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One in three – oneinthree

Gotta know to defend Jehovah witness and mormonism

• Matt 3:13-15 Go Back and listen to https://faithandvictory.com/baptism/ for the explanation
• Don’t want you thinking that we are passing over stuff.
• 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
• Today we are going to talk about the Trinity.
• Most confusing doctrine in Christianity- Do we believe in 3 Gods? No One God in 3 persons
• This verse right here is the central verse to the trinity to me- V 16-17 see all three in operation
• Father from Above- Jesus bodily form. HS Descending like a Dove
• People have difficulty fathoming the reality but to dismiss it is to dismiss Christianity.
• People say “the word trinity is not in the Bible” well, actually theres not one English word in it
• Elohim is actually a pluralistic word’ Jews said “The OT- The Lord our God is ONE God
• John Wesley “In preaching on the Trinity, it is our duty to believe according to the word of God, but we are not called to comprehend. That is impossible. Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and I will show you a man that can comprehend God. If three candles were burning in a room, the light is but one”
• how can finite human beings with limited brain capacity understand an infinite God with unlimited capability. We can’t. Its outside
• Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

• The Importance
• The concept of the Triune God, or Trinity, is one of the foundational teachings of Christianity and is considered bedrock of the Christian faith, because it shows the person and deity of Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully human.
• Why is it important?
• First, if the doctrine of the Trinity isn’t believed, then a person’s salvation is at stake.
• If Jesus was just a human being, he inherited the sin nature of Adam. He must be God
• Further, if Jesus isn’t fully God, if Jesus is a created being, then He couldn’t be perfect sacrifice.
• John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
• If Jesus isn’t fully God and didn’t die as that perfect sinless sacrifice, we are dead in our sins
• Second, if the doctrine of the Trinity isn’t believed, then salvation wouldn’t be by faith;
• it would be by works, which would make Jesus a liar when He used God’s holy name saying,
• John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
• Many many I AM statements in John Signifying and connecting with the I AM of the OT
• Jesus also said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
• If Jesus isn’t God as He said, then how can we trust Him when He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

• The Meaning
• the Bible is the word “Trinity” found, but that shouldn’t rule out its teaching or its reality.
• The Word Bible isn’t found in the Bible either, but you’ve said it, believed it and defend it.
• There’s more scriptures to defend the Trinity than to defend the Bible.
• Colossians 2:9  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godheadbodily
• The word, “Trinity,” is derived from the Latin word, “Trinitas,” which means the number three. It has come to stand for “three in the unity of one,” or “Tri-Unity.” The word is used to express the unity of God existing in three distinct persons, also known as the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. N
• Wayne Grudem “God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.”
• The doctrine of the Trinity is where we worship One God manifested in three distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are each equally God in their being, power, and holiness. God is one in essence and three in persons. All different- all the same
• To be clear, the Trinity is not three gods in one, but one God manifested in three persons.
• While this may sound confusing and more like a contradiction, what’s important to understand is that we’re not saying God is three persons and only one person at the same time; rather the Trinity says that there are three persons in one nature, which is God, and while this may go beyond our reason, it doesn’t go against reasoning. I am a father, son, and child. I have a body. A voice. A spirit. My voice isn’t me, but it is. My body is not just who I am. My spirit is separate.

• The Oneness of Unity
• The Bible makes it clear there is only one God.
• Isaiah 43:10 that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.
• Isaiah 45:21 Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me.
• This oneness is also seen in in the very heart of the Jewish faith.
• Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!”
• Yet, within this declaration of God’s oneness we see the plurality of the one God.
• two words in the Hebrew language for the word “one.” They are “echad,” and “yahid.”
• “Yahid” means absolute oneness or singleness, leaving no room for any meaning other than one and one alone.
• “echad” brings with it the idea of many that make up one, or a composite unity.
• The first is God’s plan for marriage where the husband and wife will be one, “echad,” flesh, Genesis 2:24. Here are two distinct individuals comprising a unity of one in marriage.
• spies came out of the land of Canaan with one, “echad,” cluster of grapes, or many grapes that make up the one cluster Numbers 13:23.
• The creation account is another place where a composite unity is found when it says that one day is made up of two distinct parts, morning and evening Genesis 1:5
• Next, this plurality in oneness is seen in the plural language used for God, like when the Lord recounts His creation of humanity.
• Genesis 1:26a Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.
• that the one true God exists in the three personages: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• GOD EXISTS IN 3 PERSONS
• the Apostle John’s first letter. The Godhead being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is brought out in
• 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
• Jesus’ Great Commission.The Godhead being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is also seen in
• Matthew 28:19  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• But this idea of Trinity, God existing in three person, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is not a New Testament concept only; It is in the OT
• Isaiah 48:12-16 In the Hebrew language this last sentence literally says, “The Lord God has sent Me and His Spirit.” The Godhead
• EACH ONE IS GOD
• The Father is GOD In the prayer Jesus taught the disciple, known as “The Lord’s Prayer,” Jesus begins by saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 6:9
• The word, “hallowed,” in the Greek language means to make holy, and only God is holy.
• Isaiah 57:15a For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place,
• Isaiah goes on to talk about God as our Father who is both Lord and Redeemer.
• Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless You are our Father, Though Abraham was ignorant of us, And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
• In His second greeting to the Corinthian church, Paul identifies not only the Father as God, but also Jesus as Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
• Generally there is little if any controversy surrounding the Father as God.

• Jesus Christ IS GOD- Not a teacher, not just a man, not just God’s son. He is God in the flesh
• Concerning the coming Messiah the Bible says that He will be none other than the Lord God Himself.
• In describing the coming Messiah, the prophet Isaiah uses names to describe Him that are given exclusively to God.
• Isaiah 9:6For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• As a sign to the people, Isaiah said that the Messiah will be called, “Immanuel,” which means, “God with us” Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
• Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord gives the following description and name to the Messiah, and the name that He has been given has never been given to another, only to the Lord God Himself.
• Jeremiah 23:6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called:
• The name, “The Lord our Righteousness,” in the Hebrew is, “Jehovah Tsidkenu.” Not only does the Lord call the coming Messiah by His holy name, “Jehovah,” which He said He would never give to anyone else, Isaiah 42:8, but He also gives Him the name and title of righteousness, and only the Lord is righteous.
• In his gospel, John brings out the deity of Jesus, whom he identifies as the “Word.”
• John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
• The reason we know this speaks of Jesus is what John goes on to say in that the Word was made into a person of flesh and blood.
•  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
• Finally, so there could be no mistake, Jesus declares Himself to be God by calling Himself by God’s holy name.
• John 8:58 “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
• Exodus 3:14 This was the very name God gave when Moses asked, “Who shall I say sent me.” The Lord said, “I AM WHO I AM.” … “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
• The Holy Spirit IS GOD
• there are two verses when it comes to declaring the Holy Spirit as being fully God.
• The first is when Peter assesses the actions of two church members, Ananias and Sapphira, who lied about a piece of property they sold.
• Acts 5:3-4 “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? … Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
• The second are two verses about our bodies being God’s holy temple, and then says it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
• “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? … Do you not know that your body is the temple of the holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19
• We also see the three main attributes of God being attributed to the Holy Spirit.

• Omnipresent: everywhere present
• “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Psalm 139:7
• Omnipotence: all powerful
• “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
• Omniscience: all knowing
• “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. … no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
• And finally the Holy Spirit is a person, not some impersonal force.
• This is seen in the many aspects of a person’s personality that the Bible has attributed to the Holy Spirit, like his ability to teach, John 14:26, conviction of sin, John 16:7, is grieved and has feelings, Ephesians 4:30, has an intellect, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, and a will, 1 Corinthians 12:11.
• Analogies
• Such analogies include that of an egg with it’s three parts, shell, whites, and yoke, yet it still remains an egg. Water, or H20 exists in three forms: liquid, solid, and gas, while retaining the same properties.
• A Human Being
• Human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, Genesis 1:27. Since we’ve been made in God’s image and likeness, which we have seen as being the Trinity, one God in three persons, it would only make sense that as a human being we are made up of three parts; body, soul, and spirit.
• Further, there is an ordering of activities within the Godhead, that is, while they are one in nature and attributes, they differ in what they do. Like creation: The father spoke the words of creation, ”Let there be.” Jesus then took these words and created, as it says in John 1:3, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” And the Holy Spirit sustained and manifested God’s presence in creation, as Genesis shows the Spirit hovering over creation.
• Or then there is redemption where the Father planned it, Jesus accomplished it, and the Holy Spirit forever seals it in our hearts.
• Conclusion
• In the end, when it comes to belief in the Trinity it all boils down to a matter of faith.
• “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1
• Although we cannot see God visibly, by faith and through God’s word we can know who He is. Faith believes God is just as His word describes Him as being. It is the conviction of His reality, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed through our natural senses. We cannot hold or see God, be we know the reality of His presence.
• we can conclude, and what we must by faith believe, is that God is one, and that God is a Trinity, that is, He exists as three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that each one is equally God.
• “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

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