The Trinity
Doctrine and Vision Frame • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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“Who is God?” The Trinity
Introduction
· How many here would consider yourselves a Theologian?
· Let’s look at what Theology is and what a Theologian does – You may change your answer
· Theology = The study and knowledge of God
o A Theologian seeks to answer questions we have about God to form a right belief in Him
o A Theologian seeks to understand God’s being, His nature, and His relationship with the world
· A true knowledge of God is essential for the life of a Christian and the church
o Should lead to being obedient to God, serve Him, and love Him
· If you come to Sunday services and if you read your Bible you are a Theologian
Prayer
Introduction
· What will we be doing for the next…
· Doctrine = Essential eternal truths and Biblical beliefs revealed in Scripture
o Essential or Major Doctrine – Jesus only way to salvation vs Minor Doctrine – When will rapture occur (Respectful disagreements)
o Vision frame = Vision statement, core values, strategies implemented, and how we measure spiritual growth
· Why we are doing this?
· We have to establish a true Biblical foundation
o Everyone on same page
o Healthy strong church
o An effective church
o Everyone moving toward same goal
· Circle slide
· There will be a lot of Scripture – Have to because Scripture reveals God - Don’t worry about where it is, it’s in bulletin
· There is so much in the Bible revealing who God is, what He has done, and His character, it would be impossible to cover it all. Look at some of the most important parts
Body of Sermon
There is only 1 true God perfect in all ways
· Worthy of our praise, worship, and love
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
So, who is God?
· TJ Read Exodus
· Moses asked God who should I say sent me when Israelites ask
· Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’
Name = “I AM” - Everything
Look at what “I AM” entails – 11 things
· God is eternal
Psalm 90:2
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Matt. 11:27
“The Father knows the Son,” from all eternity
· God is the self-revealed Creator
o He has made Himself known in Scripture and through creation
Romans 1:19-20
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
· God is omniscient – All knowing
o What if parents were – grounded for years
Proverbs 15:3
3 The eyes of the Lordare in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
o God knows the past, present, and future
o God knows everything about everything
· God is omnipresent
o He is everywhere at all times
Psalm 139:7-10
7Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
· God is omnipotent
o All powerful
Jeremiah 32:17
17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Psalm 147:5
Great is Lord, and abundant in power;
· God is immutable
James 1:17
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Hebrews 13:8
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
· God is sovereign over all creation
Colossians 1:16-17
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
· God is self existent
o His existence does not depend on anything else
Acts 17:24-25
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
· God is incomprehensible
o As humans, we do not have the ability to fully understand and know God
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
· God is Spirit (Not A spirit)
2nd Corinthians 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
· God works all things according to His righteous will for His glory
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
God’s Attributes and Characteristics
Exodus 34:6-7
· Pay attention to all His qualities and characteristics – Not only shows them but He embodies them – Part of His being
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
The 1 true God exists in 3 persons – The Doctrine of the Trinity
Our Statement of Faith
We believe there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons that are equal in every divine perfection, having distinct but harmonious functions in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
· Supreme Being is 3 persons in 1 essence
· 1 Divine nature in unity of 3 persons who is God –
· Unity of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - all are co-equal and co-eternal
Misunderstandings – What Trinity is not
· It isn’t 3 different roles played by 1 God – This is Modalism – Doesn’t view God as 3 particular persons in 1
· It isn’t 3 Gods together – This is Tritheism – 3 different Gods
· The Trinity is a mystery not to be explained but believed…electricity
Ephesians 1:3-14 – One of the best Scriptures for proof of the Trinity
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Other proof of the Trinity as revealed in Scripture
Genesis 1:1-2 – Right from the very beginning
1 In the beginning, God (Father and Son) created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God (who is God) was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:26 – Subtle Way
26 Then God said, “Let usmake man in our image, after our likeness.
Matthew 28:19 – Subtle Way
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
· 1 God = 1 Name
Mark 1:9-10 – See all 3 in Christ’s baptism
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
1 Corinthians 8:4
For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Roles of each person of the Trinity
TBCC Statement of Faith
God the Father
We believe in God the Father who created heaven and earth. He is the eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of all people, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and spiritual damnation for all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. He is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people and His personal visible return to earth.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He also came forth to regenerate, sanctify and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding Comforter, Helper, Teacher, and Guide.
· This 1 True God in 3 persons work together as 1 to accomplish His will and His overarching plan of redemption and salvation
· Roles They play
· God the Father initiates and establishes His will
· God the Son carries out this will
· God the Holy Spirit executes this will by His power
See in 1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood
Application
· A true knowledge of and belief in the doctrine of the Trinity is necessary to have a true knowledge of who God is and what He has done
· It’s also essential in the life of a Christian and the church
· Remember, we are all Theologians
· Again, why are we doing this?
· We have to establish a true Biblical foundation
o Everyone on same page
o Healthy strong church
o An effective church
o Everyone moving toward same goal
· Circle slide
· Read Scripture in bulletin