HS 3 - Trinity
HS #3 – “Trinity”
Review
- Week 1 – Following the HS could be scary
- Think we are weird
- Week 2 – The Holy Spirit is a Person
- Not some power from God
Introduction
- Last wk we ended that – HS wants to lead us as a person into a relationship/ The Father,Son,HS
- Relationship is mysterious
- Cursillo – relationship with those who gave talks
- Ravina De Zeeuw & Justin Kelly
- Instant bond – testimonies
- Does this make sense (old & young)
No better ever of persons hanging together – Trinity
What is the Trinity?
- It is not…
- 1+1+1=1 (three gods in relationship)
- Tritheism – 3 beings together making one God
- Modalism – 3 ways God expresses Himself
- It is…
- That God is one in essence and three in person
- Unity is in essence or being (Dt 6:4 Shema) Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one
- Diversity is expressed in person or what they each do or how they work (Belgic Confession Article 9)
BC - Furthermore, we must note the particular works and activities of these three persons in relation to us. The Father is called our Creator, by reason of divine power. The Son is our Savior and Redeemer, by his blood. The Holy Spirit is our Sanctifier, by living in our hearts.
- Father Creator – made in His image
- Son Redeemer – shed blood for us on the cross
- Holy Spirit – sanctifier – God loves us too much to leave us where we are
The word “Person” again
- Person is not distinction in being – One God
- Is subsistence in the One God
- Subsistence is the difference in the scope of One God or subsists or exists under the pure essence of “deity”
- Each person in the Trinity have all the attributes of Deity (Omnipotent, Omniscience, Omnipresent)
The word “Trinity” is found in the Bible… where
- No place
- See evidence several places
o Ge 1:26 - Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…
§ Unity in “God said”
§ Diversity in “Let Us make man”
o Where is “let us” make 3 (unclear OT)
o Very clear in NT – Baptism of Jesus
§ Father – Voice from Heaven “This is my Son”
§ Word made flesh – Jesus baptism
§ Holy Spirit – Spirit descending like a Dove
§ Great Commission – Mt 28:19 – baptize them in the…
§ Chosen by Trinity
1 Pe 1:2 - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
§ Paul’s Benediction - 2 Co 13:14
John Calvin – Theologian of the Holy Spirit said this “I cannot think on the one without quickly being encircled by the splendor of the three; nor can I discern the three without being straightway carried back to the one”
Clear as mud… (Human analogies)
- H2O – Liquid, Ice, Steam
- Man – Father, Son, Husband
- These help… but don’t really reveal the mystery of God
- Bottom line…
- Doctrine of the Trinity – sets boundaries that we must not cross
- It defines the limits of our finite reflections
- Infinite God colliding with finite man
One such collision - “The Shack” by Paul Young
- Made me think outside the box
- Describe community in a new way (trinity & relationships)
Show video of Paul Young “The Shack”
Relationship is about mystery
- Testimonies show this
- Key is being real with one another
“Religious God never healed me”
- Why did Paul say this?
- Relationship
Faith grows in uncertainty
- I don’t have all the answers
- Faith means you don’t know something… Trinity
- Holy Spirit shows up in all kinds of ways
What are you covering up with language?
- I understand the Trinity
- I know God loves me
- I know the Holy Spirit heals today
What do you believe about the Holy Spirit?
- Relationship with you in mysterious ways
- Lead you into uncertainty
- Community will be king
- What is the Spirit asking you to do
- Make a new friend
- Start a small group
- Go to a retreat
- Ask someone over tonight
- Tell someone about the healing service