*Note, much of my commentary came from the website Got Questions and the article on the Trinity. (as quoted in the article)
Title: Understanding the Trinity
Theme: To understand the Trinity and the joy of the relationship.
Text: Matthew 28:16 - 20
Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. (17) When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (18) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
This passage it is called the Great Commission. It sets forth the duties of the disciples of Jesus. It is where we get our challenge to witness and share our faith to other.
Looking at the passage there are a couple of interesting points I want to bring out. We will focus more on the Great Commission next week. I believe these are important because they are part of our DNA. I want these next few messages to focus on some important doctrines of the scriptures and what we believe. They would be called the essentials of the faith.
So let me make a few points this morning I think are important.
I. They worshiped Jesus
I think this is an interesting statement in the passage. The disciples saw Jesus in His full glory and they worshiped him.
It was not until after the resurrection that they truly understood who the Messiah truly is. That was when the light came on.
Maybe it was where they understood the:
1. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
2. The Power of Jesus to be resurrected from the dead.
3. The Understanding that Jesus can truly forgive sins.
Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost was a summary of understanding they had come to. They finally got what Jesus had been telling them for 3 years.
There is something that happens in us and to us when we experience salvation and resurrection in Christ. We are new creatures. When we surrender to God Himself. A light comes on.
To me this is one of the first signs of salvation. Some say, “I did feel anything”. Salvation is more than emotion, although I think emotion is often involved. Salvation is 1. An awareness of what Jesus has done 2. A change in our heart and life 3. A new focus.
II. Jesus spells out the Trinity
“baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”
The trinity has always been around. This is not knew to the world, but just now introduced. We see the trinity in the Old Testament just less pronounced.
A. Old Testament
Jesus in the Old Testament
Jesus John 1:1 In the beginning was the word
Firey furnace
"Another way that Jesus is in the Old Testament is in the form of Christophanies—pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God. The Old Testament uses the term angel of the Lord interchangeably with the Lord in reference to these visitations. One Christophany is found in Genesis 18:1–33 when the Lord appeared to Abram in human form. Such tangible encounters with deity are scattered throughout the Old Testament (Genesis 16:7–14; 22:11–18; Judges 5:23; 2 Kings 19:35; Daniel 3:25)." – Got Questions website on the Trinity
1. Messianic Scriptures
a. Isaiah 61:1
b. Isaiah 48:16
Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Genesis – brooding over the water
Exodus – given the power to work on the tabernacle
Prophets -
Kings
The Holy Spirit active in humanity
Genesis 6:3 My spirit will not contend (strive, judge, contend) with man long
The Holy Spirit doing the will of the father
Gave physical strength Judges 14,15
Endowed man with skill Ex 31:1-5
Inspired men for leadership Exodus Moses and the 70
Instructed and taught men Neh 9:20; Acts 28:25-27
Inspired the prophets and writing the word 2 Peter 1:21
Came upon men in the Old Testament ( Yet for a time)
Gideon – Judges 6:34
Samson - Judges 13:25, 14:6, 19, 15:14, 16:20
King Saul - 1 Samuel 10:6, 11:6, 16:14
David – Psalms 51:11 “take not thy Holy Spirit from me
There was a hunger in David’s life to dwell in the spirit of the Lord
Promise of the Coming indwelling Spirit
The Father in the Old Testament
The Father is the main leader and recognized.
Why was there just the recognition of the Father?
1. Polytheism was so popular by the time the Old Testament was recorded.
2. Building up to the New Testament, not to get distracted
B. New Testament
1. Father approves of the son, Baptism
Each member of the Godhead is present for the baptism of Jesus. After emerging from the Jordan River, God the Son “saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him” (Matthew 3:16, ESV). At that moment, the Father spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (verse 17, ESV).
Also Mark 7 at the Mount of Transfiguration. The cloud, the voice, the son.
2. Here in the great commission
3. Recognized by the Apostles
Roles of the Trinity – Got Questions
"6) The individual Persons of the Trinity have different roles. The Father is the ultimate source or cause of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11), divine revelation (Revelation 1:1), salvation (John 3:16–17), and Jesus’ human works (John 5:17; 14:10). The Father initiates all of these things.
The Son is the agent through whom the Father does the following works: the creation and maintenance of the universe (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16–17), divine revelation (John 1:1; 16:12–15; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 1:1), and salvation (2 Corinthians 5:19; Matthew 1:21; John 4:42). The Father does all these things through the Son, who functions as His agent.
The Holy Spirit is the means by whom the Father does the following works: creation and maintenance of the universe (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30), divine revelation (John 16:12–15; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:21), salvation (John 3:6; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:2), and Jesus’ works (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38). The Father does all these things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Summary:
1) There is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5). So, a belief in the Trinity is not a belief in three gods.
2) The one God exists in three Persons (Genesis 1:1, 26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8, 48:16, 61:1; Matthew 3:16–17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). A common Old Testament Hebrew name for God is Elohim, a plural noun. Some passages quote God as speaking of Himself with plural pronouns such as us (Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8) While the use of plural words is not an explicit argument for the Trinity, it does denote an aspect of plurality in God. The name Elohim, being plural, definitely allows for a tri-unity." – Got Questions on the trinity.
Church History
It was not until less than 100 years ago that there was a development of non-trinitarian theology. The Jesus only movement.
III. This is to be taught everywhere.
Jesus said Go, Make Disciples, Baptize in this way. A clear indication of the trinity.
This is the key to salvation. I have a hard time understanding how anyone could be saved without the involvement and a belief in the trinity. What I have notice is that when they veer off then they add other salvation doctrines: dress, baptism formulas.
It is interesting to note that non-trinitarian belief was not developed or prominent in history until around 100 years ago. So for 1900 years of church history there has always been a belief in the trinity.
IV. There is a joy in the relationship with the trinity.
A. The Father, our authority, protector.
B. The Son, our savior and power source
C. The Holy Spirit, our guide
Conclusion
The trinity for many is a mystery. To me it is like God Himself, there are many characteristics of God we can relate to. But the workings are sometimes hard to explain.
I think today we must embrace the trinity. Allowing each person of the trinity to assure us, speak to us, love us and guide us.
