Okay - I know that the title of this blog sounds a bit mushy; but believe me, it is not. I was reading through Ephesians the other day and doing some research on chapter 1 when I came across the term "Trinitarian Harmony." The term is used to describe the truth and teaching that no one member of the Godhead works in a manner contrary to the expressly revealed will and actions of the other members of the Godhead.
I have modified the phrase to "Inter-Trinitarian Harmony" (borrowing from a concept I learned from John MacArthur) because the purpose and will of God is in perfect balance or harmony "within" (inter) the Godhead. This concept can be used to help understand or illuminate a number of passages and issues found in Scripture. The issue that I find it most illuminating however is in supporting the doctrine of "Limited Atonement" or "Particular Redemption" - the doctrine that teaches that the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross did not merely make salvation possible for every and all men, but that the "atonement" actually secured salvation for a specific or particular number of people.
Let me point out how this works as seen in Ephesians 1:3-14. The first thing to notice in a reading of this text is that there is a repeated refrain. The first time this refrain is used, it is in its fullest or broadest scope followed by two shortened uses. This refrain of praise to God is found in 1:6, 12, 14 respectively:
Ephesians 1:6 - "to the praise of the glory of His grace."
Ephesians 1:12 - "to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:14 - "to the praise of His glory."
Each of these refrains serves to praise God at the conclusion of some aspect of the salvific work of a member of the Godhead. In verses 3-6a, God the Father is praised for His work in election, in choosing a people for salvation. In verses 6b-12, God the Son is praised for His work in redemption, in shedding His blood for His people. And, in verses 13-14, God the Spirit is at work in sealing God's people for the final day of full redemption.
What must be noticed is that God the Father did not choose "all" people or every person, but a specific number of people to be holy and blameless (1:4). In other words, not everyone was chosen. Considering the Spirit's work of sealing believers, it is obvious that He does not seal everyone, but only those who have chosen and reveal their being chosen by having believed (1:13).
Now, if the concept of Inter-Trinitarian Harmony stands true, then it could not be that the purpose and will of Jesus would stand in contrast to the other members of the Trinity. How could it be rightly said that Jesus' blood paid for a people not chosen by the Father and not sealed by the Spirit. Rather, from the context of these verses and specifically verse 7, redemption is not for "all" but for the "we" who are in Him and "us" upon whom He lavished the riches of His grace. This is consistent with the whole testimony of Scripture, but particularly Matthew 1:21 which specifically states that Jesus "will save His people from their sins" - the qualifier being "His" people.
So, we find that for there to be consistency in the Trinity, all the members of the Godhead must have had the same purpose in salvation - to actually save a specific group of people "from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9). The essence here is of "all" men; that is, all kinds and subsets of men - not "all" as in every single individual). This group of people was particularly chosen by the Father (Ephesians 1:3-6a); particularly redeemed by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:6b-12); and was particularly sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Hence we have another clearly revealed picture of particular redemption in this concept of Inter-Trinitarian Harmony.
I have modified the phrase to "Inter-Trinitarian Harmony" (borrowing from a concept I learned from John MacArthur) because the purpose and will of God is in perfect balance or harmony "within" (inter) the Godhead. This concept can be used to help understand or illuminate a number of passages and issues found in Scripture. The issue that I find it most illuminating however is in supporting the doctrine of "Limited Atonement" or "Particular Redemption" - the doctrine that teaches that the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross did not merely make salvation possible for every and all men, but that the "atonement" actually secured salvation for a specific or particular number of people.
Let me point out how this works as seen in Ephesians 1:3-14. The first thing to notice in a reading of this text is that there is a repeated refrain. The first time this refrain is used, it is in its fullest or broadest scope followed by two shortened uses. This refrain of praise to God is found in 1:6, 12, 14 respectively:
Ephesians 1:6 - "to the praise of the glory of His grace."
Ephesians 1:12 - "to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:14 - "to the praise of His glory."
Each of these refrains serves to praise God at the conclusion of some aspect of the salvific work of a member of the Godhead. In verses 3-6a, God the Father is praised for His work in election, in choosing a people for salvation. In verses 6b-12, God the Son is praised for His work in redemption, in shedding His blood for His people. And, in verses 13-14, God the Spirit is at work in sealing God's people for the final day of full redemption.
What must be noticed is that God the Father did not choose "all" people or every person, but a specific number of people to be holy and blameless (1:4). In other words, not everyone was chosen. Considering the Spirit's work of sealing believers, it is obvious that He does not seal everyone, but only those who have chosen and reveal their being chosen by having believed (1:13).
Now, if the concept of Inter-Trinitarian Harmony stands true, then it could not be that the purpose and will of Jesus would stand in contrast to the other members of the Trinity. How could it be rightly said that Jesus' blood paid for a people not chosen by the Father and not sealed by the Spirit. Rather, from the context of these verses and specifically verse 7, redemption is not for "all" but for the "we" who are in Him and "us" upon whom He lavished the riches of His grace. This is consistent with the whole testimony of Scripture, but particularly Matthew 1:21 which specifically states that Jesus "will save His people from their sins" - the qualifier being "His" people.
So, we find that for there to be consistency in the Trinity, all the members of the Godhead must have had the same purpose in salvation - to actually save a specific group of people "from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9). The essence here is of "all" men; that is, all kinds and subsets of men - not "all" as in every single individual). This group of people was particularly chosen by the Father (Ephesians 1:3-6a); particularly redeemed by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:6b-12); and was particularly sealed with the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). Hence we have another clearly revealed picture of particular redemption in this concept of Inter-Trinitarian Harmony.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Ed
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