Embracing Discipleship!
Understanding God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
AKA – The Trinity
Introduction ….. There are things about God that we can’t fully understand so we must accept them by faith
a. Romans 11:33-36 (NLT) 33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! 34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice? 35 And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back? 36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
- It is impossible to _____________ the fullness the knowledge of God or understand his ways.
- He’s _____________ of everything. He doesn’t need advice from anyone else. (We need His).
- All things come from Him, ____________ by His power and is for His glory.
b. We are here to learn what the Bible says about God and believe what it says even though we may not totally understand everything about it.
2. The Easton Bible Dictionary says concerning the Trinity that God is one and there is but one God. The Father is a distinct divine Person, distinct from the Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was truly God, yet a Person distinct from the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also a distinct divine Person.
a. Deuteronomy 6:4 (The Shema)
- Shema means to ______________
- Jewish confession of faith along with Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41.
- Deuteronomy 11:16 “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. (NLT)
b. ‘The Believers Bible Commentary’ (page 207) says “the Hebrew word for ‘one’ in verse 4 is significant, viewed in the light of the fuller revelation of the New Testament. It stands, not for absolute unity, bur for compound unity, and is thus consistent with both the names of God used in this verse. Jehovah (Lord) emphasized His oneness. Elohim (God) emphasizes His three Persons. The same mysterious hints of Trinity in Unity occur in the very first verse of the Bible, where, ‘Elohim’ is followed by a singular verb (created) and in Genesis 1:26, where the plural pronouns us and our are followed by the singular nouns image and likeness.
Lord – (Yhvh, Jehovah, Yahweh) the self existent, eternal one
God – (Elohim) – God in His fullness. The word Elohim is the plural of El (God of Might, Strength, Power). Used mostly for the Creator, but sometimes refers to heathen gods or idols.
c. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness (NKJV)
d. I agree with E B D _____. I disagree with E B D _____.
3. The New Testament gives us the _____________________ ______________________ about God.
a. Mark 12:28-29 Why does this sound familiar? _____________
b. Mark 12:30-34 The commandment is to love God with our ______________ being.
c. Mark 12:35-37 Seeing the fuller revelation of Jesus (Messiah).
- 2 Samuel 7:12-14 (NKJV) (1 Chronicles 17:1-14)
This verse requires that the Messiah be both the _________ of David’s body and an offspring of ________________.
- Isaiah 9:6-7 This verse reveals that the Messiah is of the offspring of both ______________ and _______________
d. Luke 1:34-35 Both Mary and Joseph were descendants of _____________________. Jesus was born into the line of ________________ both through adoption and bloodline.
e. John 10:30-31 Why did the Jewish leaders want to stone Jesus? _______________________________
4. B. B. Warfield in “The Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity” says “the Old Testament may be likened to a chamber richly furnished but dimly lighted; the introduction of light brings into it nothing which was not in it before; but it brings out into clearer view much of what is in it but was only dimly or even not at all perceived before. The mystery of the Trinity underlies the Old Testament revelation, and here and there almost comes into view. Thus the Old Testament revelation is not corrected by the fuller revelation which follows it, but only perfected, extended and enlarged.
a. What Person or Persons do you see from the Trinity in the following verses?
- Genesis 1:1-2
- Genesis 1:26
- Genesis 11:7
- Judges 6:34
- Isaiah 6:8
- Isaiah 44:6
5. Because of the New Testament the revelation of Trinity is no longer dim but explicitly declared.
a. At Jesus baptism – Matthew 3:16-17
b. In the baptismal formula – Matthew 28:19
c. In the Apostolic Benediction – 2 Corinthians 13:14
d. Jesus Himself prays in line with it in John 14:16
6. The New Testament sets forth 3 members of the Godhead and each of these passages teach us that each Person is as much God as the others
a. Romans 1:7 says God is _______________
b. Hebrews 1:8 says God is the __________ ________
c. Acts 5:3-4 says God is the __________________ ________________
CONCLUSION – The God of the Bible is beyond our human understanding. There have been many analogies made to help us understand Him but all seem to fall short if we go to far with them. For instance God is like an egg. An egg is made up of the shell, the egg white and egg yoke. There are three distinct parts making up one egg! But this comparison falls short because the yoke itself is not fully an egg, the white is not fully an egg nor the yoke. Scripture declares that Jesus is God the Son and fully God at the same time, the same with the Father and Holy Spirit. Other analogies like water and three leaf clover also fall short when taken to far. The reality is nothing compares to the greatness of God, therefore it is important that we simply believe in Him and be open to all He is, as Father Son and Holy Spirit. He exists and is beyond our comprehension but works in relation to our faith. Be thankful for every new aspect we learn about Him.
Reflection and response!
(We would enjoy if you posted your comments and thoughts below for others in the class to see and be blessed by)
How can this knowledge of the Trinity help me in life? ____________________________________________
How has this lesson changed my view of God? ___________________________________________________