Don Stewart :: Are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit All Addressed as God?

Yes. The three distinct Persons - God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all called God in the New Testament.

The Bible talks about a person who is designated as the Father. This person is called God. Isaiah the prophet wrote:

But now, O Lord, you are our Father (Isaiah 64:8).

Jesus taught His disciples to pray: "Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9).

When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia, he began his letter in the following way.

Paul an apostle - sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead (Galatians 1:1).

God is called the Father in both the Old and New Testaments.

The Bible records the existence of a Second Person who is distinct from the Father and who is also called God. This person is Jesus, God the Son. Jesus has been God the Son for all eternity. Two thousand years ago He became visible to humanity when He became a human being. John the evangelist wrote that Jesus existed in the beginning with God the Father.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

In another place John wrote.

Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:18).

The Jews understood that Jesus was making Himself equal with God.

Jesus claimed to have existed before Abraham, a man who lived two thousand years before the New Testament era.

Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds (John 8:56-59).

The Son is also to be worshipped as God. After Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee His disciples rightly worshipped Him.

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).

God the Father commanded the angels to worship Jesus when He came into the world.

And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him" (Hebrews 1:6).

Consequently we have a second Person mentioned in the New Testament who is also called God.

Although Jesus is called God in the New Testament it is also clear that the New Testament never makes Jesus identical with God. Jesus refers to God as someone other than Himself. He prays to God, refers to God being in heaven, and commends His Spirit to God when He dies. Therefore it is correct to say that Jesus is God but incorrect to say that God is Jesus.

There is a Third Person revealed in the Bible who is distinct from both the Father and the Son. He is known as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also referred to as being God.

Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? You have not lied to humans, but to God (Acts 5:3,4).

The Holy Spirit is not an influence but rather a distinct personality. As a Person He can be grieved. Paul wrote.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

The biblical evidence is that the Holy Spirit is also God.

Scripture says that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all distinct Persons. In addition we find that each of these Persons is specifically addressed as God. Scripture speaks of God the Father having existence. The Bible also says that Jesus the Son is God. Finally there is a third distinct Person, the Holy Spirit, who is also called God. Since all are addressed as God, and there is only one God, then the conclusion must be that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the one God.