The Trinity and the Deity of Christ
                           By Dave Christie
                July 26th, 1992 (Revised Sept 9, 1992)

There are many religious organizations out there today that deny the
doctrines of the Trinity and the Deity of Jesus Christ. 

Of these groups are the Mormons, and the Jehovah's Witnesses.

In fact the doctrine of the Trinity is a Biblical teaching.  It was not
inspired by man, but by God in the words of the Bible. 

Some of these groups argue that the Trinity is not a scriptural concept
because the word "trinity" is not found in the Bible.  The word "trinity"
is a descriptive word.  Trinity comes from the Latin word "Tri-unitos"
which means "three in the unity of one."  And while this word is not found
in the Bible, it is a Biblical Concept. 

To properly prove the Doctrine of the Trinity, We must first address some
key issues: 

   1.  That the Father is called God in Scripture.
   2.  That Jesus Christ is shown to be God in Scripture.
   3.  That the Holy Spirit is shown to have both personality and
       Deity in Scripture.
   4.  That there is only one Jehovah God.

(I will be using the King James version Bible)

                    I. THE FATHER CALLED GOD

   2 Peter 1:17 "For he received from GOD THE FATHER honour and
   glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent
   glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
   (EMPHASIS MINE)

Criteria #1 is met, Here the Father is called God.  I am sure we can all
agree on this. 

                  II. JESUS REFERRED TO AS GOD

   <EXAMPLE #1>

   Rev 1:8  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,
   saith the Lord (God), which is, and which was, and which is to
   come, the Almighty.

This is the first use of Alpha and Omega. In the KJV "Lord" is used.  In
other versions "Lord God" is used.  Lets read on... 

   Rev 21:5-7 "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I
   make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these
   words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done.
   I am ALPHA AND OMEGA, the BEGINNING AND THE END. I will give
   unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life
   freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I
   will be his GOD, and he shall be my son."  (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here again, the person speaking identifies himself as Alpha and Omega, he
also labels himself as "the beginning and the end," further in the passage
this same person identifies himself as "God". Lets read on

   REV 22:13-16  "I am ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE
   END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST.  Blessed [are] they that do his
   commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
   and may enter in through the gates into the city.   For
   without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
   murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a
   lie.  I JESUS have sent mine angel to testify unto you these
   things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of
   David, [and] the bright and morning star." (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here again, the person speaking identifies themselves as "Alpha and
Omega", "Beginning and the End", and "First and the Last".  THEN, further
in the passage the speaker identifies himself by saying "I JESUS". 

Alpha and Omega has been determined to be GOD, and the person calling
himself "Alpha and Omega", identifies himself by saying "I Jesus."  Thus
the logical conclusion.  Jesus is the Alpha and Omega and Jesus is God. 

   <EXAMPLE #2>

   Rev 22:7 "Behold, I COME QUICKLY: blessed [is] he that keepeth
   the sayings of the prophecy of this book." (EMPHASIS MINE)

Who is saying "I am coming Quickly"?  Lets read on:

   Rev 22:12-13 "And, behold, I COME QUICKLY; and my reward [is]
   with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I
   am ALPHA AND OMEGA, the beginning and the end, the first and
   the last. (EMPHASIS MINE)

This passage again states "I come quickly" and the person speaking this
goes on to identify themselves as "Alpha and Omega" whom we have already
determined refers to God.  Lets read on. 

   Rev 22:20  "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I
   COME QUICKLY.  Amen. Even so, COME, LORD JESUS. (EMPHASIS
   MINE)

Who is coming quickly?  The Alpha and Omega (God) is coming, and in this
verse again, the speaker is identified as Jesus. 

   <EXAMPLE #3)

   Rev 22:13  "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,
   the FIRST AND THE LAST." (EMPHASIS MINE)

Again we use an Alpha and Omega Scripture. But this time we will focus on
the phrase "First and the Last".  This is a title used also to describe
God.  We can also see this in the Old Testament. 

   Isaiah 44:6 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his
   redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] THE FIRST, AND I [am] THE
   LAST; and BESIDE ME [there is] NO GOD.  (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here in the OT the title "First and Last" is also used, and it is
attributed to God.  Now, back to Revelation. 

   Rev 1:12-18 "And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.
   And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the
   midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the SON OF
   MAN, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about
   the paps with a golden girdle. His head and [his] hairs [were]
   white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a
   flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they
   burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many
   waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of
   his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance
   [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him,
   I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon
   me, saying unto me, Fear not; I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST: I
   [am] HE THAT LIVETH, AND WAS DEAD; and, behold, I am alive for
   evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

Here is where the problem develops.  In this passage John is standing
before a person.  This person Identifies himself first as the "Son of
man".  Who is the "Son of Man"?  Lets look in Matthew. 

   Mat 16:13 "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea
   Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that
   I THE SON OF MAN am?" (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here Jesus clearly Identifies himself as the Son of man, now back to the
previous passage in Revelation.  The person speaking to John then
Identifies himself as "the First and the Last".  Now we have already
determined that that Title is reserved for God himself?  In the next
phrase the person makes a startling statement.  The person says "I am he
that liveth and was dead"  Now the question arises: if the title "First
and Last" is ascribed to Jehovah God, meaning the father, then when did
God die?  The fact is that the father never died, so Jesus is the one
being spoken of here, and he is clearly identified as God. 

Jesus is identified in the Bible as 100% man.  He had feelings, needs, he
was lonely, and the list goes on.  But to let it stop brings up a lot of
conflict in the Bible.  Biblical Theology is Incarnational Theology,
meaning that Jesus while 100% man, was also 100% God. 

   <EXAMPLE #4>

   John 1:1-2 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
   with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.  The same was in the beginning
   with God." (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here John introduced the "WORD" and says that this word is God. What is
"Word"?  Lets look further. 

   John 1:14  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
   (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
   the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Here we see that the "Word" became Flesh and dwelt among us.

The Word for "flesh in the Greek is "sarx" and here is the Strongs
reference for that word. 

4561 sarx, sarx; prob. from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped
     of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as
     food), or (by extens.) the body (as opposed to the soul [or
     spirit], or as the symbol of what is external, or as the
     means of kindred), or (by impl.) human nature (with its
     frailties [phys. or mor.] and passions), or (spec.) a human
     being (as such):-carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).

It is clear that this "Word" became actual Flesh and came to earth, but is
this referring to Jesus Christ himself.  Let us look to the book of the
Revelation for the answer. 

   Rev 19:11-14  " And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white
   horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and
   True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His
   eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many
   crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he
   himself.  And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in
   blood: and HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD.  And the
   armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses,
   clothed in fine linen, white and clean." (Emphasis Mine)

This is the famous depiction of the second coming of Christ. Here we see
the Lord returning with his saints for the great Battle of Armageddon. 
Notice verse 13.  As the Lord is described it gives one of his names.  The
name is "the Word of God".  Thus showing that the "Word" in John 1:1 that
became Flesh in 1:14 is in fact Jesus Christ. Thus showing His Deity as
stated in John 1:1. 

   <EXAMPLE #5)

   John 8:55-59 "Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and
   if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto
   you: but I know him, and keep his saying.  Your father Abraham
   rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.  Then
   said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and
   hast thou seen Abraham?  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,
   I say unto you, Before  Abraham was, I AM.  Then took they up
   stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of
   the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed
   by." (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here we see some conversation between Jesus and the religious Leaders.
This exchange almost ended in violence. Why is that?  Let's look back in
the book of Exodus. 

   Exodus 3:13-15 "And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come
   unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God
   of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to
   me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them?  And God
   said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou
   say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 
   And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the
   children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of
   Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me
   unto you: this [is] my name for ever, and this [is] my
   memorial unto all generations."

Here God is speaking with Moses. God identifies himself as "I AM" then He
goes on to identify himself as the "God of your Fathers." The phrase "I
AM" became a sacred declaration of Deity to the Jews. So when Jesus said
"I AM" he was proclaiming that he was God.  To the Jews this was blasphemy
and they wanted to stone him for it. 

These are just some of the many examples in scripture that show that Jesus
is God.  But one of the most important aspects of all this, is how the
Deity of Christ affects the Gospel message. 

You see, we as humans are sinners and are unable to save ourselves. Romans
3:23 says that "All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God."  Man
on his own cannot save himself. 

In the Old Testament when the Israelites sinned, they were required to
sacrifice a lamb to atone for their sins.  The requirements for these
sacrifices were that the lamb be spotless and unblemished.  Just as these
lambs had to be perfect to be sacrificed, so also did the one who died for
our sins have to be perfect. 

Hebrews 4:15 states that we have a savior who "...was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin."  No man could have saved us, only the
Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  Who was God incarnate, come in the flesh, who
died on the cross for the world, and who was raised on the third day. 

To reject the Deity of Christ is to reverse our salvation. For no ordinary
man could pay the price Jesus did.  Jesus was 100% man, and yet he was
also 100% God. 

                   III. THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD

   Acts 5:3-4 "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?  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."  (EMPHASIS MINE)

First of all we must establish that the Holy Spirit is a person, and has
personality, not some impersonal force.  Here Peter tells Ananias that he
has lied to the Holy Spirit.  The question Arises, how can you lie to an
impersonal force? 

Also, later in the passage Peter repeats himself by saying that Ananias
has lied to God.  He didn't say also, or to God and the Holy Spirit. He
simply repeats himself.  The first time saying Holy Spirit, the next time
saying God. 

   Acts 13:2  " As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the
   HOLY GHOST SAID, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
   whereunto I have called them." (EMPHASIS MINE)

Here, the Holy Spirit has spoken?  How could an impersonal force speak?
And besides that, a few words later he uses two personal pronouns to
identify himself.  These are "me" and "I".  These are not attributed to
impersonal objects. 

   Ephesians 4:30  "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
   whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Here we are told not to "grieve" the Holy Spirit.  Again, how can a
impersonal force be grieved.  We again see that the Holy Spirit is a
person and has a personality. 

So, from these passages we have determined that the Holy Spirit is indeed
a person, and indeed he does have a personality, for he can speak and
display feelings, and emotions (grieve). He can be lied to.  All these
things are not characteristics of a impersonal object or force. And Acts
5:3-4 also identifies the Holy Spirit as God.  There are many other verses
in the Bible to support this, I have listed but a few. 

                       IV. ONE JEHOVAH GOD

Now that I have shown instances where each member of the Godhead, being
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are shown to be called God, does that
mean that there are three Gods?  By no means!  Christianity is not
polytheism, but is a monotheistic Religion.  Lets see what the Bible says. 

   Galatians 3:20 "Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but
   God is one."

   Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one
   LORD:"

   Isaiah 44:6 "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his
   redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the
   last; and beside me [there is] no God."

These are just a few, But it is clear that there is only one God.

                V. SCRIPTURES SHOWING THE TRINITY

Again, the word "trinity" isn't used in the Bible, but there is much that
alludes to the Trinity.  Jesus himself said. 

   John 10:30 "I and [my] Father are one."

In other places the Trinity is shown.

   Luke 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The HOLY
   GHOST shall come upon thee, and the power of THE HIGHEST shall
   overshadow thee: therefore also that HOLY THING which shall be
   born of thee shall be called the SON OF GOD." (EMPHASIS MINE)

   Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
   baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
   of the Holy Ghost:"

   2 Cor. 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
   of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you
   all. Amen."

In all these verses, (plus many more) all three persons of the Trinity are
shown together. 

   VI. THE CO-EXISTENCE AND THE WORKING TOGETHER OF THE GODHEAD

Lets us now turn to a verse in 1 John.

   1 John 4:12  "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one
   another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

I am sure that no one out there will argue this.  So has anyone seen God? 
Has anyone ever seen God?  Who is defined here?  Is it the Father?  Is it
the Son?  Is it the Holy Spirit?  It says that God dwells in us, but I
thought God was on the throne?  Is God omnipresent?  I thought it was the
Holy Spirit that dwelled in us.  Is the Holy Spirit God? 

But the verse states that NO man has seen God at any time, Some groups
such as the Jehovah's Witnesses's say that Jesus is not God, but a created
being.  They call him an Angel.  Well, Here is something interesting. 
Lets look on... 

   Genesis 18:1-2  "And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains
   of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
   And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood
   by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the
   tent"

Here in verse one it says that the Lord appeared to Abraham. Who is the
Lord here? 

According to Strongs Concordance it is Jehovah.

 3068 Yehovah, yeh-ho-vaw'; from 1961; (the) self-existent or
      eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:-Jehovah, the
      Lord.  Comp. 3050, 3069.

Who were the three men mentioned in verse 2? Lets look on to verse 22: 

   Genesis 18:22 "And the men turned their faces from thence, and
   went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD."

The men leave, and Abraham is standing before the Lord.  So who is the
Lord?  The Lord is Jehovah. Abraham, then talks to the Lord about the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Now, are ALL three men gone? Or was
the Lord one of the men? Lets go on. 

   Genesis 19:1 "And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and
   Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing [them] rose up to
   meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the
   ground;

Here is an interesting point.  Only 2 individuals arrive at Sodom, and
they are described as ANGELS.  The third member of the Party stayed back
with Abraham, and was called "the Lord" which is Jehovah.  Obviously the
Lord was not an angel, but was Jehovah God himself.  But that leaves us
with a problem.  Lets go back to 1 John. 

   1 John 4:12  "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one
   another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

How do we reconcile this all with what we have seen in Genesis? Simple.
Here is how John can be interpreted, the inserted words are mine. 

   1 John 4:12  "No man hath seen God [the father] at any time.
   If we love one another, God [the Holy Spirit] dwelleth in us,
   and his love is perfected in us."

Where is God the Father?  He is in heaven on the Throne, and Jesus is at
his right hand. 

   Acts 7:56  "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and
   the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

1 John also says that God dwells in us.  Does the father dwell in us? Lets
look and see who dwells in us. 

   Luke 1:41  "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard
   the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and
   Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:"

   Luke 1:67 "And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy
   Ghost, and prophesied, saying,"

   Luke 2:25  "And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose
   name [was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout,
   waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was
   upon him."

   John 14:26  "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost,
   whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
   things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I
   have said unto you."

   John 20:22 "And when he had said this, he breathed on [them],
   and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"

   Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
   began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
   utterance."

   1 Cor 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of
   the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye
   are not your own?"

It is clear in scripture, that it is the Holy Spirit that dwells in us,
not the Father.  So, the "God" that dwells in us, that is described in 1
John, is non other than God the Holy Spirit himself. 

The Jehovah SEEN in Gen 18 and 19 is what is known as a Christophany. 
This is a theological term for a physical manifestation of God the Son in
the Old Testament. 

This is but another example of the Biblical Proof that God is triune in
nature, and that the three distinct persons of the Godhead, make up One
God. 

                         VI. CONCLUSION

The doctrine of the trinity can be defended in scripture.  For it is a
biblical concept. Not one devised by man or Satan.  The concept of the
Trinity is one that is not totally comprehendible by the human mind. But
this doesn't make the trinity any less of a reality.  Many people have
tried to draw analogies of the Trinity, only to become more confused. 

An adequate definition of the Trinity can be:

   "Within the Nature of the one God, there are three eternal
   person's. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."  -Ron Carlson

I hope this will help you to understand the reality of the trinity and the
deity of the three persons of the Triune Godhead. 

                           In Christ's Service,
                           Dave Christie
                           07/26/92 (revised 9/9/92)