God´s call for community
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Part # 2: God exists in community by
Rated 3 by 3
2000-08-12
The very nature of God exists in community. I do not want to go deep into Trinitarian theology at this time but I want to touch the main idea so we can see how it applies to us. It is in fact in this belief that Jesus prays for our unity when He said, "they may be one as we are one" (John 17:22 )
When we say Trinity we are referring to the age old belief expressed in the Bible, the early Church, the councils and the times following. This belief is that God is one God and yet He is three persons. This is a mystery, our small minds will never be able to grasp the greatest depths of God but we can begin to understand it. When we say that God is one we mean that He is the only God, there is no other. There is only one nature to God. Only one who is from before time, only one who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and the Creator and owner of the universe.
We also say, this nature exists in three persons whom are in relationship with each other as one God. Perhaps you find this confusing but let me use a lesser illustration to clarify. The word, "one" in the Bible is the same word used to say, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deut 6:4) and "a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." (Gen 2:24) And so in a sense the marriage union is like the union God has among Himself (and so why God hates divorce). In a marriage there are two distinct persons and yet somehow they are one. This too is a mystery but we accept it and if you have seen a healthy marriage you know what I am speaking of. Now to understand God we will likely have to magnify that unity a million or more times just to begin to grasp it.
Then how do you distinguish between the persons of God? They are distinguished as to their relationship and this is expressed in their role and position. The Father is the originator of all. The Son is the one who comes forth (the only begotten Son of God) and the Spirit is the one who is sent. And so in creation we have the Father speaking, the Son as the Words and the Spirit hovering over the waters. All three exist at the same time, each are distinct based on their relationship to one another and yet they are inseparable since they are united as the One God.
The application I want to drive home is this: Since God in His very existance exists as relationships within community, community must be incredibly important to God. We then as followers of God should hold unity and community of incredibly high value.