Before I became a Baptist, I studied with the Jehovah's Witnesses with a family (I haven't seen them in more than 25 years but my mom ran into them a while ago and I found they are no longer JWs). Because of this and the fact I wasn't raised in a Christian home, I think I am at a disadvantage of understanding the Trinity. I am hoping that some of you can explain it to me. I was told that the way I understood the Trinity was actually Modalism (The water, ice, and steam example I used to use).
Christine,
I am afraid that the truth is; NO ONE understands the trinity. The way religious leaders try to explain it is preposterous, illogical , unreasonable, and totally unbelievable. Can you really believe that the Almighty God is a three headed monster?? Seeing that there are things that Jesus does not know, that God does, Matt 24:36, and some things that belong to God only, Matt 20:23, it would be a better description, instead of a trinity, a tricorporal, meaning three bodies and one head instead of one body and three heads.
There is several terms, such as Correspondence Theory, and Coherence Theory along with the principle of something being Mutually Exclusive, belies the possibility of more than one Allpowerful God. These theories actually mean for something to be considered there must be something, somewhere in history that compares to the theory contemplated. In all of history there is NOTHING like the idea of a trinity, especially since Jesus and God make up just two people. The Holy Spirit is the power or force that God uses to accomplish His purposes. Jesus himself said that the Father is greater than I am, John 14:28. God gave an order to listen to His son, Mark 9:7.
Jesus said that God in heaven is his Father as well as our Father and his God as well as our God, John 20:17. Is a servant equal to his God?? Acts 3:13, 4:27,30.
Three times while Jesus was on earth God spoke to Jesus from heaven, Matt 3:17, Mark 9:7, John 12:28. Since it is recorded that Jesus NEVER was deceptive, he was not practicing ventriloquism, but the voice was God's, from heaven. Jesus used the principle of two witnesses and said that he was one, and the Father is also ONE witness, John 8:17,18.
In two places recorded in the Holy Scriptures, God is pictured as sitting on His throne and Jesus was brought in before Him, Dan 7:13,14, Rev 5:6,7. Would this be possible if they were the same person??? I don't think so!!!
Jesus said that God's word is true, John 17:17. The Bible actually says in several places that God is ONE, Deut 6:4, Mark 12:29,32, Gal 3:20.
I could go on and on, but just one more, unless you want more, John 5:22, 23, tells us that God does NO JUDGING at all, but has given ALL the judging to the son. If they were the same person this would be a flat out lie, TRUE!!! It is impossible for God to lie, Titus 1:2, and Jesus never lied, 1Pet 2:22.