THE TRINITY - IITB 02.23

 

Chapter 2. 23

The Trinity

Where in the Bible does the word Trinity Appear?

Did someone just make up the word?

 

 

First Word

     Jehovah Witness’ theology states that God is a single person; and those that teach Trinitarianism teach a demonic doctrine.  God does not know everything and can only be in one place at a time.

     Mormonstheology states that there are three distinct GODS; God the father who has a body; God the Son who has a body and God the Spirit who does not have a body.  There in not a trinity.

     New Age theology states:  God is a cosmic energy force.  Jesus was not the only Messiah and definitely not God.  Spiritual instruction comes with communication from the spirit world; there is No Trinity.

“I and the Father are one”. [1]

A Little Background

 

     The Bible: The word Trinity is NOT found anywhere in scripture, but the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are alluded to frequently.  The entire NT is “Trinitarian” to its very core.  Once you read the NT you can readily see the self-revelation of the implications of the trinity in the OT. 

     It is generally acknowledged that the church father Tertullian (ca. A.D. 145-220) coined the term “Trinity” with reference to God during the post biblical period of the church.  The doctrine of the trinity means that within the being and activity of the one God there are three distinct persons; The Father, Son and Holy Spirit.   Each person is self-conscious and self-directing, yet never acting independently or in opposition.[2]

     The comparison is best explained as a rope with three strands interwoven; each strand being separate and distinct from the other, but woven together as integral parts of the rope.  The most distinctive characteristic of the persons of the triune family is their selfless love for one another.  Each esteems and defers to the other in a way that makes the original family of the trinity a model for the Christian family of believers in the church.

     God is communicable: Just as the sun communicates light, heat and energy; God reaches down to us through the Trinity to fellowship, communicate and share with us according to our ability to receive.  It should be noted that in the Book; the scripture, known as the GREAT COMMISSION; [3] the word “Name” is singular indicating “the unity” of the three persons.

 

Matthew 28:19 – Make disciples in the name
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the NAME of the

Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

NLT

The Holy Spirit is a person

     The Father sent the Son and the Son sent the Holy Spirit.  Paul describes the Holy Spirit as a person; bearing witness, speaking, teaching and acting as a guide and even being grieved.[4]  He is the dispenser of all blessings and gifts within the sphere of redemption.  The Spirit calls out Abba Father.[5]  Abba is Greek; translated into Aramaic means father; daddy.

 

Proof - Intercession

     PROOF; in the mouth of TWO OR THREE WITNESSES is a thing established.

1) The Father, 2) Son and 3) Holy Spirit testify of God, as three witnesses; The Trinity[6]

1) The baptism, 2) the cross and the 3) Holy Spirit testify of Jesus Christ; testify for all time.[7]

The Holy Spirit intercedes for us as we pray in the name of the Son to the Father. 

 

Did you see it?  We pray WITH the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son to the Father.[8]

 

It’s in the Book

 

Plurality

     The first book of the Bible begins with God self-revealing Himself in the plural form when He said "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.”  At first look you could easily assume that there were many gods present, but He is speaking of His plurality of persons, not of gods.  The Bible is the revelation of God through the Trinity[9]

The Father is whom revelation proceeds,

The Son incarnates the revelation,

The Holy Spirit applies the revelation to man.

The angels called out in plurality; Holy, Holy, Holy suggesting three persons of the Trinity.

     Paul spoke in “Trinitarian” terms, when he said “through Him” (Jesus) we have access by “one Spirit” unto “the Father”.[10] 

 

One God

     Mankind has a desire to worship something.  We make up other gods to serve that do not exist or things of nature like the sun, moon, stars, earth, water, animals, tree limbs, rocks or maybe money, power, objects, drugs or sex.  They become gods in our life, but they are all just dead objects of devotion.

 

 

The scriptures clearly point out that there is only ONE True God.[11]

 

 

 

 

 

THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE TRINITY

 

Deity: In the scriptures that the deity of God is always aligned with “the Word(His Son), and with the Holy Spirit.  The Book says; “in the beginning was the Word, (Jesus) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.    "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them”.  “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  We see the Trinity when Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit; to God.”[12]

Self-Existence:  God refers to Himself as; I AM THAT I AM, which means He is whatever He wants to be.  He exists as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.[13]

From Eternity: He is eternal, the Trinity was before the world began[14]

Omniscience: He is all Knowing, the Father searches the hearts and the minds of men. The Son knows the thoughts of man and The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God.[15]

Omnipresent:  He is everywhere all at once.  Can anyone hide from God? [16]

Omnipotence: God is All Powerful, the son sustains all things by His powerful hand; the Holy Spirit breathes life.[17]

Goodness & Love: God loved us while we were yet still sinners. God’s kindness leads to repentance, the Son loves the body of believers and the Holy Spirit is good and does not withhold from us.[18]

Holiness:  The Trinity is Holy.  The Father and the Son are righteous, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach and remind you all spiritual things.[19]

Truth:  God is Holy and true.  The Son is from God who is holy and true. God sent the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth[20]

 

THE WORKS OF THE TRINITY

 

Before Creation:  In the beginning before anything else existed the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Trinity was.[21]

Inspiration:  Everything we read in scripture is God breathed by the Trinity for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  The Son predicts the glories that are to come and the Holy Spirit inspires us as He carries us along with prophecy.[22]

The Birth:  When the time had fully come God sent his Son.  The Son came into the world as a sacrifice and an offering.  The Holy Spirit over-shadowed Mary and the Son was born.[23]

Salvation: Only those who receive the Son are born of the Spirit and of God will enter the Kingdom of God.[24]

The Indwelling:  God the Father is over all, through all and in all.  The Son is the hope of glory that dwells in you and your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.[25]

Protection:  No one can snatch the believer out of the Fathers hand, the Son gives the believer eternal life and the Holy Spirit has sealed them into the day of redemption.[26]

His Presence:  The Father gives life in us; the Son gives us strength, the Holy Spirit makes us overseers of the body.[27]

 

The Take Away

     Think of TRI as three: think of “Unity” as being one, think TRI-UNITY; three united as one

Let’s Look at Water or perhaps the three distinct stages of water; liquid, ice and steam.  They are all different from each other, but are all composed of the same thing; H2O, water.  There is only one God, NOT three, the Book says; “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one.[28]   

     There is a trinity of three primary colors; Red, Green, and Blue: All the rest of the colors are a derivation from them.   Pure White is made up of all colors; darkness is the absence of all colors.  God’s word contains all the colors.  The more we read God’s Word, the further from darkness we get and the closer to pure light we become.  SELAH

     Get ready to get upset.  We often say “Father God”, which is correct to say, as this statement is identifying the person of the “Father” as God; but let’s take a look at all the terms and let me mess with your mind a little.

The Father is God; but, the Father is not the Son, nor the Holy Spirit.

The Son is God; but, the Son is not the Father, nor the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is God; but, the Holy Spirit is not the Father, nor the Son.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three distinct persons of God; The Trinity.  It is through the Trinity that God communicates shares and fellowships with fallen man.  The Holy Spirit intercedes for us as we pray in the name of the Son to the Father

     The Bible is the REVELATION of God through the Trinity.

The Father is whom revelation proceeds,

The Son incarnates the revelation,

The Holy Spirit applies the revelation to man.

    

 

Paul’s threefold prayer;

“May the grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST,

and the love of GOD, and the fellowship

of the HOLY SPIRIT be with you all” [29]

 

One God – Three distinct Persons – The Trinity

 

 

It’s in the Book

 

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

 

 

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

                                     and see further that I otherwise ever could have.                       

                                                                                                                                     

 

A Planned Deception – Staging of a New Age Messiah – Constance Cumbey

A.S.K. – Associates for Scriptural knowledge

Age of accountability – Dr. Ken Matto

Age of accountability – John Piper

Age of accountability – Tony Warren

All the Parables of the Bible – Herbert Lockyer

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words - W.E. Vine

Angels A-Z – Lewis Oliver

Angels: Gods Secret Agents – Billy Graham

Anointed with the Spirit and Power - John D. Harvey

Antiquities of the Jews Flavius Josephus Matthias; Jewish Historian

Apocrypha; The – Edgar J. Goodspeed

Armageddon-Appointment with Destiny – Grant R. Jeffrey

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Baptist Web Site – Derek Gentle

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Code; The – Michael Drosnin

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Bible Hub.com

Bible on the life Hereafter; The – William Hendriksen

Bible Study Tools – Liberty University

BlueLetterBible.Org

Bondage of the Will; The Martin Luther

Book of Mormon; The – Latter Day Saints LDS

Can America Survive? – John Hagee

Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry – CARM - www.carm.org

Complete Book of Bible Knowledge; The – Mark D. Taylor

Countdown to Armageddon, the 1980’s – Hal Lyndsay

Customs and Folkways of Jewish Life – Theodor H. Gaster

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

Discovering your Spiritual Gifts – Kenneth Cain Kinghorn

Encounters with Angels – L. W. Northrup

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Escape from Armageddon – Thomas Reed

Exposition of Genesis – H.C. Leupold

Exposition of the Parables – Benjamin Keach

Expositor’s Bible Commentary; The – Frank E. Gaebelein

Fascinating Bible Facts – Publications International

Final Dawn over Jerusalem – John Hagee

Forgotten Books of Eden; The - World

From Daniel to Doomsday – John Hagee

God without Religion – Andrew Farley

God’s will for you – Gloria Copeland

Gospels Interwoven; The – Karmit Zarley

Great Doctrines of the Bible - Pneumatology – W.W. Criswell

Great Pyramid; The – George R. Riffert

Guide to Survival – Salem Kirban

Handel’s Messiah – The Music

Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow; The – Constance Cumbey

Historical Atlas of the Bible; The – DR. Ian Barnes

Holy Spirit; The – Billy Graham

Hope for each day – Billy Graham

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

In the beginning was the End – Wim Malgo

Infant Baptism – John MacArthur

Infant Baptism – John Piper

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament – Baker

Invisible War; The – Donald Grey Barnhouse

Islam 6th Edition – Caesar E. Farah

Islam and the Bible – David Goldmann

Islam; Christian Apologetics – Dr. Norman Geisler

Jerusalem Countdown – John Hagee

King James Version Bible – KJV

Last Days collection, The – Pretty Good Publishing

Last Days; The - Moris Farhi

Late Great Planet Earth; The - Hal Lindsey

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Loud Cry; The – David Curtis

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis

Meredith’s Book of List; 1&2 – Bethany House Publishers

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

More than a Carpenter – Josh McDowell

Mormon Mirage; The – Latayne Colvett Scott

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Mystery Mark of the New Age – Texe Mars

Mystery of the Ages – Herbert W. Armstrong

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Naked Gospel; The – Andrew Farley

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

Neighboring Faiths – Winfred Corduan

New Evidence that demands a verdict; The – Josh McDowell

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

New Living Translation Bible - NLT

New Millennium; The – Pat Robertson

New World College Dictionary – Webster’s

Normal Christian Life; The – Watchman Nee

Nostradamvs & the Millennivm – John Hogue

Now that’s a Good Question – R.C. Sproul

One Minute after you Die – Erwin W. Lutzer

Person and work of the Holy Spirit; The – R. A. Torrey

Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible: The - Zondervan

Present Day Evangelism – Arthur W. Pink

Questions and Answers on Spiritual Gifts – Howard Carter

Revelation of Jesus Christ: The – Walvoord

Revelation Seminar; The – 1975 - Hilton Sutton

Revelation Study; The - 1973 – Dr. Warren Wiersbe

Revelation; The – verse by verse – Oliver B. Green

Sabbath.Org

Satan’s Underground – Lauren Stratford

Satanism – Ted Schwarz & Duane Empey

Secret Kingdom; The – Pat Robertson

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Systematic Theology – Berkhof / Erdmans

Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem

Ten Commandments – John Hagee

Theomatics – Jerry Lucas

There were two Trees in the Garden – Rick Joyner

There’s a war going on – Eldred Echols

Thru the Bible J. Vernon McGee

Today’s Dictionary of the Bible - Guidepost

Today’s Dictionary of the Bible - T.A. Bryant

Twelve Ordinary Men – John MacArthur

Unraveling the Big Questions about God – Kenneth Boa

Victor Journey through the Bible; The – V. Gilbert Beers.

VictoryBibleBaptist.Org

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

What in the World is going on? – David Jeremiah

What the Bible is all about – Henrietta C. Mears

Where to find it in the Bible – Ken Anderson

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Whose Bible is it? – Jaroslav Pelikan

Why I am a Christian – Michael A. Gorman

Wikipedia

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison



[1] John 10:30 - I and the Father are one

[2] Matthew 28:19 – Trinity; Make disciples in the NAME of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit  -- Matthew 3:16-17 – Trinity; Jesus, Spirit of God, Voice from Heaven all appeared at the same time -- 2 Corinthians 13:14 – Trinity; Lord Jesus Christ, God, The Holy Spirit -- Acts 2:38-39 – Trinity; Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, God -- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – Trinity; Same Spirit, Same Lord, Same God -- Ephesians 4:4-6 – Trinity; One Spirit, One Lord, One God -- 1 Peter 1:2 – Trinity; God the Father, the Spirit, Jesus Christ -- Jude 20-21 – Trinity; the Holy Spirit, God, Lord Jesus Christ

[3] Matthew 28:19 – Trinity; Make disciples in the NAME of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit

[4] Romans 8:14 – The Holy Spirit leads us -- Romans 8:16 – The Holy Spirit testifies for us -- Romans 8:26 – The Holy Spirit helps us; intercedes for us -- Ephesians 4:30 – The Holy Spirit can be grieved

[5] Galatians 4:6 – The Spirit Calls out to God for us; Abba Father

[6] Matthew 18:16 – Two or Three Witness -- 2 Corinthians 13:1 - Two or Three Witness

[7] 1 John 5:7-8 – Trinity; There are three things that testify; The Holy Spirit, Baptism and crucifixion

[8] Romans 8:26 – The Holy Spirit intercedes for us -- John 16:23-24 – Ask the Father in the name of the Son.

[9] Genesis 1:26 – Let US make man in our image, in our likeness, -- Genesis 3:22 – The man has now become like One of US -- Isaiah 6:8 – God said; whom will go for US -- Isaiah 6:3 – Angels call out to one another, Holy, Holy, Holy, glorifying the Holy Father, Holy Son and Holy Spirit

[10] Ephesians 2:17-18 – Trinity; For through “Him” (Jesus) we both have access by “one Spirit” unto “the Father” -- John 15:26 – Trinity; The Counselor,  The Father, Jesus Christ

[11] Deuteronomy 6:4 – The Lord our God is ONE -- 1 Corinthians 8:4 – There is only one God -- Deuteronomy 32:39 – There is no God but me

James 2:19 – Even the Demons believe that there is ONE God -- Isaiah 46:9 – I am God; there is none like me -- Ephesians 4:4-6 – Only One; One Father, One son One Spirit, One Hope, One Faith, One Baptism

[12] Revelation 21:3 – The Father dwells with men -- John 1:1 – The Son; the Word was with God and was God -- Acts 5:3-4 – Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit; to God

[13] Exodus 3:14-15 – The Father; I AM WHO I AM and always have been -- John 8:58 – The Son was before Abraham -- Genesis 1:2 – The Holy Spirit was at the very beginning

[14] Psalms 90:2 – The Father was before the world was created -- John 17:5 – The Son was in the presence of God before the world began -- Hebrews 9:14 – The Holy Spirit is eternal

[15] Jeremiah 17:10 – The Father searches the heart and mind of man -- Matthew 9:4 – The Son knows our thoughts of man -- 1 Corinthians 2:11 – The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God

[16] Jeremiah 23:24 – Can anyone hide from the Father, He fills heaven and earth -- Matthew 28:20 – The Son is with us always -- Psalms 139:7 – Where can I go from The Holy Spirit

[17] Psalms 62:11 – The Father is strong, He speaks and it comes to pass -- Hebrews 1:3 – The Son sustains all things by His powerful word -- Job 33:4 – The Holy Spirit is the breath of life

[18] Romans 5:8 – God loved us even though we still sinned.  -- Romans 2:4 – The Father’s kindness leads to repentance -- Ephesians 5:25 – The Son loves the body of Believers, the Church -- Nehemiah 9:20 – The Holy Spirit is good and does not withhold

[19] Leviticus 11:44 – The Father is Holy, consecrate yourselves -- Acts 3:14 – The Son is Holy and Righteous -- John 14:26 – The Holy Spirit teaches

[20] John 7:28-29 – The Father is holy and true -- Revelation 3:7 – The Son is sent by the father who is holy and true -- 1 John 5:6 – The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth

[21] Psalms 102:25 – The Father laid the foundations of the earth -- Colossians 1:16 – The Son created all things in heaven and on earth -- Genesis 1:2 – The Holy Spirit was at the very beginning

[22] 2 Timothy 3:16 – The Father breathed the scriptures -- 1 Peter 1:10-11 – The Son predicts the glories that are to come -- 2 Peter 1:21 – The Holy Spirit carries men along with prophecies that inspire

[23] Galatians 4:4 – The Father sent the Son when the time had fully come -- Hebrews 10:5 – The Son came into the world as a sacrifice and offering -- Luke 1:35 – The Holy Spirit over shadowed Mary and she conceived The Son

[24] John 1:13 – Believers are born of God, the Father -- John 1:12 – Those who receive the Son have the right to become children of God -- John 3:5-8 - Every one born of the Holy Spirit will enter the kingdom of God

[25] Ephesians 4:6 – The Father is over all and through all and in all. -- Colossians 1:27 – The Son is the hope of glory that is in you -- 1 Corinthians 6:19 – Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit

[26] John 10:29 – No one can snatch the believer out of the Fathers hand -- John 10:28 – The Son gives the believer eternal life 28 I give them eternal life, and -- Ephesians 4:30 – The Holy Spirit has sealed the Believer into the day of redemption.

[27] 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 – The Father gives life in us -- 1 Timothy 1:12 – The Son gives us strength -- Acts 20:28 – The Holy Spirit makes us overseers of the body

[28] Deuteronomy 6:4 – Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One

[29] 2 Corinthians 13:14 – Three in Unity.

 

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