THE DIVINE NATURE

The Bible teaches that there is just one God, but this one Godhead involves three distinct persons—identified as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” (Mark 12:29).

Christ Is the Bodily Fullness of the Godhead

Paul declares that in Christ “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). That is why Jesus said to Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus Christ existed eternally as “the Word,” but was historically made flesh and lived among the human family (John 1:1-4; 1:14).

In several scriptures the first person of the Godhead is even called “God the Father” (Romans 15:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 1:2-3). Great is this mystery of godliness that has been revealed unto us (Colossians 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:16).

One God—Three Persons

All three persons are mentioned together in such a way as to indicate that they share the same nature—deity (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6). After the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon him in the form of a dove; the Father was in heaven and endorsed his Son as being well pleasing. This is a clear illustration of the three distinct persons who shared the divine nature.

There are several independent lines of proof that Jesus was the divine Son of God. (1) John the Baptist gave testimony to this fact (John 1:32-34; 5:32-35). (2) The works of benevolence that Jesus did testify to his deity (John 5:36; Matthew 11:4-6). (3) The miracles of Jesus prove who he claimed to be. (John 20:30-31; 1 John 5:7-8). We serve an awesome God!

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142