The Speaking Tree

Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Father, Son and The Holy Spirit
THE SPEAKING TREE
Father, Son and The Holy Spirit
By Andrew Rodrigues
What is the significance of the Holy Trinity in Christianity? All of us are born with an intrinsic tendency to worship a divine power — a Supreme Being. In our quest for the Truth, we have expressed all sorts of misleading conceptions concerning the deity. All of us are born with an intrinsic tendency to worship a divine power — a Supreme Being. In our quest for the Truth, we have expressed all sorts of misleading conceptions concerning the deity. The true deity or Divine Power as expressed in the Bible has been an unknown God. During this Lent season, it would be appropriate to re-examine the scriptural testimony concerning the God of Christianity so that we who insist on continuing to worship this true God may be able to do so with greater understanding. What the seminary teaches is respectfully manmade, whereas it is the Holy Spirit that has inspired the Bible. It is better to go direct to the Bible itself; and when we do so, it becomes apparent that there is but one God and that Christians are entitled to think of Him and seek Him as their Heavenly Father. The Bible also tells us of the Son of God who is Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Saviour of the world. Jesus’s relationship to mankind is prophetically titled as the Prince of Peace and the Mighty God. These titles do not describe different gods, but various characteristics of the One. Jesus was the direct creation of the Father, and therefore properly spoken of as his only begotten Son. Jesus in his pre-human existence is referred to as the Word of God. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, Our Father who art in heaven. The Scriptures make it plain that Jesus had been actively associated with his Father since Genesis. They tell us, in fact, that he was the beginning of the creation of God and also, the firstborn of every creature. And, in keeping with this spirit of oneness and cooperation, and during the whole period of his earthly ministry, Jesus remained humble, always reminding those to whom he ministered that the words he spoke, and the works he did, were not his own, but those of the Heavenly Father. What is the Oneness Principle in Biblical terms? Jesus declared to his disciples, I and my Father are one (John 10:30). The reference is obviously to the oneness of will and purpose. When Jesus was facing mockery, ignominy and death, He asked the Father to let this cup pass from him if it were possible. Nevertheless, he said, not my will, but thine, be done. He came to earth as a representative of the Heavenly Father, and everything he did and said was just what the Father would have done. This scriptural understanding of the identity of Jesus as the beloved and only begotten of the Father, should greatly enhance our Jesus declared to his disciples, I and my Father are one (John 10:30). The reference is obviously to the oneness of will and purpose. When Jesus was facing mockery, ignominy and death, He asked the Father to let this cup pass from him if it were possible. Nevertheless, he said, not my will, but thine, be done. He came to earth as a representative of the Heavenly Father, and everything he did and said was just what the Father would have done. This scriptural understanding of the identity of Jesus as the beloved and only begotten of the Father, should greatly enhance our appreciation of the concept. The primary significance of the term Holy Spirit is wind. Wind is both invisible and powerful; hence Christian tradition applied this word to various invisible and powerful influences. The word spirit is also translated in the Old Testament by the English words breath, smell, tempest, mind, and wind. In each of these translations the thought behind the word is that of invisible power, or influence. The Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures is the holy power or influence of God, a power which operates for the accomplishment of the divine purposes — wherever and whatever they may be. The Holy Spirit then is the invisible power of God, a power that is manifested in a great variety of ways. Speaking of God’s creative power we read that his Spirit moved upon the face of the waters. That was a life-giving Power. The influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians is primarily that of God’s mind — the power of his expressed will for us. http://spirituality.indiatimes.com
3:44:39 PM
Posted By Andrew Rodrigues Comments (1) Uncategorized
Comments
Abraham Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:27:05 PM
1. Spirit means soul, the life force inside each human being, not wind. Wind or air is an element of nature with no capacity to think, analyse, judge, act. Supreme Spirit means God, the one and only Creator.2. Supreme Spirit does not create in the sense that human beings know - of giving physical birth. He creates by imparting cosmic knowledge and divine values. Creation is not making something out of nothing, it is really re-creation, i.e. transforming base minds into elevated ones.3. People are not born with an intrinsic proclivity to worship. They are taught to by parents, teachers, religious personalities.4. Your interpretation that oneness of Jesus means oneness of will, purpose and not oneness of the spirit / body is 100% correct.May peace be on earth!