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Transcript
God in Three Persons: The Trinity Alex Chen Austin Chinese Church Acknowledgements Systematic Theology Textbook “Loving the Trinity” paper by James White Presentation by co-worker (Todd Erdner) Goals 1. What does it mean that God is three persons, yet one God? 2. Does it really matter? Motivation Trinity matters because God matters “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) Motivation Eternal Life depends on the right understanding of God “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Definition Trinity – “tri-unity” or “three-inoneness” What are some examples in real life of unity and diversity existing together? One God One Essence Same attributes and perfections Three persons Unique persons Eternally existed together Co-equality of the Father and the Son and the Spirit Can have different actions and roles Partial Revelation in OT Genesis 1:26: God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Partial Revelation in OT Psalm 45:6-7 "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you” “Your throne, Jesus, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, God the Father, has anointed you.” More Complete Revelation in NT Baptism of Jesus And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt 3:16-17) More Complete Revelation in NT Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19) More Complete Revelation in NT 1. God is Three Persons 2. … 3. … More Complete Revelation in NT Father is God Creator Sovereign Lord Jesus prays to the Father More Complete Revelation in NT Son is God At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:10-11) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-3) Jesus heals the paralytic (Mark 2) More Complete Revelation in NT The Holy Spirit is God “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16) Lying to the Holy Spirit is the same as lying to God (Acts 5:3-4) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19) More Complete Revelation in NT 1. God is Three Persons 2. Each Person is God 3. … More Complete Revelation in NT There is only one God “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Deut. 6:4-5) More Complete Revelation in NT 1. God is 3 Persons 2. Each Person is God 3. There is only one God In the being that is God, there exists eternally 3 coequal and coeternal Persons. Trinitarianism 1) God is 3 Persons 3) Only One God Orthodoxy 2) Each Person is God Christianity vs. Heresy Reject the Trinity → Reject the Biblical Revelation of God e.g. Mormons reject: Only one God God the Father was once a man but became God Christ was a man who became God Man has the ability to become a god Trinitarianism vs. Mormonism 1) God is 3 Persons 3) Only One God Orthodoxy Tritheism 2) Each Person is God Christianity vs. Heresy Reject the Trinity → Reject the Biblical Gospel e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses reject: Each Person is Fully God Jesus Christ is a created being, not God Trinitarianism vs. JW’s 3) Only One God Subordination 1) God is 3 Persons Orthodoxy Tritheism 2) Each Person is God Christianity vs. Heresy Reject the Trinity → Reject the Biblical Gospel e.g. Oneness Pentecostals (Phillips, Craig and Dean) reject this: God is 3 Persons God “manifests” (changes) Himself in three different forms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christianity vs. Heresy Randy’ Philip’s Church (Promiseland Church in Austin, TX): We believe in one God who is eternal in His existence, Triune in His manifestation, being both Father, Son and Holy Ghost Dan Dean’s church: ...there is One True God that has manifested Himself as Father in creation, Son in redemption and the Holy Spirit in emanation Trinitarianism vs. Oneness Pentecostals 1) God is 3 Persons 3) Only One God Subordination Orthodoxy Modalism Tritheism 2) Each Person is God Flashback Son is God At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:10-11) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-3) Jesus heals the paralytic (Mark 2) Christianity vs. Heresy No distinct persons → No Atonement Atonement: Jesus Christ satisfies the wrath of God the Father by dying on the cross as a payment for our sins. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) Christianity vs. Heresy No distinct persons Jesus’ Baptism was just a charade All instances where Jesus is praying to the father are an illusion or charade God was not loving prior to creation Modalism Condemned by Early Church 3rd Council at Antioch – 345 AD “Those who say that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the same person, impiously understanding the three names to refer to one and the same person, we expel with good reason from the Church.” Motivation Eternal Life depends on the right understanding of God “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) Motivation Mormons, JW’s, and Promiseland church are committing idolatry by making up another god The Trinity is the foundation for understanding who God is, the gospel, the atonement, prayer, etc… These are not “minor” doctrinal issues! Motivation No Trinity → No Christianity! Trinity in Redemption God the Father loved us “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son….” (Jn 3) “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all….” (Rom 8) God the Son died for us [They] fell down before the Lamb…and they sang…"Worthy are you…for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev 5:810) Trinity in Redemption God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Th. 2:13) Trinity in other Areas Trinity and Prayers Trinity in Creation Trinity in the Afterlife