A. Three persons exist in the one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, and equal in power and glory.
"Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:36)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom 8:15)
Thoughts: God is not an it. Jehovah's Witnesses believe the Holy Spirit is an "it" like lightning or electric power. An early heresy (taken up somewhat by the Muslims) believed that Jesus was not really a human person but a phantom- a ghost- not a real person. There are others (like Deists) who think that God is not caring or loving but an impersonal being.
Part of the belief in the Trinity is in the three "persons" not simply three "entities." God is not an it or an illusion. God makes us in His image (we do not make God in our image as Freud inferred). God reveals Himself (not "itself" or even "herself") as a He. God is love but God also is separate. We are made in God's image-- but precisely "made" not duplicated by mitosis or even just a different facet of the same image.
The revelation of God as male in the Bible (though with some female qualities) is in contrast to many pagan religions who portray creation as morphing from the womb of a goddess or those who say we are a part of the mother earth. There are those who say the Bible writers were super-patriarchal; and therefore should not be taken seriously. But we need to be careful to not just react to what we perceive, but instead listen to what God has revealed. Jesus taught to call God "Abba, Father." Even the first two names in Christian faith tend to point toward a separation from creation but at the same time a love for creation. The name "father" expresses concern, protection, love but also a tad more separation. than the idea of mother with womb and umbilical cord. The name "Son" does not just refer to the earthly Jesus, but to the second person of the trinity. The baptism formula given by Jesus is "in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." It is important that we be able to listen to what God says about God's self. If we cannot listen to what God says about Himself, what else are we not hearing? God is love and wants us to believe what He says about Himself. He is separate from us- but He loves us as an ideal father should love their child. God models fatherhood for all fathers, and models love to all of us. It should be noted to those who are starting to believe that pantheism or panentheism is the best option, that this is very different from the idea that God is love. An "It" does not love- as lightning does not love. While we may say we love the sunset, that is not the same as what Jesus commanded to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. Panentheism and pantheism are not the same as the God Jesus talked about or the bulk of the Bible speaks of- a God who love is everlasting.
Prayer: Father, help me to believe in your love shown by your Son's coming and by the Holy Spirit's presence in life.
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