THE GODHEAD
COL. 2:9
A. THE WORD "GODHEAD" OCCURS THREE TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. Paul uses this word in his learned message while standing on Mars’ Hill at the city of Athens: Acts 17:29
2. In his Epistle to the Colossians, he emphasizes the divinity of Christ in these words, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily." Col. 2:9
3. Finally, we find this word in Romans 1:20 - "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."
4. Twice, Paul uses this word to describe the glory and majesty of God the Father; and once he applies this word to the Son of God, fully divine:
B. THE GODHEAD AND WHAT WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE GODHEAD
1. There is confusion among Christians about the Essence of God:
a. Some would have us think that God is a Principle and not a Person. That is the theory of so-called "Christian Science".
b. Others say, that when you discover the good in you, you discover God; because the good in you is God.
c. Some say that since God is Spirit, He has neither a form or a body; His Essence, according to this theory, is without body, form or shape.
2. A few Bible facts about the Godhead, as Paul speaks:
a. There are, indeed, three distinct personal Beings in the Godhead - Compare Matt. 28:19 with 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2; John 14:26; Eph. 4:4-6; John 5:26; 16:13
b. They are one in nature, in character, and in purpose - Compare 1 John 5:7 with John 10:30; 17:21; 1 John 1:3; 2 Cor. 13:14
3. Relationship of the members of the Godhead:
a. God the Father, so the Bible teaches, is the Head of the universe, including the Son of God. Compare, please, John 17:3 with 1 Cor. 3:23; 11:3; John 14:28; 10:29; Eph. 4:4-6;1 Cor. 8:6; 15:24-28; John 5:19, 30; 20:17
b. Jesus Christ is the eternal and only begotten Son of God, who has been with the Father from all Eternity. Compare John 1:18; 3:16; 1 John 4:8 with Prov. 8:22-30; John 17:8; Mi. 5:2; John 8:58
c. It was by and for Christ that God created the worlds and all that is in them - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:14-17; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:1-3
d. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is now, also the Son of man, is the supreme gift of our heavenly Father to redeem all that had been lost through sin - John 3:16; Rom. 8:31- 33; 2 Cor. 5:19-21
C. SUMMARY
1. The word Godhead, used three times by Paul, indicates plainly:
a. That there are three distinct personal Beings in the Godhead - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost - Matt. 28:19; John 14:26; 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 4:4-6
b. That these divine Beings are one in nature, in character and in purpose, but not in rank because the Father is the Great overeign of the universe, freely acknowledged by the Son of
God - John 4:22, 23; 5:19, 30; 10:29; 14:28; Mark 12:29-32; 1 Cor. 15:24-28
2. Our finite minds are not capable to enter fully into that which is infinite:
a. That was the testimony of Zophar, the professed friend of Job - Job. 11:7, 8
b. That is Paul’s conclusion - Rom. 11:33-36
3. But we do have sufficient information about the Godhead to know that they seek to save us from sin and assure a place for us in the eternal kingdom of God: Heb. 12:22-28
4. We love and adore all three members of the Godhead.
