Trinity

Trinity

May 22, 2016

The problem of preaching on the Trinity is that most people think that it is boring. Imagine, preaching on a doctrine rather than on an event of salvation. The word or the expression “Trinity” is not found in Bible, which has led some groups to say that the Trinity is not a doctrine found in the Bible. True, you might not find the term “Trinity” in the Scriptures but its teaching can be found on almost every page. And yet, it is the doctrine and the teaching of the Trinity which defines us. Those who do not believe in the Trinity are not Christian. Those who believe in the Trinity are called Christian. Notice, again, what was confessed in the words of the Athanasian Creed, “Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith. Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally. And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance…This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.” The doctrine of the Trinity explains the Lord’s relationship with you. It embraces the full nature and work of God as well as His relationship to you. Together let’s consider…

1.       God’s relationship with Man.

A. Father – God above us.

1. This runs contrary to the ways and thinking of man who maintains control of his own destiny. But man left to his own devises plans would leave him to ruin.

2. We serve an omniscient and all – knowing God “O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou does know when I sit down and when I rise up. Thou doest understand my thoughts from afar. Thou doest scrutinize my path and my lying down and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, Thou does know it all. – Psalm 139:1-4

B. Son – God with us.

1. The last five words He spoke to humans on the day of His Ascension still ring in our ears, “I am with you always.” –Matthew 28:20

2. Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament we hear the same message, “Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him” declares the Lord. Do I not fill the heaven and the earth? Declares the Lord “– Jeremiah 23:24

C. Spirit – God in us.

1. “God is a Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24

2. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "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”. Revelation 21:3

Transition: We see God’s relationship with man to abide with him. But consider His work in life.

2. God’s work.

A. Father – Creation. Then God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness and let them rule over he fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” – Genesis 1:26

1. This is the first instance of the Trinity mentioned in Scripture.

2. God in the singular speaks in the plural.

3. Although all three persons of the godhead are present and participate in the creation it is the Father who is responsible for creating and sustaining the earth.

a. God always works through means.

b. He uses farmers to preserve and sustain the world.

B. Son – Redemption. Jesus came to deliver the people of this world form sin. Peter explains it this way – Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood, as of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19

C. Spirit – Sanctification. The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary because man cannot by his own reason, strength or will believe in Jesus Christ or come to Him.

1. He can’t come by his own reason – “But a natural man can not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to hi, and he can not understand them because they are spiritually appraised.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

2. He can’t come by his own strength – “You are dead in your trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1

3. He can’t come by his own will – The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not able to do so. – Romans 8:7

Transition: We see God’s relationship with man to abide with him. We know of his life and work. But where is God to be found?

3. God’s location.

A. Father – God in the universe. “’Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD’.” – Jeremiah 23:24

B. Son – God in Jesus of Nazareth. “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” – 1 John 5:20

C. Spirit – God in the believer. Every person is born an unbeliever. He remains in that state until he is “born again” of the Holy Spirit. To be born again is to be born from above, to be born spiritually, to be born of God. “That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’.” – John 3:5-7

The entire Godhead is working on your behalf to have a relationship with you. All praise to the blessed Trinity and the undivided Unity.