Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? holy_trinity Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? holy_trinity What Do We Desire as Individuals? Love (selfless & trustworthy) Unity in diversity Communication Community Humility Peace Selfless common good DesireOfOurHearts_blog Why do we have these persistent deep longings that occasionally compel us to action and often leave us frustrated or disappointed? How can they be satisfied? disappointment So What’s the Answer? We’re made by design – blueprint from God Longing for the Trinitarian God of the Bible and a world that is a reflection of the Trinity wq-money-woman Detroit_auto_show_welcoming_Porsche_aftter_3_years_of_absence-1 284809264 istockphoto_5215661-vector-human-brain-blueprint The Problem Human desires corrupted by sin Transform into lusts Bottomless pits of selfish desire Since we’re made in the image of the triune God to reflect his glory – we will never stop longing pe0064193 The Solution? The Trinity is the first community And the ideal for all communities community trinity5 Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? What is the Trinity? What is the Trinitarian of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the Old Testament? Does the Trinity appear in the New Testament? History of the Trinity the_holy_trinity Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? What is the Trinity? What is the Trinitarian of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the Old Testament? Does the Trinity appear in the New Testament? History of the Trinity the_holy_trinity Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English Confess that God is one God, eternally Existing in three persons, Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each of the three shares fully the one divine essence. Tertullian (AD 155-220) 1718_havercamp_apologeticus tertullian Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) “In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power and eternity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.” 0875525938m Definition The Trinity is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Spirit - who are fully and equally God in eternal relation with each other. Trinity Three Equally Essential Biblical Truths First There is only one true God !! Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Romans 3:30a Since there is only one God 584924594_0f8c1d1df6 Three Equally Essential Biblical Truths No one like God Exodus 8:10b Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God. pharoah Three Equally Essential Biblical Truths Any claim to be like God is a satanic lie Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” adam_and_eve Image+--+Shardach,+Meshach+and+ Abednego Daniel Chapter 3 Three Equally Essential Biblical Truths Second The Father, Son, and Spirit are equally declared throughout Scripture to be God Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-Eng lish I Cor. 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. John 14:16, 17a And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth Three Equally Essential Biblical Truths Third Though one God, the Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct persons the_holy_trinity Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? What is the Trinity? What is the Trinitarian of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the Old Testament? Does the Trinity appear in the New Testament? History of the Trinity the_holy_trinity I John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Spoken of 800x God_is_love_001 In stating that “God is Love,” the Bible also reveals that the Trinitarian God of the Bible is simultaneously the definition, example, and source of true love. gods+love+never+fails So, to declare that God is Love is to confess that God is Trinitarian. godlovesyou For example, during his earthly life, Jesus frequently spoke about the deep love between him and God the Father 0633095516_L John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand John 5:20 The Father loves the Son And shows him all that He himself is doing John 14:31 I do as the Father has Commanded me, so that the world may know That I love the Father The Trinitarian God of the Bible Reveals Several Truths Is a person with the name “Lord” He is a person. He has a name. He wants to relate Compassionate Helpful Slow to anger Lovingly faithful Dependable and truthful Forgiving Just A2_Site c78d7d272d0e7944dce2e7f481cf17da How Does God Reveal Himself to His People Exodus 34:6b,7a “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; 026 Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? What is the Trinity? What is the Trinitarian of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the Old Testament? Does the Trinity appear in the New Testament? History of the Trinity the_holy_trinity in_the_beginning Genesis 1:1,2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. re’shit in Hebrew Synonymous parallelism with the Hebrew word for ‘firstborn’ bekor in Hebrew, 4x OT “beginning” and ‘”firstborn’” same meaning in_the_beginning Genesis 1:1,2 In the beginning, by the firstborn, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. jesus-birth Predating the birth of Jesus Christ We find three divine persons – the Firstborn, God the father, and the Spirit – at Work in creation Paul Reflects this pre-Christian Trinitarian Understanding Col. 1:15-16 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. God Speaks of Himself with Plural Pronouns Gen. 1:26a Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, 3x – Gen. 3:22, 11:7 Isaiah 6:8 adam in_the_beginning Genesis 1:1,2 In the beginning, by the firstborn, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Making Any Sense?? Gen. 16:13 She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Hagar_and_the_Angel Eternal Son who became Incarnate in Jesus Hagar Progressive Revelation From the Beginning of the Bible we see the Trinity As the scriptures continue to reveal God, the bud opens bit by bit U55EF00Z Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? What is the Trinity? What is the Trinitarian of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the Old Testament? Does the Trinity appear in the New Testament? History of the Trinity the_holy_trinity The N.T. Continues and Deepens the Revelation of God Living and Active in Three Fully Divine Persons Baptism of Jesus Matt. 3:16,17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “ This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” All three persons of the Trinity are present, And each one is doing something different: Father speaking Son anointed Holy Spirit empower Trinitarian Formula Matt. 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 9780805443004_the%20great%20commission_hr Paul’s Description of the Trinity Eph. 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. the%20holy%20spirit Doctrine: Trinity - God Is? What is the Trinity? What is the Trinitarian of the Bible like? Does the Trinity appear in the Old Testament? Does the Trinity appear in the New Testament? History of the Trinity the_holy_trinity Tertullian (AD 155-220) 1718_havercamp_apologeticus tertullian Latin Words= Trinitas, persona, and substantia Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one In divine essence but distinguished In relationship as persons Three Major Ecumenical Councils Where church leaders discussed major theological issues for the purpose of recognizing what the church believed content_img Council of Nicaea (AD 325) Respond to heretical teaching 300 bishops – persecution Resolve the debate over Arianism (Christ was a creature) Conclusion: Son was one with the Father Deity of Christ officially recognized Nicene Creed nicaea-sistine Council of Constantinople (AD 381) Identification of the Holy Spirit within the Godhead Expanded the Nicene Creed = fully Trinitarian Full humanity of Jesus Christ Council_of_Trent_by_Pasquale_Cati Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) Focused on the relationship of Christ’s humanity to his divinity Fully God and fully man council-of-chalcedon Conclusion the_holy_trinity God is one God in three Persons – with God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit being the three, distinct Persons of this triune Godhead – and with all three Persons of this Godhead being co-equal and co-eternal. Deut. 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. god2