3 Witnesses—Heaven, 3of3

~ The Trinity In Heaven—The Holy Spirit ~

There are “three witnesses” in Heaven (the “trinity”). 

The Scripture  ~  “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”  …  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God [The Father] which He has testified of His Son [The Word].  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:6-7, 9-13). 

The Holy Spirit is Eternal  ~  All three members of the Triune Godhead are fully God and possess all the attributes of God.  Take for example their eternal nature.  “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:13-14).  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).  “By His Spirit He adorned the heavens” (Job 26:13a). 

The Third Witness In Heaven Is The Holy Spirit  ~  This is a very difficult aspect to comment on.  If we think of God The Father as the ultimate cause (or source) of the universe and Jesus Christ as the agent through which The Father works then The Spirit of God may be thought of as the means or the power through which God The Father created and works in the universe. 

We have confirmation from Scripture that the Spirit of God is in heaven.  “Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there” (Psalm 139:7-8).

Don’t Miss This  ~  There is a fascinating and wonderful aspect of the future role of the Holy Spirit—He will one day present believers to Jesus Christ.  “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior [Jesus Christ], who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.  Amen” (Jude 20-25).

You may also be interested in two related topics:

The three part ALN post about the “3 Witnesses—Earth” (November 10-11-12, 2015).

The three part ALN post “3 Tests” of 1 John (see January 20-21-22, 2015).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

3 Witnesses—Heaven, 2of3

~ The Trinity In Heaven—Jesus Christ ~

There are “three witnesses” in Heaven (the “trinity”). 

The Scripture  ~  “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”  …  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God [The Father] which He has testified of His Son [The Word].  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:6-7, 9-13). 

Jesus Christ is Eternal  ~  All three members of the Triune Godhead are fully God and possess all the attributes of God.  Take for example their eternal nature.  “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5).  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One [The Messiah] to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).  “In the beginning God [a plural being in the original language indicating the Trinity] created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1-2).

The Second Witness In Heaven Is The Word  ~  The Son of God is the agent or instrument through which creation, the maintenance of the universe, divine revelation, and salvation occurs.  Today, Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God The Father interceding on behalf of believers.  “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18).  “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: we have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1-2).  “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

You may also be interested in two related topics:

The three part ALN post about the “3 Witnesses—Earth” (November 10-11-12, 2015).

The three part ALN post “3 Tests” of 1 John (see January 20-21-22, 2015).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

3 Witnesses—Heaven, 1of3

~ The Trinity In Heaven—God The Father ~

There are “three witnesses” in Heaven (the “trinity”). 

The Scripture  ~  “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”  …  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God [The Father] which He has testified of His Son [The Word].  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:6-7, 9-13). 

introductory comment  ~  While it is true that some respected theologians point out that verse 7 is not found in some of the earliest manuscripts it also true that this verse was allowed by God to be in the canon of Scripture.  Also, the truths in verse 7 are in complete harmony with the rest of Scripture. 

God The Father is Eternal  ~  All three members of the Triune Godhead are fully God and possess all the attributes of God.  Take for example their eternal nature.  “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you” (Deuteronomy 33:26-27a).  “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15). 

The First Witness In Heaven Is God, The Father  ~  God The Father is often called the first member of the Godhead.  This is almost as difficult to comprehend as the Trinity itself since all three members are fully God.  A better phrase, if any phrase is needed, might be “first among equals.”  God is the initiator of all things (creation, revelation, salvation, etc.).  God The Father is in heaven exercising His patience and mercy—holding back judgment on mankind.  There will come a day when His judgment will be unleased upon all mankind who have not accepted His terms of restoration through His Son Jesus Christ—The Messiah. 

You may also be interested in two related topics:

The three part ALN post about the “3 Witnesses—Earth” (November 10-11-12, 2015).

The three part ALN post “3 Tests” of 1 John (see January 20-21-22, 2015).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .