The Tri-Unity of God

Excerpt taken from Clarence Larkin's "The Spirit World"

"One of the great Mysteries of the Spirit world is the Tri-Unity of God.  The scriptures clearly teach  the distinct personality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  At the Baptism of Jesus there was present the "Divine Three."  The "Father" was present and spoke, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."  The "Son" was present in Jesus.  And the "Holy Spirit" was present in the form of a "Dove." (Matt. 3:16,17)  the "Tri-Unity of God is also taught in the Old Testament.  In Gen. 1:26, we read, "And God Said, Let US make man in OUR image."  And when the "Babel builders" were building their tower, the Lord said -"Go to, let US go down, and confound their language."  (Gen. 11:7)  How to reconcile this "Tri-Unity is the difficulty."  Are there three "Gods" or are there three "Persons" in one "God-Head?"

A simple illustration may help us.  The "sun" of our Solar System is a "Trinity."  It manifests itself in a "thee fold manner, "Heat," "Light", and "Chemical Action."  These three properties of the Sun make up the Sun itself.  Neither one of them by itself is the Sun.  The "Heat" of the Sun is not seen, but is felt.  The "Light" of the Sun can be seen, and it is the "light" of the Sun that makes the Sun VISIBLE.  The "Chemical Action" of the Sun can neither be seen nor felt, but its power is revealed in the growing plant, and on the photographic plate.

To apply our illustration let the "Heat rays of the Sun correspond to "God the Father."  He cannot be seen, but He can be felt, for "God is Love," ( 1 John 4:7-16, John 3:16) and love can be felt but not seen.  The "Light" rays of the Sun correspond to "God the Son."  It is the "Son of God" that makes God VISIBLE.  The Son (Jesus) came ti manifest God. (1 Tim. 3:16)  Jesus said of Himself, "I am the Light of the World." (John 8:12, 1:1-14)  Without the Son we would not know what God is like for He came to reveal God, so that He could say, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9)  "The Chemical Action" of the Sun corresponds to "God the Holy Spirit."  It is the Holy Spirit that gives life and power, and forms the "Image of God" on the sensitive plate of the "Human Heart." As neither the "Heat" or the "Light" or the "Chemical Action" of the Sun is in itself the Sun, but it takes all three to make the Sun, though each has its separate work to perform, so the "Father," "Son" and "The Holy Spirit," are not each in Himself God, but they in their united capacity are GOD, each performing His Official function in the creation and preservation of the Universe."