Photo by Peter Drew on Unsplash.
I remember hearing James Robson, Keswick Ministries Ministry Director giving an analogy of the golfer taking a shot from a bunker. If he goes too deep, he will simply take up too much sand and the ball will not have enough lift. However, it is equally futile to simply hit the surface of the golf ball. You have probably guessed that I know nothing about golf but his analogy related to tackling difficult subjects in Bible teaching. I have landed in a theological bunker. And it is ironic that I decided to pause our blogs from Revelation because I was in a bunker.
The subject of the divine trinity is complex and controversial. The Bible says very little on this subject about which volumes have been written. One book on systematic theology makes this very insightful observation:
This fact—of the intimate union, communion, and inhabitation of the persons of the Trinity—is the reason why everywhere in Scripture, and instinctively by all Christians, God as God is addressed as a person, in perfect consistency with the Tripersonality of the Godhead. We can, and do pray to each of the Persons separately; and we pray to God as God; for the three persons are one God; one not only in substance, but in knowledge, will, and power. To expect that we, who cannot understand anything, not even ourselves, should understand these mysteries of the Godhead, is to the last degree unreasonable. But as in every other sphere we must believe what we cannot understand; so we may believe all that God has revealed in his Word concerning Himself, although we cannot understand the Almighty unto perfection. [Charles Hodge: Systematic Theology. Page 408 of Kindle Edition.]
I want to emphasise that the 'intimate union and communion' of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the divine model for our fellowship or koinonia as Christians. The first chapter of John's letter introduces the theme of koinonia.
[[3] that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. [4] And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. [1 John 1:3-4 ESV]
These verses declare that koinonia or fellowship among Christians is dependent on fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. This fellowship brings joy. The English Standard Version renders the verse, 'so that our joy may be complete.' However, some of the early manuscripts have 'your joy.' I just want to make the simple point that fellowship (koinonia) and joy go together.
John's Gospel provides us with the text of the real Lord's prayer before Jesus took his steps towards Gethsemane and the series of events culminating in His death on a Roman cross at a place called Golgotha.
[22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [John 17:22-24 ESV]
The idea of the trinity or three persons of the Godhead being one in essence and purpose but distinct in person and function is a great mystery. In the book of Proverbs we catch a glimpse of this fellowship before the creation of the world.
[27] When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
[28] when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
[29] when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
[30]then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
[31] rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of man. [Proverbs 8:27-31 ESV]
I have highlighted the powerful statement showing the fellowship in the Godhead prior to creation. Notice that there is joy again.
I am going to finish today's blog by quoting the greeting to the seven churches in the book of Revelation and its clear reference to the distinct work and personality of Father, Holy Spirit and the Son but they are united as one in the introduction to the last book of the Bible.
[4] John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come [God the Father], and from the seven spirits who are before his throne [God the Holy Spirit], [5] and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth [God the Son]. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood [God the Son] [Revelation 1:4-5]
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