TEXT:  Acts 17:29;  Rom. 1:20;  Col. 2:9

INTRODUCTION:

A.      “GODHEAD” = “GODHOOD” – USED AS MANHOOD, WHAT MAKES A MAN.

          1.       Expresses the state, dignity, condition, quality of God.

          2.       When “Godhood” is applied, we affirm that all that enters into the idea of God

                   belongs to the subject.

          3.       Godhood = Divinity = Deity.

B.      USED THREE TIMES.

          1.       Acts 17:29.  theion, very definite to the heathen for contrast.

          2.       Rom. 1:20.  theiotes, the whole of that by which God is constituted.

          3.       Col. 2:9.  theotes, the state of being God.

I.      GODHEAD COMPRISED OF THREE MEMBERS.

A.      GOD, THE FATHER.

          1.       Creator ( Gen. 1:1;  Heb. 1:1-2 ).

          2.       Father ( Heb. 12:9;  1 Pet. 1:3;  John 12:49-50 )

          3.       Acts 17:24-29.

B.      GOD, THE SON ( John 5:17-18 )..

          1.       The essence of God ( Col. 2:9;  Phil. 2:5-8;  Heb. 1 ).

          2.       Many of the names of God applied to Jesus.  Why?

                   a.       His work ( John 14:6-10 )

                   b.       His nature ( John 8:24, 58 ).

          3.       “Son of Man” è “Son of God”( John 3:13-14 è John 3:16;  20:30-31 ).

C.      GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT.

          1.       Possesses Divine characteristics.

          2.       Placed 3^rd in the Godhead.

          3.       Distinct from God and Jesus.

                   a.       Jesus speaks not from himself ( John 12:49 ).

                   b.       Neither does the Holy Spirit ( John 16:13 ).

II.     THE HOLY SPIRIT CO-ETERNAL WITH GOD AND JESUS.

A.      ALL THREE PRESENT IN CREATION ( Gen. 1:1 ).  Plural form.

          1.       Gen. 1:2.  The Holy Spirit was there.

          2.       John 1:1-3.  Jesus was there.

B.      ALL WERE INVOLVED IN MAN’S CREATION ( Gen. 1:26;  3:22 ).

C.      THE NEW TESTAMENT EMBRACES THIS ( Matt. 28:19-20 ).

          1.       By the authority of all three.

          2.       Fellowship of purpose and will.

D.      Rom. 15:30.  PRAYER TO GOD, AUTHORITY OF JESUS, THE SPIRIT’S LOVE.

E.      2 Cor. 13:14.  GOD, JESUS, THE SPIRIT – GRACE, LOVE, COMMUNION.

III.    WE NEED TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT BETTER.

A.      MUST STUDY THE BIBLE – ANYTHING ELSE IS FALSE.

B.      GOD IS REVEALED IN THE SCRIPTURES ( 1 John 4:1, 6 ).

C.      Matt. 15:8-9.  FALSE IDEAS LEAD TO CONFUSION –

          1.       False ideas confuse purpose and worship.

          2.       They lead to unscriptural purpose and anarchy.

          3.       The contradict Scripture ( 2 John 9 ).

          4.       They close the book.

D.      EXAMPLES:

          1.       3-fold manifestation of one person ( John 12:49-50;  16:13;  15:26 ).

          2.       3 Persons but only one divine person:

                   a.       1 Cor. 8:6;  John 1:1;  Phil. 2:6;  Acts 5:3-4.

                   b.       Matt. 28:19.

          3.       How do we explain “One God?”

                   a.       Contrast with Polytheism ( Eph. 4:6 ).

                   b.       Unity – a Godhead ( John 17:20-21 ).

E.      IMPORTANT TO STUDY –

          1.       Because of the great interest today.

          2.       Because whatever is revealed is vital.

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE BIBLE SAYS MUCH ABOUT THE GODHEAD.

B.      SOME THINGS IT DOES NOT TELL US.

C.      WHAT IS REVEALED, WE MUST TREASURE.