The Attributes of God: Numerical Unity or Oneness
Theology Proper • Sermon • Submitted
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· 537 viewsThe numerical oneness or unity of God and his simplicity
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Definitions:
Definitions:
“God’s unity is his perfect uniqueness of essence, so that neither is he more than one essence nor is there more than one divine essence” (MacArthur & Mayhue, 174).
“God’s unity is his perfect uniqueness of essence, so that neither is he more than one essence nor is there more than one divine essence” (MacArthur & Mayhue, 174).
“…there is but one essence (the totality of God’s infinite perfections) in the Godhead, and this one essence wholly, equally, and eternally pervades each of the three persons of the Godhead without division or multiplication” (McCune, 1:275).
“…He is numerically one and…as such He is unique” (Berkhof, 61).
Implications: (from McCune, 1:275-76)
Implications: (from McCune, 1:275-76)
The whole essence of God is in each Trinitarian person.
The essence of God is neither prior nor subsequent to the persons of the Godhead. The three persons of the Godhead always have existed and always will. The one essence is simultaneously three persons.
God is a unity not a unit. God is a unity of one essence in three distinct persons.
Evidence from Scripture: (MacArthur & Mayhue 174; McCune 1:277-79)
God is only one essence —
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
God is unique; there is only one God — ;
To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him.
For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?—
Idols are vain and empty — ;
And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise! Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”
In the NT, God’s unity is revealed in Jesus Christ —
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Each member of the Godhead is recognized as God — ; ;
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
The three persons of the Trinity are one and the same God — ; ; ; , ,
I and the Father are one.”
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Applications:
Does learning about this attribute, the oneness of God, show ways that we should try to be more like God? Explain.
Can you describe any ways that these truths should affect our worship?
How are these truths encouraging or challenging to you?
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