Bible Studies - God

The Godhead

All Bible texts are from the King James Version


"The mightiest human being, whatever may be his claim, is not infinite. He cannot understand infinity. Christ plainly stated, ‘No man knoweth the Son, but the Father.’ A teacher was once endeavouring to present the exaltation of God, when a voice was heard, saying, ‘We cannot as yet understand who He is.’ The teacher nobly replied, ‘Were I able fully to set forth God, I should either be a god myself, or God Himself would cease to be God.’" Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary Vol 7 by E.G.W. pages 913-4.

"The Word of God our Safeguard
Our watchword is to be: ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.’ Isaiah 8:20. We have a Bible full of the most precious truth. It contains the alpha and omega of knowledge. The Scriptures, given by inspiration of God, are 'profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.' 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. Take the Bible as your study book. All can understand its instruction." Testimonies for the Church Vol 8 by E.G.W. page 299.


Who is in the Godhead?

Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Ephesians 4:4 - 6 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

Matthew 3:16 & 17 "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Isaiah 48:16 "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me."

Acts 10:38 "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."

2 Corinthians 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."


The Australian Union Conference Record By E.G.W. 7.10.1907 "Words to church members
Those who have by baptism given to God a pledge of their faith in Christ, and their death to the old life of sin, have entered into covenant relation with God. The three powers of the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are pledged to be their strength and their efficiency in their new life in Christ Jesus."

The Signs of the Times by E.G.W. 19-06-1901 "Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the fulfilment of the covenant that God has made with those who bind themselves up with Him, to stand with Him, with His Son, and with His Spirit in holy fellowship. Have you been born again? Have you become a new being in Christ Jesus? Then co-operate with the three great powers of heaven who are working in your behalf. Doing this you will reveal to the world the principles of righteousness."

The Southern Watchman by E.G.W. 23-02-1904 "The Christian's Strength.
Those who proclaim the third angel's message must put on the whole armor of God, that they may stand boldly at their post, in the face of detraction and falsehood, fighting the good fight of faith, resisting the enemy with the word, "It is written." Keep yourselves where the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, can be your efficiency. These powers work with the one who gives himself unreservedly to God. The strength of heaven is at the command of God's believing ones. The man who takes God as his trust is barricaded by an impregnable wall."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 19-05-1904 "The Promise of the Spirit
Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature."

Testimonies for the Church containing Messages for Warning and Instruction to Seventh-Day Adventist’s 1-3-1906 "Come Out and Be Separate.
The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-- those who receive Christ by living faith are baptised, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ. . . ."

Australian Union Conference Record 1-4-1901 "An Important Letter
The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order to fully carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this love?"

Steps to Christ by E.G.W. page 21 "The Saviour's life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings,--all are enlisted in behalf of man's redemption."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 22-04-1890 "What was the strength of those who in the past have suffered imprisonment and death for Christ's sake?--It was union with God, union with the Holy Spirit, union with Christ."


According to all these statements above there are 3 separate distinct Persons in the Godhead. The Father, The Son and The Spirit. Let us take a closer look at the first of these three Persons of the Godhead.



The Father (God)

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 5:17, 20, 26 "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. . . . For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. . . . For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;"

John 8:18 "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."

John 14:28 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

Ephesians 4:6 "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Acts 1:4 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."

1 Corinthians 1:3 "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 8:6 "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."


Education by E.G.W. page 132 "God is a spirit; yet He is a personal being, for man was made in His image. . . The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible. ‘The Lord's throne is in heaven’ (Psalm 11:4); yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in, all the works of His hand."

Lake Union Herald by E.G.W. 3-11-1909 "The power of the eternal Father, and the sacrifice of the Son, should be studied more than it is. The perfect work of Christ was consummated in His death upon the cross. In His sacrifice and intercession at the right hand of the Father, is our only hope of salvation. It should be our joy to exalt the character of God before men, and make His name a praise in the earth."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 9-07-1895 "There is altogether too little said concerning the sufficiency that God has provided for every soul that accepts the Lord Jesus Christ.
"The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind. He is willing to do more, ‘more than we can ask or think.’ An inspired writer asks a question which should sink deep into every heart: ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?’ Shall not every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ say, ‘Since God has done so much for us, how shall we not, for Christ's sake, show our love to him by obedience to his commandments, by being doers of his word, by unreservedly consecrating ourselves to his service?’."

Education by E.G.W. page 172 "Since God is infinite, and in Him are all the treasures of wisdom, we may to all eternity be ever searching, ever learning, yet never exhaust the riches of His wisdom, His goodness, or His power."


So we have God, the Father, who is love, that doesn’t change, is greater than the son, and is the only one to whom is entitled our supreme reverence and worship.



The Son of God (Christ Jesus)

John 1:1 - 3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Philippians 2:5 - 8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 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."

Proverbs 8:22 - 30 "The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;"

John 5:22 "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:"

Hebrews 2:16 - 18 "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (the days of eternity - from margin)."

Acts 4:10 - 12 "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

1 John 5:11 & 12 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."

Colossians 1:15 - 17 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"


The Bible Training School by E.G.W. 1-03-1906 "The Father can not be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight. The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. The word of God declares Him to be ‘the express image of His person.’ (Hebrews 1:3) ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) Here is shown the personality of the Father."

The Desire of Ages by E.G.W. page 19 " ‘His name shall be called Emmanuel, . . . God with us.’ (Matthew 1:23) ‘The light of the knowledge of the glory of God’ is seen ‘in the face of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:6) From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was ‘the image of God,’ (2 Corinthians 4:4) the image of His greatness and majesty, ‘the outshining of His glory.’ It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God's love,--to be ‘God with us.’ Therefore it was prophesied of Him, ‘His name shall be called Immanuel.’(Isaiah 7:14)"

Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan by E.G.W. page 493 "Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator's will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,--one in nature, in character, and in purpose,--the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. ‘By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, . . . whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers’ (Colossians 1:16); and to Christ, equally with the Father, all heaven gave allegiance."

Testimonies for the Church Vol 8 page 268 "God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son."

The Desire of Ages by E.G.W. page 663 "Amazed at his dullness of comprehension, Christ asked with pained surprise, ‘Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?’ Is it possible that you do not see the Father in the works He does through Me? Do you not believe that I came to testify of the Father? ‘How sayest thou then, Show us the Father?’ ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.’ (John 14:9) Christ had not ceased to be God when He became man. Though He had humbled Himself to humanity, the Godhead was still His own. Christ alone could represent the Father to humanity, and this representation the disciples had been privileged to behold for over three years."

The Desire of Ages by E.G.W. page 530 "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived."

Patriarchs and Prophets by E.G.W. page 38 "There had been no change in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer's envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made necessary a statement of the true position of the Son of God; but this had been the same from the beginning. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer's deceptions."

The Signs of the Times by E.G.W. 19-08-1900 " ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’ (John 8:58) Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God. . . .In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with Him."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 5-04-1906 "But while God's Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding his pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with his Father. From everlasting he was the Mediator of the covenant, the one in whom all nations of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, if thy accepted him, were to be blessed. ‘The Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ (John 1:1) Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God."


So the Son of God is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested and has been with the Father from the days of eternity. He is a self-existent image of the Father, equal to Him, and the one who came to this earth in human flesh to die for us that we might be saved from sin.



The Spirit of God (Holy Spirit)

John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."

Genesis 1:2 "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Matthew 12:31 & 32 "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

1 Corinthians 2:10 "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."

Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13 & 22 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."

Hebrews 10:29 "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

Acts 5:3 & 4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

Acts 5:9 "Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out."

John 16:7 & 8 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."

Acts 13:2 & 4 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. . . So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus."

Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;"

2 Peter 1:21 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Romans 8:26 & 27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."


The Bible Training School by E.G.W. 1-03-1906 "The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio. In the name of these three powers,--the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, those who receive Christ by living faith are baptised, and these powers will cooperate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 4-04-1893 "Christ is to live in his representatives by the spirit of truth. Jesus said, ‘Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.’ (John 16:13)"

The Desire of Ages by E.G.W. page 490 "The omnipotent power of the Holy Spirit is the defense of every contrite soul. Not one that in penitence and faith has claimed His protection will Christ permit to pass under the enemy's power."

The Desire of Ages by E.G.W. page 671 "The Comforter is called ‘the Spirit of truth.’ (John 16:13) His work is to define and maintain the truth. He first dwells in the heart as the Spirit of truth, and thus He becomes the Comforter. . . It is by the Spirit of truth, working through the word of God, that Christ subdues His chosen people to Himself."

The Signs of the Times by E.G.W. 1-12-1898 "The Outpouring of the Spirit
"He determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead. This gift could not be excelled. He would give all gifts in one, and therefore the divine Spirit, converting, enlightening, sanctifying, would be His donation."

Testimonies to Ministers by E.G.W. page 392 "The mighty power of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of Divine Power."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 18-07-1907 "A Message to the Churches
The three powers of the Godhead have pledged their might to carry out the purpose that God had in mind when he gave to the world the unspeakable gift of his Son."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 8-11-1887 "Christ, the sinless One, upon whom the Holy Spirit was bestowed without measure, constantly acknowledged his dependence upon God, and sought fresh supplies from the Source of strength and wisdom."

The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald by E.G.W. 4-06-1890 "He offered up a prayer such as heaven never heard before, and the heavens opened and the Spirit of God, like a dove of burnished gold, encircled the Son of God, and there was heard a voice, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew 3:17)"

Education by E.G.W. page 132 "The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible. ‘The Lord's throne is in heaven’ (Psalm 11:4); yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present."

Education by E.G.W. page 134 "Only by the aid of that Spirit who in the beginning ‘was brooding upon the face of the waters;’."

Steps to Christ by E.G.W. page 75 "John 14:17; 16:7. Henceforth through the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of His children. Their union with Him was closer than when He was personally with them."

Steps to Christ by E.G.W. page 91 "The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies the Saviour. It is His office to present Christ, the purity of His righteousness, and the great salvation that we have through Him."

The Acts of the Apostles by E.G.W. page 39 "The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled."

The Acts of the Apostles by E.G.W. page 51 "It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, ‘the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father.’ It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit that, in His work of guiding men into all truth, ‘He shall not speak of Himself.’ John 15:26; 16:13."


So the Spirit of God is all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the divine grace. He proceedeth from the Father, does not speak of Himself, is a living Person, is everywhere present at the one time, exalts and glorifies the Saviour and is the one against whom the unpardonable sin is committed.

 

May we all earnestly pray for the infilling and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who will lead us to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ the Son of God, who shows us by precept and example how much the Father loves mankind and wants us all to go to heaven and live with Them forever.


© S. D. Goeldner



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© S. D. Goeldner, February, 2011. Last updated July, 2020.
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