Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Threefold Cord (04/12/12)
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TITLE: Holy Structure | Previous Challenge Entry
By Earl G Donaldson
04/18/12 -
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The Apostle John saw God as three different persons (1 John 5:7), but most modern day believers see God as one person with three different names. They mention the Father, Son and Holy Ghost when they say the Apostle’s Creed and when they sing the Doxology, but most of the time God is God. The concept is that as Christians, we worship one God, and whether a believer refers to God as Father, Jesus, Holy Ghost, Christ or even Yahweh makes no significant difference, God is still the same entity.
For the sake of conversation, let’s divide believers into two categories: players and spectators. Players are those who have experienced the supernatural and been born again. Spectators are all the others: believers for sure, but they have not yet had a personal experience with Holy Spirit and therefore do not understand or utilize supernatural power. Actually to these good people,supernatural power is a thing of the past, a biblical phenomenon that no longer exists––except of course as a fundamentalist abstraction. These people have no reason to consider the concept that God is actually three distinct persons: a threefold cord. It is only those who are utilizing the power of God in their lives who need be concerned with how this awesome power is structured.
To the player it is important to know that God the Father (Creator) is above the fray. The marvelous “cause and effect” operating system which God created for our world will not fail. God the Father will not intrude under any circumstance. God created “cause and effect” in such a way that even God can’t intervene. The player, therefore, doesn’t have to be concerned with “Why did God do this?” or “Why didn’t God prevent that tragedy?” Players can plan their approach in complete freedom based on their personal ability and their relationship with the Holy Spirit, the third fold in the cord. They need pay no attention whatsoever to superstition, luck or religious hoops of any kind.
The player understands and appreciates the sacrifice that God the Son (Jesus-the second fold in the threefold cord) made when he came into our society to teach us, inspire us and demonstrate the abundant life which is available through the Holy Spirit. The world that Jesus was a part of before he came into our society must have been wonderful even beyond our wildest and fondest imagination as I am sure it still is––maybe even more so as Jesus has now returned (Acts 7:56). It is really hard to contemplate that Jesus would leave such a place as that to come here and walk the dusty roads of Palestine (Philippians 2:6-7). What a sacrifice it had to have been. It is exciting however to think that someday those of us who are players may get to experience that same wonderful world of God.
The third fold of the threefold cord is the Holy Spirit. To one who is a player, the Spirit is his/her daily companion and closest and most dependable associate. The Spirit of the Living God is the most powerful force in the universe. Even though the Spirit is limited by the parameters of “cause and effect,” it is simply amazing what the Spirit can do to assist and protect believers. Jesus introduced the Spirit to his disciples (John 20:22) shortly after the resurrection as John the Baptist said he would (Mark 1:8), and the Spirit is available all the time to all believers. Even though communication with the Spirit is not easy and requires effort, study and thought, one of the tragedies of our age is that the Spirit’s services are not utilized more. The Spirit of the Living God––the third fold of the three fold cord or as churches proclaim the Third Person of the Holy Trinity––is the only answer for our struggling society.
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My only red ink might be picky but you used the topic phrase several times. For me, it was a tad more than you needed to make your point.
Your message is clear and a prudent one. Often I have heard or seen people struggle with the idea of three in one. You did an outstanding job explaining it.
Thank you. God Bless~