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OUR GOD IS ONE GOD
Greeting!
The following sermon outline shows that there are three persons in
the one God we worship. But instead of using the more common points
(that JW's are so indoctrinated on) I tried to assemble some powerful
but not as commonly used arguments. So, while I do mention
JOHN 1:1-3, for example, I first establish that the LORD had no help
from and creatures when He created the universe but "did it by Himself
(ISA 44:24). The common JW approach says that the LORD's "first
created being" helped Him. Anyway, whether you use this to work
up a sermon outline or not, I think that it contains good info for your
file on the Godhead.
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OUR GOD IS ONE GOD
The LORD is one!" (DEUTERONOMY 6:4). There is but one true God. There
are not two, three or more. There is only one true God and many false
gods (I CORINTHIANS 8:4-6).
Because of this, some have denied the deity of Christ. Some have
denied that The Holy Spirit is God. Some have even denied that the
Holy Spirit is a person! They say that only the Father can be God
because there is only one God and if Jesus and the Holy Spirit were
also God that would make three. I suppose that reasoning would be
sound if the word "one" in the phrase "one God" always referred to a
mathematical one. It does not!
(DEUTERONOMY 4:35). The term "LORD" in these passages is a
translation of the Hebrew name "Jehovah." So, "Jehovah , He is God,
there is no other besides Him" is an accurate translation of the above
verse. The earlier passage could be translated this way: "Hear O
Israel! Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one!"
However, the word translated "God" (Elohim) is plural in form.
That makes the sentence really interesting and deserving of very
careful consideration: "Hear O Israel! Jehovah is our God (plural),
Jehovah is one!"
Add to this one other very important point: the Hebrew word
translated "one" is "echad." This word refers to a combined or united
one made up of more than one part! Perhaps the easiest understood
examples of how this word can be used is found in the first two
chapters of the Bible.
(1) (GENESIS 1:5). Here, we have two parts (light and darkness)
making up one day.
(2) (GENESIS 2:24). Here we have two persons becoming one. After
doing so, are they no longer two distinct persons? They have not
become mathematically one person. They are two individuals who have
become united as one w/o losing their individuality.
The point is this: Jehovah is one God. But this does not mean
that He is one person any more than a husband and wife are one person
because they are married.
I. THREE PERSONS ARE CALLED "JEHOVAH" IN THE BIBLE
A. Three Persons
1. (MATTHEW 28:19). This verse mentions three distinct entities
united in one name, or authority. It is a fact that the Bible refers
to each of these three as "LORD" or "Jehovah."
(1) The Father is referred to many times as "Jehovah" and as far as
I know there is little controversy here. However, for the record, here
are some references to consider: (I CHRON 29:10; ROM 1:7; I COR 1:3).
(2) Christ, the Son, is also referred to in the Bible as "Jehovah"
a.) For example, the LORD of hosts (the Father) will one day send
the LORD (the Son) to this world to "dwell in your midst" according to
one prophecy (ZECHARIAH 2:8-11). Both the Sender and the One sent are
referred to as "Jehovah" or "LORD."
b.) The Hebrew writer quotes several O.T. passages which speak of
"God" or "Jehovah" and apply them to Jesus, the Son (HEB 1:6-12;
especially vs. 10 and Psa. 102:1,12,24,25)
c.) Jehovah identifies Himself to Moses as "I AM" out of the
burning bush and Jesus identifies Himself to the people as "I AM" as
well (EXODUS 3:14; JOHN 8:24,58).
d.) Isaiah prophecies of John's ministry as one who would "clear
the way for the LORD (Jehovah) in the wilderness" and "Make smooth in
the desert a highway for our God." (ISA 40:3). This was fulfilled by
John preparing the way for Jesus; Jesus is the One to whom Isaiah
referred to as Lord and God according to the N.T. (MATTHEW 3:3).
e.) Many other examples such as ISAIAH 44:6; 48:12 and REVELATION
1:17-18; 2:8; 22:13,16 could be compared and cited. The point remains:
Jesus is Jehovah.
(3) The Holy Spirit is also referred to as "Jehovah" in the Bible.
a.) When Isaiah answered the Lord's call unto the office of prophet
there was a pressing need in the land. "And I heard the voice of the
Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I
(ISAIAH) said, 'Here am I. Send me!' (ISA 6:8,9; cf. vs. 3,5). The
Lord of vs. 8 is the LORD (Jehovah) of vss. 3,5). Jehovah spoke to
Isaiah. Would the term "LORD" or "Jehovah" refer to the Father, the
Son or the Holy Spirit? There is a way to know for sure. The New
Testament refers to this verse and informs us that "LORD" here refers
to the Holy Spirit "rightly speaking through Isaiah the prophet..."
(ACTS 28:25).
b.) Also, the Old Testament speaks of the coming of a New Covenant;
(JEREMIAH 31:33). It is the "LORD" or "Jehovah" that made this
declaration! The New Testament further identifies the One making the
declaration as "the Holy Spirit" (HEBREWS 10:15,16).
So, it is as we have already stated; the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit are each referred to in the Bible as Jehovah. It is
correct to refer to each of these three in this way. They are
distinct; and yet they are also one.
II. GOD SAID, "LET US..."
A. Who Made Man?
1. "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our own image..." (GENESIS
1:26). Who made man? God did! Who helped God accomplish that task? No
one helped; God did it all by Himself! Who is God speaking to and why
use the term "us?" Our one God consists of more than one person.
2. Who else could God have been talking to? Was He talking to the
animals which He had made? To the ducks and frogs and buffalo? Did
they help make man? That's ridiculous! Maybe He was talking to angels.
Well at least that makes more sense. But it is wrong just the same!
(ISAIAH 44:24). Jehovah insists that the angels did not help. He did
it all Himself! But wait, there's more!
3. If only Jehovah took part in the creation; and if Jesus is not
Jehovah, then that means that the Son of God had no role to play in
the creation of the universe. But to the contrary, the Bible says that
He did, so the Son must be regarded as Jehovah as well as the Father.
JOHN 1:1-3; 14-17).
And further, we know that the Holy Spirit also had a role to play
in the creation (GENESIS 1:2). So again, the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit each had roles to play in the creation of all things. The term
Jehovah appropriately applies to all three, who are one God even as
the husband and wife are one flesh. If you cannot fully comprehend 3
in 1 do not despair. There are many, many other things about our
eternal, all wise and all powerful God none of us can comprehend, at
least presently. To be filled with awe and live by obedient faith is
what is necessary. That we all can handle.
CONCLUSION
How can one understand this concept of three but one? In discussing
the attributes of the eternal God, there are many things that mortal
minds cannot comprehend. But to deny something that the Bible so
plainly teaches is a lack of faith. One God in three persons; the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Discuss their role in salvation; INV).
From: jwquinn@aol.com
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