absolutely, so we don't get tripped up, you know yes, by misconceptions, misinterpretation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all that stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because there's a lot out there there is you? Know about God.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:And to make sure we're not misunderstanding who he is Right, what he is.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:It's important to look at his attributes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like solving a theological mystery.
Speaker 2:Yeah, mystery is an understatement.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:What I find fascinating is that we can learn about God through what he is, not just who he is.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And you know this is actually what sets the God of the Bible Okay, Apart from other concepts of gods and other religions.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's kind of where we're going to start. Yeah, we're going to dive into some of these mind-blowing concepts about God.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:First up.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We have the idea that God is unique, unique, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we have the idea that God is unique, unique.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there is literally nothing else.
Speaker 2:Nothing.
Speaker 1:Him and the entire universe.
Speaker 2:The entire universe. Think about it this way.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:There are over 8 billion people On Earth, each one completely unique. Now imagine that number shrinking down.
Speaker 1:Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:Shrinking down to just one.
Speaker 1:What.
Speaker 2:That's the singularity of God that we're talking about.
Speaker 1:I'm breaking down to just one what?
Speaker 2:That's the singularity of God that we're talking about. Okay.
Speaker 1:That puts it into perspective.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Big time, yeah, so one God, totally unique. Check what's next on this divine spec sheet.
Speaker 2:Well, the Bible tells us that God is a spirit.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Not physical, not bound by the limits of space or time.
Speaker 1:Hmm, that's where those?
Speaker 2:metaphors come in.
Speaker 1:Yes, of space or time. That's where those metaphors come in. Yes exactly when the Bible talks about God walking or repenting. We're trying to understand these actions that are beyond our human experience.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's like trying to explain colors to someone who's been blind from birth.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:We have to use analogies, concepts they can relate to. Yeah, it makes sense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Okay, so no physical body not limited by space or time.
Speaker 2:Right, that's a pretty radical concept. Yeah, it's a radical concept.
Speaker 1:Anything else.
Speaker 2:Hold on tight, okay, because this one's a real head scratcher.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:God is unchangeable. Oh, he doesn't have good days or bad days. Doesn't change His mind, doesn't go through phases. Okay, he's eternally consistent.
Speaker 1:So consistent. This makes me think of, you know, like a diamond. Okay, a diamond. So it's a solid, unchanging structure at its core, even though it can be cut and shaped in different ways. But God's unchangeableness.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:It's like that diamond. It provides like a bedrock of stability.
Speaker 2:That's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That's a beautiful way to put it. And it ties directly back to the concept of God's perfection, yeah, which we see emphasized.
Speaker 1:Throughout the Bible.
Speaker 2:Throughout the Bible.
Speaker 1:He is complete in himself.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we've got unique spirit, unchangeable Right. What other unique attributes define God's nature?
Speaker 2:This one's crucial there you go. God is independent.
Speaker 1:Independent.
Speaker 2:He doesn't rely on anything or anyone outside of himself. He's the ultimate source.
Speaker 1:So, like the ultimate off the grid lifestyle, yes, totally self-sufficient. Self-sufficient Not needing anything from anyone.
Speaker 2:The video uses this really interesting analogy of an ant trying to understand the motivations of a human. The ant's perspective is so limited that it can't even grasp the concept of what the human is doing Right or why Right. In the same way, God's independence means he isn't limited by our understanding and he's not subject to our whims.
Speaker 1:Oh, that really puts things in perspective.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So we can try to understand God.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But ultimately he's operating on a whole other level.
Speaker 2:Completely different level.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, okay so unique spirit, unchangeable, independent.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What else?
Speaker 2:This is where it gets truly cosmic. Okay, god transcends his creation. He's not just a part of the universe, he's beyond it.
Speaker 1:Okay, so if the universe was like a giant painting?
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:God wouldn't be the paint or the canvas. Right like a giant painting. Okay, god wouldn't be the paint or the canvas, right, he'd be the artist.
Speaker 2:The artist standing back observing masterpiece perfect analogy you know, yeah, and just as the artist can step away from the painting right without it ceasing to exist yeah god's existence isn't dependent on the universe in fact okay, the whole universe could disappear and God would still be.
Speaker 1:Whoa, that's mind-blowing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It really makes you think about the scale of things, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Unique spirit, unchangeable, independent, transcends creation.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We're building quite a list here.
Speaker 2:We are, and we're not done yet.
Speaker 1:Okay, bring it on.
Speaker 2:Next up, we have the concept of God's infinity.
Speaker 1:Okay, infinity, and we're not done yet.
Speaker 2:Okay, bring it on. Next up, we have the concept of God's infinity.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Infinity. No beginning, no end, wow Present everywhere at the same time.
Speaker 1:So if we were to take God's eternality no beginning, no end and combine it with his omnipresence being everywhere? At once that's what we mean.
Speaker 2:That's what we mean.
Speaker 1:By infinite.
Speaker 2:By infinite.
Speaker 1:It's a concept that can be difficult to wrap our minds around, for sure, but the Bible uses some powerful imagery to help us grasp it, like in the book of Isaiah, where God is described as dwelling in a place higher than heaven.
Speaker 2:Oh, wow.
Speaker 1:So not just up there in the clouds, but somewhere even beyond that. Yeah, it's meant beyond that? Okay, yeah, it's meant to spark our imagination.
Speaker 2:Help us understand that God's existence is on a completely different plane.
Speaker 1:Different plane than anything we can perceive or experience.
Speaker 2:Okay, so unique spirit, unchangeable, independent, transcends. Creation infinite yes, Anything else. One creation infinite yes, Anything else.
Speaker 1:One more crucial attribute that forms the foundation of everything else God is holy, completely set apart, pure and perfect.
Speaker 2:So it's not just about being good or moral.
Speaker 1:In like a human sense.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It's about being completely pure, distinct apart, on a level we can't even fathom that we can't even fathom.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay, wow god's holiness is a reflection of his absolute perfection okay and it's this attribute that truly separates him from everything else in creation, and this is also also a key point that helps us understand the seriousness of sin and why we need salvation.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, so that was a lot to unpack. It is a lot. Just when I thought I had a handle on these divine attributes, you throw holy into the mix.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a big one.
Speaker 1:It is. It's amazing to think that these aren't just abstract theological ideas, but they actually have real implications for how we understand God and our relationship with him.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And you know, what's even more fascinating is that the Bible tells us that humans actually share some of these attributes with God.
Speaker 1:We do.
Speaker 2:But in a limited way.
Speaker 1:Wait, hold on. We share qualities with the infinite eternal transcendent creator of the universe.
Speaker 2:Yeah, how is that even possible? That's precisely what we'll be diving into next.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Get ready to explore the common attributes of God All right and what they reveal about our own nature and potential.
Speaker 1:All right, let's do it.
Speaker 2:All right, let's do it All right. So let's shift gears a little bit and explore this intriguing idea that humans actually share certain attributes with God, but in a limited way. Remember we were just talking about how God is unique. He's a spirit, unchangeable, independent, transcendent, infinite.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm still trying to wrap my head around all that.
Speaker 2:It's a lot. It is a lot.
Speaker 1:But I'm ready to dive into this idea of shared attributes. Okay, yeah, it's like are we mini versions of God? Kind of yeah, you know, but running on a much smaller scale.
Speaker 2:That's a great way to think about it, right, yeah, and the source material emphasizes that we were created in God's image.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Which means we reflect some of his qualities. Okay, but in a finite.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And imperfect way.
Speaker 1:So where do we see this in the Bible? Yeah, good question. What are some examples?
Speaker 2:Well, one of the most fundamental attributes, okay, we share with God is life. Okay, he is the source of all life, the living God as the Bible describes him. Yeah, and we too possess life.
Speaker 1:But there's a big difference.
Speaker 2:There is a huge difference.
Speaker 1:Between our life, yes and God's life right, absolutely Ours is temporary limited.
Speaker 2:Limited.
Speaker 1:God's is eternal and self-sustaining. Eternal self-sustaining and self-sustaining Eternal self-sustaining.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like the difference between a flickering candle and the sun. The sun, exactly.
Speaker 1:They both provide light.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But one is dependent on a finite source.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:The other one is the source itself. Is the source? That's a powerful analogy. Okay, so life Check.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What other attributes do we share?
Speaker 2:Another key attribute is personhood.
Speaker 1:Personhood.
Speaker 2:God is a personal God, okay, capable of thought, will and emotions, oh wow.
Speaker 1:And we, as humans, are also persons made in his image. So you're saying that our capacity for intellect, yes, choice, choice and emotions, even those messy, complicated, yes, even the messy ones. Human emotions are reflections, ref those messy, complicated, yes, even the messy ones, human emotions are reflections, reflections, yes, of God's own nature.
Speaker 2:Precisely, yeah, of course, our expression of these attributes is imperfect and often distorted by sin. Yeah, but the very fact that we have them at all points back to the image of God in which we were created.
Speaker 1:It's like we're looking into a mirror.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:But the reflection is cloudy and incomplete.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah.
Speaker 1:We catch glimpses of those divine qualities.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:But they're always kind of filtered through our human limitations.
Speaker 2:That's a beautiful way to put it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And this leads us to another shared attribute.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Knowledge.
Speaker 1:Knowledge.
Speaker 2:God is all-knowing.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But we too have the capacity to learn.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:To understand, yeah, to gain knowledge.
Speaker 1:But there's a difference. There is a difference Between accumulating information Right and true wisdom.
Speaker 2:Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Right, I mean, I could spend hours on social media.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And just absorb all sorts of facts and opinion.
Speaker 2:Right right.
Speaker 1:But that doesn't necessarily make me wise.
Speaker 2:You've hit on a crucial distinction.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:True wisdom, as the Bible defines it comes from God.
Speaker 1:It's about seeing things from his perspective. Okay.
Speaker 2:Understanding the bigger picture and applying knowledge in a way that honors him.
Speaker 1:So we can gather all the data in the world.
Speaker 2:We can.
Speaker 1:But without God's guidance. Yes, it's just noise.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it can be just noise.
Speaker 1:Wisdom is about aligning our knowledge, aligning With his truth.
Speaker 2:With his truth.
Speaker 1:Yes, Okay, so it's not just about what we know right, it's about how we apply it Exactly and it's about how we apply it Exactly and making sure that it's in line with God's will. God's truth, his values, yes, Okay, so we've got life, personhood, knowledge, wisdom.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Are there any other attributes that we share?
Speaker 2:Here's one that might surprise you.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Majesty.
Speaker 1:Majesty.
Speaker 2:Majesty.
Speaker 1:Like kings and queens.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like kings and queens, crowns and scepters. Crowns and scepters yeah.
Speaker 1:What does that do with us?
Speaker 2:Well, think about what majesty represents.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's about honor.
Speaker 1:Okay, dignity Okay.
Speaker 2:A sense of being set apart for a greater purpose. We see this reflected in the way we admire certain individuals for their character, their accomplishments their service to others.
Speaker 1:So it's about recognizing something greater than ourselves.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:A sense of awe and respect.
Speaker 2:Awe and respect, yes, okay, and ultimately this points back to God, who is the source of all true majesty.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:He is the ultimate king, the one who defines what it means to be truly honorable and worthy of praise okay, I'm starting to see the pattern here yeah we're like imperfect echoes yes of these divine attributes right trying to express them in our own limited human way in our own limited human way.
Speaker 1:Yes, what else is on this list of shared qualities?
Speaker 2:another important one is power power okay god is all-powerful right the creator of everything that exists right, but even we humans okay possess a certain degree of power but obviously there's a massive difference there's the massive difference between god's power and our own right oh, absolutely I can maybe lift a heavy suitcase yeah but I can't create a universe right exactly
Speaker 2:okay, our power is limited right finite yeah and often misused yeah, we're good at that but the very fact that we have it at all okay is a reflection of the creator who made us it's like we're given these incredible tools.
Speaker 1:Yes, our minds, our bodies.
Speaker 2:Our creativity.
Speaker 1:Our creativity, but it's up to us, it is To decide how we use them.
Speaker 2:And that brings us to perhaps the most important shared attribute of all.
Speaker 1:Okay, what's that?
Speaker 2:Truth.
Speaker 1:Truth.
Speaker 2:God is absolute truth. Okay, the unchanging standard of what is real and reliable.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But we as humans also have a sense of truth, a desire for authenticity.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know. That makes me think about how much we value honesty, yes, and integrity.
Speaker 2:Integrity yes, and others yeah.
Speaker 1:We're drawn to people, yes, who are genuine.
Speaker 2:Genuine.
Speaker 1:Who live what they believe, who aren't afraid to stand up for what's right.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And this longing for truth, this desire to live authentically, is a reflection of the God who made us. It's a reminder that we were created for something more than just chasing fleeting pleasures or accumulating possessions.
Speaker 1:We.
Speaker 2:We were made for truth.
Speaker 1:Wow, this is incredible to think about.
Speaker 2:It is, it is.
Speaker 1:But I have to admit it's also a bit overwhelming.
Speaker 2:I can understand that.
Speaker 1:If we're carrying these sparks of divinity within us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what does?
Speaker 1:that mean for how we live our lives.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:What's the point of even trying?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:If we're so limited? Yeah, compared to God.
Speaker 2:That's a great question.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it gets to the heart of what it means to be human. Remember, we're not meant to be perfect replicas of God.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But rather unique reflections of his image. We each have our own individual way of expressing these attributes.
Speaker 1:So it's not about becoming God.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But it's about reflecting his character.
Speaker 2:His character and purpose In our own unique way.
Speaker 1:In your own unique way, exactly.
Speaker 2:Okay, that makes sense.
Speaker 1:And that's what makes life so exciting. Yeah, we're not just robots.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Programmed to follow a script.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But free agents.
Speaker 2:Hmm.
Speaker 1:With a capacity to choose.
Speaker 2:How we live, how we love.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:How we use our gifts and talents.
Speaker 1:This is starting to feel like a choose your own adventure story.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:You know, we've been given these incredible attributes. Yes, Even in limited form.
Speaker 2:Even in limited form.
Speaker 1:And it's up to us to decide how we use them.
Speaker 2:That's decide how we use them. That's where the concept of free will comes in. Free will. Okay, we have the capacity to choose, okay, to align ourselves with god's truth, to seek his wisdom yeah to use our power for good, or we can choose to ignore right those sparks of divinity within us, yeah, and live in a way that's contrary to his nature okay, this deep dive is really living up to its name. It is, isn't it.
Speaker 1:We've gone from exploring God's unique attributes.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:To discovering these shared qualities.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:And now we're talking about free will. Free will and the choices we make.
Speaker 2:The choices that we make.
Speaker 1:Where do we go from here?
Speaker 2:Well, we've established that God is unique Right and that humans humans while created in his image are finite and limited yes this leads us to one of the most profound and challenging doctrines of the christian faith okay, hit me with it the trinity the trinity.
Speaker 1:Now, that's a topic that's always fascinated me, yeah, and confused me. It's a big one at the same time it is a big one one god one god yet three distinct persons three distinct persons.
Speaker 2:How does that?
Speaker 1:even work.
Speaker 2:That's the million dollar question. Right, it is the million dollar question yeah but before we dive into that mind-bending mystery, okay, let's take a moment to recap okay what we've learned so far? What are some of the key takeaways that stand out to you?
Speaker 1:I think. For me, it's the realization that, even though God is infinitely, vast and beyond our full comprehension, he has chosen to reveal himself to us through his attributes.
Speaker 2:Through his attributes.
Speaker 1:And even more amazing.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:We see reflections of those attributes we do In ourselves.
Speaker 2:That's a beautiful insight. Yeah, and it should fill us with both awe and humility. Awe at the majesty of God.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And humility at our own limitations. Right, okay, but here's the exciting part.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Understanding God's attributes and how they're reflected in us gives us a deeper understanding of who we are and why we're here.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm ready to tackle the Trinity.
Speaker 2:All right, let's do it.
Speaker 1:Bring on the mind-bending mystery.
Speaker 2:Let's go.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm officially ready to dive into the deep end of the theological pool.
Speaker 2:Let's do it.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about the Trinity.
Speaker 2:All right, fasten your seatbelts.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's a wild ride.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm ready.
Speaker 2:We're about to explore how the Bible describes God as one God existing in three distinct persons. Okay, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's one of those concepts that makes you realize how limited our human understanding really can be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know. The source material emphasizes that we need to stick to what the Bible says about the Trinity, avoiding external analogies or philosophical arguments that might lead us astray.
Speaker 1:Right, we have to let Scripture be our guide.
Speaker 2:Scripture is our guide. That's right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like assembling a complex puzzle. Yes, gathering all the pieces from the Bible before we can see the complete picture.
Speaker 2:Yeah, good analogy.
Speaker 1:So where do we begin with this puzzle?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What's the first piece we need to put in place?
Speaker 2:Well, the foundation of the Trinity.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Is this concept of one God? Okay, the Old Testament is crystal clear on this point, emphasizing God's singularity from. Genesis to Malachi.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Take Deuteronomy 6.4, for example.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, the famous Shema.
Speaker 2:Yes, the Shema.
Speaker 1:Here O Israel, the Lord, our God. The Lord is one Pretty straightforward, pretty straightforward, yeah, it is, but then we move into the New Testament. Yes, and things start to get a bit more.
Speaker 2:Yeah, a little bit Complex.
Speaker 1:We see the Father, jesus and the Holy Spirit all being referred to as God.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's where I think some people get tripped up, yeah.
Speaker 1:I think so too.
Speaker 2:How can there be one God if there are three who are called God?
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:It seems like a contradiction.
Speaker 1:It does seem that way on the surface.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But if we look carefully at the evidence, we see a consistent pattern emerge.
Speaker 2:Okay, I like patterns. Let's look for those patterns. So let's start with the Father.
Speaker 1:Okay, the Father. There are numerous passages in the New Testament.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Where God the Father is clearly distinguished from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, okay, yet still identified as God.
Speaker 2:Okay, can you give us an example?
Speaker 1:Sure In Galatians 1.1.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Paul writes grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay, so here we see. God, the Father, and Jesus, mentioned as separate persons yet both are sources of grace and peace, which are divine attributes Right, okay, so the Father is God. What about Jesus?
Speaker 2:What about Jesus?
Speaker 1:What evidence do we have from the New Testament that points to his divinity?
Speaker 2:Well, there are actually a ton of passages.
Speaker 1:Really.
Speaker 2:Yeah, One of the most direct is Colossians 2.9, which states For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Speaker 1:Whoa, that's a pretty bold statement.
Speaker 2:It is a bold statement.
Speaker 1:All the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:It doesn't get much clearer than that.
Speaker 2:No, it doesn't Okay.
Speaker 1:And then we have and then we have passages like John 1.1.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:This verse equates Jesus, the word Okay With God, from the very beginning of creation.
Speaker 2:Okay, so the father is God.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Jesus is God.
Speaker 1:Jesus is God.
Speaker 2:Now for the tricky part. Okay, what about the Holy Spirit?
Speaker 1:The Holy Spirit. Does the New Testament explicitly call him God?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it does.
Speaker 1:Although maybe not in the same direct language we see with the Father and Jesus.
Speaker 2:But there are passages that strongly imply the Holy Spirit's divinity. Okay, acts 5.3-4 is a great example.
Speaker 1:Okay, remind me what happens in that passage.
Speaker 2:And Ananias and Sapphira lie.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:The Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:About a financial offering.
Speaker 1:Oh right.
Speaker 2:Peter confronts them and says why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? You have not lied to men, but to God.
Speaker 1:Okay, so lying to the Holy Spirit is equivalent to lying to God.
Speaker 2:That's right.
Speaker 1:That seems to put the Holy Spirit on the same level as God. That's right Okay.
Speaker 2:And this is consistent with other passages where the Holy Spirit is involved in creation, performs miracles, convicts of sin and empowers believers. These actions are typically associated with God.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm starting to see how the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's coming together.
Speaker 1:But I'm guessing some people might still argue that the Father, son and Holy Spirit are just different names.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Or roles for the same being.
Speaker 2:Kind of like different masks that God wears.
Speaker 1:That's a common misconception.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:However, the Bible clearly shows.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:The three persons of the Trinity interacting Okay With each other.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:As distinct individuals.
Speaker 2:So they're not just different masks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that.
Speaker 2:God's wearing. Not different masks no, they are separate.
Speaker 1:Separate persons yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Can you give us an example of that? Absolutely yeah. Think about jesus's baptism, okay in matthew 3.160, 17. Okay, we see jesus being baptized by john. Uh-huh, the holy spirit descending on him like a dove right and the father speaking from heaven. Okay, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased wow, so so we have all three persons of the Trinity. All three right there.
Speaker 2:Present and active in this one event.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like a divine drama. It is unfolding before our eyes.
Speaker 2:Each playing a distinct role.
Speaker 1:Distinct role yes.
Speaker 2:And we see this pattern.
Speaker 1:We see it throughout the New Testament. Okay, reinforcing the idea of three distinct persons within the Godhead. Okay, so we've established that the Bible teaches there's one God.
Speaker 2:One.
Speaker 1:God, but this one God.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Exists as three distinct persons.
Speaker 2:Three distinct persons.
Speaker 1:Father, son and Holy Spirit. That's right, but honestly, why should we care about this doctrine?
Speaker 2:That's a valid question.
Speaker 1:It's pretty complex. It is complex, and I can see how some people might think it's just an abstract theological concept with no real relevance to their lives.
Speaker 2:Right, right, but understanding the Trinity is actually crucial for several reasons.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm listening.
Speaker 2:First, it shows us that God is inherently relational. He's not the solitary, distant being, but a community of love within himself.
Speaker 1:So love isn't just something God does. It's part of his very essence.
Speaker 2:It's part of his essence.
Speaker 1:yes, it's woven into the fabric.
Speaker 2:Woven into the fabric of the Trinity.
Speaker 1:Of the Trinity.
Speaker 2:wow, that's right, and that has huge implications for us, because we're made in god's image.
Speaker 1:we were created for relationship, for connection for love yeah, that makes me think about all the different ways that we experience love and connection with family, with friends our communities yes it seems like we're hardwired for it we are and the trinity shows us why we long for relationship because we were created by a god who is relationship. Wow, that's a beautiful thought.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:Okay, what else does the Trinity teach us?
Speaker 2:Well, it also highlights the importance of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:The Trinity underscores that Jesus is not just a good teacher or a prophet, but, okay, fully divine and equal to the Father.
Speaker 1:So our salvation hinges on a proper understanding it does Of the Trinity.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Right Denying the deity of Christ or the Holy Spirit yeah, leads to a distorted view of salvation.
Speaker 1:Mm.
Speaker 2:You know, the Trinity is not just a theological puzzle to be solved, it's the foundation.
Speaker 1:Of the Christian faith. I'm starting to see how crucial this doctrine really is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a big one.
Speaker 1:It impacts how we view God. It does Ourselves and our relationship with him. That's right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways. That's good. We may not fully grasp the mystery of the trinity, yeah, but we can trust okay that god has revealed himself to us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, in this way, for a purpose you've given us a lot to chew on today we have, it's a lot to digest I feel like we've only just scratched the surface of this just scratched the surface incredible doctrine, but I'm leaving with a renewed sense of wonder right and a desire to learn more.
Speaker 2:That's what we hope for. You know, the journey of faith is a lifelong adventure of discovery. Yeah, keep exploring, keep asking questions and allow God to reveal himself to you more and more each day.
Speaker 1:Well said.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Before we go, I want to remind everyone about that special cause.
Speaker 2:Yes, we mentioned earlier, that's right.
Speaker 1:We're partnering with Destiny Rescue.
Speaker 2:Yes, a wonderful organization.
Speaker 1:A Christian organization doing incredible work, incredible. To rescue children from sex trafficking.
Speaker 2:It's so important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, their mission is so important.
Speaker 2:It is and they rely on the generosity of people like you to continue their life-saving work.
Speaker 1:Their life-saving work.
Speaker 2:That's right, we've included a link.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we've included a link.
Speaker 2:To donate to Destiny Rescue To.
Speaker 1:Destiny Rescue in the episode description.
Speaker 2:In the episode description.
Speaker 1:Every little bit helps.
Speaker 2:Every little bit helps.
Speaker 1:Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into the nature of God. Thank, you. And the mystery of the Trinity.
Speaker 2:The mystery of the Trinity.
Speaker 1:We hope you learned something new. Yes, and that you'll continue to explore these ideas.
Speaker 2:Keep exploring and your own. God bless and we'll see you next time.