The Nature and Attributes of God Part 4: God is Triune

God is triune. This view of the nature of God is distinct to Christian theology. Christianity is a monotheistic faith (Belief in one God), so what is meant by triune? Before this question is answered, it must be demonstrated that the Bible does teach monotheism.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

This scripture is a fundamental for Christians and Jews alike.

Isaiah 43:10 Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.

God plainly removes any doubt of another God existing before him or after. There is none before or after him because God is eternal (read Nature and Attributes part 2).

The Bible clearly teaches that God created the Heavens and the earth (Genisis 1:1). Bob Passantino, in his article "Is The Creedal Doctrine Of The Trinity Biblical? (© 1992) says " The Bible teaches that this one true God created everything ex nihilo, or from nothing (Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 44:24; Hebrews 3:4; 11:3).When Christians say "the Father is God," we mean that a distinct person known as the Father is identifiable as the one true God, the creator ex nihilo (1 Cor. 8:4-6; 2 Peter 1:17). When we say "the Son is God," we mean that a distinct person known as the Son is identifiable as the one true God, the creator ex nihilo (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16).When Christians say "the Holy Spirit is God," we mean that a distinct person known as the Holy Spirit is identifiable as the one true God, the creator ex nihilo (Job 33:4; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:11)."

Christians do not mean by this that there are 3 gods and one god. This would be a contradiction. What is meant is there is one God in three Persons, and there are three persons in one God. This is a numerical identity. God exist as triune. If the Father ceased to be, God would cease to be. If the Son cease to be, God would cease to be. If the spirit cease to be, God would cease to be. Humans share a "generic" identity. If you or myself were to die, humanity would not cease to be. All humans share human nature. The Father, Son, and Spirit do not share in God's nature, they are fully the one true God.

The Bible says that the Father is God (Titus 1:4), the Son is God (John 1:1), and the Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4), but also teaches that there is one eternal God (see above). Jesus proclaimed that he and the Father were one. In Mathew 28:19, Chritians are told to baptize in the name of the THE Father,The Son, and The Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 13:14 the text says "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.". These are early creedal statements of the Church in the first century. The new testament never uses the term "trinity", but the concept is embedded in theses confessional statements.