Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
— Deuteronomy 6:4 —
Do you understand how the God, who is one, can appear as a man standing before the tent of Abraham while He is still enthroned in heaven and still be present in every place in creation all at the same time? It is because He is the Father and He is the Son and He is the Holy Spirit. If we don't understand that, He is a stone of stumbling to us.
I Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit.
The Spirit is God's essence. Spirit is what God is, and the Spirit He is is the Holy Spirit. That is the missing key to understanding "the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost." The reason the Father and the Son are One is because they are the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is also how we are one in them when we believe. This scripture makes it plain.
Romans 8:9-11 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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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.
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
I Corinthians 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
I Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
In the exact same way, Jesus said,...
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are [in the same way].
John 17:20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their word; 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 the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, as we are one: [in the same way] I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John 17:24-26 Father, I will that they also, whom thou has given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Jesus comes to us in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit doesn't leave them. It emanates from them. That is how God is omnipresent. His Spirit permeates every place in heaven and earth.
John 20:21-22 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you;
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
In the last two chapters of Revelation, where it talks about the new heaven and the new earth, we find no mention of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is there in the Father and the Son. What we do see is a river of life flowing out of the throne.
Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 4:10-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Jesus said, “I and My Father are One.” He didn’t say I and my Father are two, and He didn’t say I and my Father and the Holy Spirit are three.
Trinity isn’t a good explanation of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Look at these references to the Holy Spirit from the KJV.
The way the Spirit is described in the scripture as being "of God" and "of His Son" and being "His Spirit," it doesn't sound like a third person. I don't think the Spirit is a third person. I think it is what God is. Just as you and I are human beings, the Father and Son are Holy Spirit. The idea “trinity” wasn't conceived until about a hundred and fifty years after the crucifixion. It wasn't until the Synod of Alexandria in 362 A. D. that this hypothesis became doctrine.
Catholic Encyclopedia
Trinity: The Dogma of the Trinity:
"The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of
the Christian religion - the truth that in the unity of the Godhead
there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, these three persons being truly distinct one from another."
"The Persons are co-eternal and co- equal: all alike are
uncreated and omnipotent."
"In Scripture there is as yet no single term by which the Divine Persons are denoted together. The word tpias (of which the Latin trinitas is a translation) is first found in Theophilus of Antioch about A.D. 180. He speaks of “the trinity of God [the Father], His word and His wisdom” (“AD. AUTO1”., II, 15, P.G., VI, 1078). The term may, of course have been in use before his time. Shortly afterwards it appears in its Latin form of trinitas in Tertullian (“De pud”, c. xxi, P.G., II 1026). In the next century the word is in general use. It is found in many passages of origin.
"The writers of this school contend that The doctrine of the Trinity, as professed by the Church, is not contained in the New Testament, but it was first formulated in the second century and received final approbation in the fourth century, as the result of the Arian and Macedonian controversies."
The New Catholic Encyclopedia - 1967, VOL.
XIV, PAGE 299:
The formulation “one God in three
Persons" was not solidly established, certainly
not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of
faith, prior to the end of the fourth century. But
it is precisely this formulation that first claimed to title “The
Trinitarian Dogma.” Among the apostolic
fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a
mentality or perspective.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Spirit is what God is, and the Spirit He is is the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Luke 11:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Yes, the Son is equal with, but subordinate to, the Father.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD [YHVH] the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD [YHVH] of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Revelation 1:11 I AM Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:..
Revelation 1:17-18 ...Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;...
Revelation 22:12-13 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Isaiah 43:10-11 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:7-11 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I Corinthians 15:27-28 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Jesus is the Word of God, which is God. When we read the Words of God, we are reading Jesus.
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Genesis 3:19
8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 4:8
31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32
36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
John 8:36
4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
Proverbs 30:4
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Deuteronomy 6:4
18For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18
27And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
Mark 2:27
2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:...
1 Peter 1:2
16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
John 10:16
13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:13-16
16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Luke 3:16
6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
9He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exhalt the horn of his anointed.
1 Samuel 2:6-10
19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
John 2:19
31Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
Deuteronomy 12:31
15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Revelation 2:15
9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:9-10
25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:25
1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Matthew 24:1-2
29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:29-30
1And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Revelation 9:1
13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Revelation 14:13
32Verily I say unto you, This generation [genea] shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Luke 21:32
22Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 2:22
3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Revelation 11:3
24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Genesis 5:24
24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
John 21:24
10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10
16A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Zephaniah 1:16
23…for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries [pharmakeia] were all nations deceived.
Revelation 18:23
15He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
Jeremiah 51:15