Lesson 2: Why I Believe In The Trinity

A. INTRODUCTION

1. We believe in the Trinity, “We affirm our belief in one God, infinite Spirit, Creator, and Sustainer of all things, who exists eternally in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three are one in essence but distinct in person and function.” Liberty Doctrinal Statement.

2. “We worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.” Athanasian Creed, 250 A.D.

3. Jews say Christians believe in three gods, but Jews claim to be monotheistic. “Hear, O Israel the LORD our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4).

4. Other groups that deny the Trinity: United Pentecostals, Mormons, Hinduism, Islam.

5. The oneness group denies the Trinity. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38).

Answer to Oneness “When a Jewish Christian accepted Jesus in the book of Acts, they accept all of the Father, and the Holy Spirit.”

6. Jehovah Witnesses teach the Father alone is Jehovah, the son is “a god” inferior to the Father, and the Holy Spirit” is an impersonal force emanating from God.”

7. Interpreting principle. “The three persons of the Trinity are equal in nature, separate in person and submissive in duty.”

In nature, all three are equal in nature and attributes, i.e., holiness, love, judgment, etc.

In person, each is a distinct personality of intellect, emotion, will, self perception, and self direction.

In duties, the Father sends the Son, and both of them send the Holy Spirit.

B. WHAT WE BELIEVE

1. The early church said to see the Trinity, go to the Jordan. Jesus the Son was baptized, the Father spoke from Heaven, “This is My beloved Son,” the Holy Spirit came on Jesus as a dove.

2. Our authority in baptism, “Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:18).

3. Our benediction, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen” (2 Cor. 13:14).

4. Three persons: Jesus was sent into the world, “I come forth from the Father” (John 16:28). Jesus and the Father sent the Holy Spirit, “When the Comforter is come who I will send unto you from the Father” (John 15:26).

C. THE OLD TESTAMENT POINTS TO THE TRINITY

What is hidden in the Old Testament is clearly revealed in the New Testament.

1. The name God implies the Trinity. “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth” (Gen. 1:1). The name God “Elohim” is plural. The ending “im” is our “s” meaning more than one. The Jews’ answer, “It is a plural majesty, as the President says, ‘Let us.’”

2. Plural pronouns imply the Trinity. “God said; let us make man in our image” (Gen. 1:26). “The man has become as one of us” (Gen. 3:22).

3. Worship in a Trinitarian formula, “Holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3). The name LORD is used 3 times. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace”’ (Num. 6:24-26).

4. God has a Son. “The Lord has said to me, You are my Son, today I have begotten You” (Ps. 2:7).

5. The Shema. “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4). The word one is not “one in isolation,” but “one among many.”

6. Three persons implied, “The speaker is Jesus who is sent by the Lord and His Spirit. “Now the Lord and His Spirit has sent me” (Is. 48:16).

D. FALSE VIEWS AND PROBLEM PASSAGES

1. Three modes of expression. God was a judgmental Old Testament war God, who became the loving Son, who became the Holy Spirit.

2. Arianism, an early church father taught the eternal Father created the Son, then created the Holy Spirit.

3. Monarchianism, an early church father taught the deity of Christ is a power or influence of the Father.

4. Tritheism believes in three distinct gods.

5. Is the Father greater than Jesus? “I go to my Father: for my Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). The Father is greater in duties, not in nature.

6. How is God the head of Christ? “The head of every man is Christ . . . and the head of Christ is God” (I Cor. 11:3). The Father is head in duties, not in nature.

7. Is Holy Spirit just a spirit who comes from the Father? “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father” (John 13:26). The word proceedeth is “from besides” not “from out of.”