Title: What the Bible Teaches about God: The Trinity
Text: Various
Date: 2-25-07.am
Introduction:
The Trinity is a very important doctrine. We, as Christians, need to have a basic understanding of the Trinity because there are a lot of groups that deny the Trinity. Some, like the Jehovah's Witnesses who say Jesus Christ is not God and that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but a force. Others, like the Pentecostal’s, believe a form of modalism, an understanding totally different from the Trinity where the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are different modes of the same person. In other words the Father became the Son who then became the Holy Spirit. And of course Islam which teaches the Christian concept of the Trinity is tri-theism or three different gods. Hopefully this morning we can establish that basic understanding of what the Biblical teaching about the Trinity is so you won’t be blown away or lead astray when you encounter what I believe are false teachings.
The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the distinctive doctrines of Christianity. The word trinity is not in the Bible it is a second century term used to describe the teachings of Scripture concerning the triune nature of God. A definitive statement on The doctrine of the Trinity was first fleshed out at the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. in response to the controversies of monarchianism a form of which is modalism found today in the Pentecostal view of God we mentioned and Arianism which says Jesus was a created being not devine and also survives today in the teachings of the Jehovah’s witnesses.
Earlier in our study about the nature of God we pointed out the Bible teaches God is unity, or God is One, monotheism. At the same time the Bible also presents evidence that God is also tri-unity or Trinity. The Trinity is not three separate gods. The trinitarian teaching is that within the nature of the one true God exists three separate and distinct persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The three are equal in essence equal in divinity and equal in eternity.
The concept of the Trinity is hard for us to fully understand. That’s why many have tried to explain it away or deny it. It’s hard for our finite minds to comprehend the distinction of three separate but equal and unified persons within the one true God. Remember when we use the term person we are talking about having characteristics of personality, not having a human body. But, just because it’s hard for our brain to understand it doesn’t mean we should pretend it’s not there, or deny it’s there, or try to find some way to explain it away. Matthew 22:37 says to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND. Christianity while primarily about faith and practice has an intellectual side. We’re expected to think through the teachings of Scripture for ourselves. God isn’t afraid for you to use your mind. You may not fully comprehend all the ways of God in fact you will not comprehend all the ways of God. But because I don’t comprehend all the workings of computers doesn’t mean they are any less effective that they don’t exist. Mike can probably explain to me why a plane flies and all about aerodynamics and lift and such but that doesn’t mean that I will fully understand it, but because I don’t understand it doesn’t mean planes don’t fly. Just because we don’t fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity doesn’t mean it is any less true or any less biblical.
There is only one God
We know that all through the Old Testament and in the New Testament the Bible makes crystal clear there is only one God.
1. Old Testament
Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! NASB
There is only one God
Isa 46:9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, NASB
2. New Testament
1 Cor 8:4-6
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one.
5 For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords,
6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. NASB
Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!
Christianity affirms that truth, we believe there is only one God.
We also believe, however, that the Bible teaches that this one true God, the God Christians worship and serve, exists as three persons. While the doctrine is only vaguely revealed in the Old Testament is clearly evident in the New Testament.
We also believe The New Testament affirms that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are God.
God as Father
There is little if any disagreement that the Bible reveals God as Father.
It is revealed in the Old Testament: (Ex 4:22; Deut 32:6)
Isa 63:16
16 For Thou art our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not recognize us. Thou, O LORD, art our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Thy name.
(NAS)
Isa 64:8
8 But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand. (NAS)
In the New Testament (1 Cor 8:6; Gal 1:1; Eph 6:23; 1 Pet 1:2; 2 Pet 1:17; 2 Jn 1:3; Jude 1:1)
2 Pet 1:16-17:
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"– (NAS)
This understanding of God as Father is seen in the model prayer Matt
Matt 6:9 Where Jesus said: "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.” (NAS)
In the opening of most of Paul’s letters he wrote: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 1:3, NAS)
And it is clear in Jesus words from the cross: “Father forgive them.” (Lk 23:34)
God as Son (Jn 1:1, 14; Col 2:9; Heb 1:3)
The fact that the Son or Jesus Christ is God is also clear in the Scripture. It is true that at no point did Jesus ever make the statement “I am God.” But that doesn’t mean He didn’t say it in other ways or that Scripture doesn’t teach it. This truth is abundantly clear in the Gospel of John. The introduction to John’s gospel sets forth this truth.
John 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (NAS)
Then in verse 14 John wrote: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NAS) John identifies Jesus as the Word who became flesh as the “only begotton.”
In John’s gospel we find the “I AM” sayings of Jesus.
I am the Bread of Life 6:35
I am the Light of the World 8:12
I am the door of the sheep 10:7
I am the Good Shepherd 10:11
I am the resurrection and the Life 11:25
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life 14:6
I am the Vine 15:5
In these teachings Jesus uses the “I AM” (Egoo Eimi) formula which carries the same meaning as the name Yahweh God used when He spoke to Moses from the burning bush to identify Himself as God.
And though Jesus didn’t make a statement saying the words I am God, in John 10:30 Jesus said "I and the Father are one." and the Bible says the were going to stone Him so he asked which good work were they going to stone him for and in John 10:33
they answered him saying: "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." They knew and understood what Jesus had said. That he was God.
Then we have one of the clearest examples in
John 20:28 Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (NAS)
God as Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)
We find it in the Old Testament
Ps 139:7-8
7 Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. (NAS)
But Acts 5:3-4 is probably the clearest statement showing God and Spirit are equal.
Acts 5:3-4
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back {some} of the price of the land?
4 "While it remained {unsold,} did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God." (NAS)
We also see it in
1 Cor 6:19
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (NAS)
I Corinthians 3:16
1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (NAS)
In these two passages Spirit and God are used as interchangeable expressions.
The Bible also makes clear the Spirit of God is not a force I’ve said this a number of times but it is important for us to know even thought terms like wind and breath are used for the Spirit He has personality.
The Bible says He convicts men of sin Talking of the Spirit’s coming in John 16 Jesus said in verse 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; (NAS)
It is the Spirit who gives gifts to the church in 1 Cor 12:4-11 and in verse 11 Paul wrote
“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” (NAS)
Finally we see all three used together in Scripture as a way of signifying their unity :
At he baptism of Jesus Matt 3:16-17
16 And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, {and} coming upon Him,
17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (NAS)
In the Great Commission: Matt 28:19-20
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (NAS)
In Paul’s benediction to the Corinthian Church: 2 Cor 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. (NAS)
Peter uses the three together in the introduction to 1 Peter 1:1-2 concerning the matter of salvation:
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: may grace and peace be yours in fullest measure. (NAS)
The bible clearly reveals the doctrine of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We see the Trinity at work in creation, in the incarnation, in salvation, in revelation and in prayer. The Trinity is a crucial ingredient of our faith. The divine Father prepared the way for our salvation, the devine Son is the basis of our salvation the devine Spirit indwelling us is the basis for our relationship with both Father and Son. Paul warned Timothy in 2 Tim 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. (NAS)
The Trinity is a part of God’s revelation of Himself to us. We are to love and worship glorify God in His fullness and HIs completeness as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.