shadmans Musings  

The fact that the God of the covenant is triune becomes very clear now: it becomes evident that he must needs be triune, and that salvation itself rests upon a threefold principle. This trinitarian revelation is not limited to a few texts; the entire N.T. is trinitarian in character. God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the source of all blessing, comfort, and salvation. Christ’s birth and baptism reveal the trinity, Mat 1:18 ff; Luke 1:35; Mat 3:16, 17; Mark 1:10, 11; Luke 3:21, 22. Christ’s teaching is trinitarian throughout. He declares unto us the Father, whom he describes as a Spirit who has life in himself, John 4:24; 5:26; and who is in a very special sense his Father, Mat 11:27; John 2:16; 5:17. Though Christ and the Father are distinct, nevertheless, the former is the only begotten and beloved Son of the Father, Mat 11:27; 21-37-39; John 3:16; etc. equal to him in glory, life, and power, John 1:14; 5:26; 10:30. And the ...

(19) For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, (20) and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (21) And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, (22) yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — (23) if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. (1:19-23) Now we turn to the work of Christ, and His reconciliation of mankind. The word “reconcile” in verse 20 is one of the five key words used in the NT to describe the richness of our salvation in Christ. The other four are justification, redemption, forgiveness and ...