| We believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth.
God is a Spirit, infinitely perfect. “God is a Spirit; and they that
adore Him, just adore Him in Spirit and in Truth.” (John 4:24).
We call God a Spirit, because He has understanding and free will, but no
body. God is an infinitely perfect Spirit because He includes in
Himself all perfections without limit.
The principal perfections of God are: He is eternal, everywhere, all-knowing,
all-wise, almighty, infinitely holy, just, good, merciful, true, faithful,
and provident.
God is eternal means that He is
without beginning and without end.
God is everywhere means that He
is in Heaven, on earth, and in all places.
God is all-knowing means that He
knows all things, past, present, and future, and even our most secret thoughts
and desires.
God is all-wise means that He know
how to do things in the best way.
God is almighty means that He can
do all things.
God is holy means that He
loves and wills only what is good, and hates what is evil.
God is just means that He rewards
every good deed and punishes every evil deed.
God is good means that He gives
us numberless graces and blessings.
God is merciful means that He pardons
us if we are sincerely sorry for our sins.
God is true means that He can neither
deceive nor be deceived.
God is faithful means that He keeps
His promises and carries out His threats.
God is provident means that He
watches over us, and cares for all His creatures with fatherly goodness
and wisdom.
We believe that there is but one God. The First Commandment says,
“I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.”
(Ex.20:2,3). Our reason tells us that there can be but one God.
If there were two Gods, neither of them could be infinite; therefore, neither
of them could be God.
What is the Holy Trinity?
This means that there are three persons in One God.
"Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
(Matthew 28:19)
Who are the three persons in God?
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.
"And there are three who give testimony in Heaven, the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one."
(I John 5:7)
Are the three persons of the Holy Trinity equal?
Yes, they are equal to One Another, but each One
is a separate and distinct Person, and each One is God.
How can there be three persons in only one God?
This is a mystery that no human mind can completely
understand.
PRACTICAL POINTS
There are many things in this world which the human mind cannot understand,
such as growth, sight, hearing, electricity. Therefore, we should
not be surprised to find that we cannot completely understand the God who
made the world.
Faith is accepting something on the word of another. God says
that there are three Persons in One God. If you accept that statement
as being true because He said so, then you have faith.
Faith is not unreasonable if what you are told is possible and if the
person telling you is usually truthful and has nothing to gain by telling
you a lie.
Human beings can tell lies, but God cannot because He is Truth Itself.
Therefore, believing anything God says is the highest kind of faith.
This kind of faith, however, is a gift that you must pray for.
We believe that there are three Persons in one
God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of these
three Persons is God: the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit
(i.e., Holy Ghost) is God. We know that there are three Persons in
God from Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who told His Apostles to baptize all nations:
“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
(Matt. 28:19).
How is it possible that there are three Persons in God is a mystery.
Nature is filled with mysteries; the apple seed produces a tree, a blossom,
and an apple. Who can understand this mystery?
The Holy Ghost , also called the Holy Spirit,
is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is true God
with the Father and the Son. “Going therefore, teach ye all nations;
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.” (Matt. 28:19). The Holy Ghost proceeds from the
Father and the Son. (John 15:26). Jesus promised to send the Holy
Spirit to His Apostles and the Church when he said: “But the Paraclete,
the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you
all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have
said to you.” (John 14:16, 26)
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind
coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And
there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon
every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”
(Acts
2:2-4). The Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles ten days after
the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. The Holy Ghost descended
upon them in the form of tongues of fire. We call this day Pentecost
Sunday. Jesus sent the Holy Ghost to strengthen, teach, sanctify
, and guide the Church. (John 14:16, 26).
Christians believe that the three divine Persons
are equally powerful and perfect. “And there are three
who give testimony in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost.
And these three are one.” (1Jn.5:7). By analogy we attribute
to the Father our creation, to the Son our redemption, and to the Holy
Ghost our sanctification.
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