The Father loves the Son and Has given all things into
His hand. He who believes in he Son has eternal life; but he who does not
obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John
3:34-36)
God reveals Himself in
terms accessible to our limited understanding. While we know true things
about God (for He has revealed Himself), there will always be more to God
than we can understand. With humility, we must affirm all that God tells
us as true, even if we cannot understand how it is true.
God has revealed Himself as
one God, not many. The classic text on God's unity is Deuteronomy 6:4,
called Shema, from the first word of the verse in the Hebrew: "Hear,
O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!" Whatever else we may
say about God, we must never deny His essential unity. There is one God,
not many gods. Yet, God has also revealed Himself as existing in three
Persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The exact nature of God's existence, and the exact nature
of the relationship that exists among the three Persons, is beyond mortal
grasp. We may, however, through analogy with human relationships come to
know something if the triune God. The first two Persons of the trinity are
revealed as the Father and Son. The analogy with human fathers and sons
provides some indication, however dim, of o divine relationship that has
existed for all eternity.
The terms "Father" and "Son" provide
insight into these divine Persons and Their interrelationship. We gain, in
turn, insight into our relationship with God. The Father's relationship
with the Son is quintessentially described in Scripture as perfect love.
This relationship tell us something about the God we serve, but is also
tells us something about what it means to be godly. As love characterizes
the very nature of Father and Son, so we should learn this truth and bring
godly love into our lives. In the words of the Savior: Just as the
Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love" (John
15:9)
Douglas L Post