A
Review of the Doctrine of the Trinity
Click Here for the Full Sermon
Shorter Catechism:
Q5. What is God?
A5. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and
unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power,
holiness,
justice, goodness, and truth.
Q6. Are there more Gods than one?
A6. There is but one only, the living and
true God.
Q7. How many persons are there in the
Godhead?
A7. There are three persons in the Godhead:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and
these
three are one God, the same in substance [essence], equal in power and glory.
1689 London Baptist Confession,
Chapter 2, Paragraph 3:
In this divine and
infinite Being there are three subsistences, the
Father, the Word (or Son), and the Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and
eternity, each having the whole divine essence,
yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor
proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit
proceeding from the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning,
therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but
distinguished by several peculiar, relative properties and personal relations;
which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God,
and comfortable dependence on him.
Summary:
1.
There is only one God, the living and
true God.
2.
There are three persons in the Godhead:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
3.
These three are one God, the same in
essence, equal in power and glory.
4.
The Father is of none, neither begotten
nor proceeding.
5.
The personality of the Son is eternally
begotten of the Father.
6.
The personality of the Holy Spirit
proceeds eternally from both the Father and the Son.
7.
Subordination of essence in the Godhead
is denied, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being equal.
8.
Subordination of persons in the Godhead
is affirmed, the Son submitting to the Father and the Holy Spirit submitting to
both with respect to role and hierarchy.
9.
The hierarchical order in the Godhead of
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is permanent.
10.
Each person in the Godhead works on our
behalf to bring us through this life and into the life to come.