I could try to show that there are three layers, yet there is only one wedding cake. All of the layers are distinct, yet they share in the same "cakeness." In the same way there are three persons who share in the same "divine substance."
This doesn't answer my question. Christian doctrine teaches that God is three persons in one being. Obviously, there must be some distinction which identifies which person is which. The cake is an analogy, but all your analogy really says is that there are three distinct layers, but one cake. What I want to know is, what makes the persons distinct from one another? Why, specifically, do you believe that God is three persons rather than one? I'm looking for something more substantive than "that's just the way it is".
Or have you found the answers to "How can God be perfect justice and perfect mercy?" and the like?
What is the paradox here? I fail to see a contradiction between the two. Unless you mean to suggest that "perfect justice" means universal damnation, and "perfect mercy" means universal salvation. If they are to be "perfect", then justice must take mercy into account, and mercy must take justice into account.
I prefer the King James Version. But I encourage the reading of as many other translations as possible within reason. Nothing like God's Word to change a person's heart.
Have you ever heard or read any of the translation of the Gospel of Luke into Gullah (a sort of creole dialect spoken by those living on the islands off the coast of the Carolinas)?
Excerpts from De Good Nyews Bout Jedus Christ Wa Luke Write.
Jedus say, `Ain't nobody gwine light a lamp and den hide um someweh weh day cain't shum. Needa e ain't gwine pit de lamp ondaneet a bushel baskut. E gwine pit de lamp on top ob a table so dem wa come een de house kin see de light.'"
Jedus take some bread an tank God. Den e broke de bread op, gem ta e postle dem. E say, "Dis bread me body wa A gibe ta God fa oona sake. Oona mus eat um fa memba me." Same way, atta de Passoba suppa, Jedus take de cup ob wine and gem ta epostle dem. E say, "De wine een dis cup is de nyew greement tween God an e people. A da make dat greement come true wid me blood, wen A gree fa leh people kill me fa oona sake.
No, I'm not making this up. Check out this link for more information.
I am a petroleum engineer and am a Christian. I taught a class on creation science and the Lord gave me the analogy of the Trinity based on water. Water is approximatley 85% of the body and without it life would not exist. Now can God be three in one? Here is the analogy: Water is made of 2 molecules of hydrogen and one molecule of oxygen. Each of these molecules can exist separately and when combined they form water. The hydrogen molecules are the same and represents God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). The oxygen molecule represents God the Holy Spirit.