How can the Father send the Son, considering they are both one? Answer. In the doctrine touching the Trinity, nature and person must be distinguished. Nature is a substance common to many, as the Godhead. A person is that which subsists of itself and has a proper manner of subsisting, as the Father begetting, the Son begotten, the Holy Ghost proceeding. Now the Father and the Son are one indeed for nature or Godhead, but they are not one for person. Nay thus they are really distinct. The Father is not the Son, nor the Son the Father. And thus does the Father send the Son.

William Perkins | The Works of William Perkins, ed. Paul M. Smalley, Joel R. Beeke, and Derek W. H. Thomas, vol. 2 (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2015), 246.

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Post authored by:

• Tony Phelps

  

  Tony grew up in Rhode Island. He was educated at BA (University of Rhode Island) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He worked in the insurance industry for ten years. He planted a PCA church in Wakefield, RI where he served for eleven years. In 2015–18 he pastored Covenant Reformed Church (URCNA) in Colorado Springs. He is currently pastor of Living Hope (OPC). Tony is married to Donna and together they have three children.

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