Apologies for not blogging for a wee while. I was away...I had a great conversation with a couple of Army Chaplains the other day. They, sadly, were not Presbyterian like myself. However, happily, each of us is Trinitarian. That's partly what being a Christian is!
However, they started to fudge a little when I maintained that Abraham (who is the father of believers) was/is Trinitarian. (I didn't think that they were ready to hear the news that Abraham was also Presbyterian - with Elders and all! So I kept quiet about that. One thing at a time...)
We believe in the Reformational principle that Scripture interprets Scripture. Therefore God is always the same God from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. God doesn't change. Therefore He has always been, always is, and always will be the Eternal Father, Eternal Son, and Eternal Holy Spirit, or, Father, Word, and Spirit.
Yes, Biblical revelation was progressive. But the opening verse of the Bible declares God to be at least three Persons who are one. (The word "Elohim" is not singular or dual, but plural!) God (the Father) spoke His Word and Their Spirit brought creation into being out of nothing. Moses knew this. Abraham knew this. And Adam knew this, and so do we. Which is to say that they as well as we (as Jesus says to the woman at the well), "know what we worship" John 4:23. Otherwise what is the point of God, for example, giving us His First Commandment?
If Adam, Abraham, and Moses did not know who or what God is then how are they supposed not to have any other God but God?
Letting Scripture interpret Scripture, Scripture says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" Romans 1:20-21.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the earth" Psalm 19:1-4.
"And the Word became 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" John 1:14.
"In the unity of th Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son."
Yes, you're correct, Adam, Abraham, and Moses did not walk around with a copy of the Westmister Confession of Faith (Ch. 2:3) tucked under their arms. Nor did they have a copy of the Newer Testament in their back pockets. But they did have the Holy Spirit in their hearts! And they did, by the Holy Spirit, have access and communications to and from the Father through the Son (ie, the Mediator or Angel of the Covenant).
Enough to chew on for the momemt. Perhaps some more on this later?
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