In God's School. Pierre Ch. Marcel
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resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.
32. in order to explain the Apostles’ Creed, in how many parts should we divide it?
Into three:
First: of God the Father and our creation.
Second: of God the Son and our redemption.
Third: of God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification. This part includes the Church and the graces that God gives to her.
33. But since there is only one God, one divine Being, why do you speak of three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Because in his Word God has revealed Himself in this way: these three distinct Persons are the only true and eternal God.
In one divine Being (only one divine Essence) we must consider the Father, as the beginning and origin of all things; his Son, who is his eternal Wisdom; and the Holy Spirit, his power radiating on every creature (never separating himself from Him).
Hear O Israel! The LORD our God is one LORD. Deuteronomy 6:4
And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16–17
Jesus said to them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
There are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. 1 John 5:7 (In some manuscripts.)
It is therefore in no way a contradiction that in one and the same God we distinctly conceive three Persons, without however allowing ourselves to think that He is divided. Three “persons” are not necessarily three “individuals.”
Two pictures allow us to approach this mystery to a certain extent:
The corner of my room: It takes three planes coming together at an angle to form one corner. Because there are three planes, no one will say that there are three corners, and because there is only one corner, no one will say that there is only one plane.
A prism: In this one object, made up of one substance, the glass, we perceive three distinct faces. All three are indispensably necessary to constitute a prism; each of them is made of the same substance as the others. Still the prism in itself has one “individuality,” and constitutes one “thing.” The faces are nothing in themselves; they are not things, but they are not therefore devoid of “personality,” since each of them may be spoken of distinctly, named respectively, and studied according to its particular geometric properties. Besides, across each of them, one can perceive the other two, as well as see the whole prism.
In confessing the Trinitarian God, I affirm that there is only one true God. I cannot plumb the depth of the mystery of his Deity, but only adore all that has been revealed in God: the Father who takes pity on me; who abased Himself for me in his Son; and who lives in me by his Holy Spirit: God for me, God with me, and God in me.
Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Isaiah 44:6
By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of his Spirit. And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 1 John 4:13–14
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all (the Father—P.M.), through all (the Son—P.M.), and in all (the Holy Spirit—P.M.). Ephesians 4:5–6
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14
Bible Readings:
1. The Word made flesh: John 1:1–5, 10–18.
2. The glorifying of the Son by the unity of believers: John 17:1–5, 20–23.
3. The Father in the Son and the Son in the Father: John 14:7–11, 15–21.
4. Jesus, the living bread that came down from heaven: John 6:32–58.
5. The Holy Spirit, comforter: John 16:1–15.
We now go on to look successively at the teaching of the Scripture concerning:
1. The Father, in Questions 34 to 40.
2. The Son, in Questions 41 to 81.
3. The Holy Spirit, in Questions 82 to 110.
Prayers, Notes, Questions:
Lesson 5
Review
Because of the density and importance of the first 4 lessons, it will be helpful to use the fifth hour to look more deeply at certain matters that the student may not have been able to consider in detail.
Bible Readings: These readings refer to the following lesson: God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, Monday, Question 35: 1, 2; Tuesday, Question 35: 3, 4; Wednesday, Question 35: 5–6; Thursday, Question 36, 1, and Question 37: 1; Friday, Question 37: 2–3; Saturday, Question 37: 4.
Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed
Lesson 6
God the Father, and Our Creation
SUMMARY: God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father. By his sovereign power, He rules persons and things, guides and governs them with divine wisdom, and presides over the unfolding of the history of the world.
After having created the world, God conserves it by his Providence, and gives each man life, breath, and all good things.
I can therefore entrust myself to Him in all peace and confidence, not doubting that He will care for me each day, and guide me along a sure road to eternal life.
Knowing that all things come to me by means of his Fatherly hand, and that no person or thing can separate me from his love, I can be thankful in prosperity and patient in difficulty, because his power is often hidden under suffering and his blessing under trials.
Bible readings: Monday, Question 38: 1–2; Tuesday, Question 38: 3–4; Wednesday, Question 39: 1, 2; Thursday, Question 39: 3, and Question 40: 1; Friday, Question 40: 2–3; Saturday, Question 40: 4–5.
34. Why do you call God “the Father”?
I call Him Father because I believe that God is the Father of Jesus Christ, who was begotten by Him before all time. When He came into this world, God declared Him his own Son.
But I also believe that out of his love for Jesus Christ his Son, my Savior, God is also my God and my Father. Jesus Christ alone is the natural Son of God; we are not. He alone can say “My Father!” We may call Him Father thanks to Jesus Christ alone.
Jesus is the unique and “natural” Son of God; we are his children by adoption.
. . . God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who are under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons; and because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying “Abba! Father!” Galatians 4:4–6
For you have not received the spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12–13
He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of his will.