Hello all,
With all due respect, the analogy to h2o, breaks down for a couple of reasons. First, water has four forms (although the fourth is a recent uncovery) solid, liquid, vapor, and plasma. So unless God is "Quad-une", this just will not work. Second, God is not "forms", like water is. He is Persons. One Essence which is God, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. Eternal, without beginning or end.
One what= God, Three Who's= Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Co-eternal, Co-equal in majesty and glory, neither dividing the substance, nor confusing the persons.
I heard time used as an analogy once, and it seemed to work rather well (but I didn't get the chance to examine it closely, so I am left with my initial impression, and I am not sure what that is worth).
C.S. Lewis once used the analogy of a cube. What is a cube? It is a multi-dimensional, 6-sided series of squares. It never ceases being 6 squares, but it also never ceases being one cube.
To equate the Holy Trinity with any analogy, in my opinion falls short. It is a mystery, but not so unimaginable if you consider the multi-dimensionality of our universe, or the 10 dimensions that were present just after the "big bang." 6 dimensions ceased to operate, and cannot be observed, so we are left with height, width, length, and time. Since God is infinite, then being One God, in Three Persons is no intellectual, or theological problem. The problem is with our finite attempts to interpret the Infinite. Thank God, that He has condescended to us, so that we might know Him in the first place. If He had not revealed Himself, we could know nothing substantial about Him.
In closing, to suggest that God is three manifestations of the One Divine Person, is Monarchian Modalism, and has been condemned as heresy since the late 3rd century, when this teaching first appeared. The Trinity is not 1+1+1=1, the Holy Trinity is 1x1x1=1.
Oh, the Mystery, the unfathomable riches, and infinte mercies of our God. To what shall we liken Him, or to Whom shall He be compared?! It is vanity to try, so, reveal Yourself to us Holy Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Regards, Everett