I am happy for God’s work in poem’s life, but I am not happy how her pastor illustrates God.  How can you connect his explanation of God with the theology of John’s Gospel?  It seems that his modalistic view of God (not desiring to just zero in on him)  is prevalent among evangelical pastors, but I passionately assert that the human illustration does not do justice to the biblical revelation.

John’s Gospel speaks fully of the distinctiveness of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Listen to this testimony by Robert on the glorious inter-Trinitarian relationships in John’s Gospel:

 

That he starts and ends the gospel by equating Jesus with God (1:1-18; 20:31) shows that there is nothing accidental or unpremeditated.  The Word who is “in the beginning” (note the allusion to Genesis 1:1) is “with God” (or “directed toward God”) and, moreover, equated with God.  John is pointing to the unity, equality, and distinction of the Word (logos) and God (theos). He then underlines that the Word is the creator of all things (vv. 3-4) and that he became flesh (v. 14).  To cap it all, he is the only begotten God (v. 18).

 

The “I am” sayings, and the consistent emphasis on the relation between the Father and the Son, support this.  The Holy Spirit is prominent in John, and is clearly distinct from the Father and the Son, especially in the Paraclete sayings in chapters 14-16.  True worship is to be directed to the Father in Jesus, the truth (cf. 1:17, 14:6), by the Spirit (John 4:21-24).

 

In summary, the Father loves the Son, sends the Son, and glorifies the Son.  He also sends the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name, in response to his request, and is worshiped in the Son and in the Spirit.  He and the Son indwell one another.  He has life in himself and has given to the Son to have life in himself.  He is the judge and has committed judgment to his Son.

 

The Son was with God in the beginning, in the bosom of the Father, and was and is God.  He made all things.  He was sent by the Father, became flesh, and lived among men.  He obeys the Father, prays to the Father, and after his resurrection ascends to the Father.  He asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit, sends the Holy Spirit himself, and breathes out the Spirit on his disciples.  He and the Father indwell one another.  He receives from the Father life in himself and the right to judge.

 

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, is sent by the Father on the Day of Pentecost in response to the Son’s request, and is also sent at that time by the Son.  He is breathed out by the Son.  He bears witness of the Son and brings glory to him.

 

The three work together in harmony.  Through the Holy Spirit, they come together to the disciples, who as a consequence live in the Father and in the Son.

Our church family examined John 4:34 today.  What a great Father’s Day message for those desiring to be like Christ!

 

Thinking of heart issues . . .