Trinity

TRC and Friends, here are some notes for use in your RL Groups. The video I shared with you this morning is at the end of this post. Enjoy!!

Trinity

Introduction

Inside orthodox Christianity, there is a multitude of diverse, orthodox doctrines from the Manual. 

 

We can sit across the table, disagree, and even pound the table in righteous anger over the nuances of orthodoxy.

 

Trinity is one doctrine that draws a line in the sand between those we can sit at the table with and take the time to disagree.

 

We can’t understand the nature of God without Trinity. 

 

How we understand Jesus is Trinitarian, based on what he said about himself. 

 

If Jesus is who he said he is, then we have to wrestle with the Trinitarian nature of God. 

 

The doctrine of the Trinity had to be developed because people were bringing strange teachings about Jesus that did not line up with what the Bible was saying. 

 

Strange teachings on Jesus started early, and John addressed it in 2 John 1:7-11.

 

1. 2 John 1:7-11 (ESV) For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

 

Trinity

“Augustine says if you deny the trinity you lose your soul, if you try to explain it lose your mind.”

 

To study the Bible’s teachings on the Trinity gives us great insight into the question that is at the center of all of our seeking after God: What is God like in himself?. Who is God?

 

Definition: God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.

 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

 

John 8:48-59 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

 

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

John 14-16 – 3 yet 1, Distinction, Equal, Submission to

 

John 14:8-11 (ESV) Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

 

John 14:15-18 (ESV) If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

 

John 14:23 (ESV) Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

 

John 14:25-26 (ESV) “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

 

John 15:26 (ESV) But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

 

John 16:13-15 (ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

 

Daniel 7:9-14 Jesus referring to himself as the “Son of Man” 

Luke 22:66-71 (ESV) When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, 67 “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

 

Colossians 1:15-17 Jesus Pre-existent, Creator, Present Sustainer

 

(ESV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (prototokos) of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 

Application

1. Humans are created in the image of the Trinitarian God, therefore we are glorious creatures who full of dignity. 
   1. Humans are multifaceted beings who are more than biology and certainly not less than biology. Body/Soul.
   2. A real pro-life position for Christians is cradle to grave for all nations everywhere all the time. 
2. As Trinity is unity in diversity in perfect fellowship Christians are to be unity in diversity in fellowship reflecting God’s nature.
   1. We are to be in loving fellowship with one another as the eternal purpose of the church.
      1. 52 “one anthers” in the New Testament.
   2. Ephesians 2:11-3:12 (ESV)(3:7-12 here) Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
3. Avoid analogies and revel in the mystery of God’s Trinitarian nature and worship. 
4. The church, the fellowship of the kingdom of the Trinitarian God, is the place where unity in diversity in a community of equality displays the shalom of God restored. 
   1. Governments in the west erred by highlighting the individual’s rights over the whole. So, the more powerful few can rule the less powerful whole. 
   2. Governments in the east chose communism and exalted the many. The nation above the individual. 
      1. The result is two equally oppressive practices. 
   3. Diverse and important as persons yet equal and vital as a whole. 
5. The Trinitarian God is love, therefore we are to love like the God we are created like. 
   1. 1 John 4:8 (ESV) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.