If we read the Bible and take what we read seriously, we must not fall on either one of these extremes. Rather, we must try to remain at "the center of Biblical tension."
As Wayne Grudem simply put it in his Systematic Theology:
1. God is three persons.
2. Each person is fully God.
3. There is one God.
I've recently given scriptural evidence for the uniqueness of the three persons of the Trinity. That simple examination of the evidence has already destroyed the claims made by many individuals and organizations.
However, there are so many denominations and organizations that try to claim that the 3 persons of the Godhead are all individuals, and aren't actually the same person. Then other organizations go on to try to deny the deity of one (or more) of the persons, usually Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. We call these denominations and organizations "cults."
Scriptural Evidence for the 3-in-1
Simply put, here is a short selection of scriptural evidence for the oneness of God. This is by no means an exhaustive list: there are many more verses and passages than I could even begin to list!
"I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I gird you, though you do not know me,
that men may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me,
I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Isaiah 45:5-6
"since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith."
Romans 3:30
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
James 2:10
"I and the Father are one."
John 10:30
Jesus claims oneness with the Father on many occasions, and in the verses where all three are mentioned together, the Holy Spirit is given equal authority with the other persons of the trinity. There are many other verses (such as 1 Corinthians 2:10-11) acknowledging that the Holy Spirit has attributes that we know only God can have.
Like I said, this is by no means an exhaustive list. But the scriptures are clear: God is one.
Coming Up: Some thoughts about the paradox of the Trinity.
However, there are so many denominations and organizations that try to claim that the 3 persons of the Godhead are all individuals, and aren't actually the same person. Then other organizations go on to try to deny the deity of one (or more) of the persons, usually Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. We call these denominations and organizations "cults."
Scriptural Evidence for the 3-in-1
Simply put, here is a short selection of scriptural evidence for the oneness of God. This is by no means an exhaustive list: there are many more verses and passages than I could even begin to list!
"I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I gird you, though you do not know me,
that men may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me,
I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Isaiah 45:5-6
"since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith."
Romans 3:30
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
James 2:10
"I and the Father are one."
John 10:30
Jesus claims oneness with the Father on many occasions, and in the verses where all three are mentioned together, the Holy Spirit is given equal authority with the other persons of the trinity. There are many other verses (such as 1 Corinthians 2:10-11) acknowledging that the Holy Spirit has attributes that we know only God can have.
Like I said, this is by no means an exhaustive list. But the scriptures are clear: God is one.
Coming Up: Some thoughts about the paradox of the Trinity.
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