Smyrna Christian Church -- Lee Delbridge, Minister
910 Concord Road SE -- Smyrna, Georgia 30080 -- 770.435.1723
www.SmyrnaChristianChurch.org
Print this page
The Most Important Question Ever Asked
Part II
The previous lesson answered the question by showing from the Bible that Jesus is God. He claimed to be God on several occasions and He claimed to have authority on earth to forgive sins - in fact, He claimed to have all authority in heaven and on earth.
By answering the question about who Jesus is, we caused another question that deals with the Trinity. No finite human being can fully understand the Holy Trinity. But we know that almost all "false religions" and cults started with a misunderstanding of the true nature of God. Now we want to deal with Bible teaching about the Trinity. The word Trinity is not in the Bible, but the concept is taught there. The idea is three is one. There is one God who manifests Himself in three personalities.
Both of the following statements are true:
- There is only one God.
- There are three distinct persons who are God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD
- Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!
- Mark 12:29-30 - Jesus answered, "The foremost is, 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord' and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
- I Corinthians 8:6 - yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
- THERE ARE THREE DISTINCT PERSONS WHO ARE GOD
- The Father:
John 4:23 - But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
- The Son:
John 8:58 - Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
- The Holy Spirit:
Acts 5:3-4 - But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
- THE TRINITY IS CLEARLY TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE
- Matthew 28:19 - Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
- II Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
- Matthew 3:16-17 - After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
- Let's try to illustrate this mystery, although no human illustration can completely explain it.
- Most Bible students agree that man himself is at least a two part being (some believe a three part being). There is the outer man and the inner man; the body and the spirit. (Those who believe man is a three part being would say he is body, soul, and spirit.)
- H2O can be a liquid, a solid, or steam. Same substance in three forms. God is all three - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - at the same time.
- A triangle - one item with three distinct and separate corners.
- It is not like 1+1+1=3. It is more like 1x1x1=1.
No finite human being can fully understand the Trinity. It is a mystery. That means we can't figure it out on our own. God must reveal it to us; and he has in the Bible. Do you believe that Jesus is God? Have you accepted Him as your personal savior and Lord? Have you given Him authority over your life?
© 2000 Lee Delbridge
<< Prev |
Print |
Next >>
Close Window