The Doctrine of the
Trinity
1 John 5:7-8
Intro: Many today within the Christian circle do not accept the doctrine of the trinity, some for the simplest of reasons: “The bible doesn’t use the word trinity” and others reject because of its profound difficulty in understanding. Either way it’s still rejection and that of the worst kind, to reject the doctrine of the trinity is to reject the deity of Christ and the ability of salvation from the cross.
Quote:
A popular belief among Christians divides the work of God between the three Persons, giving a specific part to each: creation to the Father, redemption to the Son, and regeneration to the Holy Spirit. This is partly true but not wholly so, for God cannot so divide himself that one Person works while another is inactive. In the Scriptures the three Persons are shown to act in harmonious unity in all the mighty works that are wrought throughout the universe.
A. W. TOZER (1897–1963)
I. Defining the term
The tern “trinity” has its origin in the Latin and Greek language and comes in two parts:
1. Tri or three
2. Unity, so the best way to completely define the term is “Three in unity”
This term is compiled to describe the nature of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Quote:
“If you try t understand the doctrine of the trinity, you may lose your mind, and if you deny it you will lose your soul.”
Dr. south
Answering the question
Does the bible use the word “Trinity”????
No, not expressed in the term by stating it, but it is expressed by analogy.
II. What does the Old Testament say about the “Trinity”???
Note: The triune Godhead is expressed from the opening of creation, and so states that God is triune in nature and substance
1.The Plurality of God elohiym {el-o-heem’} The name given unto God by the Hebrews “Elohim” is a plural noun and is best defined this way: Divine Ones
Genesis 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
III. What does the New Testament say about the Trinity???
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1. The plurality of God has eternally existed from before the creation of time
Theological explanation of the plurality of God:
“The members of the Trinity work together in complete unity, totally dependant and yet totally interdependence of each other. God the Father is the sovereign ruler of the entire universe, everything operates because of and to fulfill his eternal plan. God the Son takes this plan out of eternity and brings it into time, administering the various aspects of the plan. God the Holy Spirit makes this eternal plan, the will of God, real to men.
Dr. Ed DeVries
A. God the Father divine originator “of all”
B. God the Son reveals the plan by bringing into time
Note: Prior to creation time did not exist, but upon the creative act of Christ everything came into existence including time.
C. God the Holy Ghost reveals this divine plan to the hearts of man.
2. Coequality of the Godhead
Matthew 28:19
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
1 Peter 1:2
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Note: All three aspects of the Godhead are clearly seen in these three passages of scripture. Not one is more important than the other each has equal value.
· All are equal
· Each distinctive
· All are unified
IV. Does the Doctrine of the Trinity teach Monotheism???
Note: All of Christendom embraces the biblical truth of the Doctrine of the Trinity and believes fervently in one God, Jehovah God the God of Abraham.
Mark 12:29
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Jesus was teaching the scribes from the Old Testament Torah the proper view of God “Monotheism” that God is one in essence and substance but later revealed separately.
1. The Divinity of Jesus
Philippians 2:6-7
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Colossians 1:15-19
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
A. Jesus as creator
Note: scripture clearly teaches that Jesus created all things:
a. For His purpose
b. Through His will
2. Jesus’ claim to divinity
John 10:30-33
30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
3. Jesus and the Fathers uniqueness
John 8:58-59
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Note: In this passage Jesus uses the same term God applied to himself in the account of Moses’ call to ministry were Moses asks, “Whom shall I say sent me?” and God replied, “Tell them I AM sent you.” So, in fact Jesus was putting himself as God and working in the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt by personally calling Moses.
4. The Father’s distinctiveness
Through the whole of Old Testament scripture God is show in both a plural nature and a singular.
A. Spoken of as the all-eternal one, that exists before time and will continue when time seizes to be no more.
5. The Son’s distinctiveness
A. Spoken of as being equal to God the Father
B. Spoken of as being unified with the Father
C. Spoken of as being submissive to the Father
1 Corinthians 15:24-28
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Note: As you read this passage it becomes clear that Jesus acts not in separateness of divinity but in role:
1. When Jesus completes His role as savior of the world, including the defeat of death at the resurrection of the dead.
2. Then Jesus will be relinquished of the responsibility of that role
Therefore one could conclude that Jesus is under the authority of the Father, in fact he is, Christ is under the authority of the will of God that has been predetermined before the foundation of the world.
The Most Important question in Christianity
Is Jesus God???
3. What if Jesus wasn’t God
If Jesus wasn’t God in the flesh then we have a dilemma,
A. Jesus death on the cross didn’t atone for sin
B. The penalty of sin is still on us awaiting judgment
C. Mankind is doomed for hell
Because the scripture rightly states, that no one besides God can forgive sin.”
Mark 2:7-8
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
V. The Silent member of the Trinity
1. Scripture reveals the Holy Ghost as God
Not just the “Spirit” of God but God himself.
Acts 5:3-4
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
Note: some sects believe the Holy Ghost is a spiritual force and not a divine with a personality.
2. Scripture reveals the Holy Ghost as having personality
A. He can be tempted
Acts 5:9
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
B. He can be grieved
Ephesians 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
VI. Can we fully understand the deep things of God
No, we don’t have to fully understand the things of God, but by faith we can accept those things we cannot explain. The doctrine of the Trinity even after two thousand years still remains somewhat a mystery to the wisest o the wise.
The Trinity is a mystery, which my faith embraces as revealed in the Word, but my reason cannot fathom.
JOHN ARROWSMITH
VII. Must we accept the trinity as absolute
Anything that scripture confirms as truth wither in essence or in material reality must be accepted by faith as truth.
