Biblical Triune Principle

BIBLICAL TRIUNE PRINCIPLE

TRIUNE NATURE OF GOD

When one is searching the Scripture for truth, it is imperative that every passage found relating to a specific truth, be balanced with other passages, and the whole counsel of God must be sought from Genesis to Revelation. To determine Biblical truth there must be specific, direct verifying Scriptural teachings, clearly defined with specific principles, examples and/or precepts.

The Biblical principle in this study is the Triune nature of God or the doctrine of the Trinity. The specific words triune and trinity are not found in the Bible but there are clear and specific Biblical principles, examples or precepts that clearly describe God as One, yet revealing and expressing Himself a Triune Being, as a Father, Son and Spirit.

Not only is God Triune in Nature but this Scriptural truth and principle of the Trinity is exemplified by the 1) Significance of the Triune Number “Three” 2) Eternal Existence of the Triune God 3) Creation of the Triune Human Body 4) Triune Pattern of the Tabernacle 5) Triune Pattern of the Temple 6) Triune Embodiment of the believer in Christ and Christ in the believer 7) Triune Relationship of Christ in the Father and the Father in Christ 8)Triune Eternal Presence in the New Jerusalem. These Scriptural truths will be the focus of this Biblical study.

TRIUNE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NUMBER THREE

The number 3 is used in the Bible to depict completeness. It denotes divine perfection. It points to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete and divine.

Examples: Three Heavens…Three sections in the Tabernacle…Three sections of the Temple…Three Great Feasts…Three temptations faced by Jesus…Three times Jesus prayed in the Garden…Three times Peter denied Christ… Jesus was crucified Third hour… Three crosses…Three hours of darkness at the cross…Third day Jesus rose again…These Three: Spirit, water and blood…These Three: Father, Word, Spirit.

ETERNAL EXISTENCE OF THE TRIUNE GOD

One God:

Mark 12:29 “(Jesus) Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.”

John 17:11 “That they may be one as we are.”

John 17:21-22 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: That they may be one, even as we are one:”

Romans 3:30 “See it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and un-circumcision through faith.”

I Corinthians 8:4 “There is none other God but one.”

I Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Galatians 3:20 “Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.”

Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

I Timothy 2:5 “There is one God and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:”

Three Distinct Persons:

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

I Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:” (Son)

I John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Son), and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”

God the Father

Matthew 3:16-17 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice (Father) from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:5 “While Peter yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice (Father) out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

Matthew 19:17 “There is none good but one, that is, God;”

Matthew 23:9-10 “For one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.”

Mark 12:29 “Jesus: Hear O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

John 10:30 “I and my Father are one.”

John 17:11 “That they may be one as we are (one).”

John 17:21-22 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: That they may be one, even as we are one:”

Romans 3:30 “Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”

I Corinthians 8:4 “There is none other God but one.”

I Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Galatians 3:20 “Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.”

Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

I Timothy 2:5 “There is one God and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well:”

Peter 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”

God the Son (Jesus)

Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”

John 20:28 “And Thomas answered and said unto him (Jesus), My Lord and my God.”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 8:12 “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

Acts 10:47-48 “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

Acts 19:3-4 “And Paul said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus.”

Acts 19:5-6 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands, upon them, the Holy Spirit

came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

God the Holy Spirit

John 4:23-24 “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

John 16:13 “(Jesus) When He the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth because He will not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears He will speak to you, and He will show you things to come.”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 5:3-4 “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Thou hast not lied unto men but unto God.”

Acts 7:48-50 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all things?”

Acts 10:47 “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

Acts 19:4-6 “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”

Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

I Corinthians 2:9-12 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them who love Him. But God hath revealed them by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of the God…even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”

I Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

I Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

II Corinthians 6:16 “For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Ephesians 2:21-22 “In whom (Christ) all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

CREATION OF THE TRIUNE HUMAN BODY

Genesis 1:26-28 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…”

I Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I Thessalonians 5:23 “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, soul, body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.”

TRIUNE PATTERN OF THE TABERNACLE

Exodus 25:8-9 “Let them make me a sanctuary (ohel tabernacle, dwelling place, tent); that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern the tabernacle (ohel tabernacle, dwelling place tent), and the patter of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”

Outer Court, Inner Court (Holy Place), Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) are all described in detail in Exodus 25, 26 and 27.

TRIUNE DESIGN OF THE TEMPLE

Outer Court

Ezekiel 42:1 “Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north.”

Inner Court (Holy Place)

Exodus 26:33 “And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.”

Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place)

Matthew 27:50-51 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

TRIUNE RELATIONSHIP OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST AND CHRIST IN THE BELIEVERS

Believers in Christ

II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Ephesians 2:5-7 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. (By grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 1:28 “Christ, whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

I Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

I John 4:12-13, 15-16 “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

Christ in Believers

Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

Romans 8:10 “Now if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Romans 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

I Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

II Corinthians 6:16 “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”

Colossians 1:26-27 “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

Ephesians 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love…”

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the

glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

I John 4:2-13, 15-16 “No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

I John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

TRIUNE RELATIONSHIP OF CHRIST IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IN CHRIST

John 10:28-30 “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

John 14:6-11 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

TRIUNE ETERNAL PRESENCE IN THE NEW JERUSALEM

Revelation 21:1-3 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Revelation 21:22-23 “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

Revelation 22:3-5 “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and THEY SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER!”