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BIBLE DOCTRINES

Introduction:

We are going to try to understand what the Bible says about the Triune God. The Bible speaks of three persons as God. The Father, His Son (Jesus Christ), and The Holy Spirit (a.k.a. The Holy Ghost) are all called God yet, the Bible says there is one God. Please understand that just because we may not understand all there is to a doctrine doesn’t mean that we should not believe it. If God reveals something to us, we should always accept what He has revealed to us by faith even if we can’t fully understand it!

I.         GENERAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.

            A.        Consider The Statement Of The Published Articles Of Faith Held By Many Baptist Churches (Including This One!). Article I, Section 2

“We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite intelligent Spirit, the Maker, and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. (Exodus 20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24; Psalm 147:5; 83:18; 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11; Revelation 4:11; 1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3-6; 1 John 5:7; John 10:30; 17:5; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Philippians 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:18; 2 Corinthians 13:1)”

            B.        Consider The Difficulty In Understanding This Doctrine.

                        1.         God is the only intelligent Being for whom no mystery exists.

To be surprised and to be indignant at encountering mysteries, is to be surprised and to be indignant at not being God.

                        2.         We can understand something without being able to explain it.

This fact could be illustrated by electricity.

This fact could be illustrated by the material (body) and immaterial (soul and spirit) make up of human beings.

            C.        Consider The Importance Of The Doctrine.

                        1.         The work of Jesus Christ is absolutely dependent on His deity.  

                        2.         The work of the Holy Spirit is absolutely dependent on his deity.

                        3.         God's plan of salvation, as revealed in Scripture, is not possible outside the Triune existence of God.

            D.        Consider The Character Of The Doctrine Of The Trinity.

                        1.         The word "Trinity" does not appear in Scripture.

                        2.         The primary Scripture is Matthew 28:19

                        3.         It is a Bible doctrine because all the evidence supporting it is contained in Scripture.

                        4.         The New Testament is the basic source of evidence but it was foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

II.       THE NEW TESTAMENT EVIDENCE OF THE DOCTRINE.

            A.        More Than One Person Is Associated As God.

                        1.         Two persons are associated as God in some places.

                                    a.         I and My Father are One. John 10:30

                                    b.         Father and Son are associated in creation.

                                                (John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6)

                        2.         Three persons are associated as God in some places.

                                    a.         The Great Commission includes Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

                                                (Matthew 28:19)

                                    b.         Paul concludes his second epistle to the Corinthians with reference to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

                                    c.         The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father to glorify the Son.

                                                (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:12-15)

                                    d.         Compare John 1:29-34 with Matthew 3:16-17.

            B.        THREE PERSONS ARE DECLARED TO BE GOD.

                        1.         The Father is declared to be God.

                                    (Romans 15:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:18)

                        2.         Jesus Christ is declared to be God.

                                    a.         His personal claims.

                                                (1)       He claimed to be God. (John 4:25-26; 9:35-38)

                                                (2)       He claimed God as His Father. (Matthew 7:21)

                                                (3)       He claimed to be from heaven. (John 3:13)

                                    b.        The claims of others that declare Jesus to be God.

                                                (1)       John the Baptist. (John 1:23 compare with Isaiah 40:3)

                                                (2)       God the Father. (Matthew 17:5; 3:16-17)

                                                (3)       The inspired writings of the Apostle John. (John 1:1,18)

                                                (4)       The writing of Paul to Titus. (Titus 2:13)

                        3.         The Holy Spirit is declared to be God.

                                    a.         His titles. (i.e. Spirit of God; Spirit of the Lord; Spirit of your Father; My Spirit; Spirit of Christ.)

                                    b.        Specific statement referring to the Holy Spirit as God.

                                                (1)       The situation with Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:1-9)

                                                (2)       The indwelling of Believers by God in the person of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22)

                                                (3)       Compare Acts 28:25-27 and Isaiah 6:9-13.

            C.        Three Persons Exercise The Right Of God To Receive Worship.

                        1.         The Father in John 4:23.

                        2.         Jesus Christ in John 9:38; 20:28.

                        3.         The Holy Spirit in Hebrews 10:29; Ephesians 4:30

            D.        Three persons do the work of God.

                        1.         Revelation and inspiration.

                                    a.         The Father in Hebrews 1:1-2 and 2 Timothy 3:16.

                                    b.         Jesus Christ in John 16:12-13.

                                    c.         The Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 1:21.

                        2.         Resurrection.

                                    a.         The Father in Romans 6:4.

                                    b.         Jesus Christ in John 10:17-18.

                                    c.         The Holy Spirit in Romans 8:11.

III.      OLD TESTAMENT INDICATIONS OF THE TRINITY.

            A.        Indications Of Plurality In God.

                        1.         The first name used for God: “Elohim” (Genesis 1:1).

                                    This name is plural in form but is joined to a singular verb.

                        2.         Plural Pronouns Used Of God. (Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8)

                        3.         God Is Distinguished From God. (Hosea 1:7; Psalm 45:6-8; 110:1-5)

                        4.         God Is Declared To Have A Son. (Psalm 2:2,6-7; Proverbs 30:4)

            B.        The Doctrine Of The Angel Of The Lord.

                        1.         Consider The Exclusiveness Of God's Name. (Isaiah 42:8)

                        2.         Consider The Amount Of Evidence.

                                    The Angel of the Lord appears 25 times in the Old Testament.

                                    The Angel of the Lord is identified as God. (Christophony)

                                    a.         The Angel appears to Hagar. (Genesis 16:7-11,13)

                                    b.         The Angel says Abraham has not withheld his son from Him thereby claiming Deity. (Genesis 22:11-12)

                                    c.         The Angel of the Lord claims to be God at Bethel. (Genesis 31:11-18)

                        3.         God Is Distinguished From The Angel Of The Lord (His Angel).

                                    (Zechariah 3:1-7) 

                                    John 1:18 lends proof the Angel of the Lord is Christ.

            C.        The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.

It is shown of the Holy Spirit that He is Deity and distinguished from God as a Person. This shows a plurality in the Godhead.

                        1.         The Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of God.

                                    a.         He possesses wisdom. (Isaiah 11:2)

                                    b.         He possesses omnipresence. (Psalm 139:7)

                        2.         The Holy Spirit does the work of God.

                                    a.         He is involved in creation. (Job 26:13; Psalm 33:6) (breath = spirit)

                                    b.         He restrains sin. (Isaiah 63:10; Genesis 6:3)

IV.      EXPLANATION OF THE TRINITY.

            A.        Three Persons Are God–The Father, The Son, And The Holy Spirit.

            B.        Yet, God Is One. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; John 17:3)

Dr. Charles Ryrie–“There is only one God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three eternal and co-equal Persons, the same in substance, but distinct in subsistence.”

            C.        Conclusion: God Is A Unity As Far As His Essential Nature (Essence) Is Concerned; Yet He Subsists As Three Persons Each Possessing All The Divine Perfection And Attributes Of God. Yet, They Are Three Separate Persons.

            D.        It Remains A Mystery.

What is revealed in God's Word must be accepted by faith in God and His Word. It cannot be fully understood by rational finite minds.

            E.        False Views Concerning The Trinity.

                        There are two serious errors about the doctrine of the Trinity.

1.The error of tri-theism.

This says that the Trinity consists of three separate (but cooperating) Gods.

                        2.         The error of modalism.

According to this view there is but one God who simply reveals himself through three different modes, or roles. For example, a particular man could be considered a husband to his wife, a father to his children, and an employee to his boss.

V.        SUMMARIES OF THE TRINITY.

            A.        The Trinity Is Three Persons Who Are Interrelated And Inter Existent Within One Being (Substance Or Essence). (i.e. Deity)

            B.        The Unity Of God Does Not Mean That He Has But One Personality, But Rather, There Is Oneness Of Essence (The Elements That Make Up The Being Of God).

            C.        The Essence Exists Eternally As Father, Son, And Holy Spirit.

Each Person possesses the whole Essence; yet each Person is distinct from the other because of certain characteristics involved in His work.

            D.        The One True God Is One God Manifested In Three Persons.

            E.        The Essence Of God Does Not Exist Apart From The Persons Nor Do The Three Persons Exist Apart From The Essence.

            F.        The Essence Is Three Persons And The Three Persons Are One Essence.

            G.       In The Same Undivided Essence There Are Three Personal Distinctions.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!