God With A Capital "G" (Part 5 of 6) By Allan Turner (http://allanturner.com/)
The Economic And Ontological Trinities
Theologians speak of the "economic Trinity" and the "ontological Trinity." These are constructs that attempt to define God. The so-called economic Trinity refers to the "division of labor" that exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and concerns itself principally with the different works done by the three persons of the Godhead in relation to the scheme of redemption. For example, the Bible depicts God the Father as foreknowing and choosing the plan whereby man could be redeemed (cf. Romans 8:29). In His role or work, the Father is never portrayed as being the One sent. On the contrary, the Father sends the Son and the Spirit (John 5:37; 14:26; 20:21). In turn, the Holy Spirit is involved in the work of sanctification (I Peter 1:1,2), and He is also the agent of inspiration (John 16:13; II Peter 1:21). In this connection, it is interesting to note that it is only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and not against the Father or Son, that is unforgivable (Matthew 12:31,32). (Surely, one can see from this that the three persons of the Godhead are truly distinct.) Of course, it is the works of Jesus, the Son of God, which receive most of the attention in the New Testament. This is because it is He who "became flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). It was only the Son who experienced death for us. It was only the Son who was resurrected from the dead, taken bodily into heaven, and seated at the Father's right hand. It is only the Son who is the High Priest and Mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14).
Therefore, the Bible teaches that, when it comes to the scheme of redemption, there are works done by the Father that are not done by the Son or the Spirit; there are works done by the Son that are not done by the Father or the Spirit; and there are works done by the Spirit that are not done by the Father or the Son. It is this Bible-based division of labor or economic Trinity that sheds some light on the so-called ontological Trinity (i.e., how the three persons of the Godhead are related within their own being, totally apart from any manifestations or works directed outside themselves). Discerning a threeness in the external manifestations and works of God is not too taxing, but when one turns his attention to the ontological Trinity, things begin to get a lot harder. For instance, are the appellations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit eternal distinctions within the Trinity or are they derived from the various works of God in the scheme of redemption? Particularly, from the standpoint of the Scriptures, is the doctrine of the eternal Sonship of Christ authentic? Alexander Campbell, for example, taught that Jesus Christ pre-existed as the Divine Logos or Word of God (cf. John 1:1), but that His Sonship began with the incarnation. According to Campbell, the entire "relation of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit began to be" during the days of Augustus Caesar (The Christian System, pp. 9,10). Personally, I am not certain that the eternal Sonship of Christ is Biblical, and, furthermore, I do not really see what difference it makes. There are several explicit references to the Deity of Christ in the Bible; consequently, His Deity or equality with God does not depend on an eternal Sonship relation.
How, then, do we explain the ontological Trinity? Personally, I do not think we can with any large degree of specificity. When we do try, we seem to fail, and fail miserably. Furthermore, many attempts to explain or depict the ontological Trinity (i.e., three in One) actually incline toward idolatry (cf. Romans 1:22,23). We must always remember that God is not a man; therefore, He cannot ultimately be explained or understood by trying to compare Him with finite creatures. And although it is absolutely impossible for three finite creatures to consist of the same essence, nevertheless, God, who is three Divine persons, and Who is identified in the economy of redemption as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is also, and at the same time, one self-existent, eternal, infinite, immutable Spirit Being.
There can be no doubt that the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity transcends the limits of our finite knowledge. By reason alone, unaided by divine revelation, we cannot figure out the ontological Trinity. But, by concentrating on the economic Trinity revealed to us in the Bible, we can know what the Triune God wants us to know about Himself. Consequently, I agree with professor B.B. Warfield, who concluded, "When we have said these three things, then-that there is but one God, that the Father and the Son and the Spirit is each God, that the Father and the Son and the Spirit is each a distinct person-we have enunciated the doctrine of the Trinity in its completeness" ("The Biblical Doctrine Of The Trinity," in B.B. Warfield, ed., Biblical And Theological Studies, pp. 22-59).
Mythology is filled with numerous triads, but there is only one Triune God. And if it had not been for the scheme of redemption, we would know very little of His threeness. In fact, although there are allusions in the Old Testament that the Godhead consists of more than one person, if Scripture had not depicted Jesus of Nazareth as God incarnate, and the Holy Spirit as Deity, the question of the Trinity would have never arisen. This means that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are the fundamental proof of the doctrine of the Trinity. This means that if the pre-existent Jesus (i.e., the Word or Divine Logos of John 1:1) actually divested Himself of His Godhood and Divinity, so that the "fullness of the Godhead" did not dwell in His earthly body (Colossians 2:9), as some are currently teaching, then the Triune God, who has identified Himself as a self-existent, eternal, infinite, immutable Spirit, ceased to exist as He had existed, at least for a period of time. Therefore, one can readily see that the current controversy over the Deity of Christ is not a "tempest in a teapot" issue; but is, instead, an issue that strikes at the very core of the gospel. We now turn our attention to the Biblical truth that there never was a time when the Divine Logos was not God with a capital "G."
My Thoughts Are Higher than Your Thoughts by Jon W. Quinn
(The Expository Files: http://www.flash.net/~wberkley/efmay03.htm)
Our Creator spoke through His prophet Isaiah and said, "Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord; and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:7-ff).
God has the right to expect and demand that every human being live according to His will. This right is His because He is the eternal, sovereign Creator of us all. He is righteous, holy and powerful. He is also loving, kind and merciful. He is capable of both wrath and judgment. He is far above and beyond us. The wisest, most prideful among us are foolish compared to Him. It is a fool who lives in rebellion against God with each day drawing nearer to eternity.
Some of us are willing to admit to God's supremacy and live our lives accordingly. Others stubbornly refuse; some even mocking God and His will as God still waits for them to wake up and come to their senses. Why does He wait? Why does He not react forcefully and finally to man's wickedness? His thoughts and ways are too wonderful for me. I probably would have run out of patience long ago. God hasn't... at least not yet.
"Start living in the 21st century!" "Everybody's doing it." These are a couple of the slogans used today by those advocating a rejection of Biblical standards of morality and behavior.
A look at the calendar does inform us that we are living in the 21st century. But a look at the timeless word of God shows us that His standard is still the same as it has always been. In Heb. 13:4, the Scriptures exhort us to "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." It does not matter which decade or century we live in, these things do not change.
Our society is much more permissive concerning moral and behavioral departures from Scripture today. In fact, society more often than not encourages and supports turning away from the Scriptures of God. Though Biblical concepts of moral right and wrong have not vanished, they are certainly diminished. But this is not new to the 20th and 21st centuries. And those who are so determined can choose to live faithfully before God no matter what society may do. The city of Corinth in the first century was rife with sin and our Lord had His faithful people there who had chosen to leave such living behind (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Pleasing God was important to them.
Finally, it is not true that "everybody is doing it." There are many who still honor and respect God and choose to dignify their lives by trying to live according to His word. They possess great faith and courage and do not regret their decision.
Yes, with each day we live, the time for this realm grows shorter. The final hour will come. Those who at times had been scorned and ridiculed for their faith will then "shine forth brighter than the sun" and will know that their faith had been worthwhile. So will those who had mocked them. All will know that faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.careydillinger.com/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: The Major and Minor Prophets
SUMMER LECTURE SERIES: July 13-18
Raising Kids Who Turn Out Right
Speaker: David Banning of Orlando, Florida
Sunday
The Good News About Raising Kids
Does It Take A Village?
It All Begins With Me
Monday - Friday
Overcoming The Pitfalls: (1) Problems With Peers; (2) Corrupt
Entertainment; (3) Materialism; (4) Sex Too Soon
Letters From Death Row
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: webmaster@careydillinger.com