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Fundamentals of Christianity 2
Lesson 3
The word trinity is not found in the Bible but it is the name used to describe the biblical concept of our God. Tri means three. Trinity speaks of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible is clear that God is one. Yet throughout the Bible, we also find evidence of God being triune in nature, three equal persons in one. It is a difficult concept to understand and for sure is one of the mysteries of God.
God is a triune being and He created us in His image. We also are a triune being. We are a spirit, we live in a body and we possess a soul. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23
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..... Galations 1:26
As we are one complete person, God is also one complete God.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. Deuteronomy 6:4
Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and His Redeemer, the LORD of hosts, "I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me" . (Isaiah 44:6).
Throughout the whole Bible, we also can see the three - ness of God.
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water and the heavens were opened unto Him. And He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him with a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17
Jesus was being baptized in water. The Father from heaven was watching and spoke saying that He was well pleased with Jesus. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and landed upon Jesus. In this scripture, the three are carrying out separate rolls at once.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of me. (John 15:26).
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14
The trinity can be a difficult concept for us to understand, but there are many things about God and His ways that are out of our reach of understanding. The Christian life is a life of faith.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38
Illustrations:
These illustrations are not perfect examples of the trinity, but may help you to understand.
1. An egg has a shell, a white and a yoke. All three are separate, distinct but still one egg.
2. If you take a cup of water and boil it, it becomes a vapor. If you take part of that cup of water and freeze it, it becomes solid; the remaining of that cup of water is liquid. Vapor is water, water is water and ice is water. All three are distinct, different and separate but yet, still water. The Holy Spirit is God, the Son Jesus is God and the Father is God. They are all distinct and separate, but they are one God. We serve One God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Characteristics of God:
1. Eternal: God has no beginning or end. He is infinite. He is not bound by space or time.
I am the alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8
2. Holy: God is pure in both thought and action.
3. Omnipotent: God is all-powerful. There is nothing that God cannot do, unless He has limited Himself. For with God all things are possible. (Luke 1:37) God will not do anything that violates His own nature. He will not force His will on us. He has chosen from the beginning to give us a free will. He will not violate that. He will not force His creation to know or love Him.
4. Omnipresent: God has the ability to be present everywhere at all times. Where can I go from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:7-8
5. Omniscient: God is all-knowing. Nothing escapes God's knowledge, nothing we say, do or think.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Psalm 139:7-8
Search me oh God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. Psalm 139:23
6. Loving: God is the very essence of love. Everything He does is about His love for us.
God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him. 1 John 4:8
How great is God's love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! Psalm 103:11
....God is love. If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will stay one with us. 1 John 4:16
7. Just: God is a God of justice. He loves what is right and hates all that is wrong.
The LORD is your mighty defender, perfect and just in all his ways; Your God is faithful and true; He does what is right and fair. Deuteronomy 32:4
8. Merciful: You are merciful, LORD! You are kind and patient and always loving. Psalm 145:8
Roles of God:God is one God in three separate persons.
Each one plays different roles. In many cases the roles overlap and intertwine. We can know for sure the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are always in perfect unity. They cannot and will not disagree with one another. Even though they differ in role, they are equal in power.
Father: God the Father's role is what His name implies. He is the father figure. He loves, He leads, He disciplines and He molds. His role seems to be the overseer role, the one who oversees the entire scheme of things. So why do you accuse me of a terrible sin for saying that I am the Son of God? After all, it is the Father who prepared me for this work. He is also the one who sent me into the world. (John 10:36) Even though the Father sent Jesus, Jesus did not go against His will.
Son: Jesus came to the earth to die for our sins. He was with God from the beginning and will be with Him forever. Jesus has gone now to sit beside the Father and make intercession for us. One day soon, he will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and rule the earth for the 1,000-year millennium. He is the Lord of the Earth and will be forever.
Holy Spirit: He has been with the Father from the beginning. His presence was seen through time beginning in the very first book and chapter of the Bible. His role now is on this earth with us. He dwells inside of us. He is our teacher and our comforter. He helps us to become Christ like. He is the power of God that dwells inside of us to enable us to do the works that God wants done on this earth.
Our God is a big God. Him and His ways are far above our ability to comprehend. However, there are many things in this life we do not understand, yet we believe. We will not understand God until we come face to face with Him. In the mean time, we accept the truth of God's word by faith and seek to understand as much as we can by the help of the Holy Spirit..
Weekly Challenges:Scripture Memorization: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14Scripture Reading: Read a chapter of the Bible each day working your way through the New Testament.
Prayer: Pray at least 20 minutes daily.
L.O.V.E. Challenge: Make an effort to share something with someone this week. for example a pencil, paper or food. Make it something more than you would normally do.